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Industrial hygiene survey report of Plateau, Incorporated, Bloomfield Refinery, Bloomfield, NM.

Cox C

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, IWS 124-10, 1986 Oct; :1-61

00165792

Turnaround operations at a fluid catalytic cracking unit at the Bloomfield Refinery (SIC-1799) in Bloomfield, New Mexico, were investigated for possible exposure of workers to various chemical agents, including hexavalent chromium (7440473), coal tar pitch volatiles (CTPV), nitrogen-dioxide (10102440), sulfur-dioxide (7446095), respirable dusts, and welding fumes. The average level of nitrogen-dioxide in the air was 1.5 parts per million (ppm); the value for sulfur-dioxide was 2.5ppm. NIOSH standards for hexavalent chromium (0.025mg/m3 for water soluble and 0.001mg/m3 for water insoluble) were exceeded. Respirable dust levels above 5mg/m3 were noted during cleaning operations. In many welding steps the concentration of welding fumes was in excess of 5mg/m3 as well. At the plasma arc cutting operation, concentrations of carbon-monoxide (630080), nitrogen-dioxide, and sulfur-dioxide (airborne) were 11.1, 1.5, and 2.5ppm, respectively. During the removal of coke from the reactor, CTPV levels exceeded the standard of 0.1mg/m3. A hydrocarbon concentration of 263ppm was obtained during the reconditioning of a pump. Nearly normal levels of 9.3, 45.7, and 74.1ppm were noted during more normal turnaround conditions. The author recommended that monitoring of the air be undertaken on a regular basis and that protective clothing and equipment be used by the workers. Ventilation rates and the direction of the ventilation should be checked.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; Region-6; Petroleum-industry; Petroleum-refining; Petroleum-products; Petroleum-oils

7440-47-3; 10102-44-0; 7446-09-5; 630-08-0

19861001

Field Studies; Industry Wide

1987

PB87-164331

A05

IWS-124-10

DSHEFS

1799

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NM; OH