Walk-Through Survey Report, Western Electric Company, Atlanta Service Center, Atlanta, Georgia

摘要

A walk through survey was conducted at the Western Electric Company (SIC-3661), Atlanta, Georgia, in May 1982 in an effort to locate a suitable cohort for studies of the potential health effects of glycol ethers. The facility employed 325 production workers; 150 occasionally used the 2-ethoxyethanol (110805) solvent. Air and blood serum samples were obtained to determine exposures to 2-ethoxyethanol. The OSHA standard for the solvent is 200 parts per million (ppm). Personnel records were maintained for terminated employees for approximately 3 years. All records went back 8 years. Industrial hygiene functions were implemented from the regional office of the company. Safety program functions were implemented by the safety manager. Personal protective equipment included safety glasses and shoes, and respirators in the spray painting area. There was a written safety program manual. A physician was assigned to the facility 2 days per week, and a full time nurse was available. Preemployment physical examinations were provided. No environmental monitoring data was available on solvent exposures. Personal breathing zone concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 0.58 ppm, well below existing or proposed standards. Solvents in blood samples were below the limits of detection. The author concludes that exposures of employees to the solvent were very low.