As part of a system wide review of the federal prison recycling centers, the NIOSH found that 3 out of the 4 centers tested had inadequate containment of lead, cadmium and other heavy metals commonly found in electronics. The for-profit operations involved prisoners breaking up components, often with hammers. “Computer components came into loading bays, they were handed to crews of inmates who broke them up with hammers and the only containment was a cardboard box,” said Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

However, a lack of biological monitoring and industrial hygiene data prevented NIOSH from documenting the health problems caused by this toxic exposure. “It was difficult for NIOSH to document harm to individuals based on absence of any data,” Ruch said.

The NIOSH report concluded project managers failed to:

• Conduct adequate planning and job hazard analysis before initiating the recycling program.
• Identify the potential health hazard in a timely manner.
• Provide training to staff and inmates discussing potential toxic hazards of the program.

The report concluded that new hazard-reduction processes have been introduced since these problems were first identified.

Resources:

• Government Computer News Article
• NIOSH Report

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