Health Hazard Evaluation Report: HHE-2013-0016-3258, August 2016. Evaluation of Respiratory Concerns at a Coal and Copper Slag Processing Company.

摘要

In September 2012, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health received a management request for a health hazard evaluation at a coal slag processing facility in Illinois. Management submitted the health hazard evaluation request as part of a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected one of the company’s coal processing facilities in 2010 and identified multiple health and safety violations and a suspected cluster of pneumoconiosis in four former workers. As part of the settlement, the company requested a health hazard evaluation to determine if cases of pneumoconiosis were present in current workers and assess dust hazards. We evaluated airborne exposures during coal and copper slag processing. We took air samples for the analysis of dust, silica, and metals to investigate respiratory concerns. Overall, copper slag processing produced higher levels of dust, silica, and metals compared to coal slag processing, but both processes posed health risks. We recommend employee exposure monitoring and a formal respiratory protection program.