Industrywide Study of Hanna Nickel Smelting Co., Riddle, Oregon, Report No. IWS-63-11B

摘要

An industry wide survey report was presented concerning the Hanna Nickel Smelting Company located in Riddle, Oregon. Dust evaluations at the facility were carried out with two stage personal samplers and gravimetric analysis and chemical analysis for nickel (7440020) content. In the smelter building the concentration of free silica (7631869) in the respirable fraction of the dust was 3 percent while the corresponding figure for the crusher building was 14 percent. Over three fourths of the workers sampled were exposed to excessive dust levels. Exposure to nickel was quite low as determined by air sampling. However, analysis of urine indicated the content of nickel to be quite high, suggesting that ingestion was a route of entry for nickel into the body. Analysis of noise levels indicated that exposure was excessive in the low frequency range. Heat stress at the facility involved primarily radiant heat exposure. Reflective shielding was not used. Exposure, while not continuous, was excessive when it occurred.