In-depth survey report: chemical exposures and fire safety in commercial dry cleaners at A-One Cleaners, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Earnest, Gary S.
• Description:
  An in depth survey was conducted at A-One Cleaners (SIC-7216), Cincinnati, Ohio in an effort to evaluate control of worker exposure to perchloroethylene (127184) (PERC) and mineral-spirits (8030306) and to evaluate control of fire hazards associated with the use of mineral spirits. The shop employed 56 workers. Samples were taken for four of the workers, the machine operator, dry cleaning manager, spotter, and a laundry worker. Controls already in place maintained full shift time weighted average exposures below the OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL) of 100 parts per million (ppm) for PERC and 500ppm for mineral spirits. However, full shift time weighted average PERC exposures exceeded 25ppm on 2 days. The author recommended that efforts be made to reduce exposures further, included modifications to the secondary vapor recovery device, use of local exhaust ventilation, or improvements to the general ventilation system. Personal protective equipment such as a respirator and solvent resistant gloves should be used during machine maintenance. A respiratory protection program should also be established. A smoking policy needs to be established and no smoking signs posted. The current method of transporting mineral spirits from the reclaimer to the washer should be eliminated and replaced with a pump and direct piping. An approved wet pipe, automatic sprinkler system should be installed.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Epidemiology Lung Lung Diseases Morbidity Mortality Neoplasms Occupational Health Radiation Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Smokers Tobacco Products Uranium

  More +
• Keywords:
  Chlorinated-hydrocarbons Control-technology Dry-cleaning-industry Dry-cleaning-solvents Field-Study Fire-prevention NIOSH-Author NIOSH-Survey Occupational-exposure Organic-solvents Region-5 Solvent-vapors

  More +
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHECTB20118a
• 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:
  1-66
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00228287
• 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 201-18a, 1995 Jul; :1-66
• CAS Registry Number:
  Tetrachloroethylene (CAS RN 127-18-4) ; Naphtha (CAS RN 8030-30-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1995
• 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-512:91a5e3f23780763c6c6df25a8337d84e2f20675204ee997dc1138336c4a9c9540fafaec592f2709491a7cea58408c97002563f4d6b9267ca520d59d305df982e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180935/cdc_180935_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.51 MB ]