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The foundry - its real potential health hazards.

Tubich GE

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; :3-13

00175056

High priority health hazards in foundries were defined, potential health hazards by operation were outlined, and chemical and physical risks involved in foundry work were identified. Silica (14808607), carbon-monoxide (630080) (CO), metallic fumes and particulates, and coal tar pitch volatiles were identified as causes of the most significant chemical risks in the work environment of the foundry. The primary physical risks in the foundry environment were identified as noise and vibration, stress, poor illumination, and ionizing radiation. The need for preventive maintenance and housekeeping was underlined, the role of a good air balance in the effectiveness of exhaust ventilation was mentioned, and the features and costs of adequate air recirculation were discussed. The cleaning and finishing department of a foundry was indicated as the most important in terms of requirement for ventilation or ventilatory protection, while exposure to silica dust was considered to be the most important potential health hazard in the foundry. CO was classified as the major potential hazard in cupola operations, while metallic fumes were listed as the greatest hazard in molten metal processes. The author concludes that health hazards in foundries may not be absolutely proven until they have done considerable damage; therefore, management must be persuaded to continue to improve control systems by using the newest and best control technology available.

NIOSH-Contract; Occupational-hazards; Foundry-workers; Risk-factors; Ventilation-systems; Silica-dusts; Dust-control; Environmental-control; Work-areas; Metal-workers

14808-60-7; 630-08-0

19810801

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

1981

Contract-210-79-0048

DPSE

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

IL; OH