OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD ASSESSMENT

Criteria for Controlling

Occupational Hazards in Animal
Rendering Processes

U.S. D E P A R T M E N T O F H E A L T H A N D H U M A N S E R V IC E S
Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
 OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD ASSESSMENT

CR IT ER IA FOR CONTROLLING
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS IN ANIMAL
RENDERING PROCESSES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN S ERVICES

P u b lic Health S e r v ic e
Centers fo r Disease Control
N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e f o r O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y and H e a l t h

Mar ch 1 9 8 1
For sale by the Superintendent of Do c u m e n t s , U.S. G o v e r n m e n t
Printing Office, W a s h i n g t o n ,'D .C . 20402
 DISCLAIMER

M e n t i o n o f company names o r p r o d u c t s do e s n o t c o n s t i t u t e e n do r se me nt
t h e N a t i o n a l I n s t i t u t e f o r O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y and H e a l t h .

D H H S (N IO S H ) Publication No. 81-133

 PREFACE

In 1977, the n a tio n a l in ju ry r a t e fo r workers in rendering p la n ts was

reported to be almost twice th a t reported fo r the manufacturing i n d u s tr ie s
s e c to r. The need to a sse ss and i d e n ti f y the underlying causes of t h i s high
r a t e and provide recommendations to reduce the incidence of these i n j u r i e s
prompted the National I n s t i t u t e fo r Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
to survey rendering p la n ts and assess the occupational hazards of the
rendering process. This document c r i t i c a l l y reviews the s c i e n t i f i c and
te c h n ic a l information concerning mechanical in ju r y , p hy sical agents (eg,
n o ise , h e a t ) , and b io lo g ic a l and chemical agents in the rendering
workplace. Chapter I I I of t h i s document, e n t i t l e d Health and Safety
G uidelines, i s provided so in d iv id u a ls immediately resp o n sib le fo r hazard
c o n tro l i n t h e i r s p e c i f i c workplace w i l l have a b a s is on which to formulate
t h e i r own occupational sa fe ty and h e a lth program. Employer knowledge of
and adherence to these guid elines w i l l reduce adverse e f f e c t s on worker
s a fe ty and h e a lth . This document i s a lso intended fo r use by unions,
i n d u s t r i a l tra d e a s s o c ia tio n s , and s c i e n t i f i c and te c h n ic a l in v e s tig a to rs
to f u r t h e r t h e i r own o b je c tiv e s in providing fo r a s a f e r workplace.
Furthermore, i t i s intended to a s s i s t the Occupational Safety and Health
A dm inistration, US Department of Labor, in i t s standards development and
compliance a c t i v i t i e s .
Contributions to t h i s document by NIOSH s t a f f , o th er Federal agencies
or departments, the review c o n su lta n ts, the N ational Renderers A sso ciatio n,
and The United Food and Commercial Workers a re g r a t e f u l l y acknowledged.
The views and conclusions expressed in t h i s document, tog eth er with the
recommendations, are those of NIOSH. They are not n e c e s s a rily those of the
c o n su lta n ts, the reviewers se lec te d by p ro fe ssio n a l s o c i e t i e s , or other
Federal agencies. However, a l l comments, whether or not inco rp orated, have
been c a re fu lly considered.

konaia d . uoene, r . a .
Acting D ire c to r
N ational I n s t i t u t e fo r Occupational
Safety and Health

iii
 SYNOPSIS

This document reviews information on occupational hazards associated

with the rendering of animal m a teria l and recommends guidelines for
preventing inju ry and i l l n e s s in rendering p lan t workers. The major
hazards in rendering p lan ts r e s u l t in mechanical in ju ry ; they include wet
and slip p e ry su rfaces, l i f t i n g , pushing, and p u llin g large and heavy
containers and carc asses, skinning, hide trimming, g u ttin g and boning dead
stock, and the moving p a rts of process equipment to which workers may be
exposed. Burns may r e s u l t from contact with b o i l e r s , cooking v a ts , and
steam and hot water l in e s . Heat s t r e s s may r e s u l t from excessive exposure
to heat generated by process equipment. Exposure to nuisance dust,
excessive noise, and e l e c t r i c a l shock also occurs.
; When processes do not e f f e c tiv e ly confine fa t m ist, rendering
operations are e sp e c ia lly vulnerable to f i r e , which may r e s u l t from
e l e c t r i c a l short c i r c u i t s and from maintenance operations such as welding
and c u ttin g . M aterials in p erco latio n (perc) pans may also spontaneously
ig n ite and cause f i r e s i f they are not processed promptly.
In fe c tio n s re s u l ti n g from organisms asso ciated with animal m aterial
occur occasion ally . Workers may also be exposed to chemicals generally
asso ciated with cleanup or maintenance a c t i v i t i e s . Under c e rta in
c o n d ition s, hazardous gases can be generated by anaerobic reactio n s during
the holding of accumulated organic raw m a te r ia ls .
Rendering f a c i l i t i e s are of two types, those d ir e c t ly associated with
meatpacking and poultry slaug hterin g and dressing operations (o n site ) and
those th at are independent of these o perations. There are approximately
3,000 workers asso ciated with o n site rendering f a c i l i t i e s and about 9,000
workers associated with independent rendering f a c i l i t i e s in the United
S ta te s . Rendering processes are c l a s s i f i e d according to whether inedible
or edible products are produced. The major ined ib le fa t products are
grease and ined ib le tallow ; major inedible p ro te in meal products are meat
meal and meat-and-bone meal. Edible products include la r d , edible tallow ,
and c e r ta i n proteinaceous t is s u e s .
Based on information from the a v a ila b le l i t e r a t u r e , reviewer comments,
and p lan t s i t e v i s i t s , NIOSH recommends g uid elines for engineering
co n tro ls and work p ra c tic e s to reduce the number of in j u r i e s and ill n e s s e s
in rendering p la n ts . Recommendations for t r a in in g , posting, personal
p ro te c tiv e equipment programs, medical su rv e illa n c e , and maintenance of
relev ant records are also included.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The D ivision of C r i t e r i a Documentation and Standards Development,

NIOSH, had primary r e s p o n s i b il i ty fo r the development of t h i s
document and guidelines fo r the rendering of animal m a te r ia l.
Martin N. Erlichman and Michael C.R. Alavanja, Dr. P.H ., of
t h i s D ivision served as c r i t e r i a managers.

v
 CONTENTS

Page
PREFACE iii

SYNOPSIS iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v
I . PLANT AND PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS FOR THERENDERING OF 1
ANIMAL MATERIALS
Background and Scope of Document 1
Inedible Rendering 1
Edible Rendering 4
A ncillary Operations 9
Chemicals Used During Rendering Plant Operations 10
I I . OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS 15
Hazards R esulting in Mechanical Injury 15
Walking-Working Surfaces 15
Boxes, B arrels, C ontainers, and DeadStock 23
Hand Tools 24
Powered In d u s tr ia l Trucks 25
Metal Items 25
Machines and Conveyors 25
Hot Objects 26
R e p e titiv e Body Motion 27
Hazards from Physical Agents 27
Noise 27
Fire 28
Heat 30
Hazards from Biologic and Chemical Agents 31
Acute Toxicants Including Asphyxiants 31
In fe c tio u s Diseases 33
Chemical I r r i t a n t s A ffecting the Skin, Eyes,
and Mucous Membranes 35
A llergens 36
III. HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES 37
Engineering Controls 37
Work P ra ctice s 39
Medical 44
Personal P ro te c tiv e Equipment and WorkClothing 45

vii
 CONTENTS (CONTINUED)

I I I . HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES (CQNTD)

Posting 45
T r a i n i n g Wo r k e r s and I n f o r m i n g Them o f Hazards 47
I n d u s t r i a l S a f e t y and H e a l t h S u r v e y s and M o n i t o r i n g 48
Recordkeeping 49

IV. WORKER TRAINING AND EDUCATION 50

V. REFERENCES 52

VI. APPENDIX - GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN RENDERING INDUSTRY 57

vili
 I. PLANT AND PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS FOR THE RENDERING OF ANIMAL MATERIALS

Background and Scope of Document

The rendering of animal m a te ria ls was one of the f i r s t recycling
i n d u s tr ie s . I t began about 150 years ago, and grew as the meat products
industry grew. Many new uses were found for products derived from
m a te ria ls such as grease, h a i r , blood, fe a th e rs , h id e s, and bones [1].
Products from rendering operations are e it h e r ined ib le or ed ib le ; inedible
products include inedible tallow and grease and various p ro te in meals such
as blood meal, fe a th e r meal, meat meal, bone meal, and meat-and-bone
meal. Edible products include la rd , edible tallow , and p ro te in tis s u e
[ 1 ].
Rendering performed a t meatpacking or poultry dressing p la n ts is
re fe rre d to as o n s ite , or ca p tiv e , rendering. Onsite Tenderers produce
almost a l l of the edib le lard and edible tallow s made. Rendering not
performed at meatpacking or poultry dressing p la n ts is re fe rre d to as
o f f s i t e , or independent, rendering. According to the Census of
Manufactures, the independent rendering industry accounted for 69% of the
in e d ib le tallow and grease in 1977 [2]. This Census reported th a t 500
establishm ents were c l a s s i f i e d under Animal and Marine Fats and Oils (SIC
code 2077); about 450 of these rendered animal m a te r ia ls . The number of
workers at o n site rendering f a c i l i t i e s (SIC codes 2011 and 2016) was
estimated to be about 3,000 (A P h ife r, w ritte n communication, June 1978).
The National Renderers A ssociation has estim ated th a t h a l f of the 9,000
workers employed by independent rendering p la n ts are involved in plant
operations and maintenance (WH Prokup, w ritte n communication, February
1981). Table 1-1 summarizes production figures for the rendering industry
[3].
This document concerns occupational exposure in the manufacture of
rendered animal products, p a r t i c u l a r l y the handling and processing of raw
m a te ria ls at the rendering p la n t as well as maintenance, cleanup, and
re p a ir work. The c o lle c tio n of raw m a te ria ls from butcher shops,
supermarkets, r e s ta u r a n ts , farms, and meatpacking p la n ts is not a p art of
the rendering production process, and is not discussed here. The
g uid elines in Chapter I I I apply to both o n site and independent rendering.

