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Control of workplace hazards in chromium plating and acid cleaning operations.
Plating Surf Finish 1985 Jan; :42-48
A survey was conducted at various electroplating facilities to determine the occupational hazards present and evaluate safety measures used to control them. Thirty facilities were surveyed, eight of them in depth. Work area samples were collected to determine exposure to chromium (7440473), sulfuric-acid (7664939), nitric-acid (7697372) and nitric-oxide (10102439), hydrochloric-acid (7647010), and hydrofluoric-acid (7664393). The concentration of contaminants around chromium tanks was dependent upon the exhaust rate of the tank, and the average chromium concentration decreased dramatically if the tanks were covered. No facilities were found to contain concentrations of chromium, nitric-acid or sulfuric-acid above those recommended by NIOSH and OSHA. The acid cleaning tanks that were examined had exhaust ventilation, but none had covers or were air agitated. Poor safety practices that were observed included not using proper protective clothing, standing on the acid plating tanks, and the use of portable fans. The authors conclude that facilities using a ventilation system that meets the guidelines published in the American Industrial Ventilation manual will have acceptable emissions levels.
Factory-workers; Occupational-hazards; Occupational-exposure; Safety-equipment; Safety-practices; Chromium-compounds; Electroplaters
7440-47-3; 7664-93-9; 7697-37-2; 10102-43-9; 7647-01-0; 7664-39-3
Plating and Surface Finishing
Page last reviewed: September 2, 2020
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division