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Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-90-0249-2381, Blaw Knox Rolls, Inc., Wheeling, West Virginia.

Burkhart JE; Paek D; Jajosky P

Morgantown, WV: 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 90-0249-2381, 1994 Jan; :1-41

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1990-0249-2381.pdf

00220123

In response to a request from the United Steelworkers of America, Local 3096, an investigation was begun into workplace exposures at the Blaw Knox facility (SIC-3321), Wheeling, West Virginia. The foundry produced rolls for both ferrous and nonferrous rolling mills. One of the major hazards found at the site was exposure to free crystalline silica (14808607). Of all personal and area samples taken, 42% exceeded the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Level for respirable quartz and 23% exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit. Overexposures were also noted to nickel (7440020), lead (7439921), chromium (7440473), sulfur-dioxide (7446095) and isopropyl-alcohol (67630). The respiratory health of 70% of the workers was examined, and pneumoconiotic changes with a median profusion reading of 1/0 or greater on the 12 point International Labor Organization scale were considered to be present on the chest x-rays of two of the workers. Obstructive lung function abnormalities were noted in 23% of the participants. No restrictive lung function abnormalities were noted. The authors conclude that a health hazard existed due to elevated levels of nickel, lead, chromium, sulfur-dioxide, isopropyl-alcohol and respirable free silica dust. The authors recommend that measures be taken to reduce these exposures. Medical surveillance should be provided for the workforce.

NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Health-Hazard-Evaluation; NIOSH-Technical-Assistance-Report; HETA-90-0249-2381; Hazard-Confirmed; Region-3; Foundry-workers; Metal-dusts; Dust-exposure; Occupational-exposure; Airborne-dusts; Respiratory-system-disorders; Silica-dusts; Toxic-gases; Author Keywords: Gray and ductile iron foundries; silica; nickel; chromium; lead; pneumoconiosis; silicosis; cough; phlegm; spirometry

14808-60-7; 7440-02-0; 7439-92-1; 7440-47-3; 7446-09-5; 67-63-0

19940101

Field Studies; Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance

1994

PB94-193695

A04

HETA-90-0249-2381

DRDS

3321

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

WV