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Edited by N O R M A N V. STEERE, 140 Melbourne Ave., S.E. Minneopolis, Minn., 55414
XXXVIII. Industrial Hygiene Problems Within Research Laboratories* P. G. RENTOS ond E. J. BAlER Traditionally, industrial hygiene has been associated with the evaluation and control of environmental stresses wibhin manufacturing industries. Industrial hygienists always have recognized a need to understand better the complex nature of industrial operations. Manufacturing processes are studied individually, eontaminants are isolated, the degree of hazard is measured, and nnnecessary or hazardous exposures are controlled. Although this pattern has not changed, the demand for greater industrial productivity and space exploration has opened new avenues of concern. Tadzy, the industrial hygienist faces new problems such as exposure of people to noise, microwaves, laser and maser radiations, propellants and chemicals, for example, those used to eliminate plant fungi from the nose cones of spece-explorationvehicles. Research installrttions, because they are constantly working on new products and processes, afford fertile grounds for study which can provide a better understanding of the future industrial health problems. Because of the availability of industrial and federal grants, research laboratories have mushroomed so that they challenge many manufacturing industries in terms of total persons employed. Industrial research installations employ a highly trained technical staff representing a substantial investment. Recognizing the need to serve the worker
duet? comprehensive evaluations of such installations. The purpose of such study is twofold: to assess the character of operations in terms of immediate hazards
-Editor's
Note: Mr. Bsier reports that the Pennsylvania. Stabe Department of Health has about 36 industrial hygienists, most of whom have looked a t one or mare research instdlations associated wit,h an industrial complex, but they don't get into research laboratories as often as they would like, part,icularly in noniudnstrial institutions. Most states and many cities also have indust,rial hygiene staffs who will be glad to visit, laboratories and provide a variety of services without charge.
Reprinted with permission from Public Heallh Reporls, 82, No. 1, (January, 1907).
to research personnel, and to gain knowledge about future stresses and air-wntamination haasrds in (,he manufact,nring and service industries.
Hazards Uncovered I n addition to educational insbit~~tions, the industrial research complex in Pennsylvania is of significant size. In 1963, spproximately 629 industrial estnblishments were actively engaged in some form of research. Research directors and personnel in these establishments generally have advanced degrees and are familiar with work hrtssrds, but they are not always familiar with proper safety and industrial hygiene techniques, especially involving chemicals mtside of their special fields. Most take adequate precautions, but some regard exposure to gmes like hydrogen sulfide or sulfur dioxide as harmless. Mercury cnntamination on the laborxtory bench and floor is, on occasion, taken for granted. I n one instance, s. Ph.D. chemist was not aware of the hazards msoaociated with the carcinogen, betanaphthylamine (ZNaphthylamine; Chemical Abstracts Registry No. 91598). On the other band, the business manager of the same instdl.llstion,who did not profess to be familiar with chemistry, was aware of the dangers. At another site a scientist wntraoted a severe dermatitis from handling neetone while preparing samples for observation with an electron microscope. This man was well informed about the dangers of ionizing radiation, but he did not know that acetone wuld harm his skin. At one location, graduate engineers designed custom electroplating plants. Glass tank plating baths were arranged on the floor in various confieuratians until the best material flow warachieved. Then varying strengths of solution and plating amperages were tried until a proper plating thickness was obtained. These operations were performed in 8. room 18.6 mZ(about 10 by 20 it), cluttered with rusty pipe, corroded tubing, and contaminated tools. Since there was no exhaust ventilation, the mists that formed resulted in eye irritation and .-c choking sensation. Research personnel are not oblivious to health hazards. They would be the first to wnfess that a certain technique causes severe headache or sneezing. A few me likely to ignore symptoms because they become so absorbed in what they are doing. They admit that they should take proper precautions. Because their
feature
Mr. P. G. Rentos, an industrial hygienist in the LXvision of Occopntiurml Health, Pnblic Health Service, Salt, Lnke City, Utah, was an industrisl hygienist with the Pennsylvania Ilepsrtment of Health, Hxrrishnrg, when this paper was prepared. Mr. E. J. Baier is chief of the Indnsbrial Hygiene Sertion, division of rrccnpntional health, Pennsylvsois Department of Health.
experiment is progressing so well, they simply do not take the time. Once thece research personnel are made aware of hazards, they become proponents of good hygienic practice, seeking the industr.ial hygienist's advice to help solve t,heir problems. A second kind of laboratory employee is t,he highly skilled technician assisting in advanced research. This employee is frequently unfamiliar with the toxic propert,ies of the chemicals he is handling. A visit to a chemical research laboratory revealed a teehnical-grade rodenticide being weighed ,under a makeshift exhaust hood eonst,ruet,edfrom a bottomless barrel and suspended below a n open propellertype fan. The torbulence created by this system served only to disperse the contaminant and increase personnel exposure. The employees who had constructed this so-called exhaust system were unaware that it could not work. I n another incident, a technician operated 8. home-made trichluroethylene degreaser constructed from a. kitchen sink. The draining board was equipped with a. series of infrared lamps which dried suspended metallic parts and evaporated the solvent from the open-sink well. A lengthy discussion wibh this technician as to t,he precautions to be used and the modifications required to make this system functional convinced him of the need to procure a commercial degreaser. S m h personnel are often surprised to learn that many oi the necessary safeguards are available commercially. research as such hut are exposed to its hazards. These include maintenance and janitorial workmen. Tearing down a lahoratory hood or repairing a ventilating system can result in serious chemical burns and systemic poisoning. A mercurywnts*minitted mop e m expose secretarial and other office personnel to hazards. Recently during a tour of s. facility, an industrial hygienist noticed an unlocked door a t the end of a dimly lit wrridor.
door opened to a, room a t a lower level,
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Volume 44, Number 6, June
1967
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Safety
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accessible only by a vertical ladder. The doorway could cause x seriotrs fall, arid the sitnation was qnirkly eorl.ect,ed when attention was directed lo it.
