Industrial hygiene characterization of the photovoltaic solar cell industry.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Briggs TM ; Owens TW
• Description:
  Industrial hygiene concerns in the photovoltaic solar cell industry, particularly for solar energy applications, were studied based on published information and a survey of 14 of the major manufacturers in the industry. The technology of photocell production and toxicological properties of the production materials used were considered, along with the major cell production technologies in photovoltaics involving crystalline silicon (7440213), amorphous- hydrogenated-silicon (a-H-Si) gallium-arsenide (1303000) and cadmium- sulfide (1306236) solar cells. Emphasis was focused on single crystal silicon solar cells because they are the only ones produced commercially and because more experimental research has been completed on them. The authors conclude that industrial hygiene practices generally were effective throughout the industry. Efforts to reduce costs have led to processes that minimize waste of materials and, consequently, the exposure of workers. The major potential industrial hygiene problems were related to the accidental release of toxic materials and the possible carcinogenic effects of working with arsenic (7440382) and cadmium (7440439). The authors suggest that this study be repeated in 5 years to incorporate new technologies and to reevaluate the status of industrial hygiene control in the industry.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Fuel Oils Glycols Ink Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Paint Preceptorship Printing Safety
• Keywords:
  Contract-210-78-0059 Electrochemical-properties Electromotive-force Energy-sources Industrial-hazards Industrial-hygiene NIOSH-Contract Photoelectric-cells Safety-factors Toxic-substances
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-140
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00091794
• Citation:
  NIOSH 1979 Aug; :1-140
• CAS Registry Number:
  Silicon (CAS RN 7440-21-3) ; Gallium arsenide (CAS RN 1303-00-0) ; Cadmium sulfide (CAS RN 1306-23-6) ; Arsenic (CAS RN 7440-38-2) ; Cadmium (CAS RN 7440-43-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1979
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8ca4c18509fe75032b670cda1651c11523b974ec4184c5b279abf946fad35577e5859544429417cbeec2a50b4b339548d5f1c0f1a3f8920b1cfe78cfefdf0fd5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/178923/cdc_178923_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 12.18 MB ]