Inedible Rendering
Raw m a te ria ls for independent ined ib le rendering come from a v a rie ty
of sources, including butcher shops, re s t a u r a n t s , grocery s to r e s ,
f e e d lo ts , and meatpacking p la n ts [4]. The raw m a te ria ls are usually bones
and bone fragments, o f f a l , blood, fe a th e rs , other cut-up m a te r ia ls , and
b a r r e ls of re s ta u r a n t grease. This m a te r ia l, usually delivered in b a r re ls
or by a dump truck, is weighed, evaluated for p o te n tia l endproducts, and
dumped in to receiv ing p i t s or b in s. The trucks and b a r r e ls are hosed out

1
and the washings are emptied in to an adjacent p i t and drained in to an
o n site w aste-treatm ent system. Separated so lid s are recycled in to the
receiv ing p i t s . Some independent rendering p la n ts also process dead
stock. Plants without mechanized pre-breakers and crushers th at can
process whole dead animals must have the carcasses cut up with axes or
knives by plant personnel. This is done e it h e r with the animal lying on
the flo o r or hanging from an overhead r a i l .

TABLE 1-1
RENDERING INDUSTRY PRODUCTION DATA FOR 1979

Products M illion Pounds Metric Tons

Inedible Tallow and Grease 5,900 (2,681,550)

Edible Tallow 1,550 (704,475)
Lard 1,280 (581,760)
Meat and Bone Meal and Tankage 4,680 (2,127,060)
Feather Meal 790 (359,055)
Adapted from reference 3

The raw m a teria l in the receiving p it is then crushed or ground to the

siz e necessary for cooking or moisture evaporation [4], To lim it the
production of odor and to maintain product q u a lity of the tallow or grease
and p ro te in meal, raw m aterial is u sually processed promptly. Size
reduction operations use equipment such as p re-b reak ers, shredders,
g rin d e rs, and hashers. Following the size reduction step the raw m a teria l
i s sent on to cookers which can e it h e r be a batch or continuous type [4].
Figure 1-1 is a generalized flow diagram of t h is process. Figure 1-1 also
shows a n c illa r y processes which are discussed l a t e r .
Onsite rendering operations in meatpacking and poultry dressing p la n ts
u su a lly receive raw m a te ria ls d ir e c t l y from the k i l l flo o r. I f the
rendering operation is in a separate b uildin g on the same premises, the
raw m a teria l is moved by pump or truck to the cookers. At t h i s point the
o n site and o f f s i t e rendering processes are sim ila r [1].
(a) Batch Cooker Processing
Moisture is evaporated and fa ts are released from the raw m a teria l by
h eating i t under co n tro lle d conditions [1 ,4 ]. A quan tity of m aterial is

2
cooked in batch cookers to a sp e cifie d moisture or tem perature, and then
the load is discharged. Figure 1-2 is a generalized diagram of a batch
cooking system [4].
Dry-batch rendering is the method most commonly used for inedible
products. In th is method, moisture is separated from the raw m a teria l by
evaporation. Heat for evaporation is provided by steam in a jacket around
the cooker, reaching process temperatures of 116-138 C (241-280 F ). The
areas around the process equipment are often hot; in su la tin g process
equipment and steam and condensate piping w ill r e s u l t in a cooler
environment. The water removed from the raw m a teria l in the cooking or
evaporation step must be condensed and discharged into a sewer according
to g u id elin e s of local sewer ordinances for a c i t y sewer or the Clean
Water Act Amendments of 1977 for a navigable stream [5]. Vapor is
condensed prim arily by contact or by surface condensers located ju s t
o utside the plant or on the roof. Noncondensable vapor from the
condenser, which gives o ff highly intense odors, can be c o n tro lle d by
venting to a scrubber or d ir e c t ly to the b o ile r th at generates the p l a n t 's
steam.
A fter the moisture is removed, the liq u id fa t must be separated from
the p ro te in s o lid s . In batch cooking, the i n i t i a l sep aration is
accomplished with a rectan g u lar perco lation pan th a t contains a perforated
screen 6 -in ch e s above a sloped bottom. This c o n fig uration allows the
f l u id tallow to d rain and be separated from the p ro te in s o lid s . The
p ro te in so lid s s t i l l containing about 25% tallow are conveyed to the screw
p re ss, which completes the separation. Solid p ro te in m a teria l discharged
from the screw press is known as cracklings. The cracklings are normally
screened and ground with a hammer m ill to produce meat-and-bone meal.
These products are u sually stored outside the plant in s i l o s . Workers
occasion ally e n te r these s i l o s for maintenance and r e p a i r work.
The liquid fat from t h e percolation pan and screw press c a n be
p r o c e s s e d by s c r e e n i n g , settlin g, centrifuging, or f i l t e r i n g t o remove
fine so lid s. L i q u i d t a l l o w o r g r e a s e t h a t r e m a i n s may t he n be c l a r i f i e d
or bleached with v a rio u s clays or diatomaceous e a r t h . The g r e a s e and
t a l l o w a r e u s u a l l y s t o r e d i n s t e a m - h e a t e d t a n k s and h e l d f o r s h i p p i n g .
W o r k e r s o c c a s i o n a l l y e n t e r t h e s e t a n k s when empty t o p e r f o r m m a i n t e n a n c e
o r r e p a i r wo rk .

Each rendering plant has a f a c i l i t y for loading tru ck s, ra ilr o a d c a rs,

or barges to move the rendered m a teria ls to the u ser. Solids can be
top- loaded or end-loaded with flin g e rs (conveyors th a t throw m aterial
h o riz o n ta lly ) into covered t r a i l e r s or boxcars. Stored grease and tallow
are liq u e fie d and then pumped into tank t r a i l e r s or r a i l tankcars.
(b) C o n t i n u o u s C o o ke r P r o c e s s i n g

Continuous cooking systems for inedible rendering are increasing ly

common [1]. The re ceiv ing , grinding, p ressing, and sto rin g operations are
s im ila r to those discussed for batch cooking. Continuous systems

3
evaporate water and sep arate fa ts by s te a d ily moving the m a teria l through
the cookers. Advantages of the continuous system over the batch process
include improved q u a lity c on tro l of the product, b e t t e r confinement of
odor and f a t - p a r t i c l e aerosols w ithin the equipment, and a smaller space
requirement. Although use of batch cookers has s t e a d i ly decreased, they
may never be e n t i r e ly replaced by continuous systems; small rendering
p la n ts often cannot a ffo rd continuous systems. Continuous systems are
highly automated and can be operated with fewer workers, but also req uire
a g re a te r maintenance e f f o r t because f a i lu r e of any p a rt can shut down an
e n t i r e system. The instrum entation and c o n tro ls for a continuous system
are usually c e n tra liz e d a t a panel th a t may be enclosed in a booth.
C urrently, the two most widely used continuous systems in inedible
rendering are the Anderson C-G (Carver-G reenfield) system and the Duke
system, shown in Figures 1-3 and 1-4, re sp e c tiv e ly [4]. The Anderson C-G
system f i r s t uses a f lu id iz in g tank in which recycled fa t is used to heat
and slu rry the raw m a te ria l. Then the slu rry is pumped to a d is i n te g r a t o r
for fu rth e r grinding and for breakdown of c e l l u l a r s tru c tu re to re lea se
f a t s . The re s u ltin g charge is then pumped to the evaporator, where
moisture is removed under vacuum. In the Duke system, the cooker
resembles a batch cooker, but d i f f e r s in th at m a teria l is continuously
charged a t one end, driven slowly through the h o riz o n ta l cooker, and
s te a d ily discharged at the other end. Other systems, in lim ited use, are
the S trataflow , the Pfaudler Low Temperature C entrifuge, and the Norwegian
Stord-Bartz Rotadisc.
Rendering operations th a t process a large volume of m aterial are
mechanically aided by screw conveyors, pumps, front-end loaders, and other
equipment [4]. Pressure v esse ls and systems, such as fe a th e r hydrolyzers,
cooker steam ja c k e ts , f i l t e r p re sse s, and condensate re tu r n s , are also
used. Other operations use b o ile r s to generate steam or hot water and
usually have some so rt of system to recover the water vapor produced in
the cooking process. For odor c o n tro l, scrubbers or in c in e ra to rs are used
for cookers, d ry ers, and other process equipment.

