Evaluation of worker exposures to nickel during the plating, machining, and facrication [sic] of nickel plated metal

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assist a company involved in nickel plating, machining, and fabricating of nickel plated metal, in evaluating and reducing its employee exposure to nickel concentrations in the affected work areas. Monitoring was conducted to determine nickel concentrations experienced by operators in the plating, grinding, and laser welding areas. Operators in the laser welding area seemed to experience the greatest adverse effects of nickel exposure; therefore, follow-up sampling was performed in this area. Sampling results revealed one sample of exposure levels in excess of the current American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) published Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 1mg/m3. Nickel, however, is on the 1996-1997 “Notice of Intended Changes” list. The new proposed limit for nickel is 0.05 mg/m3. At this level seven of the samples would exceed the proposed TLV. Recommendations to achieve acceptable levels of the contaminant in the work areas were based on the sampling results and a detailed analysis of the literature reviewed.