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CISDOC database
| Document ID (ISN) | 77153 |
| CIS number |
01-1176 |
| ISBN(s) |
91-7045-308-X |
| Year |
1995 |
| Convention or series no. |
Arbete och hälsa 1995:14
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| Author(s) |
Andersson I.M. |
| Title |
Controlling the occupational exposure of hand lay-up workers to styrene by the choice of ventilation, polyester and work practices |
| Bibliographic information |
Arbetslivsinstitutet, 171 84 Solna, Sweden, 1995. 40p. Illus. 53 ref. |
| Abstract |
Occupational exposure to styrene is a health risk to workers during the lamination of glass fibre-reinforced products, because approx. 10% of the styrene escapes during the hardening process. The occupational exposure level (OEL) for styrene in Sweden today is 20ppm (10ppm for new and renovated plants). This study looked at three ventilation options designed to reduce the risk: supply-air and air-exhaust ventilation, "air shower" ventilation, and horizontal displacement ventilation, adapted to the size and shape of the products. All three of these ventilation options was successful in reducing exposure to styrene during the hand lamination of products to below 10ppm. This success, however, depended on employees being familiar with the system. An alternative method of exposure reduction was also studied: that of using low styrene emission (LSE), as opposed to standard (STD), polyester. Laboratory tests with LSE polyester showed significant reductions (18ppm as opposed to 29ppm with STD) in mean exposure during lamination on a mould, but no reduction at all during lamination work on a table. In actual workplace tests, no significant reductions in exposure could be found at all when LSE polyester was used. Finally, the article describes a method for reducing styrene exposure based on the identification of work steps resulting in high exposures and on the modelling of the fluid dynamics of the work room. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
glass fibre reinforced plastics; styrene; plastics converting industry; exposure evaluation; ventilation |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
polyesters; local exhaust |
| Document type |
E - Books, reports, proceedings |
| Country / State or Province | Sweden |
| Subject(s) |
Chemicals, plastics and rubber
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| Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
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| Browse category(ies) |
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Ventilation
Exposure evaluation
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