In-Depth Survey Report: Styrene and Noise Exposures During Fiber Reinforced Plastic Boat Manufacturing at Larson/Glastron Inc., Little Falls, Minnesota

摘要

On September 19-24, 2004, researchers from the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch (EPHB) of the Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART) conducted an in-depth survey at Genmar Holdings, Inc. Larson/Glastron facility in Little Falls, Minnesota. The primary purpose of this survey was to assess the occupational exposures to styrene vapor in air and to evaluate the effectiveness of engineering exposure-control measures during fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) boat manufacturing operations. A secondary objective was to evaluate noise exposures during these operations. Production of fiberglass boats in Plant 7, the closed-mold plant, took place in three self-contained cells using a computer-controlled, automated, closed-mold process called Virtual Engineered Composites (VEC). The open-mold operation, Plant 6, differed greatly from the closed-mold process in terms of both equipment and labor required for production. In both Plants 6 and 7, personal and general area samples were collected for noise and styrene vapor exposures. For this report, effective engineering controls are those that maintain styrene exposures below the occupational exposure limits--the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV), or the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL).