Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 96-0135-2612, Eagle Knitting Mills, Inc.,Shawano, Wisconsin

摘要

In response to a request from the UNITE Local 1567 union, a health hazardevaluation was conducted at the Eagle Knitting Mills (SIC-2321), Shawano, Wisconsin. The facility manufactured a variety of garments such as sweat shirts, turtle neck shirts, t-shirts, and pants. About 85 workers were employed on site. The facility was housed in a single story building with nine ceiling exhaust fans used in the summer. Fabric types used include cotton, fleece, interlock, jersey, and lycra. Particular concern was expressed over exposures to formaldehyde (50000), spot remover, silicone spray, and fabric softner. Employees were experiencing asthma, wheezing, coughing, brochial inflamation, rashes, boils, and skin inflammation. Nine personal breathing zone air samples contained trace airborne formaldehyde concentration. Exposures to perchloroethylene (127184), trichlorethylene (79016), toluene (108883), xylene, (1330207) and hexane (110543) were below occupational exposure limits.