HHE determination report no. HHE-78-33-506, Grand Junction Steel Fabricating Company, Grand Junction, Colorado, July 1978.
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 78-33-506, 1978 Jul; :1-10
Abstract
Environmental and medical surveys were conducted from January 30, to February 2, 1978 to evaluate exposures associated with the welding of sheet and angle iron at Grand Junction Steel Fabricating Company (SIC-3441) in Grand Junction, Colorado. The evaluation was requested by the local United Steelworkers of America Union on behalf of approximately 100 affected workers. Environmental samples showed that workers were overexposed to iron-oxide (1309371) fumes; concentrations exceeded the recommended threshold limit value of 5.0 milligrams per cubic meter. All other environmental measurements were within the most recent evaluation criteria. Medical interviews of 32 revealed showed that welders had complaints that were compatible with overexposure to welding fumes. The author concludes that a potential health hazard existed at the time of the survey. Local ventilation should be provided to reduce welding fume exposures, the respirator used in the paint booth area should be cleaned and maintained, and eating should be prohibited in the work area.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; HHE-78-33-506; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Fabricated-structural-metal; Hazards-Confirmed; Region-8; Gases; Air-contaminants; Medical-screening; Ventilation-systems; Industrial-hygiene; Personal-protective-equipment; Humans; Unions;
Author Keywords: Steel; Iron Oxide; Iron Oxide Fume; Welding; Steel Cutting
Document Type
Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation
NTIS Accession No.
PB81-143950
Identifying No.
HHE-78-33-506
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
