Exposure to Flour Dust and Sensitization Among Bakery Employees

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential employee request for a health hazard evaluation at the Sara Lee Bakery in Sacramento, California. The requestors were concerned about rashes, possibly from exposure to propylene glycol which had been used in the refrigeration system for approximately the past three years. There were concerns with the adequacy of the ventilation system and respiratory symptoms among workers. NIOSH investigators conducted three site visits between August 2005 and March 2006. This report contains NIOSH’s findings and recommendations.