Occupational dermatitis in the manufacture of color television tubes

An outbreak of dermatitis occurred in the Flow Coat sector of a large and modern color television factory. After investigating the working procedures in this area, a risk of contamination of the skin and clothing with ammonium dichromate was found when ammonium dichromate was weighed and mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). All of the workers involved in this process were clinically examined; 9 of 18 showed dermatitis to the back of the hands and forearms. Three of these workers were transferred from the sector and were cured of their dermatitis. Patch tests were carried out using 40 allergens, including those used in the Flow Coat process. The tests for PVA and for the phosphorescent blue, green, and red pigments gave negative results at the three concentrations tested. A high incidence of sensitization was found; 9 of 18 (50%) of the workers were found to be sensitized to ammonium dichromate, which is used as a fixer. The preventive measures adopted consisted of improving the quality of the personal protective equipment (PPE) and transferring the weighing and mixing of dichromate to the company laboratory. During the next 18 months, there were no new cases of dermatitis in the Flow Coat sector.