Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
5097388 
Technical Report 
Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA-85-029-1675, J.R. Simplot Company, Helm, California 
Belanger, P 
1986 
HETA-85-029-1675 
12 
English 
Following a request from a Chemical Workers Union representative concerning excessive dust exposures at the J.R. Simplot Company (SIC-2874), Helm, California, total nuisance dust air concentrations were measured during fertilizer, ammonium-sulfate (7783202) and ammonium-phosphate (7783280, 7722761), bagging and bulk loading. Four samples showed nuisance dust concentrations ranging from a no dust concentration to 0.38 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3), none of which exceeded the CAL-OSHA standard of 10.0mg/m3. At a follow-up survey, six environmental air samples collected ranged from 2.55 to 11.1 mg/m3, one of which exceeded the CAL-OSHA nuisance dust standard. The author concluded that a potential health hazard exists due to nuisance dusts. The greatest potential for exposure occurs when the front end loader operator quickly dumps the fertilizer from the loader onto the floor grating, creating a dust cloud. It was recommended that the front end loader should be reminded to slowly dump the fertilizer onto the floor grating to help control dust generation; that a method be devised to remind the operator to turn off the wax atomizer spray system to control dust exposure when the conveyor line is turned on to do bulk loading of fertilizer; that workers close the screen doors after inspecting or cleaning the screens; and employees who wear disposable respirators be qualitatively fit tested to assure a good face to piece seal.