Book Description
There has been a significant increase in the use of composite materials on Air Force, and their use is expected to increase futrther as new weapon systems are fielded. Along with the increased use of composites is an increase in composite repair activities in the Air Force. The Structural Maintenance community has expressed concern over inconsistencies in protective equipment requirements from base to base. The Air Force Research Laboratory's Advanced Composites Support Office (ACSO) routinely finds inconsistencies in engineering controls and protective equipment among composite repair facilities throughout the Air Force. As a result of these concerns, the ACSO requested the Industrial Hygiene (IH) Branch of the Institute for ESOH Risk Analysis (IERA) evaluate advanced composite, fiberglass, and aircraft battle damage repair operations in the Air Force and recommend appropriate protective equipment and engineering controls in order to standardiz procedures and reduce worker exposures. The IH Branch was also asked to determine whether the ground crew ensemble and protective mask provide adequate protection when performing ABDR operations during training for nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) environments. This technical report summarizes our recommended sampling methodology, data interpretation, ventilation requirements, personal protective equipment, and workplace practices for composite material repair.
