HHE Report No. HETA-91-169-2196, Texprint Products, Macon, Georgia.

Decker-JA; Shults-RA

NIOSH 1992 Mar:40 pages

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1991-0169-2196.pdf

00208275

In response to a request from a union representative an evaluation was undertaken of possible hazardous working conditions at Texprint Products (SIC-2269), Macon, Georgia. Workers had complained of skin rashes and respiratory symptoms. The company was involved in the dyeing, printing and finishing of fabrics to be used for home furnishing and Japanese apparel. Exposures to formaldehyde (50000), caprolactam (105602), and mineral spirits were all well below established standards. Heat stress measurements were excessive. In one instance the core body temperature exceeded the recommended maximum of 38 degrees-C for one worker throughout the first shift. Eye irritation was reported by 25 (28%) of the workers with six (24%) reporting current or chronic rashes, seven (28%) reported headaches, and one (4%) reported more than one lower respiratory symptom. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed from excessive exposure to heat stress. Caustics and reactive dyes presented potential health hazards from dermal exposure. The authors recommend that a heat stress management program be implemented. The installation of engineering controls and the use of protective equipment by individual workers should be used to lessen the hazards of their jobs.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-91-169-2196; Region-4; Hazard-Confirmed; Hot-environments; Heat-exposure; Dye-industry; Occupational-exposure; Textile-workers;

50-00-0; 105-60-2;

19920301

Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance;

1992

PB92-219773

A04

HETA-91-169-2196

DSHEFS;

2269;

Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, Report No. HETA-91-169-2196, 40 pages, 20 references

GA; OH;