Industrial Hygiene Survey of the Hanna Nickel Smelting Company, Riddle, Oregon

摘要

Worker exposures to airborne nickel (7440020) and free silica (7631869) were determined at the Hanna Nickel Smelting Company (SIC-3339), in Riddle, Oregon, on December 13 to 17, 1976. The company had a formal safety program and employed an environmental engineer. Medical services were furnished by a local clinic and workers trained in first aid. The smelter employed about 450 workers. Nickel concentrations ranged from 0.004 to 0.420 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/cu m), well below the OSHA standard of 1.0mg.cu m. Concentrations of cobalt (7440484), copper (7440508), lead (7439921), and chromium (7440473) all were below 0.01mg/cu m. Three of the 30 samples for respirable free silica exceeded the OSHA standard. The author notes that this facility might be suitable for inclusion in a proposed study of the health effects of personnel exposed to levels of insoluble nickel.