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Exposure assessment in auto collision repair shops
Anca Bejan1, Lisa M Brosseau, David L Parker
1Park Nicollet Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416, USA. anca.bejan@parknicollet.com
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
|June 11, 2011
Summary
Auto collision workers face hazards like dust, noise, and solvents. While dust and solvent exposures were below limits, some noise levels exceeded guidelines, indicating potential risks during high production periods.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Industrial Hygiene
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Auto collision repair workers encounter various chemical and physical hazards.
- Previous research primarily assessed isocyanate exposure, leaving gaps in understanding dust, noise, and solvent exposures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot test sampling methods for an intervention study in small auto collision repair businesses.
- To assess worker exposures to dust, noise, and solvents.
- To gather preliminary data on the effectiveness of hearing protection devices.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 3-day sampling for full-shift and task-specific dust and solvent exposures in four small auto collision repair businesses.
- Measured full-shift personal noise exposures and tool-specific noise levels.
- Distributed and collected feedback on banded earplugs from employees.
Main Results:
- Dust and solvent exposures remained below Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).
- While overall noise exposure doses were below the OSHA PEL, 4 out of 18 measurements exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH®) Threshold Limit Value (TLV).
- Most tools generated noise levels above 85 dBA, with several exceeding 90 dBA, and banded earplugs showed user comfort.
Conclusions:
- Noise exposure is a significant concern in auto collision shops, with potential for exceeding 8-hour time-weighted averages above 85 dBA during peak production.
- Dust and solvent exposures are less likely to approach OSHA limits under normal conditions.
- Pilot findings will inform health and safety intervention strategies for the auto collision repair industry.
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