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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-92-0360-2372, Ackerman and Sons, Littleton, Colorado.

McCammon CS; Goldfield J

Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HETA 92-0360-2372, 1993 Nov; :1-20

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1992-0360-2372.pdf

00218688

In response to a request from the owner, an investigation was begun into methylene-chloride (75092) (MeCl) exposures at Ackerman and Sons (SIC-7641), Littleton, Colorado. The facility was a furniture refinishing shop. Work at the shop included paint stripping, furniture repair, refinishing, and recovering. Five refinishers were employed at the site, and usually spent only a few hours stripping per week, but occasionally stripped 3 to 4 hours in one day. Personal exposures to MeCl ranged from 83 to 523 parts per million (ppm) with a time weighted average figure of 2.4 to 177ppm. Exposures to methanol (67561) ranged from 39 to 95ppm. A significant lowering of airborne concentrations of stripping compounds was noted after the stripping booth was enclosed and ventilated. Personal MeCl exposures ranged from 10 to 110ppm and 8 hour time weighted averages ranged from 0.7 to 31ppm. Exposures to MeCl and methanol resulted from leaving furniture to dry in unventilated areas, poor work practices, and limitations on design parameters for the ventilation system as well as poor housekeeping practices. The authors conclude that methylene-chloride exposures did not exceed the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit of 500ppm; NIOSH recommends that exposures be maintained at the lowest feasible concentration. The authors recommend that worker exposures to methylene-chloride be lowered.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-92-0360-2372; Hazard-Unconfirmed; Region-8; Furniture-repair; Solvent-vapors; Chlorinated-hydrocarbons; Exhaust-ventilation; Author Keywords: Reupholstery and Furniture Repair; methylene chloride; furniture stripping; methanol; exhaust ventilation

75-09-2; 67-56-1

19931101

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1994

PB94-165131

A03

HETA-92-0360-2372

DSHEFS

7641

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

CO; OH