Indepth survey report: solid material sampling operations at Cabot Berylco Beryllium Alloy Plant, Reading, Pennsylvania.
Authors
Wang-CC; Shulman-S; Phalen-C
Source
NIOSH 1983 Mar; :1-42
Abstract
An indepth industrial hygiene survey of the solid material sampling operations at Cabot Berylco (SIC-3339), Reading, Pennsylvania, was conducted. Area air samples were collected over five shifts at 13 sites in the chemical calcining and reduction area and analyzed for beryllium (7440417). The facility employed approximately 17 workers, in the calcining and reduction operation. Five automatic sampling devices were used in the calcining and reduction operation to sample fresh beryllium-oxide (1304569) from the calciner and storage bins, flue dust, blended material, and finished product, a 4 percent beryllium-copper alloy. The samplers were enclosed and operated on a positive displacement, closed collected principle. The enclosures were under negative pressure. Employees working in the calcining and reduction area were required to wear respiratory protective equipment. The average beryllium concentrations ranged from 0.10 to 1.06 micrograms per cubic meter (microg/m3), which were below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard of 2microg/m3 time weighted average. The authors conclude that the automatic solid material sampling devices when used with the control technology are sufficient for protecting the workers against beryllium exposure. The design of the automatic solid samplers contributes significantly to low worker exposures.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; CT-113-14b; Field-Study; Region-3; Industrial-hygiene; Air-sampling; Control-technology; Beryllium-compounds; Occupational-exposure
CAS No.
7440-41-7; 1304-56-9
Document Type
Field Studies; Control Technology
NTIS Accession No.
PB83-220442
Identifying No.
CT-113-14b
Priority Area
Control Technology and Personal Protective Equipment; Research Tools and Approaches; Control-technology
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Engineering Control Technology Branch, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. CT-113-14b, 42 pages