Edible Rendering
Edible rendering usually takes place as an adjunct to slaughtering and
dressing processes, where edib le raw m a teria l is re a d ily a v a ila b le . I t
has been estimated th a t less than 2% of independent processers render
edible m a teria l [6].
A ty p ic a l edible rendering process c o n sists of a m u ltistage c entrifu ge
system th a t mechanically sep arates water from f a t , in c o n tra st to a
cooking process in inedible rendering. In the edible processes,
production volume and temperatures are usually much lower and s a n ita tio n
requirements more s trin g e n t than in the inedible processes.
Batch processes, which are becoming o bsolete, are e it h e r "wet-batch"
or "dry-batch" [1]. In dry-batch low-temperature rendering, the charge is

4
 BASIC OPERATIONS A N C IL LA R Y OPERATIONS

FIGURE 1-1. FLOW SCHEME FOR BASIC RENDERING OPERATIONS

Adapted from reference 4

 FIGURE 1 - 2 . A BATCH COOKER RENDERING SYSTEM
A d a p te d fro m r e f e r e n c e 4
 FIGURE 1 - 3 . THE ANDERSON C-G (CARVER-GREENFIELD) CONTINUOUS RENDERING SYSTEM
A d a p te d fro m r e f e r e n c e 4
 V A PO R N o n -con d an u b lM

T rutad
* Efftuant

S t u m to J s c k t t

Mm I C ak* to Grinding

Preis Fat

FIGURE 1 - 4 . THE DUKE CONTINUOUS RENDERING SYSTEM

A d a p te d fro m r e f e r e n c e 4
melted in a conventional cooker a t a temperature th a t does not evaporate
the moisture in the raw m a te ria l. The fa ts are separated from the so lid s
and water by screening or c e n trifu g in g . Remaining water entrained in the
hot fa t is then removed in a second c e n trifu g e . The separated water,
c a lle d tank w ater, can be fu rth e r evaporated to a th ic k m a teria l known as
s t i c k , which can be used as tankage for ined ib le rendering. The so lid s
can be sent to inedible rendering or used in ed ib le meat meals. In
wet-batch rendering, now e s s e n t i a l l y outdated, the m a teria l is heated by
d ir e c t in je c tio n of steam. Three m a te ria ls r e s u l t : water, f a t , and
suspended so lid s (p ro tein t i s s u e ) . The fa t is decanted and the water and
so lid s are separated by f i l t r a t i o n or c e n trifu g a tio n .
C urrently, edible m a teria l is most commonly rendered in continuous,
wet systems in which low temperature and c e n trifu g a tio n are used to
separate fa ts from water and so lid s (p ro te in tis s u e ) [1]. Raw m a teria ls
are cut fin e ly and heated, which flu id iz e s them. The flu id mass passes
into a c e n trifu g e to separate the fa t (and water) from the s o lid s . The
r e s u l ti n g so lid s can be used as food f i l l e r s or as pet food. The fa t and
water mixture goes to a second c e n trifu g e for f u rth e r sep aration . The
f i n a l fa t is low in acid and f a i n t l y colored. Water goes to the water
treatment system, and sludge goes to ine d ib le rendering. Process
temperatures are about 49 C (120 F) for edib le lard and 68 C (155 F) for
edible tallow .

A ncillary Operations
A ncillary operations performed in some rendering p lan ts include the
producing of blood meal and feath er meal, the reclaim ing of grease, the
boning of dead stock for pet food, and the processing of hid es.
Blood from the k i l l flo o r is coagulated and c e n trifu g e d , d ried , and
sold as a p ro te in source for use in animal feed. Figure 1-5 is a flow
scheme for the process. Blood received from the s tic k in g area of a
sla u g h te rin g plant is preheated and coagulated by steam in je c tio n in the
continuous process. Solids are separated from liq u id s by c e n trifu g e , and
then dried and ground. In continuous systems, a g a s -fire d d ir e c t-h e a t
dryer (ring dryer) or a ro tary steam tube can be used to dry the blood.
In batch processes, coagulation and moisture removal are performed in the
batch cooker by drying. Blood meal is valued as animal feed because of
i t s high lysine con ten t. A batch process is less d e s ira b le than a
continuous one because i t r e s u l t s in a lower lysine content of the blood
meal.
P oultry fe a th e rs and hog h a i r are also processed in many plants
(Figure 1-6) [4]. The h a i r and feath ers are hydrolyzed by cooking under
p re ssu re , dried in a steam tube or a rin g dryer commonly a t temperatures
of 100 C (212 F), and then blended for use in animal feeds; fe a th e r or
h a i r m a teria l may also be ground. Feather and h a i r meals are used as
p ro te in sources in animal feed.

9
 The growth of the re s ta u r a n t business has made the reclaiming of
re s ta u ra n t grease an important part of the rendering industry (F Ward,
w ritte n communication, December 1978). This reclaimed grease is used as
s t a b i l iz e d animal fa t for animal feed. A b r i e f o u tlin e of t h is process is
shown in Figure 1-7. Restaurant grease is delivered to rendering p lan ts
in large drums by bucket trucks or other types of b a r re l tru ck s. Drums
weighing as much as 204 kg (450 lbs) are unloaded by hand or with
mechanical a id s, such as hand trucks or h o i s t s . These drums are not only
heavy, but many times have rough, sharp edges. The d istan ce these drums
are l i f t e d , pushed, and pulled from the unloading dock to the hot room
v a rie s considerably from p lan t to p la n t. Steam, in fra re d r a d ia tio n , or
e l e c t r i c h ea te rs are used to melt the grease while s t i l l in the b a r r e ls ,
which are drained through metal screens and cleaned. The grease is then
f i l t e r e d or screened to remove coarse s o lid s , heated to remove water
(water may also be removed by s e t t l i n g ) , and fu rth e r f i l t e r e d or
c entrifuged to remove the fine so lid s . The r e s u ltin g yellow grease is
blended with a n tio x id a n ts and s t a b i l i z e r s , and stored or shipped out for
animal feed as s t a b i l iz e d animal fa t.
Some rendering p lan ts supply pet food establishm ents with red meat.
Good q u a lity carcasses are placed on a r a i l where they are skinned and
gutted. The meat is kept in a cooler and inspected u n t i l i t is boned and
sold the next day. At some rendering plants t h is accounts for about 10%
of t h e i r t o t a l tonnage.
Many rendering p la n ts th a t handle a large number of dead stock find i t
economically favorable to remove the hides from dead carcasses for
curing. These carcasses are skinned while hanging from a r a i l or lying on
the flo o r. The carcass is usually taken by conveyor or cable to the
p re -b re ak e r, and the hide is trimmed, cleaned, and then cured in brine
raceway v a ts.

Chemicals Used During Rendering Plant Operations

Rendering p la n ts use chemicals in several o perations: cleaning,
grease or fa t processing, t r e a tin g waste water, c o n tro llin g odors, water
cooling, and b o ile r operation [1 ,4 ). A p a r ti a l l i s t of the more common
chemicals is given in Table 1-2.

10
 VAPOR
CONDENSING

FIGURE 1-5. FLOW SCHEME FOR A BLOOD MEAL OPERATION

Adapted from F Ward, written communication, December 1978

11
 FIGURE 1-6. FLOW SCHEME FOR A FEATHER MEAL OPERATION

Adapted from F Ward, written communication, December 1978

12
 FIGURE 1-7. FLOW SCHEME FOR A RESTAURANT GREASE OPERATION

Adapted from F Ward, written communication, December 1978

13
 TABLE 1-2

CHEMICALS, COMPOUNDS, OR AGENT S USED IN R E NDERING PROCESSES

I. Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfec tin g IV. Odor Control Sy st em

Sodium Carbon at e Sodiu m H y droxide * and Sodi um Hy pochlorite

Ca us tic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide*) C hlorine*
Sodiu m Met a silicate Sodiu m Car bonate
S odium Poly pho sp hat es Sulf uric* and Sulfamic Acid
Sodiu m & P otass ium Soaps P otassium Permanga nat e

II. Pro c essing Syste m V. Water-C o o l i n g Sy st em

Anti fo ams - Silicones Algacides, Chlorine*, Biocides, and Chlori na ted Phenols
Sodium Sulfite Sulfuric A cid*
Filte r Aids - Di atomaceous Earths Poly ph osphates
Blea ching Agents - Clays Low Mole c u l a r We ig ht Polymers - Po lya crylates
T r isodium Phosphate Chro m â t e s * and Silicates
Salt (NaCl) and Li me (CaO) Zinc Salts
Stabi li zin g Agents - Antioxi dan ts Sodium Nit ri te
Citric Acid Q u ater nary Amm o n i u m Compounds
BHA and BHT - Phosphoric Acid
Propyl Gallat e VI. Boiler Sy st em
Ortho ph osp hor ic Acid
M H A (Me thionine Hydroxy Analog) Salt (NaCl)
n-Propyl Alcohol Acid Cl ea ner s
Silica te Mi xtures Sodium H y droxide*
Sod iu m Car bonate, Phosphates, and Alum in ate
Ch elants (EDTA, NTA)
III. Wa st e-Water Treatme nt System Polymers, Poly ac ryl at es
Tannins
Alum Sodium Sulfit e and Nitrate
Ferric Chlo rid e and Ferric Sulfate H y drazine**
Lime Fil mi ng and Neut ra liz ing Amines
Sulfuric Acid * Antifoa ms - Polyglycols, Silicones, Pol yamides
Chlor in e*
Sodiu m Hyd ro xide* VII. Hide Proce ss ing
Polye le ctr ol yte s - Anionic - Cationic
L ignosulf oni c Acid Sodium Hypoch lo rit e
Pentachlo ro phe no l
Curing Salt

*See NIOSH's criteria document on this compound for recommended standards and control procedures.
**Not very common

Ad ap te d from F Ward, w r itten co mmunication, De ce mber 1978

 I I . OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Occupational hazards in rendering p la n ts can be divided into three

c a te g o rie s: those r e s u l ti n g in mechanical in ju ry , those re s u ltin g from
physical agents, and those re s u l ti n g from exposure to , or contact with,
biologic and chemical agents.

