Walk-Through Survey Report at Merck, Sharp and Dohme, West Point, Pennsylvania

摘要

Worker exposure to dexamethasone (50022) were studied at Merck, Sharp and Dohme in West Point, Pennsylvania, on March 21, 1979. The company was under consideration for inclusion in a NIOSH study of the health effects of occupational exposure to adrenocortical steroids. Approximately 161 of the employees at the facility were exposed to dexamethasone during receiving, granulation, compressing, fluid manufacture, and packaging operations. The company had a formal safety and industrial hygiene program. Medical services were furnished by two full-time and one part-time physician, as well as eight full-time nurses. The authors conclude that of the operations surveyed, the granulation process entails the greatest potential for exposure to dexmethasone, although the infrequency of the dexamethasone granulation process and the short exposure period would make any quantitative assessment of exposure difficult. Detection of biological effects would also be doubtful for similar reason. He recommends that this work force should be included in the dexamethasone hazard study.