Lead smelter design for exposure control.
Source
Proceedings of the symposium on occupational health hazard control technology in the foundry and secondary non-ferrous smelting industries, December 10-12, 1979, Chicago, Illinois. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-114, 1981 Aug; :306-314
Abstract
The design was described of a smelter, constructed at a Danish nonferrous secondary metal smelting firm (SIC-3341), which incorporated features to reduce both environmental pollution and exposure of workers to air contaminants such as lead (7439921). The special blast furnace and short rotary furnaces selected for the smelter were described. Inclusion of these two types of furnace in an occupationally acceptable smelting plant involved the development of a number of features: incineration of soot and organic matter, as well as reaction of sulfur-dioxide (7446095) with lead oxides to form the filterable lead-sulfate, by post combustion of furnace gases; reduction of cleaning problems, resulting from condensation of fume on the cooling surfaces, by cooling of hot gases from the afterburner; control of dust discharge, which occurs during handling of material collected by the baghouses, by agglomeration of flue dust; avoidance of dust deposition within the system by careful attention to the design of the flue duct and exhaust ventilation systems; selection of baghouses which permit filters to be replaced from the outside and result in long bag life; prevention of damage to ventilation hoods, doors and screens by solid construction; and the separation of areas where "clean" and "dirty" jobs are performed, allowing most jobs to be carried out without the need for protective clothing or ventilation isolation. A histogram of recent blood lead levels of all employees in both smelting departments was presented.
Keywords
NIOSH-Contract; Equipment-design; Safety-equipment; Lead-smelting; Lead-production; Occupational-exposure; Lead-dust
CAS No.
7439-92-1; 7446-09-5
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Identifying No.
Contract-210-79-0048
Source Name
Proceedings of the symposium on occupational health hazard control technology in the foundry and secondary non-ferrous smelting industries, December 10-12, 1979, Chicago, Illinois