Hazards Resulting in Mechanical Injury

According to the Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s , the inju ry and i ll n e s s
incidence ra te for the Animal and Marine Fats and Oils Industry (SIC code
2077) in 1977 was 25.0 cases/100 fu ll- tim e workers (see Table I I - l ) [7].
Injury and i l l n e s s ra t e s in these establishm ents averaged approximately
1.9 times as much and lo s t workday cases about 2.7 times as much than
t h e i r resp ective ra te s for the manufacturing in d u s tr ie s se c to r between
1972 and 1977.
Although the number of lost-workday cases per 100 fu ll- tim e workers
was higher in animal and marine fa ts and o i l s establishm ents than
comparable ra t e s for the manufacturing in d u s tr ie s s e c to r, the average
number of lo s t workdays per lost-workday case in these same establishm ents
was lower. Table II-2 shows in ju ry and i l l n e s s r a t e s for workers in
animal and marine fa ts and o il s establishm ents for 1972-1977. In each of
these y ears, i n j u r i e s accounted for approximately 96-98% of a l l reported
cases.
The BLS has a ls o re c e n tly developed the Supplemental Data System,
which has as i t s source of data the f i r s t re p o rt of injury or i ll n e s s
submitted by employers and insurance c a r r i e r s to worker compensation
agencies of various s t a te s [12]. The source, type of a c cid en t, and nature
of in ju ry are described for compensable cases in 1977 for animal and
marine fa ts and o il s establishm ents in five s t a te s (Tables I I - 3 , I I - 4 , and
II -5 ) [13]. (S tates with 50 or more t o t a l cases a year were selected to
e s t a b l is h more r e l i a b l y the leading causes of in ju r y .) C ro ss-tab ulatio n
of source of injury and accident type, nature of inju ry with p art of body
a ffe c te d , nature and source of in ju ry , and nature of inju ry and accident
type has been provided by these s t a te s [14]. These ta b le s allow a more
d e ta ile d analysis of the accident circumstances. Since the d e f in itio n of
a compensable case d i f f e r s s l i g h t l y from s t a t e to s t a t e , only general
conclusions can be made concerning the sources, types of accid en ts, and
natures of i n j u r i e s in th i s ind u stry. However, the summary data can help
id e n tify the areas in which engineering c o n tro ls and sa fe ty a c t i v i t i e s
need to be in t e n s if ie d and help pinpoint problems th a t must be solved.
(a) Walking-Working Surfaces
In rendering p la n ts , walking-working surfaces were l i s t e d as the
source of about 14% of the compensable i n ju r ie s in the fiv e s t a te s (Table

15
 TABLE II-l

OCCUPATI ON AL INJURY A ND ILLNESS INCIDENCE RATES PER 100 FULL -TI ME

W ORKERS FOR SE LECTED INDUSTRIES, 1972-77

Lost
Nonfatal Work days
Cases per
Lost Without Lost
SIC Total Workda y Lost W o rkda y
Industry Code* * Ca se s** * Cases Wo rkdays Case

Manuf ac tur in g
1972 15.6 4.2 11.4 14.9
1973 15.3 4.5 10.8 15.2
1974 14.6 4.7 9.9 15.5
1975 13.0 4.5 8.5 16.8
1976 13.2 4.8 8.3 16.6
1977 13.1 5.1 8.0 16.1

Fa ts and Oils 207

1975 19.2 7.9 11.2 19.2
1976 20.9 8.0 12.8 16.7
1977 21.9 9.1 12.8 15.4

Animal and Marine

Fats and Oils
1972 2094 27.2 12.1 15.1 15.0
1973 2094 29.8 12.7 17.1 13.7
1974 2094 28.8 13.5 15.3 14.0
1975 2077 23.8 11.2 12.3 17.4
1976 2077 27.1 13.2 13.8 13.8
1977 2077 25.0 11.7 13.3 14.2

*I ncidence rates represent the numbe r of injuries and illnesses or lost work da ys per
100 full-time workers and were calculated as (N/EH) x 200,000 where:
N “ number of injuries and illnesses or lost wo rk day s
EH = total hours worked by all workers du ri ng the ca len da r yea r
200,000 * base for 100 full-time-e qu iva le nt workers (working 40 hours per week,
50 weeks per year)
* *The Standard Industrial Cla ssific ation M a n u a l — 1967 editi on was used to ca tegorize
the 1972-1974 data; 1972 edition was used for the 1975-1977 dati. SIC 2077
became the four digit cl as sif ication for animal and marine fats and oils.
***Beca us e of rounding and fatality cases there may be a differ en ce bet wee n the total
and the sum of the rates for lost work da y cases and nonfatal cases wi th out lost
workdays.

Adapte d from references 7-11

16
II-3 ) , with f a l l s being the most common type of accident re s u l ti n g from
t h i s source (Table 11-4). The major fa c to r in t h is type of accident is
the amount of f r i c t i o n between the shoe sole and the working surface.
Shoe/working surface f r i c t i o n is a ffe c ted by flo o r c o n d ition s, flo o r
surface m a te r ia l, and shoe sole composition.

TABLE I I - 2
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY AND ILLNESS RATES IN ANIMAL AND MARINE
FATS AND OILS ESTABLISHMENTS

Incidence Rates per 100 Full-Time Workers

In ju r ie s Illn e s s e s
Nonfatal Nonfatal
Average Lost Cases Lost Cases
Number of Work­ Without Work­ Without
Workers Total day Lost Total day Lost
Year (x 1,000) cases** Cases Workdays Cases** Cases Workdays

1972 NA* 26.3 1 1 .8 14.5 0.9 0.3 0 .6

1973 11 29.0 12.4 16.6 0 .8 0.3 0.5
1974 tl 28.3 13.3 14.9 0.5 0 .2 0.3
1975 If 23.3 1 1 .0 1 2 .1 0.5 0 .2 0.3
1976 1 1 .2 26.2 12.7 13.5 0.9 0.5 0.3
1977 NA 24.1 11.4 12.7 0.9 0.3 0 .6
*NA = Not a v a ila b le
**Because of rounding and f a t a l i t y cases there may be a d iffe re n c e between
the t o t a l and the sum of the ra te s for lo s t workday cases and nonfatal
cases without lo s t workdays.
Adapted from references 7-11

Grease buildup is the major c o n trib u to r to unsafe walking and working

su rfa c e s. The extent of the hazard depends upon the sp e c ific rendering
process being employed and the extent to which fa t and grease p a r ti c le s
are confined w ithin the equipment. While continuous rendering systems are

17
able to confine the fa t and grease p a r t i c l e s , batch cooker operations are
not, e sp e c ia lly when the animal m a teria l is dumped from the cooker to the
perc pan. In th is s i t u a t i o n exhaust v e n t i l a t i o n is needed to pick up and
remove the airborne fa t p a r t i c l e s and water vapor before they s e t t l e .
NIOSH observed th a t in p la n ts with grease buildup, the second level flo o r
surface where the fa t and grease p a r t i c l e s s e t tl e d was more slip p e ry than
the f i r s t lev el flo o r surface [15].
I n j u r ie s from f a l l s were u sually sprains and s t r a i n s , but th e re were
also contusions, f r a c tu r e s , and la c e ra tio n s (Table II -5 ) [13,14].
A review of the 1979 F i r s t Reports of injury or i l l n e s s from the fiv e
se lec te d s ta te s indicated th a t many s lip s and f a l l s occurred when workers
unloaded grease b a r re ls or dead stock from trucks [16]. Spillage from
these b a r re ls during t h e i r movement to the hot room caused the smooth
metal surfaces of the trucks and the loading dock to become s lip p e ry .
Secure lid s for these b a r re ls would minimize the grease buildup from the
s p il l a g e . Sometimes grease was dumped onto the flo o r of the hot room
before i t was melted; when th i s occurred the boots of workers spread the
grease and, th e re fo re , the hazard to other areas.
The hide processing area was also i d e n tif ie d by these re p o rts as
another loc a tio n in rendering p la n ts where there is an increased r i s k of
s l i p s and f a l l s . Workers there l i f t hides and heavy bags of s a l t for the
curing process.
Good housekeeping w ill a lso help minimize the hazards presented by
s p il l e d or s e ttle d m a teria ls th a t c h a ra c te riz e the work environment in
some rendering p la n ts . Employer adherence to the general re g u la tio n s for
walking and working su rfa c e s, l i s t e d in 29 CFR 1910.22, w ill reduce
hazards by providing for cle a n , dry, o rd erly , and sa n ita ry surfaces in
ad d itio n to s u f f i c i e n t l y safe clearances in aisleways where mechanical
equipment is used. These aisleways should be kept c le a r and dry.
S pillag e can be minimized by ensuring th at scrap c a r t s , conveyors, and
c o n tain ers are not overloaded. Leaking pumps, p ip e s, and valves should be
rep aired promptly. When s p i l l s occur, the bulk of the fa t and other
s o lid s may be removed with a shovel, and then the flo o r should be cleaned
with water. As an a lt e r n a t i v e , absorbents can be used to absorb the
grease and f a t , and then swept up and discarded. Cleansers should be used
to remove any remaining fa t and grease. Subsequently, any remaining water
or liq u id should be mopped up and the surface dried as completely as
p o ssib le.
The type of flo o r surface can c o n trib u te to unsafe walking and working
con d ition s. Independent rendering p lan ts v i s i t e d by NIOSH usually used
smooth metal flo ors at the grease b a r re l unloading dock. While these
floors provide the stre n g th to r e s i s t damage from 204-kg (450-lb) b a r r e l s ,
they o ff e r l i t t l e s l i p re s is ta n c e [15].
Much use is made of metal p la t e s , of e i t h e r s o lid , expanded, or
se rr a te d m etal, as flo o rin g , s t a i r s , loading dock a reas, walkways, and