Benefits from Evaluation .\lany research iustallntions have wellinformed safety representatives. To,, ireqnentlg, however, theso persons are emphyed in only au ndvisory rapacity. Many do not have the authority to enforce safety practices, nor are they infovmrd of new projects and layrnll changes. Periodic inspections of reseawh facilities by trained industrial hygiwists from the %ate Boxnl teud to sflel~gthenthe safety engineer's position in his i,rganii.ation. Safet,y representative weler~mertssistance sral helpful suggestims from the irdnst,rial hygienist. A visit from a trained ohwrver is most necessary for small labo~.atol.ieswhich do not have, and probably could not afford, the services of persons versed in health protection and safety. The governmerrtal occnpetiond health program bencfits from this notvice to research laboratories by heing able to tool up f o ~ .future hhamrds in industry. Some of t,he solvent formrilations and new chemical linkages in plastics that have been identified in research laboratories are now coming into use in industrial plants. I n addition, some of the lasergenerating devices ohserved on t,he lahoratory bench when the evaluation prqjeet was first begun are now used in in dust.^. When the evah~ationproject was being considered irk 1984, many problems had to be examined a d ~.esolved. Research installation personnel are generally unfamiliar with the inspection procedures applied to industry. They are engaged in propriet.ary activities, m d it was feared that they might resent outside interference. They operate on tight timeschedoles which cnnnot ho internipted. Such persons, it was helievod, might resist and refuse advice from the ont,side altogether. Despite some apprehension, however, the evaluation project was initiated. Cuntrary to expectations, the service offered was gratefully accepted. Most research personnel are eager to discuss t,heir aetivities. They freely discuss means of minimizing their exposure to cont,sminants and listen to any suggestions given. They are willing to discuss errors and correct unhealthful sitoations. .\last of d l , research personnel appreciate learning whom to call for consultation and assistance. The east of occupational disease represents a significant expense to the employee, the employer, nod the general puhlie. Many famous research scientists have snffered from exposure to the prorlncts they have developed. It is not known, nor call it be estimated, how many research wol.kers have heen affected hy the materials and machines they have developed. Yet both from the humanitarian and t,he oeonomie standpoint., research installatims should he models of hedthfnl working e n v i m m e n t , ~ . Industrial hy-
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Safety
gienists have an important and essential role in protecting the health and well-being of the researcher.
XXXlX Registry of Adverse Reactions Due to Occupational Exposures The Council of Occupationnl Health of the American Aledical Association, thmugh its Committee on Occopational Toxicology, has approved a registry, of infomation on adverse reactions resulting from occupational exposures. Physicians whose specialty is occupational medicine are being asked to complete a brief report farm whenever bhey make an observation of an adverse reaction iram occupational exposure to chemical, physical, or biological agents. I t is believed that physicians will pravide such information to their professional sssoeiation in situations where they would hesitate to do so to s. government agency. The form devised for the report and the procedures governiug the use of the information are designed to guarantee con-
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fidentiality. The identity of the employer is not requested. The registry will serve as a cenlral repository for information storage, retrieval and dissemination to those interested in occupational health. Through the registry the Council will be able to contribute to the evaluation of toxic reactions resulting from specific occopationsl exposures and the development of guidelines designed to protect the healt,h of the working population. Often single cases of possible adverse effects of exposure mire not published because of reasonable dortbt of etiology, reticence to involve a specific company, lack of experience in writing articles or for other reasons. The registry will help to overcome these difficnlties and if adequately supported will allow more rapid collection of sr~fficientdata to estimate the probability of a casual relationship between specific exposure and adverse effects. Information developed from the registry in the form of tabulations or resumes, evaluated by the Committee on Occupational Toxicology, will he made mailable through publication in medical journals. The registry will offer opportunity for statistical and epidemiological studies, as well as information on polentisting effects of exposures to a combination of substances, including drugs. If an evaluation of a. pilot study indicates promising results, appropriate revision of the report form and procedures will be made and ultimately all physicians
will then he asked to participate in !he registry. It is hoped that nurses, 1 dostrial hygienists, toxicologists, and management will cooperate in supplying information t o physicians who make these reportn Only widesprewl participation can ensure success of the project.
-Editor's
Note:
Since the first occupational exposures to new clmnicsl, physical, and biological agents are likely to occur in the laboratmy, i t seems appropriat,e to reprint here an announcement of a system for reporting adverse reactions which may result from occupabional exposures. m e wish t,he .4merican Medical Association well in their efforts to elicit needed information on oecnpationsl exposures, wi1,h the hope that their dat.a and t,hat whieh can be reporbed from lahoratories will eventnslly he retrievable from the computer systems of the Sational 1,ibraly of Medicine and the Chemical Abstracts Service. Persons interested in obtaining copies of the form for reporting adverse reactions may write to: J. T. Siedlecki, Department of Oceupationd Health, American Medical Association, 535 North Dearborn St., Chicago, 111. 60610.
