Publication Date |
1972 |
Personal Author |
Dement, J. M.; Zumwalde, R. D. |
Page Count |
26 |
Abstract |
Worker exposures to fibrous glass (14808607), silica (7631869) dust, and fibrous talc (14807966) were surveyed on April 10 to 14, 1972, at Owens Corning Fiberglas (SIC-2221) in Newark, Ohio. The company employed about 2400 workers, 2000 of which were blue collar workers. On site medical facilities were available and were staffed by registered nurses. Preemployment medical examinations and periodic chest X-rays were provided. Safety glasses and hearing protection devices were available to the workers. In the wool area, concentrations of fibrous glass ranged from 0.00 to 0.83 fibers less than 10 microns per milliliter, and concentrations of dust were 1.0 to 35.7 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/cu m), with silica contents of 0.13 to 6.1mg/cu m. Dust concentrations in the glass batch house were 1.3 to 6.5mg/cu m with silica contents of 0.11 to 0.76mg/cu m. Concentrations of fibrous talc and dust in the paint house were 4.5 to 32.0 fibers greater than 5 microns per milliliter, and 1.8 to 7.0mg/cu m with silica contents of 0.1 to 1.1mg/cu m, respectively. Exposure standards for silica dust content are 0.1mg/cu m for respirable dust and 0.3mg/cu m for total dust; standards for talc and fibrous glass were not provided. The authors conclude that workers in all three areas of the facility are exposed to excessive silica dust concentrations, and workers in the paint house area also are exposed to excessive fibrous talc concentrations. They recommend improved ventilation, use of respirators, and strict enforcement of eye and hearing protection programs. |
Keywords |
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Source Agency |
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NTIS Subject Category |
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Corporate Authors |
National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH. Div. of Field Studies and Clinical Investigations. |
Document Type |
Technical Report |
NTIS Issue Number |
198125 |