In-depth survey report: the control of methylene chloride in furniture stripping at Association for Retarded Citizens, Washington County Chapter, Inc., Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

A study was made to document and evaluate effective techniques for the control of potential health hazards involved in furniture stripping activities at the Association for Retarded Citizens located in Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania. The research was prompted by the growing concern of the hazards of methylene-chloride (75092) exposure as used in the stripping process. Under the existing ventilation system the worker's exposure to methylene chloride was 600 to 1150 parts per million (ppm). A new ventilation system was installed. The installed ventilation system was designed to be configured and tested using three different hoods: slot, downdraft, and a combination of the two. The important ideas in the new system were: providing adequate make up air for the furniture stripping area; removing the charcoal filters; discussing improved work practices with the workers; and redesigning the ventilation system so that it was as close as possible to the exposure sources. The final configuration of the system reduced the exposures to a geometric mean of 25ppm.