TABLE IV.
Characterization of Isocyanate-Induced Asthma Cases Identified Through a Surveillance System
| ID | Job Title | NAICS | Process (Isocyanate) | Respiratory Protection | Asthma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missile Craftsman | 541330 | Paint, industrial: Acute exposure from isocyanate spill in mix room. Otherwise assemble, disassemble and repair missiles. | Respirator used, type not specified. | NOA |
| 2 | Painter, industrial equipment | 336612 | Paint, industrial: Auto painting, heavy industrial equipment. | Had used APR. Began using a SAR at symptom onset. | NOA |
| 3 | Painter, concrete coating | 238320 | Paint, industrial coating (MDI): Line inside of city sewer pipe with coating; Assistant to main sprayer. | Half mask, SAR used inconsistently -indirect exposure. | NOA |
| 4 | Painter, industrial journeyman | 924110 | Paint, industrial coating: Applied spray coatings in a construction setting. | ‘Full’ PPE required when spraying product; injured worker felt exposure came from handling containers in storage area, when no PPE used. | NOA |
| 5 | Painter, industrial signs | 238320 | Paint, signs Spray coat aluminum signs in spray booth with four to five other workers; spray large signs. | Dust mask | NOA |
| 6 | Painter and sign fabricator | 339950 | Paint, signs: Unknown process. Records state respirator was often removed to facilitate breathing | APR | WAA |
| 7 | Painter | 325510 | Paint (polyurethane): Process not specified, various coating applications inside booth. | Half-face occasionally worn. | NOA |
| 8 | Forklift driver | 313230 | Foam manufacture (TDI): Transport foam buns, using forklift, between cure and ship areas of manufacturing plant. Did not work directly with TDI. | None used – indirect exposure. | NOA |
| 9 | Equipment technician | 325510 | Foam manufacture (MDI, TDI and HDI): Worker cleaned spray guns and performed other duties. Foam mfg. occurred inside spray booths. | Occasionally wears half face APR and PAPR – indirect exposure. | NOA |
| 10 | Assembler | 326199 | Foam packing (MDI): Assemble small machines; spray packing foam around them for protection during shipment. Foam is applied inside a booth, but boxes cure on open floor. | Unknown | Unk |
| 11 | Aerospace assembler | 332999 | Foam packing (TDI): Build and solder mechanical boxes; surround boxes with foam spray for protection during shipping. | Unknown | WAA |
| 12 | Assistant, residential foam insulator | 238310 | Foam insulation (MDI): Assist application in small residential attic, no ventilation. | Dust mask at first SOB episode, APR at second episode. Indirect exposure. | RADS |
| 13 | Unknown | 336411 | Adhesive: Spray aircraft doors. | Unknown | NOA |
| 14 | Interiors mechanic | 336411 | Adhesive: Spray aircraft panels. | Unknown | NOA |
| 15 | Mgr. and Sprayer, truck bed linings | 811121 | Truck bed liner (MDI): Mix and spray truck bed linings. Worker suspected that exposure while vehicle unmasking contributed to his exposure. | APRs and PAPR for 2.5 years, then SAR for the last 9 months. | NOA |
| 16 | Sprayer, truck bed linings | 811121 | Truck bed liner (MDI): Mix and spray truck bed linings. | Full face SAR. Faulty air supply to respirator. | NOA |
| 17 | Sprayer; mold maker | 327991 | Polyurethane resin and mold (MDI): Synthetic rock manufacturing. Process uses molds to form the rocks. | Unknown | WAA |
| 18 | Tire press operator | 423990 | Polyurethane resin and mold (MDI): Worked in tire mounting and de-molding area. Urethane tire production involved injection of MDI product into hot molds. | None used – indirect exposure. | NOA |
| 19 | Production Worker | 332321 | Sealant (MDI): Apply sealant to glass at insulated glass manufacturer. | Unknown | RADS |
| 20 | Painter and Stainer | 336214 | Paint, automotive: Paint campers and trailers. | Unknown | NOA |
| 21 | Firefighter, fire truck fabricator, painter | 922160 | Paint, automotive (HDI, IPDI): Paint fire trucks and truck parts in unventilated wash bay. | Dust mask | NOA |
| 22 | Manager, automotive office | 811121 | Paint, automotive: Painting occurs on shop floor, outside of booth. | None used – indirect exposure. | NOA |
| 23 | Painter, automotive | 811121 | Paint, automotive: Paint autos. | Inconsistent use of APR and SAR | WAA |
| 24 | Painter, automotive | 811121 | Paint, automotive (HDI, IPDI): Paint autos. | SAR used | NOA |
| 25 | Painter and Mgr., automotive | 811121 | Paint, automotive: Paint autos. | PPE not used 10 years ago. | NOA |
| 26 | Painter, automotive | 811121 | Paint, automotive (HDI, IPDI): Paint autos and prep work. | Half-face APR at time of attack. Wore PAPR after attack. | WA A |
| 27 | Painter, automotive | 811121 | Paint, automotive (HDI, IPDI): Paint autos. | Full face SAR used in paint booth. | NOA |
Notes: NAICS, North American Industry Classification System; when specifically known, the isocyanates are given for the process. TDI, toluene diisocyanate; MDI, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate; HDI, hexamethylene diisocyanate, IPDI, isophorone diisocyanate. Information in the claim records was not sufficient to distinguish between monomeric or oligomeric isocyanate forms. APR, air purifying respirator; PAPR, powered-air purifying respirator; SAR, supplied air respirator; PPE, personal protective equipment; WAA, work-aggravated asthma; NOA, new-onset asthma; RADS, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (a type of NOA)