Health hazard evaluation report: HHE-80-109-750, Beaver Shoe Company, Division of Kinney Shoe Corporation, Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania.
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 80-109-750, 1980 Oct; :1-8
Abstract
Environmental samples were analyzed for acetone (67641), methyl- ethyl-ketone (78933) (MEK), toluene (108883), hexane (110543), and methyl-isobutyl-ketone (108101) (MIBK) at the Beaver Shoe Company (SIC-3144) in Beaver Springs, Pennsylvania, on July 8 and 9, 1980. The evaluation was requested by an unspecified individual. Exposures to acetone, MEK, toluene, hexane, and MIBK did not exceed their respective individual OSHA standards of 2,400, 590, 750, 1,800, and 410 milligrams per cubic meter. Based on calculations for exposures to mixed organic solvents, acetone, MEK and toluene exposures exceeded acceptable limits. Exposures to a mixture of acetone, hexane, MIBK and toluene were within the acceptable limits. Workers reported health problems including dermatitis, mucous membrane irritations, headaches, and eye irritation. The authors conclude that a hazard exists due to organic solvent vapor exposure. They recommend the use of gloves and solvent labeling, improvements to the ventilation system, and establishment of a medical monitoring program for all exposed workers.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; HHE-80-109-750; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Unconfirmed; Region-2; Air-contamination; Physiology; Control-methods; Occupational-health-programs;
Author Keywords: Womens footware; acetone; MEK; toluene; hexane; methyl isobutyl ketone; dermatitis; mucous membrane irritation; headache; unspecified symptoms
