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HHE Report No. HHE-80-189-870, Neenah Foundry Company, Neenah, Wisconsin.

Wilcox TG; Wasserman D

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 80-189-870, 1981 May; :1-36

00116700

Incidences of Raynaud's Phenomenon were investigated at the Neenah Foundry Company (SIC-3321) in Neenah, Wisconsin, on August 4 to 6, September 3, and from September 23 to 26, 1980. A representative of the molders and Allied Workers Union, Local 121, requested that on behalf of approximately 74 affected chippers and grinders in departments 2 and 3. Vibration measurements revealed that department 3 workers had more daily hand vibration exposure than did the department 2 workers. Department 3 employees used air hammers about 2 to 3 hours per day and the vibration levels of these tools ranged from 15 to 60 acceleration of gravity (g). Grinding tools were used 4 to 5 hours per day in department 3 and the vibration levels of these tools (15 to 60g) were 15 to 50 times the vibration levels of similar grinding tools previously evaluated by NIOSH. Fifty seven percent of the 47 department 3 and 18 percent of the 17 department 2 workers interviewed reported symptoms of Raynauds' Phenomenon. Symptomatic workers also reported decreased sensory abilities in their hands. The authors conclude that a circulatory health hazard existed to the hands of the chippers and grinders in department 3, and that this hazard will continue until tools are designed that reduce vibration. They recommend as an interum measure that tool maintenance be improved, work practices be modified, and severely affected workers be transferred to jobs that entail no vibration exposure.

NIOSH-Author; HHE-80-189-870; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Foundries; Hazards-Confirmed; Region-5; Health-surveys; Vibration-disease; Vibration-control

19810501

Field Studies; Health Hazard Evaluation

1981

PB82-215252

A04

HHE-80-189-870

DSHEFS

3321

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

WI; OH