Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 85-329-1708, R. T. French Company, Springfield, Missouri

摘要

An evaluation of workers exposure to ethylene-oxide (75218) and methyl-bromide (74839) was made. The facility employs 375 workers and was established exclusively for spice handling and manufacturing. Thirteen personal air samples for ethylene-oxide ranged in concentration from .01 to 1.07 parts per million (ppm). The three samples which exceeded the OSHA standard of 1ppm were from workers unloading sacks of sterilized spices from inside trucks. Twelve environmental air samples for ethylene-oxide ranged from less than .01 to 15ppm, with the highest being obtained from inside the trucks during unloading operations. No methyl-bromide was detected in personal samples on the packaging line and the two area samples on top of the tote bins in the fumigation room showed 12.5 and 45ppm. The author concludes that uncontrolled conditions which exist may result in exposure to the compounds; during this survey, the levels to which workers were exposed would not represent a health hazard. It is recommended that a means be devised to ventilate the trucks carrying spices during the trip from the contract sterilizer.