Occupational asthma from Metal Working Fluid

Could I get feedback regarding your Sheild Report for the year 2002 regarding oil exposure and a CNC Operator being exposed. My partner was exposed to waterbased Castrol Magna BD68 & Cimperial HD809 in July 2001 as of 15th June 2004 he still suffers with the combination of formaldehyde biocides/tramp oil & bacteria mixed with metal dusts and the above oils. I know because I made him collect samples of the clean coolant & the literally stinking oily coolant of which he received 10 hours exposure when the absolent filtration system which was clogged up having never being cleaned since installation 2 years previous, we now have a fight on our hands as the company concerned went into liquidation as to avoid litigation (they've since started up under a different name) engineering & the HSE really need up kick up the tail there must be hundreds of men and women exposed to these oils who have no redress. Yes he's under a chest specialist at Southampton University Hosp but its destroyed so ma

Occupational Asthma, Worker, 2/20/2006, 2/20/2006,

There are many workers exposed to metalworking fluids. The most common are mixtures of oils with water (suds). These are good places for bacteria and fungae to grow, which is why biocides are added to keep them under control. The used oil can also dissolve metal from tools or workpieces, particularly cobalt in hard metal tipped tools. Most exposed workers have no problems; eye, nose and throat irritation are fairly common. There are a small number of workers who get allergic to constituents of the oils. Some react to biocides and deodorants in the clean oil, but reactions to the used oil is more common. As with most situations where occupational asthma occurs, the exposures are often within guideline limits. The most important thing is to establish that exposure to the coolants is the cause of the problem. Once this is established a responsible employer has a duty to review the risk assessment and manage the affected worker. I attach some references 1.Oxhoj H, Andreasen H, Henius UM. Respiratory symptoms and ventilsatory function in machine shop workers exposed to coolant lubricants. Eur J Respir Dis 1982;63 suppl 118:85-9. 2.Sjogren I, Hillerdal G, Andersson A, Zetterstrom O. Hard metal lung disease: importance of cobalt in coolants. Thorax 1980;35:635-9. 3.Kennedy SM, Greaves IA, Kriebel D, Eisen EA, Smith TJ, Woskie SR. Acute pulmonary responses among automobile workers exposed to aerosols of machining fluids. Am J Industr Med 1989;15:627-41. 4.Robertson AS, Weir DC, Burge PS. Occupational asthma due to oil mists. Thorax 1988;43(3):200-5. 5.Hendy MS, Beattie BE, Burge PS. Occupational asthma due to an emulsified oil mist. Brit J Industr Med 1985;42(1):51-4. 6.Ameille J, Wild P, Choudat D, Ohl G, Vaucouleur JF, Chanut JC, Brochard P. Respiratory symptoms, ventilatory impairment, and bronchial reactivity in oil mist-exposed automobile workers. Am J Industr Med 1995;27(2):247-56. 7.Karube H, Aizawa Y, Nakamura K, Maeda A, Hashimoto K, Takata T. Oil mist exposure in industrial health--a review. Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshie 1995;37(2):113-22. 8.Rycroft RJ. Soluble oil dermatitis. Clinical & Experimental Dermatology 1981;6(3):229-34. 9.Rycroft RJ. Bacteria and soluble oil dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 1980;6(1):7-9. 10.Wegman DH. Machining operations and associated machining fluid exposures: issues for health and safety intervention in manufacturing. American Journal of Industrial Medicine 1996;29(4):397-401. 11.Zacharisen MC, Kadambi AR, Schlueter DP, Kurup VP, Shack JB, Fox JL, Anderson HA, Fink JN. The spectrum of respiratory disease associated with exposure to metal working fluids. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine 1998;40(7):640-7.

2/20/2006