REDUCING EXPOSURES DURING THE POURING OPERATIONS OF A BRASS FOUNDRY

The focus of this exposure assessment and control technology study was a brass foundry and the lead exposures of workers involved in the tra nsportation and pouring of metal. Controls in place at the foundry inc luded ventilation systems at the furnace and along the continuous and stationary pouring lines. Real-time measurements were made to determin e which tasks were the primary exposure sources, and a hand-held aeros ol monitor was used to measure real-time aerosol exposures (as a surro gate for lead) in the workers' breathing zones. Data were collected ov er two 30-min sampling periods while worker activities were monitored using a video camera. Analysis of the data showed that the greatest ae rosol exposures occurred during the transportation of an unventilated full ladle, resulting in an average concentration of at least twice th at of the other tasks. The study concluded that the addition of exhaus t ventilation such as a moveable hood and duct system during the ladle transport and pouring tasks, and the implementation of a side draft h ood at the pigging area, could result in a reduction of worker exposur e to aerosols during the continuous pouring operation by up to 40%. Th e controls and techniques suggested in this study could be applied to pouring operations throughout the industry to reduce worker exposure t o metal fumes.