The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a request from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to evaluate baggage handler's exposures to carbon monoxide (CO) in the day area of the Baggage Handling facility of Northwest Airlines located in Memphis, Tennessee. The request stated that baggage handlers experienced symptoms of watery, itchy eyes and unspecified respiratory problems believed to be associated to exhaust emissions of vehicles used to transport passenger baggage. On April 1-3, 1997, a NIOSH health hazard evaluation (HHE) was conducted that included 29 personal breathing-zone (PBZ) measurements using real-time and colorimetric dosimeters to assess CO exposures among baggage handlers. A real-time area for a 24-hour period to characterize general room concentrations. A copy of a confidential symptoms questionnaire was distributed to each baggage handler to gather background and baseline information about the prevalence of reported health effects. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), ventilation blueprints, and OSHA Log and Summary of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA 200 logs) for the previous two years were requested and reviewed.
Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 97-0079-2658, Northwest Airlines, Memphis, Tennessee
1997
18 pages
Report
No indication
English
Public Health & Industrial Medicine , Environmental Health & Safety , Air Pollution & Control , Health hazard evaluations , Occupational safety and health , Baggage handlers , Carbon monoxide , Occupational exposures , Air pollution , Exhaust emissions , Questionnaires , Memphis(Tennessee) , Northwest Airlines