Industrial Hygiene Walk-Through Report, Southern Clay Products Inc. (Garren MineNo. 2), Allamore, Texas

摘要

As part of a larger study of the talc mining and milling industry (SIC-1499), theNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a walk-through survey at Southern Clay Products Inc. in Van Horn, Texas to gather data which would assist in characterizing talc (14807966) composition in the United States. Mining operations started at this site in 1958. Raw ore trucked from the mine was first crushed to 2 inches or less in size and loaded onto railroad cars for shipment or fed into a calciner for additional processing. Calcining heated the product to remove volatiles and moisture. The products were then shipped by rail as well. The health hazard of particular concern was exposure to excessive amounts of dust. Records on personnel were available from 1958 through the present time and all records were complete, including Social Security numbers and work histories. The report recommends that NIOSH-approved dust respirators be worn in dusty areas, that equipment such as first aid materials, hard hats, protective foot wear and safety glasses be provided and worn, and that roadways to and from the mines be wetted down or graded on a regular basis to eliminate dust hazards.