18
catwalks. The walking-working surface of the so lid p la te can be finished
in a ra ise d p a tte r n to increase i t s s l i p - r e s i s t a n c e . However, at one
rendering p lan t where an abrasive m aterial was incorporated onto the s t e e l
flo o r to provide more t r a c t i o n , the grease b a r re ls destroyed the fin is h
a f t e r only a few days. I f the s l i p - r e s i s t a n t surfaces are vulnerable to
b a r re l abuse, then conveyors or other automatic b a r r e l movers should be
considered. At another p la n t, the plant manager was thinking of
i n s t a l l i n g track s so he could r o l l the b a rre ls from the trucks to the hot
room, thus avoiding damage to the flo or surface [15].
One type of so lid ro lle d s te e l flooring has impregnated aluminum oxide
p a r t i c l e s . As the surface wears down, p a r ti c le s of the aluminum oxide are
c o n tin u ally exposed to the walking-working su rface. This type of p la te
m a te ria l may be used as a s t r u c tu r a l component or la id down over e x istin g
flo o rin g of a l l types [17].
Concrete su rfa c e s, e sp e c ia lly those with broom f in is h e s , provide
t r a c t i o n in other areas of the plant u n t i l they are worn smooth. Concrete
flo o rs have marginal wear r e s is ta n c e . Brick flo o r surfaces present a
reasonably s l i p - r e s i s t a n t surface. Floor brick with a c a st-ab ra siv e
surface is even b e t t e r [18].
BLS data and the F i r s t Reports suggest th a t s t a i r s in some rendering
plan ts are p a r t i c u l a r l y hazardous, involving 14 of the 55 working surface
cases reported by four of the five s t a t e s . At the independent rendering
p la n ts v is i t e d by NIOSH, the s t a i r s always seemed hazardous to climb
because they were s lip p e ry . At one p la n t, however, the s t a i r s were made
of corrugated metal th a t provided b e t t e r tr a c t i o n [15].
The type of footwear worn by workers can c o n trib u te to s lip s and
f a l l s . Shoe-working surface f r ic t io n is a ffe c te d by the shoe sole and
heel composition and contact area [17]. Most neoprene sole and heel
m a te ria ls provide a high degree of s l i p re s is ta n c e and are r e s i s t a n t to
leak in g . Since most areas of (independent) rendering p la n ts present some
hazard of s lip s and f a l l s , workers should be required to wear rubber or
neoprene boots, p re fe ra b ly with safety toes. Them a teria l fromwhich boot
soles are constructed is more important than the sole p a tte r n . A highly
s l i p - r e s i s t a n t m a teria l with very l i t t l e p a tte r n is the s a fe s t type of
footwear, as i t provides g re a te r contact with the flo o r surface [18].
Adherence to re g u la tio n s for covers and g u a rd ra ils w ill p ro te c t
workers from the various hazards associated with open p i t s , tanks, bins,
and v ats (29 CFR 1910.23). In independent rendering p la n ts , the
raw -m aterials receiving p i t is often more than 4 feet (1.2 m) deep and is
ro u tin e ly equipped with conveyors or augers at the bottom to move the
m a teria l into the grinding system. Raw m aterial is dumped into the p it s
from dump tru ck s, flatb ed tru ck s, b a r r e l s , and wheelbarrows. Standard
guarding is necessary p ro te c tio n a t these openings; however, sp ecial
m odifications of a toeboard on the charging side of the opening may be
appropriate so i t w ill not i n t e r f e r e with cleanup of raw m a teria ls s p ille d
during the charging operation.

19
 TABLE I 1-3

SOURCE O F INJURY OR ILLNESS (SIC CODE 2077)

Number of Cases Withi n a State

Percent of Cases Withi n a State

All
Boxes , Other Non-
Barre 1s , Chemi­ Hand Machin es Metal Wood Workin g classi- c lass i- Total
State:Year Conta iners cals Tools Items Vehicles Items Surfaces fiable fiable

California: 1977 28 2 8 2 12 16 17 42 3 130

21.5 1.5 6.2 1.5 9.2 12.3 - 13.1 32.3 2.3 100.0

Idaho: 1977 9 4 10 _ 10 5 1 13 24 1 77
11.7 5.2 13.0 - 13.0 6.5 1.3 16.9 31.2 1.3 100.0

Missouri: 1977 12 4 6 1 22 12 1 17 27 12 114

10.5 3.5 5.3 0.9 19.3 10.5 0.9 14.9 23.7 10.5 100.0

Nebraska: 1977 7 1 16 _ 1 2 1 8 24 1 61
11.5 1.6 26.2 - 1.6 3.3 1.6 13.1 39.3 1.6 100.0

Wisconsin: 1977 5 3 18 2 7 6 3 14 34 4 96
5.2 3.1 18.8 2.1 7.3 6.3 3.1 14.6 35.4 4.2 100.0

Percent weighted 12.8 2.9 12.1 1.0 10.9 8.6 1.3 14.4 31.6 4.4 100.0
average by source*

*The sum of cases from a specific source (column) for the five reported states divided by the
sum of cases from all sources for the five reported states, expressed as percentage

Adapted from reference 13

 TABLE II-4

TYPE OF AC C I D E N T OR EXPOSURE (SIC CODE 2077)

N umb er of Cases Wi th in a State

Percent of Cases W i t h i n a State

Contact
with
Contact Radi­
Struck With ation, All
By or Caught Rubbed Over- Extreme Caus- M ot or Other Non-
Struck In or or Exer- Temper- tics, Vehicle Cl as si- classi- Total
State:Y ea r Against Fall Between Abrad ed tion atures etc Accident f iable fiable

California: 1977 29 21 11 6 34 13 4 4 7 1 130

22.3 16.2 8.5 4.6 26.2 10.0 3.1 3.1 5.4 .8 100.0

Idaho: 1977 40 9 6 _ 10 4 4 2 2 - 77
51.9 11.7 7.8 - 13.0 5.2 5.2 2.6 2.6 - 100.0

Missouri: 1977 46 21 6 3 6 8 5 5 6 8 114

40.4 18.4 5.3 2.6 5.3 7.0 4.4 4.4 5.3 7.0 100.0

Nebraska: 1977 18 9 1 6 12 2 5 1 7 - 61
20.5 14.8 1.6 9.8 19.4 3.3 8.2 1.6 11.5 - 100.0

Wisconsin: 1977 36 15 3 4 16 2 12 2 4 2 96
37.5 15.6 3.1 4.2 16.7 2.1 12.5 2.1 4.2 2.1 100.0

Percent weighted 35.4 15.7 5.6 4.0 16.3 6.1 6.3 2.9 5.4 2.3 100.0
av er ag e by type
of acc id en t*

*The sum of cases from a specific source (column) for the five reported states di vi ded by the
sum of cases from all sources for the five repor ted states, expressed as perc ent age

Adapt ed from refere nce 13

 TABLE I1-5

NATURE OF INJURY OR ILLNESS (SIC CODE 2077)

Numbe r of Cases W i thi n a State

Percent of Cases Wi th in a State

Sc ra ­ All All
C ontu- Cuts, tches , O c cu­ Ot her Non-
Amputa - sions, Lacera- Frac- Abra - Sprains, pational Classi­ classi-
S t a t e :Year tions Burns Bruises tions tures sions Strains diseases fiable fiable Total

California: 1977 _ 15 10 22 10 4 51 2 1 15 130

- 11.5 7.7 16.9 7.7 3.1 39.2 1.5 .8 11.5 100.0

_ 16 _ - 77
Idaho: 1977 7 19 4 10 17 4
- 9.1 20.8 24.7 5.2 13.0 22.1 - 5.2 - 100.0

Missouri: 1977 _
8 17 20 7 1 24 4 25 8 114
- 7.0 14.9 17.5 6.1 0.9 21.1 3.5 21.9 7.0 100.0

Nebraska: 1977 _
4 1 16 7 _ 23 3 7 - 61
- 6.6 1.6 26.2 11.5 - 37.7 4.9 11.5 - 100.0

Wis co ns in: 1977 _

3 10 23 7 3 23 16 6 5 96
- 3.1 10.4 24.0 7.3 3.1 24.0 16.7 6.3 5.2 100.0

Percent weighted 0 7.7 11.3 20.9 7.3 3.8 28.9 5.2 9.0 5.9 100.0
average by nature
of injury*

*The sum of cases from a specific source (column) for the five reported states divided by the
sum of cases from all sources for the five reported states, expressed as percentage

