Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CHEMICAL

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to excessive airborne concentrations of 17 Beta Estradiol dust, an anticipated human carcinogen, which can cause depression, cardiovascular disease, reproductive system damage, harm to an unborn child, liver function abnormalities, and hair loss, and excessive airborne concentrations of Norgestimate, which can cause reproductive system damage and harm to an unborn child : a) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 886 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 30.5 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 453 minutes on November 29, 1999 by Environmental Health Investigations, Inc. in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. b) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 1086 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 37.4 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 480 minutes on November 29, 1999 by Environmental Health Investigations, Inc. in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. c) An employee, mechanic in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 997 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 34.4 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 628 minutes on November 29, 1999 by Environmental Health Investigations, Inc. in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. d) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 3924 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 135.3 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 471 minutes on November 30, 1999 by Environmental Health Investigations, Inc. in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. e) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 1440 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 49.7 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 402 minutes on November 30, 1999 by Environmental Health Investigations, Inc. in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. f) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 77 nanograms per cubic meter of Norgestimate or 1.9 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 40 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 480 minutes on November 30, 1999 by Environmental Health Investigations, Inc. in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. g) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 181 nanograms per cubic meter of Norgestimate or 4.5 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 40 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 471 minutes on November 30, 1999 by Environmental Health Investigations, Inc. in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. h) An employee, mechanic in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 2340 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 81 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 430 minutes on January 12, 2000 by IES Engineers in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method.i) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 294 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 10 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 425 minutes on January 12, 2000 by IES Engineers in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. j) An employee, operator in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 282 nanograms per cubic meter of 17-Beta Estradiol or 9.7 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 29 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 423 minutes on January 12, 2000 by IES Engineers in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. k) An employee, mechanic in Room 29, was exposed to airborne concentrations of 189 nanograms per cubic meter of Norgestimate or 4.7 times the 8-hour time weighted average Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 40 nanograms per cubic meter as established by the manufacturer. Sampling was conducted for 430 minutes on January 12, 2000 by IES Engineers in accordance with Kemper/Natlsco Laboratory Validated Method. Feasible abatement methods include, but are not limited to the following: 1) Inspect and maintain the current ventilation system to assure that it is performing as designed and determine additional system upgrades to reduce employee exposures below the Occupational Exposure Limit. 2) Install an automatic feeder system so that employees do not have to manually dump tablets into hopper. 3) Implement additional cleaning of all surfaces, and decontamination procedures following "dusty" operations. 4) Develop better work practices to limit exposure such as the emptying of the HEPA vacuum into a trash can. Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.tives