HHE Report, No. HETA-82-262-1262, Ideal Cement, Laporte, Colorado.

Gunter-BJ; Thoburn-TW

NIOSH 1983 Feb:13 pages

00127806

Environmental and medical investigations were carried out to determine heat stress and exposure to respirable particulates: sulfur-dioxide (7446095), sulfate, and cyclohexane (110827). The study was conducted at Ideal Cement (SIC-3273) in La Porte, Colorado on June 1 and 2 and July 29, 1982. The evaluation was requested by Ideal Basic Industries on behalf of an unspecified number of workers. Wet Globe Bulb Temperatures in the work area were 84 to 97 degrees-F. NIOSH criteria were calculated to be 79 degrees-F for this type of work. NIOSH criteria for sulfur-dioxide is 5 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3); exposures were 25 percent greater than standards for sulfur-dioxide and sulfates. Cyclohexane could not be detected. Respirable particulates exceed the NIOSH criteria of 5mg/m3 by 33 percent. Workers experienced dizziness, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and nosebleeds when cleaning the cyclone equipment. The authors conclude that there is a hazard from overexposures to sulfur-dioxide and respirable particulates, and a heat stress problem when cleaning cyclones. They recommend monitoring sulfur-dioxide and particulates and using a vacuum system for cleanup. Workers should be trained to handle heat stress and an area should be provided to cool off at 20 minute intervals while cleaning cyclones. Work practices for hot cleanouts should be established.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; Hazards-Confirmed; Employee-exposure; Industrial-exposures; Particulate-dust; Heat-exhaustion; Heat-exposure; Heat-stress; Region-8; HETA-82-262-1262; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report;

7446-09-5; 110-82-7;

19830201

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1983

PB84-209360

A03

HETA-82-262-1262

DSHEFS;

3273;

Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, 13 pages, 3 references

CO; OH;