OSHA Hazard Information Bulletins
July 12, 1991
| MEMORANDUM FOR: |
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS |
| |
| THRU: |
LEO CAREY
Director
Office of Field Programs |
| |
| FROM: |
THOMAS J. SHEPICH
Director
Directorate of Technical Support |
| |
| SUBJECT: |
Hazard Information Bulletin - Adverse Effects to
Workers Exposed to Photo-copying Machine Chemical Exhaust |
The Directorate of Technical Support issues Hazard Information Bulletins
(HIBs) in accordance with OSHA Instruction CPL 2.65 to provide relevant
information regarding unrecognized or misunderstood safety and health
hazards, inadequacies of materials, devices, techniques, and engineering
controls. HIBs are initiated based on information provided by the field
staff, studies, reports and concerns expressed by safety and health
professionals, employers, and the public. Information is compiled based on a
thorough evaluation of available facts, literature and in coordination with
appropriate parties. HIBs do not necessarily reflect OSHA policy.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Toxic Substances has
reports(1,2) on a number of potential health hazards associated with
employees' exposure to exhaust from prototype pre-production copying machines
and experimental copying media. The off-gassing chemicals were generated in
the course of experimental procedures using acrylate, alkylphenol,
substituted aniline (OSHA TWA-2ppm) and aldehyde (formaldehyde OSHA TWA-3ppm)
In a 1988 incident at a Research and Development (R & D) laboratory, five
employees experienced nose bleeding. The employees were running prototype
(non commercial) pre-production copying machines with no filters. The
laboratory ventilation was minimal. In a 1990 incident, three employees of a
R & D coating crew section experienced intermittent nose bleeding; two had
headaches and one had a "raw" throat feeling. This incident occurred
following exposure to off-gassing from the test chemicals while processing
receiver sheets and images in a laboratory oven. The reports obtained from
EPA stated that the ventilation system was not functioning properly.
When the above listed chemicals are exposed to a temperature of 130 to
150(o)C, off-gassing may occur. Exposures to such off-gassing may cause
employees to experience nose bleeding, "raw" throat feeling and perhaps
headaches. This may occur when the copying units are not equipped with
filters and unit locations are not properly ventilated.
No personal exposure measurements were taken at the time of either incident.
It is not known at this time if the health effects are due to over exposure
to a particular chemical or the combined effect of a number of chemicals.
The Research and Development occurrences have been resolved by using
appropriate filters or ventilation. Company reports indicate no complaints
have been received since these changes were made.
Please distribute this bulletin to all Area Offices, State Plan States and
Consultation Project Officers.
REFERENCES
1) Environmental Protection Agency, Document number 8EHQ-1094, October 12,
1990.
2) Environmental Protection Agency, Document number 8EHQ-0668 October 12,
1990.
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