US EPA

5096638 

Journal Article 

Solvent, Wood Dust, and Noise Exposure in a Decoy Shop 

Doney, BC; Fairfax, R 

1995 

Yes 

Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
ISSN: 1047-322X
EISSN: 1521-0898 

10 

5 

The results of an OSHA compliance survey of a small woodworking shop were discussed. The facility employed 54 workers and manufactured ornamental decoys, primarily wooden ducks from sugar-pine. A walk through survey of the facility found that workers were exposed to noise, wood dust, solvents, and isocyanates. The employer had never performed workplace monitoring to evaluate baseline worker exposures. Housekeeping was generally poor, accumulated wood dust being found throughout the facility. The ventilation system appeared to be inadequate for controlling worker exposures to dust and solvent vapors. The use of respirators varied. Workers using respirators had received no training in the proper selection and use of respirators. Although workers were observed wearing hearing protectors, they had not had baseline audiometric evaluations. No hearing conservation program was in place. Full shift industrial hygiene monitoring for benzene (71432), toluene (108883), xylene (1330207), hexone (108101), ethylbenzene (100414), formaldehyde(50000), methylethylketone (78933), and methylene-bis(phenylisocyanate) vapors, wood dust, and noise was performed. Solvent exposures ranged from 0.03 to 6.4 parts per million. None of the individual exposures exceeded the relevant standards. Wood dust exposures varied from 1.0 to 32.6mg/m3. The highest exposures occurred during hand sanding and spindle carving operations and exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists standard for softwood dust, 5mg/m3. Noise exposures ranged from 74 to 94 A-weighted decibels (dBA). All exposures except those associated with layout/bandsaw and assembly operations exceeded the OSHA action limit, 85dBA. The author notes that although this case resulted in many health and safety violations, the employer in the process of complying and expanding his business moved to a new location. A subsequent survey at the new location found that most of the hazards had been corrected: the ventilation system had been upgraded and a hearing conservation program had been implemented. Work practices and exhaust hoods were being used to control wood dust exposures.