In-depth survey report: control technology for removing lead-based paint from steel structures: power tool cleaning at Muskingum County, Ohio, bridge MUS-555-0567 and MUS-60-3360, Olympic Painting Company, Inc., Youngstown, Ohio, report no. CT-183-16a.
Authors
Mickelsen-RL; Farwick-KR
Source
NIOSH 1995 Nov; :1-12
Abstract
Exposure to lead (7439921) was monitored during the use of hand held power tools for the removal of lead containing paint from two bridges by the Olympic Painting Company, Inc., (SIC-1721), Youngstown, Ohio. The tools used included an electric wire brush and a pneumatic hammer to chisel away at the paint. Two workers used 4 inch hand scrapers as well to remove paint from small, isolated bridge parts. Compressed air was used by one worker. Two samples of tightly held bridge paint contained 30% lead by weight. The deteriorated paint samples contained an average of 16% lead by weight. The power wire brush operator's personal breathing zone concentration of lead was 2,500 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/m3) at one site and 5,000microg/m3 at another. The pneumatic hammer operator's exposures were 190 and 220microg/m3. Corresponding figures for hand scrapers ranged from 18 to 440microg/m3. The blower operator's exposures were 54 and 390microg/m3 at the two sites. Total dust concentrations of 4,700 and 700 microg/m3 were collected under the bridges at the two sites. The inhalable lead concentration was 150microg/m3 and the inhalable dust concentration was 42,000microg/m3 at one site. The authors recommend that a comprehensive lead protection plan be implemented including respirator selections. They also recommend improving personal hygiene at the sites and cleaning of vehicles to reduce contamination inside and lower the risk of taking home lead to expose the families of the workers.
Keywords
NIOSH-Author; NIOSH-Survey; Field-Study; CT-183-16a; Region-5; Control-technology; Lead-dust; Dust-exposure; Construction-industry; Power-tools; Occupational-exposure
Document Type
Control Technology; Field Studies
NTIS Accession No.
PB96-191887
Identifying No.
CT-183-16a
Priority Area
Control-technology
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
