Occupational exposures during abrasive blasting removal of lead- based paint on a highway bridge

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  A request was received by NIOSH to evaluate possible hazardous working conditions experienced by construction workers exposed to lead (7439921) during the abrasive blasting removal of lead based paint from a bridge. Partial containment of abrasive blasting work was in effect at the worksite when the NIOSH investigation started. The partial containment captured only the largest particles. During abrasive blasting, dense clouds of finer dust particles, similar to a brown fog, were observed creating a plume of visible contamination up to 150 yards in length downwind. The studies conducted indicated that workers were overexposed to airborne lead during the blasting. Blasters were exposed to consistently high levels of airborne lead. Lead contamination was noted on working surfaces, vehicles, tools, and clothing. A general lack of adequate personal hygiene facilities was also noted. Although respirator protection was provided, it was not sufficient to adequately protect the workers from overexposure to lead. Sampling for personal noise exposures also indicated that full shift average noise levels consistently represented a health hazard. Recommendations were made to improve engineering controls, work practices, respiratory protection programs, comprehensive hearing conservation programs, and personal hygiene facilities. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Lead Lead Poisoning Noise Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Construction-industry Lead-fumes Lead-poisoning NIOSH-Author Noise-exposure Occupational-exposure Personal-protective-equipment Sand-blasters Sand-blasting
• ISSN:
  1047-322X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  497-499
• Volume:
  7
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00209814
• Citation:
  Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1992 Aug; 7(8):497-499
• CAS Registry Number:
  Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Editor(s):
  Tharr D
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a7026cb8768e0368a7f49331b23376cdc5176cf6ded2a6bcea1f8249925ec700e7097109f783c7e44de15277dc2d5e25facaef75b1e21d6aa32e1ee24f8e1447
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/205243/cdc_205243_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 516.89 KB ]