Adapted from reference 13

 (b) Boxes, B a rre ls, C ontainers, and Dead Stock
In the fiv e se lec te d s t a t e s , about 13% of the in ju rie s l i s t e d were
a tt r i b u t e d to work with boxes, b a r r e ls , and other c o n tain ers. Another 4%
could be a tt r i b u t e d to animal products such as c a rcasses, bones, and
h id es. Approximately 16% of a l l accidents were l i s t e d as overexertion
(Table I I - 4 ) , which most frequently involves l i f t i n g , p u llin g , or throwing
of o b je c ts. The most common injury involved sprains and s t r a i n s ,
freq u en tly to the back [14].
Rendering p la n ts th a t process re sta u ra n t grease w ill handle many heavy
b a r r e ls , and p la n ts th a t process hides and pet food w ill handle more dead
stock than other p la n ts . Many p lan ts do not handle any dead stock, but
p la n ts in the west and midwest process more dead stock than those in other
p a r ts of the country. In p la n ts th a t process h id e s, l i f t i n g , p u llin g , and
throwing i n ju r ie s involving hides and heavy bags of s a l t are problems.
A work p ra c tic e guide for manual l i f t i n g has been developed by NIOSH
[19], This guide makes recommendations for c o n tro llin g various hazards
r e l a t e d to unaided symmetric (two-handed) l i f t i n g of an object of known
weight and s iz e . Q uan titative recommendations regarding the safe load
weight, s iz e , lo c a tio n , and frequency of handling are presented. In
ad d itio n to recommendations for the s e le c tio n and tra in in g of workers who
must manually handle m a te r ia ls , the guide presents some engineering and
ad m in istra tiv e c o n tro ls . The guide w ill help employers determine which
l i f t i n g tasks being performed in t h e i r p lan ts are unacceptable without
engineering co n tro ls (above a maximum perm issible lim it (MPL));
unacceptable without a d m in istra tiv e or engineering con tro ls (between the
a c tio n level (AL) and the MPL) and which are acceptable (below the action
l e v e l ) . More d e ta ile d information on the maximumperm issible lim its and
a c tio n lev els can be found in the NIOSH work p ra c tic e guide for manual
l i f t i n g [19],
Employers should ensure th a t hazardous pushing, p u llin g , and l i f t i n g
tasks not covered by the NIOSH guide are e it h e r performed with the aid of
some mechanical device, such as a h o i s t , or redesigned so th a t they can be
performed sa fe ly . While a h o is t w ill reduce the physical hazards
a sso c ia ted with manual pushing, p u llin g , and l i f t i n g , i t could introduce
new physical hazards unless o perational guidelines are developed and
followed. In some rendering p la n ts , workers clean up under perc pans held
up by h o i s t s . In sp ection of h o is ts and t h e i r c e ilin g connections for
p o ssib le corrosion should be performed freq u en tly . Employers should also
consider the use of jacks or posts as safety supports for perc pans.
At one rendering p la n t v is i t e d by NIOSH, workers responsible for
unloading grease b a r r e l s were aided by a conveyor th a t moved the grease
b a r r e ls from the unloading dock to the hot room. After the grease was
melted the b a r r e ls were autom atically turned upside down and emptied.
This g re a tly reduced the manual pushing, p u llin g , and l i f t i n g performed at
t h i s p la n t [15].

23
 NIOSH v i s i t e d two other rendering p la n ts th a t handled b a rre ls of
re s ta u ra n t grease. At one of these, workers used hand trucks to move the
b a r r e ls ; at the other p la n t, because the h o is t was in o p erativ e, the
workers moved the b a r re ls manually. Minimizing the d istan ce required to
move the b a r r e ls w ill also reduce the amount of pushing, p u llin g , and
l i f t i n g [15].
Any worker involved in l i f t i n g , pushing, or p u llin g should be required
to wear s a fe ty -to e footwear. Since these jobs are usually performed on
slip p e ry surfaces, the sa fe ty footwear should have soles made of
s l i p - r e s i s t a n t m a te ria l. Safety-toe footwear of the proper type is
e f f e c tiv e in reducing m a teria l handling i n j u r i e s as well as s lip s and
f a l l s . Recommendations for s a fe ty -to e footwear are presented in ANSI
Z41.1-1967.
The lid s of b a r r e ls and other containers are o ften rough, and cuts and
la c e ra tio n s may r e s u l t from handling them i f gloves are not worn. Workers
should be required to wear gloves when handling b a r r e ls and other
c o n ta in e r s .
(c) Hand Tools
Hand too ls were l i s t e d as the source of about 12% of the compensable
i n ju r ie s in rendering p lan ts in the five s ta te s (Table I I - 3 ) . Renderers
use knives and axes, as well as maintenance too ls such as wrenches,
hammers, and small hand-held power tools including d r i l l s , welding
to rch e s, and small saws. Cuts and la c e ra tio n s , most frequently of the
fingers and hands, are caused often by hand to o ls.
The most frequent hand tool accidents in many rendering p la n ts involve
knives. In some rendering p lan ts knives are used to skin, gut, and bone
carcasses and trim h id e s. Skinners of dead stock have often injured
fin g e rs , hands, arms, thig hs, knees, legs, and feet [16]. According to
the 1979 F i r s t Reports, hide trimmers had sim ila r a c cid en ts. These
rendering p la n ts should have a knife safety program th a t includes the use
of personal p ro te c tiv e equipment and tra in in g . The F i r s t Reports c ite d
above in d ic a te th a t when a worker was c u ttin g a carcass every p art of h is
body was vulnerable to k n ife wounds. The use of personal p ro te c tiv e
equipment should, th e re fo re , be as extensive as p o ssib le.
Other frequent causes of hand tool in j u r i e s r e s u l t from c leav ers,
axes, and large knives used to reduce the animal carcasses to a size th at
is amenable to the rendering p l a n t 's equipment. P ro te c tiv e equipment
including mesh gloves, arm p ro te c to rs , and abdominal p ro te c to rs should be
used by workers c u ttin g up the carcasses. Knives used in th is task should
have maximally guarded handles, designed to prevent the hand from slipping
onto the blade.
Hand tool-related injuries during maintenance operations can be
reduced by the use of personal protective equipment such as safety shoes
and gloves and by training workers in the proper use of tools. General

24
ind u stry standards for the use of hand too ls are l i s t e d in 29 CFR
1910.241-1910.247. Hand saws and other powered to o ls must be properly
grounded, in su la te d , or enclosed because of the wet conditions th a t often
e x i s t during t h e i r use. Powered equipment th at uses a constant pressure
switch must be chosen, when a v a ila b le , in order to shut o ff the power when
the operator re lea se s the pressure. To p ro te c t the eyes from flying
p a r t i c l e s when grinding, c u ttin g , or sawing, workers should wear
app ro p riate eye p ro te c tio n , such as face s h ie ld s, sa fe ty glasses with side
s h ie ld s , goggles, or a combination.
(d) Powered I n d u s tr ia l Trucks
Vehicles were reported to be involved in about 9% of the i n ju r ie s
(Table I I - 3 ) . All vehicles used in the industry were included, such as
raw m a te ria l pickup tru c k s, f o r k l i f t tru ck s, and front-end loaders.
V eh ic le -re la te d accidents occur both in the c o ll e c t i o n of raw m a teria l
from butcher shops, r e s ta u r a n ts , and meatpacking p la n ts ( a c t i v i t i e s not
included in the scope of t h is document), and in the rendering p lan ts
themselves.
Adherence to the re g u la tio n s for powered i n d u s t r i a l trucks l i s t e d in
29 CFR 1910.178 w ill reduce these i n j u r i e s . They re q u ire safety tra in in g
of o p e ra to rs, i n s t a l l a t i o n of m irrors at blind c orners, insp ectio n of
v eh icles p rio r to use, and the use of only properly maintained equipment.
(e) Metal Items
Metal items such as s h a f t s , d is c s , and pulleys were involved in about
11% of a l l compensable i n ju r ie s in the se lec te d s t a te s (Table I I - 3 ) ; most
i n j u r i e s were c u ts , la c e r a tio n s , and contusions [14]. M etal-item -related
i n j u r i e s occurred p rim arily in the handling of these objects during
maintenance in t ig h t q u a rte rs and around hot equipment in an uncomfortable
(hot and humid) environment. These i n ju r ie s can be prevented by the use
of p ro te c tiv e equipment such as sa fe ty shoes, gloves, and head p ro te c tio n
(hard h a ts ) and the t r a in i n g of workers in proper m a te ria ls handling
tec h n iq u e s.
(f ) Machines and Conveyors
Machines such as g rin d e rs, cookers, p re sse s, and c e n trifu g e s were the
source of about 1% of the compensable i n j u r i e s (Table I I - 3 ) . These
machines are a r e l a t i v e l y minor source of compensable i n ju r ie s in the
rendering process. Adherence to the general re g u la tio n s for machine
guarding l i s t e d in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart 0 w ill continue to p ro te c t the
operator and other workers from the moving p a rts of machines.
Rendering p lan ts use screw conveyors (augers) to move m aterial through
the process. To prevent workers from coming in to contact with moving
p a r t s , conveyors should be provided with covers th a t are e it h e r bolted on
or e l e c t r i c a l l y in te rlo c k ed , which ensures th a t the conveyor w ill not be
operated without proper guards in place. Where screw conveyors cannot be

25
f u l ly enclosed (receiving points and some points of disch arg e), they
should be hooded or guarded by loc a tio n or other s u ita b le b a r r i e r . S ta r t
and stop con tro ls should be located and guarded to prevent a c c id e n ta l
operatio n , and a s u f f i c i e n t number of c o n tro ls should be provided
throughout the process area to stop the conveyors in an emergency.
Plant machines and conveyors require maintenance, in sp e c tio n ,
clean in g, a d ju stin g , and serv icin g . Work th a t re q u ire s entrance in to , or
close contact with, machines or conveyors should not begin u n t i l
1ockout/tagout procedures are followed. NIOSH is preparing a document on
c o n tro llin g maintenance hazards that re s u lt from the presence of energy
[20]. The recommendations of th i s document are app lic a b le to in d u s tr ie s
th a t use hazardous lev els of energy for machines or processes and where
maintenance a c t i v i t i e s could bring workers close to r e s u l ti n g hazards. In
these in sta n ce s, maintenance should only be performed a f t e r the energy is
elim inated or c o n tro lle d in accordance with the recommendations.
The employer should be aware of the Federal re g u la tio n s (29 CFR
1910.179) for the operation of cranes used to re p a ir rendering equipment.
Regulations also e x is t (29 CFR 1910.184) for the s e le c tio n and in sp e c tio n
of chains used for h o is tin g . Workers should never attempt to unkink a
chain th a t is under s t r e s s .
(g) Hot Objects
Steam and hot water, fa t products, and process equipment such as
cookers and ring dryers are sources of burns in rendering p la n ts . Burns
were reported in about 8% of the compensable cases (Table I I - 5 ) .
Steam and hot water are frequently used in some rendering p la n ts to
hose down equipment and greasy, slip p e ry a reas. In some F i r s t Reports,
workers burned t h e ir legs and feet while using steam or hot water to clean
t h e i r boots [16]. Some workers using cold water-steam mix hoses for hot
water operations have been exposed to steam when they mix too much steam
with water. Other workers have been burned by steam and hot water because
they lo s t control of hoses during cleanup operations.
Steam and hot water lin e s should be marked and in su la te d . Hose used
for cold water-steam mixes should be approved for use with steam. Cold
water-steam mixes for obtaining hot water can be used only i f s u it a b le
th e rm o s ta tic a lly -c o n tro lle d mixing u n its are used. Mixing u n its need to
withstand temperatures of 180 F (82 C) at a pressure of 150 p s i. To
discourage workers from using a hose with water temperatures ranging from
140 to 180 F (60 to 82 C) to wash personal equipment, equipment wash-off
s ta tio n s should be estab lished in the p la n t. Water temperatures at these
s t a ti o n s should be no higher than 120 F (49 C). To elim inate accid en ts
occurring when workers lose control of a hose, steam and hot water hoses
should be equipped with p re ssu re -a c tiv ate d nozzles. These nozzles
autom atically shut o ff the steam or water when the worker l e t s go of the
nozzle. To prevent hoses from rupturing, frequent insp ectio ns should be
made to assess the condition of the hose. Mixing valves should a lso be
inspected frequently.

