Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-91-027-2117, LTV Steel Company, East Chicago, Indiana.
Source
Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 91-027-2117, 1991 Jun; :1-21
Abstract
In response to a request from employees, an investigation was begun of an incident involving the exposure of workers to polychlorinated- biphenyls (1336363) (PCBs) at the LTV Steel Company (SIC-3312), East Chicago, Indiana. An electrical maintenance worker inspecting the basement motor room of the abandoned 54 inch hot strip mill noted that a barrel was leaking what could have been transformer oil. Workers were running an electrical cable through the basement for a recently built pump house. Samples were taken of standing water (called ground water) in the basement, and of the contents of the drums. Although work was stopped pending results of tests, work was resumed before test results were available. Two of the drums were found to contain PCBs. Contaminated drums were drained and later removed from the area. Work on the electrical cable continued until the job was completed. Ground water contamination was confirmed a week after the conclusion of the job. NIOSH investigators met with labor and management representatives, and inspected the worksite where the exposure had occurred. A review of the environmental findings established that the worksite was contaminated with PCBs at concentrations which warranted concern. Blood test results indicated that employee exposures were probably small as none of the workers had serum PCB concentrations considered to be above background levels. The authors recommend specific measures to reduce the potential for PCB exposure and to control other potential hazards at this facility.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-91-027-2117; Region-5; Hazard-Confirmed; Environmental-contamination; Electrical-workers; Chlorinated-hydrocarbons; Occupational-exposure;
Document Type
Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance
NTIS Accession No.
PB92-108489
Identifying No.
HETA-91-027-2117
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
