US EPA

1516183 

Journal Article 

In-Depth Survey Report of Valley Chrome Platers, Bay City, Michigan 

Mortimer, VD, Jr 

1982 

19821982 

An indepth survey was conducted at Valley Chrome Platers (SIC-3471), Bay City, Michigan, in April and May 1981 to evaluate measures used to control occupational health hazards in with the metal plating industry. The two sided local exhaust ventilation systems for the hard chrome (7440473) (Cr) plating tanks were evaluated on eight tanks. Area and personal air samples were collected for Cr, hexavalent-chromium (18540299), and sulfuric-acid (7664939). Ventilation airflow and tank dimensions were measured. Workers wore hard hats, safety glasses, and steel toed shoes. Gloves were used much of the time. Work clothes were supplied and cleaned by the shop. All large pieces were lifted by powered, overhead hoists. Ambient contaminant concentrations were lowered by the make up air provided, allowing the local exhaust ventilation to work at maximum efficiency. Personal time weighted averages of Cr and sulfuric-acid concentrations were below both OSHA permissible exposure limits and NIOSH standards. Sampling did not correlate well with plating activity, indicating the effective limitation of acid mists into the air. The author recommends the use of small floating plastic spheres over tank surfaces to control plating emissions. 

DCN-119952; NIOSH Publication; NIOSH Author; Control technology; Work practices; Worker health; Air sampling techniques; Sampling methods; Workplace studies; Industrial hygiene; Air sampling; Region 5; 7440-47-3; 18540-29-9; 7664-93-9