Health Hazard Evaluation Program: Evaluation of Volatile Organic Compound Exposures at a Tire Manufacturing Facility: HHE Report No. 2023-0062-3404

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beaucham, Catherine C. ; Tomasi, Suzanne E.
• Description:
  Union representatives requested a health hazard evaluation to evaluate exposures in the 4-roll section of a rubber tire manufacturing facility. Representatives were concerned about employees in the 4-roll area who reported eye, nose, throat, and sinus irritation caused by fumes from rubber processing. During our visit we (1) observed the work process and ventilation system including fume hood smoke capture surrounding the 4-roll mills and the calender machine, (2) reviewed documentation of previous exposure sampling for volatile organic compounds, (3) assessed emissions and collected samples of volatile organic compounds, and (4) conducted employee interviews about their work, symptoms, and health concerns. We found that the local exhaust ventilation system at the 4-roll area did not contain all the emissions. Air sampling results showed several chemicals in the air that could irritate eyes, nose, throat, and sinuses. All employees reported eye, nose, or sinus symptoms that improved when away from work. Recommendations included (1) redesigning the local exhaust ventilation system including enclosing each mill and replacing temporary flexible ductwork with hard, smooth bore ductwork at the calender machine, (2) improving the general ventilation so that it works together with the local exhaust ventilation system to sufficiently dilute the air in the 4-roll area and provides enough cooling for employees so personal cooling fans are not needed, and (3) encouraging employees to report work-related health symptoms to their healthcare provider and, as instructed by their employer, to a designated individual at their workplace. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Rubber Safety Ventilation Volatile Organic Compounds
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Tire Manufacturing [except Retreading] Carbon Disulfide Exhaust Ventilation Region 4 Rubber Manufacturing Industry Rubber Processing Equipment Rubber Workers Tires VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE202300623404
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study ; Case Report
• Place as Subject:
  Birmingham Region [OSHA] ; Tennessee
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DFSE - Division of Field Studies and Engineering
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  30 pdf pages
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20070312
• 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, HHE 2023-0062-3404, 2024 Nov; :1-30
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon disulfide (CAS RN 75-15-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  326211 - Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) - (NAICS)
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f15f1a758c52a61d668b0ace87df8717bcda3e541e7f579e85af76d01269f216556b63beda695fb4be26e2a06befec743ddfc896c64a24f07ebd0e374c5ea8ad
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/182924/cdc_182924_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.00 MB ]