Health Hazard Evaluation Report 72-43-57: Fortune Industries Inc.: Chelsea, Michigan

Abstract

Environmental samples for airborne silica containing dusts are collected at seven different job areas involved in making abrasive chips, 18 samples for total dust and 16 samples for respirable dust. The substances evaluated include aluminum-oxide (1344281), silicon carbide, iron-oxide (1332372), quartz (14808607), and tremolite (14567738), and the standard concentration is given for each substance. The physical agent evaluated, noise, has a standard level of 90 decibels. The silica (7631869) dust levels are found to exceed the Federal silica standard in the aluminum oxide separation area, inspection and boxing area, material handling area, special refracting area, and batch-mixing area. The tremolite concentrations exceed the standard in the batch mix area. No radiographic or other evidence is found for any serious respiratory problem from the dusts, although much dust is found accumulated in workers' nose at the end of the day. Recommendations include replacement of tremolite by a non-fibrous material; installation of a local exhaust system on the vibrating screens and hoppers, improved housekeeping, provision of respirators and ear protectors, periodic medical examination, and introduction of a hearing correction program. [Description provided by NIOSH]Original title is missing part of the report number \u2013 full number is shown in alternate titl