Industrial Hygiene Survey Report of Triboro Coach Corporation, Jackson Heights, New York, Report No. IWS-163-2-02.
Abstract
In an effort to evaluate worker exposure, fire safety, personal protective equipment, and engineering controls during the refueling, repairing, and operating of methanol (67561) powered transit buses, information was collected from a site visit to Triboro Coach Corporation (SIC-4111), in New York City during October 17 through 19 of 1989. Worker exposures to methanol during bus maintenance operations were considerably higher than during refueling. Short term peak concentrations greater than 1700 parts per million (ppm) and 80ppm for area and personal sampling, respectively, were frequently measured during the time required to change the two fuel filters on a methanol bus. The mechanic's estimated 15 minute time weighted average exposure of 253ppm slightly exceeded the 250ppm short term exposure limit although the full shift exposure of 2ppm was significantly below the NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 200ppm. The author recommends increased efforts to minimize exposures by modifying current work practices, frequently inspecting equipment for leaks and repairing these immediately, improving ventilation in the service garage, regularly wearing protective gloves and splash goggles, enforcing a no smoking policy, educating personnel concerning the hazards of exposure, and developing a written plan outlining specific procedures in the case of a methanol spill or fire.
Source Name
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio, IWS-163-2-02, 30 pages, 35 references
