US EPA

1009701 

Technical Report 

Health Hazard Evaluation Determination, Report No. HHE-78-110-585, Piper Aircraft Corporation, Vero Beach, Florida 

Burroughs, GE 

1979 

NIOSH/00092150 

NIOSH 

HHE-78-110-585 

78-110 

Personal and area environmental samples were collected, and a walk through survey and interviews were conducted at the request of an authorized employee representative to determine if workers at the Piper Aircraft Facility (SIC-3079) in Vero Beach, Florida were exposed to potentially toxic substances. Approximately 150 employees in two departments who work with acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (9003569) plastic or use a resin fibrous-glass buildup technique were studied. Short term styrene (100425) concentrations exceeded OSHA criteria of 100 parts per million (ppm) for an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA). One of 13 long term samples for styrene was measured at 293ppm, which was above the recommended OSHA standard of 200ppm. Concentrations of methyl-alcohol (67561) (0.3 to 0.7ppm), acetone (67641) (7 to 117ppm), trichloroethylene (79016) (1.2 to 3ppm), butadiene (106990) (0.7 to 1.3ppm), total particulates (0.4 to 7.3 milligrams per cubic meter, mg/cu m), and acrylonitrile (107131) (0.8 to 1.4ppm) were below recommended OSHA maximum concentrations of 200ppm, 1,000ppm, 100ppm, 1,000ppm, 15mg/cu m, and 20ppm, respectively. Evaluation results indicate that some employees were exposed to potentially toxic short term concentrations of styrene. The author recommends the addition of local exhaust ventilation, a review of the effectiveness of existing ventilation systems, and maintenance of work practices that include the use of gloves and skin lotion to reduce skin dryness and irritation. 

DCN-180357; NIOSH Publication; NIOSH Author; HHE 78 110 585; Plastic products; Aircraft parts; NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation; Region 4; Hazard Confirmed; Toxic substances; Chemical exposure; Styrene resins; Personal air sampling; Air monitoring; Ventilation systems; Safety measures; Skin protective agents