HHE determination report no. HHE-79-72-680, Energyloc, Inc., Portland, Oregon.
Authors
Apol-AG; Frederick-L; Wilcox-T
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 79-72-680, 1980 Apr; :1-9
Abstract
Medical and environmental evaluations were made on April 10, and June 25 to 27, 1979 at Energyloc, Incorporated (SIC-1742) in Portland, Oregon to determine possible health hazards from worker exposure to fibrous glass particles during the installation of floor insulation. The president of the company which sells and installs home insulation products requested the investigation in response to employee respiratory, dermal and ocular complaints. All five workers who install insulation reported work related symptoms such as eye and nasal irritation, and physical examinations revealed that several developed a rash on the arms or face during the workshift. Pulmonary function tests revealed no abnormalities in any of the workers whose employment in this job ranged from 0.5 to 8 months. Air sampling identified formaldehyde (50000) concentrations ranging from 0.007 to 0.033 parts per million, fibrous glass concentrations ranging from less than 0.016 to 0.035 fibers per cubic centimeter (fibers/cc) of air, and total particulates ranging from 3.3 to 32 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3). No applicable federal standards were exceeded; two samples of particulates exceeded the 10mg/m3 standard established by the State of Oregon. The authors conclude that employees are exposed to low concentrations of formaldehyde and fibrous glass and to intermediate to high concentrations of total particulates, which are causing irritation in exposed workers. They recommend that improvements be made in personal hygiene and that respirators be used.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; HHE-79-72-680; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazard-Confirmed; Insulation-installation; Respiratory-system-disorders; Skin-disorders; Eye-disorders; Work-environment; Airborne-fibers; Air-contaminants; Chemical-exposure; Construction-workers; Airborne-particulates; Region-10;
Author Keywords: fibrous glass; insulation; total particulate; formaldehyde; pulmonary function
Document Type
Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
PB80-212459
Identifying No.
HHE-79-72-680
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