26
 (h) R ep e titiv e Body Motion
When an injury is due to a worker's r e p e t i t i v e motion ra th e r than to
what he is doing with an object, bodily motion should be designated as the
source of the in ju ry . Research has shown th a t cumulative trauma disorders
of the hand and w rist are a common problem for workers who perform
r e p e t i t i v e manual work. In recent years, te n d o n itis and tenosynovitis
have become s ig n if ic a n t occupational diseases in some in d u s tr ie s . In
ren dering p la n ts , some operations with knives and shovels are r e p e t i t i v e .
In Nebraska, bodily motion was l is te d as the source of 8% of a l l rendering
i n j u r i e s . Sprains and s t r a i n s are the most frequent type of injury
r e s u l t i n g from bodily motion [14]. There are reports [16] of
te n o sy n o v itis in workers who skinned dead stock.

Hazards from Physical Agents

(a) Noise
Workers may be exposed to high noise lev els in some rendering plants
because b o i l e r s , p re-b reak ers, cru sh ers, d is i n te g r a t o r s , and grinding
m i l ls can generate noise exceeding 90 dBA (Table I I - 6 ) .
In 1976, an OSHA inspection of an independent plant found that an
o p e ra to r a t a con tro l panel of the inedible rendering operation was
exposed to a time-weighted average noise lev el of 91 dBA during an
8.5-hour exposure. The control panel in th is p lan t was between two
cookers, with a hogger (bone crusher) overhead.
Unsuccessful attempts to reduce the noise level included i n s t a l l i n g
rubber pads under motor mounts, maintenance of bearings, i n s t a l l i n g a
c u r ta i n to reduce the impact of ground bones on the side of the bin, and
se p aratin g the metal p a rts of processing equipment with sound-deadening
m a t e r ia l s . The successful so lu tio n was to i n s t a l l a control booth. The
booth is used by the operator to monitor the machinery control panel and
to do paperwork. With the doors of the booth closed, readings of 72 to 75
dBA were obtained at times of highest noise generation. Noise levels in
t h i s p la n t are ty p ic a l for a p lan t with sim ilar equipment and equipment
layout (D Mackenzie, w ritte n communication, January 1979).
During NIOSH v i s i t s [15] to two independent rendering p lan ts with Duke
rendering systems, noise measurements were made. The control panel in one
p la n t was in front of two cookers and c lo se ly surrounded by the r e s t of
the process equipment, except for the hammer m ill which was in an adjacent
room. Noise lev els of 91 dBA and 96 dBA were recorded at the control
panel and hammer m i l l, re sp e c tiv e ly . At the other p lan t where the hammer
m ill was completely iso la te d in a separate room, 81 dBA was measured at
the control panel. A d if f e r e n t layout of process equipment at th is plant
was also a facto r in the lower noise measurements.

27
 Noise measurements taken 6 feet (2 m ) in front of hammer m ills at four
rendering p lan ts v is i t e d by NIOSH ranged from 94 to 106 dBA. These lev els
con tribu ted to background noise levels at work s t a ti o n s in the p la n t.
Information has been obtained concerning noise lev e ls near process
equipment (Anderson IBEC continuous system) at two rendering p lan ts (A
P h ife r, w ritte n communication, June 1978). The data are presented in
Table I I - 6 . With the exception of one lo c a tio n , the reported area noise
levels equaled or exceeded 90 dBA. In the b o ile r area, measurements of 97
and 98 dBA were recorded. The extent of worker exposure to noise at these
lev els was not recorded. Except for the b o ile r room, s im ila r noise levels
were obtained on a NIOSH p la n t s i t e v i s i t a t another rendering p lan t with
an Anderson system. Noise level measurements taken at cookers and
e x p e lle rs (presses) were u sually g re a te r than 85 dBA, but they always
included background noise [15].
Engineering c o n tro ls and preventive maintenance are important elements
of noise c o n tro l. Proper maintenance of bearings, drive gears, r o l l e r s ,
and other moving p arts is important in minimizing noise generation. Some
noisy equipment may be enclosed and in su la te d . At some rendering p la n ts
v is i t e d by NIOSH, the layout of the process equipment, including the
complete is o l a t io n of the grinding m ills in a sep arate room, provided a
work environment without exposure to high noise le v e ls . Mufflers may be
used on steam or compressed-air exhausts. Soundproof booths or enclosed
c o n tro l rooms may a lso be provided for operators in a noisy environment.
I f noise lev els or exposure periods cannot be reduced, warning signs
should be posted in the exposure area, and workers in the area should wear
hearing p ro te c tio n , such as ear muffs, rubber or foam earplugs, or fib e r
plugs. Various NIOSH p u b lic a tio n s contain information necessary for an
e f f e c tiv e noise con tro l program [21-23], Noise control should be
considered when purchasing new equipment.
(b) Fire
Industry p ro fe ssio n a ls have c ite d f i r e as a common danger in rendering
p la n ts . The f i r e hazard ra tin g of rendering p lan ts is high, according to
B e st's Loss Control Engineering Manual [24], which provides data on the
insured loss ( f i r e , workmen's compensation, product l i a b i l i t y ) of a broad
c ro s s -s e c tio n of ind u stry. B e st's ra tin g system is based on the average
experience of insurance companies encompassing 90-98% of the premiums
w r it t e n . Batch rendering operations received a r a tin g of 8 on a scale of
0 to 10, with 10 re p re se n tin g the g re a te st hazard of f i r e s . Older batch
p la n ts are more su sc e p tib le because they were constructed with wood or
other combustible m a te ria ls . Continuous rendering operations were
considered less hazardous, but no numerical ra tin g s were given.
Continuous systems are u sually i n s t a l le d in new buildin gs constructed of
s t e e l and concrete block or other noncombustible m a te ria ls (W Prokop,
w ritte n communication, June 1978).
A leading cause of i n d u s tr ia l f i r e s is d e fec tiv e e l e c t r i c a l equipment
and wiring [25]. Specific problems at rendering p lan ts include improperly

28
grounded equipment, frayed and bared w ires, wet m a te ria l around e le c t r i c a l
o u t l e t s , and loose and corroded conduit connections. E l e c t r i c a l equipment
and wiring should be i n s t a l l e d and maintained in accordance with the
l a t e s t National E l e c t r i c a l Codes. Because of the corro siv e nature of the
chemicals used and given o ff in rendering p la n ts , a l l e l e c t r i c a l equipment
and wiring should be p e r io d ic a lly inspected and te s te d to detect
d e f ic ie n c ie s and ensure continued s a t is f a c t o r y performance. Automatic
s p rin k le r or foaming systems can be used e f f e c t iv e ly for f i r e s in
rendering p la n ts , but they must be properly located for maximum
efficiency.

