Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 89-344-2157, Wiltech of Florida, Inc.,Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Rothe Development, Inc., Johnson Space Center, Texas

摘要

In response to a request from the International Association of Machinists andAllied Workers Union, an evaluation was made of possible hazardous exposures to 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (76131) (FC-113) during the cleaning of aerospace component parts at Wiltech of Florida (SIC-3471), located at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, and Rothe Development (SIC-3471) at Johnson Space Center, Texas. A total of 31 workers participated in an in-depth industrial hygiene/medical evaluation. Each wore a monitor to determine cardiac functioning while short term exposure measurements were made for FC-113. At Wiltech the 8 hour time weighted average (8-TWA) exposures for clean room workers ranged from 151 to 439 parts per million (ppm) while at Rothe similar measurements ranged from 70 to 935ppm. Means at each location were 274 and 271ppm, respectively. The 8-TWA readings for preclean workers at Wiltech ranged from 49 to 186ppm with a mean of 110ppm while corresponding measures at Rothe were 2 to 103ppm and 25ppm. During the performance of the sampling task, several exposures at both facilities exceeded 1250ppm, the OSHA short term exposure limit (STEL). No discernible effects were noted on the cardiovascular functions as measured by the heart monitor on these individuals when comparing data from exposure with nonexposure days. The author concludes that FC-113 exposures did not induce cardiac dysrhythmias or changes in cardiac activity. During the sampling task, several exposures exceeded the OSHA STEL. The author recommends specific measures to reduce exposures to FC-113.