A Pilot Assessment of Occupational Health Hazards in the US Electronic Scrap Recycling Industry.

ABSTRACT: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) surveyed a randomly selected sample of electronic scrap (e-scrap) recycling facilities nationwide to characterize work processes, exposures, and controls. Despite multiple attempts to contact 278 facilities, only 47 responded (17% response rate). Surveyed facilities reported recycling a wide variety of electronics. The most common recycling processes were manual dismantling and sorting. Other processes included shredding, crushing, and automated separation. Many facilities reported that they had health and safety programs in place. However, some facilities reported the use of compressed air for cleaning, a practice that can lead to increased employee dust exposures, and some facilities allowed food and drinks in the producti

SUBMITTER: Ceballos DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4527159 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature