Preliminary Testing of the Modified Mail Pass and Biohazard Detection System for the Ventilation and Filtration System of the Automated Facer Canceller System at Siemens Postal Automation Facility, Arlington, TX

摘要

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a preliminary evaluation of the local exhaust ventilation at the delivery bins and a qualitative evaluation of the contaminant capture capabilities of the Biohazard Detection System (BDS) and Ventilation/Filtration System (VFS) for the Advanced Facer Canceller System (APCS). This evaluation was made on September 26, 2006 at Siemens in Arlington, Texas. The APCS was being modified for the United States Postal Service (USPS) by Siemens to meet USPS requirements and where possible reduce the potential for employee exposure to harmful substances that could be contained in mail processed by the equipment. The ventilation system for the APCS was designed to be used with a Biohazard Detection System (BDS) that samples and analyzes air from the APCS to determine if a biohazard is present. NIOSH has been evaluating Ventilation/Filtration Systems (VFS) for the USPS as a part of the USPS Emergency Preparedness Plan since January 2002. Evaluations were based on air velocity measurements and smoke release observations. Since the evaluation was only a preliminary test and Siemens was in the process of making additional modifications to the equipment, a full evaluation including sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as a tracer gas was not yet performed. The smoke release experiments showed that generally there is good capture by the VFS. Recommendations are made to further improve the control of potential contaminants by the APCS ventilation and filtration system.