Walk-through survey of the Johns-Manville Corporation, Fibrous Glass Plant 7, Waterville, Ohio, March 30, 1973

A walk-through survey was conducted at the Johns-Manville Corporation, Fibrous Glass Plant 7, Waterville, Ohio, on March 30, 1973, to observe the microfiber operations in this facility and to take preliminary air samples in the microfiber operations. The major products of the plant are microfibers for making filtration papers, microfelt insulation, microquartz refractory fibers, and die pads and larger-diameter fibers. The processes are described in detail. Potential health hazards observed include: respiratory exposure to small diameter fibrous glass, fibrous-glass mechanical dermatitis, high noise exposures in fibrous glass forming areas, and respiratory exposure to binder materials liberated during curing. Relatively large exposures to possibly respirable fibers occur in the microfiber operations, and human experience with such fibers is limited. Therefore, this population should be closely observed for signs of respiratory involvement.