| Abstract |
Worker exposure to respirable mineral fibers and metal fumes at U.S. Mineral Products (SIC-3296) in Stanhope, New Jersey was surveyed on December 11, 1974. The company employed 60 production and maintenance workers on three shifts a day for 5 days a week. There is no in-facility medical care. A physician was retained on a 24 hour call basis. There were no pre-employment or routine medical examinations and there was no industrial hygiene program. The raw materials used for producing mineral wool fibers were trap rock, limestone and dolomite. Local exhaust ventilation was provided at the fiber bagging and blending areas but was not efficient since considerable airborne dust was present. Airborne fiber concentrations ranged from 0.8 to 2.6 fibers per cubic centimeter in the blowing wool and fiber bagging area. Sixty five percent of the airborne fibers were respirable. Cobalt (7440484), chromium (7440473), manganese (7439965), nickel (7440020), and lead (7439921) were present in trace amounts. The author concludes that there was significant exposure to respirable mineral wool fibers and recommends better housekeeping practices, engineering controls, modern vacuum methods, the use of respiratory protection, installation of local exhausts, ventilation at all fiber bagging stations and the implementation of a medical surveillance program. |
