Walk-through survey report: perchloroethylene exposures in commercial dry cleaners at Widmer's Dry Cleaning, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Earnest, Gary S. ; Spencer AB
• Description:
  A walk through survey was undertaken to document and evaluate effective techniques for the control of potential health hazards at Widmer's Dry Cleaning (SIC-7216), Cincinnati, Ohio. There were about 85 employees at the facility. Closed loop, dry to dry machines and process isolation were in use to control exposures. The company appeared to have control methods in place which were able to maintain 8 hour time weighted average exposures to perchloroethylene (127184) to below 25 parts per million (ppm). The highest level reported was 20.5ppm for a machine operator. This level may have resulted from ineffective solvent recovery during the dry cycle. Better maintenance or more effective cooling coil performance could probably improve the recovery system. One practice observed at the site which could become a problem was allowing still runoff to remain exposed to the atmosphere until it cooled. Spotters were not using personal protective equipment during the use of hazardous chemicals. The authors recommend several other measures which could be adapted by the company for reducing even further the hazardous exposures to perchloroethylene. The authors conclude that an in depth study of this facility could be of value.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Adhesives Interior Design And Furnishings Occupational Health Preceptorship Safety Solvents Ventilation Wood
• Keywords:
  Chlorinated-ethylenes Control-technology Dry-cleaning-industry Dry-cleaning-solvents Field-Study NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Occupational-exposure Region-5
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB20113a
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Studies ; Control Technology
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• 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:
  1-21
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00215671
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, ECTB 201-13a, 1993 Aug; :1-21
• CAS Registry Number:
  Tetrachloroethylene (CAS RN 127-18-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1993
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  7216 - Drycleaning plants, except rug - (SIC)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b567bf59e92e4efe4110914db982e02896f8bed5817b299b59565053df1d19c09a74ad6e3845dc786ee0ff7df425ecea1b73ed14e27e68e997e71b66934d456a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180845/cdc_180845_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 883.86 KB ]