Prevent Work-Related Asthma from Isocyanate Exposure in a Foam Process Used in Two Very Different Industry Settings: “Foam-in-Place” Packaging for Fragile Transportation Industry Parts and Radiation Therapy Immobility Devices for Cancer Patients

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Michigan State University
• Description:
  The ability of isocyanates to quickly turn from liquid to an expanded solid form results in a variety of uses across widely different industry settings, including automotive and aircraft (transportation) parts manufacturing and health care. In transportation parts manufacturing, a process called "foam-in-place" or "foam-in-bag" is sometimes used to protect fragile parts such as headlights, mirrors, starters/generators, control units and other electronic components for shipping. In hospitals, these same isocyanate components are used in a similar fashion to construct immobility devices for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. In both settings a two-component system that contains MDI is added to a plastic bag, using a similar process and potentially exposing workers who breath in isocyanate fumes or absorb through their skin from contact during pouring and mixing or spills, or from over-pours of isocyanates including excess foam deposited in waste containers. In both settings, explosions from overfill and leakages of the bags may occur. Spray gun malfunction during foam packaging may also expose workers to a high short-term level of isocyanate fumes. FOAM-IN-PLACE: For packaging parts in shipping areas, the isocyanate is used to fill voids, providing cushioning, blocking and bracing in a shipping box. One bag is typically placed under the fragile part, and the 2-part mixture is fed into the bag through a hose or spray gun. A second bag is then placed over the part and the same process is repeated. The foam-in-place operator must handle and seal each bag after the pouring is complete. RADIATION THERAPY IMMOBILITY DEVICES: In the hospital setting, the patient is positioned on a table in a radiation simulation room. A radiation therapist then selects the necessary bag size and amount of isocyanate needed, mixes the 2-part isocyanate in a provided container, pours the mixture into the bag, and then positions the bag around the patient to make a foam cushion. The immobility device ensures the patient is positioned so that radiation therapy is delivered to the same location during each treatment. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asthma, Occupational Isocyanates Occupational Health Safety Transportation
• Keywords:
  Hazards Occupational Asthma Polyurethane Foams Radiation Therapy Sprays Transportation Industry
• Publisher:
  Michigan State University
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Lay Publication
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20066723
• Citation:
  East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University, 2016 Apr; :1-2
• CAS Registry Number:
  Diphenylmethane diisocyanate (CAS RN 101-68-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  Michigan State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Prevent work-related asthma from isocyanate exposure in a foam process used in two very different industry settings: "foam-in-place" packaging for fragile transportation industry parts and radiation therapy immobility devices for cancer patients
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ffa91f46cc97018c5ca4d732b9eeaf867bcfe5eff155f42dc32a62495f94ca22b95849813066d2e9c522f9f9dd1ca68cc4164e8b920f3232eedbf18fcf38fdd7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/231001/cdc_231001_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 90.25 KB ]