Posted By holmezy
Hi All,

scenario; we have containers delivered from India, China, South America et al. the wood packaging in these containers has been fumigated with MB at the point of despatch. It takes 5 weeks for the containers to reach us. Containers are unloaded and individual crates are opened and contents removed. This is done in well ventilated areas, either outside or within a storage area.
Out of 7 employees that de-crate, we have 1 who seems to have a reaction to something. A day or 2 after de crating, this employee suffers with his eyes being sore, runny, inlamed etc almost to the point of not being able to see. However, this only seems to happen with crates from China.
Crates from all areas usually have some sort of funghi or "mushrooms" growing in them when we open them and the ones from China usually have a white powdery residue present.

Any ideas as to what might be causing the itchy eyes?
Now the cynical bit; The employee doesn't like doing this work. He has been to his Doc and he has told the Doc that its MB thats the problem, consequently the Doc has written to me saying that MB is the problem. Nothing else seems to have been considered. I have stopped the employee from opening crates until we have something more definitive, but as this is the majority of his work, the works manager has asked him to sweep up, tidy up, move this etc. He doesnt like doing that either!

I could refer him to our occy health people, however, think I ought to have more info for them to base any tests on?

I also know that the fumigation proceedures are not what they should be in some Ports / countrys and, over the years, have built up a nice collection of tropical frogs, lizards, beetles etc that have had a free ride over to the UK!

Thanks for any help.

Holmezy

Posted By LMR
i would suggest that you do a 'google' on methyl bromide as it is banned under the Montreal Convention for ozone depleting substances 2005 developing countries having a further 10 years to cease its use.
As a sensitizer reactions can be very severe to minute levels (way beneath any OEL) and once sensitized reactions can become more severe and result in very serious medical conditions.
this is a personal lesson learned by exposures which is why i got into H&S and now carry an adrenilin pen and medical alerts.
caution is to be exercised and thorough checks carried out as to how long to vent completely the Methyl bromide (CH3Br) - a halon gas - before the contents are emptied, or issue full RPE to work until dispersed.

Posted By LMR
to my cost i found out that it was halon gases by a process of exposure and collapse! it started with itchy eyes and stinging, the tightness in the throat and then tightness of the chest then collapse with lack of oxygen as i could not breathe! this built up over a period of about a year.
reaction to exposure can take place immediately or up to 48 hours later. Various trips to specialists and an allergy clinic have confirmed that it is the reaction to "sensitizers" more than an allergy and you will find considerable information on HSE site about sensitizers and industrial asthma.
Unfortunately for me my reaction is now immediate and scary!
And yes, there can be minute traces left for a very long time that can cause a reaction to someone that has been sensitized.
The best protection you can take is obviously eliminate: however, that may not be practical (with another 7 years for the world to ban the substance)effective RPE to open crates and remove contents may be the most practical and cost effective solution.
I now react to all sorts of 'everyday' substances and i cannot enter shopping malls, go near shoe repairers or dry cleaners. Any two part reactive (wood fillers, adhesives, fibreglasses etc) and High VOC paints. Life can be exciting!!!!
If you check the MSDS you will find measures to be taken to avoid exposure and to treat any reaction. In most cases removal from the vicinity and avoidance are best . . . but . . . and once a person is confirmed as sensitized they do not and cannot become 'unsensitized' they have to live with it.