Health-hazard-evaluation report HETA 88-357-2042, A. W. Cash Valve Manufacturing Corp. , Decatur, Illinois

In response to a request from the Allied Industrial Workers of America, an investigation was undertaken of possible hazardous working conditions at the A. W. Cash Valve Manufacturing Corp., Decatur, Illinois. The company manufactured precision valves, including those for cryogenic uses with oxygen. Stainless steel and brass castings were manufactured to their final form by a variety of machine processes including milling, drilling, lathe operations, and tapping on many types of machines with both wet and dry methods. There was potential employee exposure to lead with the five general area air samples ranging from 32 to 120 micrograms per cubic meter. The results for Freon-113 and trichloroethylene were all below allowable limits. Crystalline silica was not detected. The authors conclude that although the results of blood lead levels and erythrocyte protoporphyrin studies did not demonstrate excessive lead exposure, the dry machining processes present a potential for lead exposure. The authors recommend measures to limit the potential lead exposure from the dry machine processes.