Mercury control technology assessment study, H-B Instrument Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Preliminary survey report for the site visit of September 1, 1981.

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  Techniques used to control worker exposure to mercury (7439976) were evaluated at the H-B Instrument Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company produced and distributed mercury and spirit filled thermometers, hydrometers, digital thermometers, relays, and thermostats. Forty production workers were employed on site 5 days a week for 8.5 hours a day. Exhaust fans were provided in the thermometer and hydrometer manufacturing area. Three air conditioners were present on the second floor with fresh air intakes. Mercury fillers were large bell jars with flasks for mercury filling situated on top. These were mounted on a stainless steel work bench which had wide seams to prevent mercury from getting in cracks, 1 inch guards to prevent mercury dropping to the floor, and two small drain holes with bottles underneath to collect and dispose of mercury brushed off at the bench. The mercury fill room was isolated from the rest of the area. There were local exhaust hood and vacuum cleaners with charcoal filters. The floor in the manufacturing area was covered in 1980 to reduce absorption of mercury to the wood floors. Personal protective equipment available to the workers includes respirators, gloves, disposable smocks, cloth lab coats, and foot coverings. Work practices, housekeeping, and monitoring (biological and environmental) were discussed. It is concluded that the existing controls appear to be adequate in maintaining vapors of mercury below the 0.1mg/m3 standard. No in depth survey should be conducted at this time.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Control-systems Control-technology Field-Study Heavy-metals Mercury-vapors NIOSH-Contract NIOSH-Survey Region-3
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB10920A
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Contract
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Control Technology
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DPSE - Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-14
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00182744
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, ECTB 109-20A, 1981 Nov; :1-14
• CAS Registry Number:
  Mercury (CAS RN 7439-97-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1982
• NORA Priority Area:
  Control-technology
• Performing Organization:
  Enviro Control Division, Dynamac Corporation, Rockville, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ba89d402f570c62a325a752f27682ab873028fc5f7c39be39a80b1e7a229540aedc26dad7f0889d5a3f8d01c5c181d1295f000277306262d30b8e179bce37dd2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180091/cdc_180091_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.82 MB ]