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HHE Determination, Report No. HHE-77-42-452, cleaning house at the Wire Mill, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Authors
Geissert JO
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 77-42-452, 1977 Dec; :1-20
Link
NIOSHTIC No.
00076131
Abstract
A Health Hazard Evaluation investigation was conducted by NIOSH on February 9-10, and June 22-23, 1977, in the Wire Cleaning House (SIC- 3312) of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The survey was prompted by a request from an authorized employee representative concerning exposure to toxic chemicals and alleging a high incidence of respiratory disorders among the employees. Exposure of employees to hydrochloric-acid (7647010) and sulfuric- acid (7664939) exceeded accepted exposure limits, while exposure to carbon-monoxide (630080) potentially exceeded accepted limits during the use of gasoline (8006619) powered equipment. Medical interviews elicited symptomatology suggesting chronic respiratory disease in most of the crane operators and picklers, but its incidence correlated more closely with smoking history than with occupational exposure to acid mists and/or gases. Recommendations are made for reducing worker exposures. One third of the cranemen and picklers described premature tooth erosion and loss, while 44 percent of the workers in this group reported skin problems probably related to skin contact with the materials in use.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; HHE-77-42-452; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-3; Air-quality-measurement; Steel-industry; Industrial-plants; Respiratory-system-disorders; Toxic-chemicals; Toxicology; Inorganic-acids; Acid-pickling; Chemical-cleaning; Air-contamination; Skin-disorders
CAS No.
7647-01-0; 7664-93-9; 630-08-0; 8006-61-9
Publication Date
19771201
Document Type
Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation
Fiscal Year
1978
NTIS Accession No.
PB-278061
NTIS Price
A03
Identifying No.
HHE-77-42-452
NIOSH Division
DSHEFS
Priority Area
Respiratory-system-disorders
SIC Code
3312
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
State
PA; OH
Page last reviewed: September 2, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division