Importance of Proper Protective Clothing During Cleanup of
a Hazardous-Waste Site -- Pennsylvania
The unauthorized dumping of hazardous-waste materials at
various
locations throughout the country has resulted in toxic exposures in
the surrounding areas. On October 11, 1983, three workers employed
to
clean up a hazardous-waste dump site in Pennsylvania complained of
dizziness, nausea, and headaches. One of the workers was
hospitalized
for observation and was later released. The Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA) requested an investigation by the National Institute
for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (1).
This site contained approximately 650 55-gallon drums that had
been dumped without authorization at a former municipal landfill in
the state. At the time of cleanup, most drums were crushed,
perforated, riddled with bullet holes, and in various stages of
decay. The cleanup involved removing these drums to an area where
their contents could be tested for further disposal.
During the cleanup operation, each worker wore borrowed
polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) clothing and a self-contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA) for protection. All three workers noticed a "sweet" smell
as
they worked. The SCBAs were new, and in a thorough evaluation
after
the incident, each was found to be functioning properly.
On October 12, analytical chemists from NIOSH evaluated several
specimens from the outside of the protective clothing of the
hospitalized worker. The primary contaminants were identified as
methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), toluene, and
xylene. Swab samples from inside this worker's protective clothing
showed the presence of MIBK. Based on these findings, NIOSH
recommended that a less permeable type of protective clothing be
used. The recommendation was implemented, and no further incidents
were reported.
Reported by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry;
Hazard
Evaluations and Technical Assistance Br, Div of Surveillance,
Hazard
Evaluations, and Field Studies, Measurements Research Support Br,
Div
of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Injury Prevention Research
Br,
Div of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety
and
Health, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: Such unauthorized dumping of hazardous-waste
materials as reported here results in toxic exposures, not only to
the
surrounding community, but also to workers employed to clean up
these
sites. To protect workers at hazardous-waste sites, an extensive
health and safety program is required that includes environmental
monitoring, proper use of protective equipment, good work
practices,
selected engineering controls, and appropriate medical monitoring
(2). As part of an interagency agreement with the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry, NIOSH evaluates occupational
safety
and health programs that have been implemented for selected
hazardous-waste sites around the country. The cleanup personnel at
the site discussed above were under contract with EPA.
Previous studies by NIOSH at hazardous-waste sites have
documented
only low-level air exposures to a variety of contaminants (3-4).
These evaluations, however, did not assess high, short-term air and
skin exposures from splashing.
During this cleanup all three workers were wearing PVC
protective
clothing that has been shown to be quite permeable to most organic
solvents. Therefore, the repeated contact with the solvents
present
at this site probably led to their permeating the clothing and
being
absorbed through the skin. The symptoms (dizziness, nausea,
headaches) these workers experienced are compatible with acute
exposure to these solvents. Additionally, although the SCBAs used
in
the present incident were working properly, improper wearing or
fitting of the devices may have resulted in leakage of air
contaminants around the mask and into the workers' breathing zones.
References
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Health
hazard evaluation report no. HETA 84-010-1445. Cincinnati,
Ohio:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1984.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Coast
Guard,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Occupational safety and
health guidance manual for hazardous waste site activities.
Cincinnati, Ohio: National Institute for Occupational Safety
and
Health, 1985. (HHS (NIOSH) publication no. 85-115.)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Health
hazard evaluation report no. HETA 83-417-1357. Cincinnati,
Ohio:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1983.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Health
hazard evaluation report no. HETA 80-077-853. Cincinnati,
Ohio:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1981.
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