The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is responsible for conducting research and making recommendations on national worker safety issues. They recently shared findings from a series of site visits conducted between 2012 and 2013. As part of the site visits, NIOSH collected air, surface and blood samples and interviewed about a quarter of facility employees to identify necessary health and safety improvements. The findings showed health concerns regarding lead exposure were justified:

• Two company employees engaged in “maintenance or in the CRT processing area” had elevated blood lead levels;
• One employee was found to be overexposed to lead in the air;
• Lead was also detected on the clothing and skin of employees as well as on surface areas throughout the facility. 

Noise and ergonomic assessments were also carried out during NIOSH’s visits. The report states that both of these areas could stand to improve:

• 7 of 13 employees were exposed to noise levels above national workplace standards;
• Employees were observed working in “awkward,” strenuous and potentially dangerous positions.

A 13-point list of recommendations was drawn up to respond to NIOSH’s concerns, including updating the ventilation system, segregating CRT glass breaking areas and a remodeling of facility work stations and procedures to ensure worker safety.

For more information about the recent study, please visit Resource Recycling.