US EPA

1751987 

Technical Report 

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-85-295-1907, General Electric Carboloy Systems, Detroit, Michigan 

Burr, G; Sinks, TH 

1988 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

Cincinnati, OH 

HETA-85-295-1907 

English 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/85-295-1907.pdf
Exit
 

In response to a request from Local 771 of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, a study was made of possible hazardous working conditions at the General Electric Carboloy Systems (SIC-3369), Warren, Michigan. At this site 14,000 different tungsten-carbide and steel products were produced. Environmental and medical surveys were conducted in several of the buildings at the work site. The studies indicated a hazard to some employees in building 6 from cobalt (7440484) exposures. An automated system was being implemented in this building to perform operations such as powder weighing, milling, screening, and spray drying, in enclosed vessels. These operations were performed manually under local exhaust ventilation. The greatest exposures occurred to individuals who did not wear a particle mask and were determined to be 24.6 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/m3). The authors conclude that a hazard existed from airborne exposure to cobalt. The authors recommend that single use disposable respirators be replaced by half mask or full face respirators; that the respiratory protection program be redesigned; that smoking, eating, and drinking be prohibited when toxic materials are present; and workers be evaluated for early detection of pneumoconiosis. 

PB89121008