HHE Determination Report No. HHE-79-37-684, Sterling Faucet Company, Sabraton, West Virginia, April 1980.

Lewis-FA

NIOSH 1980:7 pages

00099390

Environmental and medical surveys were conducted on March 7 and 8, 1979 and on June 27, 1979 at the Sterling Faucet Company (SIC-3432) in Sabraton, West Virginia to investigate possible hazards of a graphite (7782425) lubricant and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Authorized representatives of the employees' union, United Steelworkers of America Local 6214, requested the surveys to evaluate the health effects of the graphite lubricant and PAH exposures in drop forge operators. Analyses of personal and area samples for total and respirable synthetic graphite dust, refined petroleum solvents and PAH indicated that concentrations were below current environmental criteria or were undetectable for these substances. Nondirected medical questionnaire interviews with the exposed employees revealed a high incidence of skin and upper respiratory irritation. The authors conclude that although air concentrations of measured substances were within acceptable limits, there was skin and vapor respiratory irritation associated with industrial exposure. They recommend the implementation of safety measures such as the use of protective gloves, the placement of a splash shield, the use of safety goggles, and the utilization of local exhaust ventilation.

NIOSH-Author; HHE-79-37-684; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Plumbing-fixtures; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-3; Industrial-processes; Machine-tools; Forges; Lubricating-oil-mists; Air-sampling; Air-contaminants; Respiratory-system-disorders; Data-collection; Skin-disorders;

7782-42-5;

19800101

Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance; Field Studies

1980

PB80-207277

A02

HHE-79-37-684

DSHEFS;

Respiratory-system-disorders

3432;

Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. HHE-79-37-684, 7 pages, 7 references

VA; WV; OH;