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Health Hazard Evaluation Determination Report 77-42-452, Cleaning House at the Wire Mill, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

PB278061

Publication Date	1977
Personal Author	Geissert, J. O.
Page Count	22
Abstract	A Health Hazard Evaluation investigation was conducted by NIOSH on February 9-10, and June 22-23, 1977, in the Wire Cleaning House of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The survey was prompted by a request from an authorized employee representative concerning exposure to toxic chemicals and alleging a high incidence of respiratory disorders among the employees. Exposure of employees to hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid exceeded accepted exposure limits, while exposure to carbon monoxide potentially exceeded accepted limits during the use of gasoline powered equipment. Medical interviews elicited symptomatology suggesting chronic respiratory disease in most of the crane operators and picklers, but its incidence correlated more closely with smoking history than with occupational exposure to acid mists and/or gases. One-third of the cranemen and picklers described premature tooth erosion and loss, while 44% of the workers in this group reported skin problems probably related to skin contact with the materials in use. Recommendations are made for reducing worker exposures.
Keywords	Inorganic acids Hazardous materials Industrial medicine Chemical cleaning Iron and steel industry Toxicity Criteria Inspection Smoking Standards Recommendations Industrial plants Dental caries Skin diseases Tables(Data) Industrial hygiene Industrial atmospheres Concentration(Composition) Medical examination Pennsylvania Respiratory diseases Hydrochloric acid Sulfuric acid Carbon monoxide Environmental surveys Occupational safety and health Toxic substances Bethlehem Steel Corporation Johnstown(Pennsylvania) Cigarette smoking Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 Threshold limit values Maximum permissible exposure level Air sampling
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 94D - Job Environment 68G - Environmental Health & Safety
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	197812

Health Hazard Evaluation Determination Report 77-42-452, Cleaning House at the Wire Mill, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Health Hazard Evaluation Determination Report 77-42-452, Cleaning House at the Wire Mill, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
PB278061

Publication Date	1977
Personal Author	Geissert, J. O.
Page Count	22
Abstract	A Health Hazard Evaluation investigation was conducted by NIOSH on February 9-10, and June 22-23, 1977, in the Wire Cleaning House of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The survey was prompted by a request from an authorized employee representative concerning exposure to toxic chemicals and alleging a high incidence of respiratory disorders among the employees. Exposure of employees to hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid exceeded accepted exposure limits, while exposure to carbon monoxide potentially exceeded accepted limits during the use of gasoline powered equipment. Medical interviews elicited symptomatology suggesting chronic respiratory disease in most of the crane operators and picklers, but its incidence correlated more closely with smoking history than with occupational exposure to acid mists and/or gases. One-third of the cranemen and picklers described premature tooth erosion and loss, while 44% of the workers in this group reported skin problems probably related to skin contact with the materials in use. Recommendations are made for reducing worker exposures.
Keywords	Inorganic acids Hazardous materials Industrial medicine Chemical cleaning Iron and steel industry Toxicity Criteria Inspection Smoking Standards Recommendations Industrial plants Dental caries Skin diseases Tables(Data) Industrial hygiene Industrial atmospheres Concentration(Composition) Medical examination Pennsylvania Respiratory diseases Hydrochloric acid Sulfuric acid Carbon monoxide Environmental surveys Occupational safety and health Toxic substances Bethlehem Steel Corporation Johnstown(Pennsylvania) Cigarette smoking Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 Threshold limit values Maximum permissible exposure level Air sampling
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 94D - Job Environment 68G - Environmental Health & Safety
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	197812