HHE Report No. HETA-84-262-1734, Friction Division Products, Trenton, New Jersey.
Authors
Seixas-NS; Ordin-D
Source
NIOSH 1986 Sep; :1-48
Abstract
A request was made by the International Chemical Workers Union on behalf of employees at Friction Division Products (SIC-3292) to examine possible exposure to asbestos (1332214). Approximately 120 employees were engaged in the manufacture of auto and truck brake shoes at the facility. Asbestos was used as a raw material for about 90 percent of the shoes made. At the time of the inspection, working conditions were poor with asbestos exposure excessive in all areas, including drum mix, preform, grinding, tables and presses. The ventilation system was not properly maintained and measures used to keep the asbestos from becoming airborne were not adequate. Production was allowed to continue even when the debagger was not working. Of 20 workers x-rayed, 2 showed asbestosis. These two had been employed at this facility for over 40 years and had been exposed to asbestos since 1969. One of these two workers also had pleural thickening and pleural plaques, conditions which were also found in three additional workers. Asbestos fibers were present on work clothes, thus indicating the possibility for contamination to occur at the homes of the workers. The authors conclude that a substantial health hazard exists for workers at this facility and that there is a potential hazard for families of workers. The authors recommend specific changes or additions to medical, environmental, personal protective equipment, policy and air monitoring programs at this facility.
Keywords
NIOSH-Publication; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; Hazard-Confirmed; HETA-84-262-1734; Region-2; Automotive-industry; Dust-particles; Dust-control; Ventilation-systems; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Lung-disorders
Document Type
Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance
NTIS Accession No.
PB87-162871
Identifying No.
HETA-84-262-1734
Priority Area
Pulmonary-system-disorders
Source Name
Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. HETA-84-262-1734, 48 pages, 10 references
