HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION REPORT

A study was made of possible reasons for workers losing time from work at the Maritime Administration Reserve Fleets at Benicia, California and Fort Eustis, Virginia. At these worksites, activities associated with the mooring, preservation and maintenance of ships in the National Defense Reserve were undertaken. Most of the work involved manual materials handling tasks associated with the movement of ships in and out of the fleet, such as the handling of anchors, anchor inspecting and maintaining the engine room, cargo holds, and deck machinery with time spent in welding, metal working, painting, and other maintenance activities. The most frequent injuries occurring to workers at these sites included back muscle strains and sprains, groin pulls and hernias. Less prevalent injuries included eye injuries due to foreign objects, nail punctures to the soles of the feet, and muscle strains and sprains. There was also potential exposure to asbestos observed at both sites. A potential health hazard existed from pulling steel cable and nylon rope, lifting and carrying marine batteries, nail punctures, slips and falls, vibrating handtools, and foreign bodies in the eyes. Measures for lowering the risks of musculoskeletal and traumatic injuries and for reducing possible asbestos exposures are recommended.