Abstract
Worker exposures to petroleum pitch volatiles, total and respirable dust, fluorides, carbon-monoxide (630080), and sulfur-dioxide (7446095) were surveyed from March 19 to 23, 1973, at the Reynolds Metals Jones Mill Aluminum Reduction facility (SIC-3341) in Malvern, Arkansas. The company employed about 750 blue and 175 white collar workers, a part time physician and a full time nurse. Preemployment and periodic medical examinations were provided. Respirators and other safety equipment were furnished. General and local ventilation was used throughout the facility. Although analytical problems occurred, exposures to benzene soluble materials exceeded the OSHA standard of 0.2 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/CuM) at all job sites. Dust exposures exceeded the OHSA standard of 15mg/CuM at only one job site. Concentrations of fluorides, carbon-monoxide, and sulfur-dioxide were below respective OSHA standards of 2.5mg/CuM, 50 parts per million (ppm), and 5 ppm. Noise levels exceeded the 90 decibel standard in several areas, but only for short periods of time. The authors recommend engineering controls to reduce exposures to benzene soluble materials, use of respirators, and periodic audiometric testing of workers.
Source Name
Environmental Investigation Branch, Division of Field Studies and Clinical Investigations, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 61 pages