TABLE II-6
NOISE-LEVEL MEASUREMENTS AT TWO RENDERING PLANTS*

Location of Noise Measurement DecibelsC'A" scale reading)

Plant A Plant B

Pre-breaker 95 93
D isin te g ra to rs 96 92
E xpellers 93 90
Centrifuge - 93
Operating flo o r 94 93
F i l t e r press - 90
Grinding m ill 92 89
Two b o ile r s 97 98
( 1 on) (2 on)
B oiler header steam leak 104 -
*Area measurements; personal monitoring was not performed.
Adapted from A P h ife r, w ritte n communication, June 1978

Welding and thermal c u ttin g pose a p o te n tia l f i r e hazard in confined

spaces and rendering plant areas in which grease and other combustible
m a te ria ls have accumulated (A P h ife r, w ritte n communication, June 1978)
[16]. They should be performed under maximum f i r e - s a f e working
V

29
co n d itio n s. Grease or other combustible d ep o sits must be removed from the
working surface, and sparks should be contained. F ire extinguishing
equipment su ita b le to the plant area should be a v a ila b le in adequate
q u a n titie s within easy reach (A P h ife r, w r itte n communication, June
1978).
Excessive heat generated by f r i c t i o n is another major source of
f i r e s . Such excessive heat may r e s u l t from inadequate lu b ric a tio n ,
misaligned bearings, and improperly adjusted b e l t - d r i v e n machinery. A
program of preventive maintenance th at includes frequent inspections can
minimize the r i s k of f i r e s from these sources. Spontaneous ig n itio n may
also occur in rendering p la n ts, p a r ti c u l a r l y in the perc pans of the batch
cooker systems i f rendered m a te ria l, heated to temperatures above 120 C
(250 F ) , is held in the pan for a prolonged period (eg, overnight) [26].
F ires of th is type rep orted ly can be avoided i f the m a te ria l is processed
w ithin 8 to 12 hours a f t e r the fa t is drained (W Prokop, w ritte n
communication, December 1979).
Fat mists from cookers may coat the e n t i r e in sid e of a rendering
p la n t. Although fa ts do not have a low fla sh p o in t, they can be ig n ite d by
open flames used c a re le s s ly or by uncontrolled h ea tin g . I f exhaust
v e n t il a ti o n is used to prevent the s e t t l i n g of released fa t a e ro s o ls, the
exhaust ductwork must also be kept clean. Exhaust fans should be equipped
for automatic shutoff in the event of f i r e .
Proper operation and maintenance of b o ile r s and o th er p ressure v esse ls
are e s s e n ti a l to t h e i r safe use. Boilers must be operated in s t r i c t
conformance with local codes. At a minimum, a l l pressu re v e s se ls should
be equipped with rupture discs and vents to prevent explosion.
(c) Heat
Some rendering plant workers (e s p e c ia lly those working above hot
process equipment) are exposed to hot and humid work environments,
p a r t i c u l a r l y during the summer [15,24]. Such exposure may r e s u l t in heat
stro ke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash , and heat fa tig u e .
A worker's a b i l i t y to do h is job is a ffe c ted by working in hot
environments. Heat tends to promote accidents due to the s lip p e rin e s s of
sweaty palms, d iz z in e ss, or the fogging of sa fe ty g la sse s. Since the
frequency of accidents in general appears to be higher in hot
environments, i t is important to ensure th a t thermal s t r e s s does not make
rendering jobs more dangerous [27].
Much heat is created in rendering p la n ts by equipment such as cookers
and d ry ers. Energy conservation e f f o r t s th a t in s u la te hot equipment and
steam and condensate piping w ill help reduce the heat load in rendering
p la n ts . Local exhaust systems a t heat sources and general p lan t
v e n t i l a t i o n systems can also remove heat and humidity from the work areas
(A P h ife r, w ritte n communication, June 1978) and increase a i r
c ir c u l a ti o n .

30
 I f heat s t r e s s is suspected, various means can be used to a ll e v i a t e
i t . These means seek to reduce heat storage by the body, e it h e r by
lim itin g input heat load, lim itin g metabolic h eat load, or lim itin g
exposure d uration . In p ra c tic e th i s can be ra d ia n t heat sh ie ld in g , forced
a i r movement, clo thin g designed to minimize heat absorption and maximize
evaporative cooling, and worker r e s t schedules designed to prevent body
temperatures from increasing over the work s h i f t [28],
Intake a i r , cooled by w ater-heat exchange, was d ire c te d at job
s t a ti o n s for workers o perating cookers at one p la n t v i s i t e d by NIOSH
[15]. A NIOSH c r i t e r i a document on hot environments [28] recommended that
newly exposed workers be acclim atized and th a t exposure time be sh o rt. A
jo i n t OSHA/NIOSH pamphlet, Hot Environments, is a v a ila b le to give
employers and workers an overview of the h e a lth hazards of work in hot
environments and to a l e r t them to the precautions needed to avoid
excessive heat s t r e s s [27].

Hazards from Biologic and Chemical Agents

(a) Acute Toxicants, Including Asphyxiants
The anaerobic decomposition of biologic m a te ria l can produce gases
th a t may accumulate in d ra in s, sewers, tanks, and other confined or
enclosed spaces. F a t a l i t i e s reported by two rendering f a c i l i t i e s re su lte d
from an apparent accumulation of toxic gases in confined spaces [29,30],
Since th is has not been widely recognized as a hazard in the rendering
in d u stry , these episodes are discussed here in d e t a i l .
In 1975, workers died at a rendering p lan t where they were exposed to
gases thought to be the r e s u l t of decomposition of animal m aterial
[29.31], Six men were asphyxiated when a clogged d rain was opened,
presumably re lea sin g le th a l q u a n titie s of gaseous products into a confined
sp a ce .
The animal m a teria ls had been delivered by tru ck , weighed, and dumped
into a large holding p i t for m a teria ls to be rendered [29,31], After the
trucks were unloaded, they were washed out, the drainage entering another
p i t (fo r waste c o lle c tio n ) below the s c a le s. This p i t normally drained
in to a t h i r d , adjoining p i t by g ravity through a 6-inch drain pipe.
However, the drain pipe was thought to have been clogged for 2 to 7 days
[29.31].
A maintenance man descended in to the t h ir d p i t to open the clogged
d ra in , spending approximately 20 minutes in the p i t with no apparent i l l
e f f e c t s [31]. L ater, he reentered the th ird p i t to shut o ff a sump pump
but collapsed while attem pting to climb out. Five men attempting to
rescue him also died a f t e r entering the p i t . None wore re s p ira to ry
p ro te c tio n of any kind.
Medical and autopsy findings showed signs of general hypoxia (s ta te d
as anoxia [29]) with acute edema of the brain and lungs. Four of the six

31
victim s had severe r e s p ir a to r y i r r i t a t i o n , and one had a greenish
d is c o lo ra tio n of the v is c e ra . Lung samples from fiv e of the victim s were
analyzed by gas chromatograph for entrapped hydrogen s u lf id e ; four lung
samples from persons who had died from n o n in d u stria l causes were analyzed
as c o n tro ls . Hydrogen s u lf id e was i d e n tif ie d in a l l samples from the
victim s and in none from the c o n tro ls . In a d d itio n , coins and keys in the
pockets of some victim s were darkened, and an an a ly sis of them was
p o sitiv e for su lf u r .
Sludge samples c o lle c te d from the bottom of the p i t were re fr ig e ra te d
on the night of the accident and te s te d q u a l i t a t i v e l y for hydrogen s u lfid e
the next morning with lead a c e ta te . The t e s t s were p o s itiv e [31]. On the
day following the accid en t, lead a c e ta te paper exposed 3 feet (0.9 m)
above the sludge was p o s itiv e for hydrogen s u lf id e . The toxicology
department at Ohio S tate U niversity c o llec te d a 4 0 - l i t e r a i r sample from
the p i t on the day a f t e r the a c cid en t, using a cadmium chlo ride so lu tio n
in a midget impinger [31]. Approximately 15 ppm of hydrogen s u lfid e was
found in the sample. Samples c o lle c te d in Saran bags by NIOSH personnel 2
days a f t e r the accident showed tra ce s of hydrogen s u lf id e (2-3 ppm), but
were negative for methane, combustible gases, oxygen deficiency , and
oxides of n itrogen.
The in v e s tig a to rs in te rp re te d the evidence as in d ic a tin g th at the
deaths were probably caused by exposure to gases produced by decomposition
of su lfu r-c o n ta in in g organic m a te ria l [29]. On the b asis of the medical
and environmental findings (symptomatology, pathologic findings,
q u a l i t a t i v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of gases in a i r and sludge) and of the
o p eratio n al circumstances and h is to ry of th is episode, hydrogen su lf id e
alone or a combination of carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen s u lfid e
was believed to be the most lik e ly cause [29].
A sim ila r episode was reported re c e n tly [30]. Two workers died in
June 1980 a t a rendering f a c i l i t y of a poultry processing p lan t where they
were exposed to an oxygen-deficient environment or to gases th at were
thought to have re s u lte d from decomposition of animal m a te ria l. The two
men were asphyxiated when they climbed to the bottom of a 15-foot (meat)
overflow holding tank (#2) th a t possibly contained le t h a l q u a n titie s of
gaseous products.
This overflow tank (#2) was f i l l e d with chicken p a rts (head, fe e t, and
v isc e ra ) whenever the cooker and another overflow tank (#1) were f u l l .
The m a te ria l placed in the overflow tanks was u sually processed within 14
hours. Although the inside of overflow tank #1 was cleaned out at le a s t
th ree times per week, the inside of overflow tank #2, because of i t s
lo c a tio n , was not cleaned out re g u la rly . To give i t a clean appearance,
however, the outside was cleaned re g u la rly .
The men were requested to e n te r the tank (#2) to remove roofing
m a te ria l th a t had f a lle n in to the tank the day before. Both men collapsed
and died while inside the tank, n e ith e r man wearing r e s p ira to ry p ro te c tio n
of any kind. No autopsies were performed. At high tem peratures, the

32
s u lfu r-c o n ta in in g amino acids in the p ou ltry o f f a l remaining in the
overflow tank could have degraded and produced hydrogen s u lf id e . The
roofing m a teria l clogged a d rain at the bottom of the tank, allowing
buildup of any gases th a t may have formed [30], The evidence ind icates
th a t the deaths could have been caused by hydrogen su lf id e exposure
produced by decomposition of s u lfu r-c o n ta in in g organic m a te ria l.
D eta ils of the toxicologic e f f e c t s of occupational exposure to
hydrogen s u lfid e and carbon dioxide, and recommendations for workplace
exposure lim its are given in the re sp e ctiv e NIOSH c r i t e r i a documents
[32,33]. Recommendations for e n te rin g , working in , and ex itin g from,
confined spaces are given in the NIOSH c r i t e r i a document Working in
Confined Spaces [34], Adherence to these recommendations w ill p ro te c t
h e a lth and s i g n i f i c a n t l y reduce a c cid en tal inju ry and death associated
with e n te rin g , working in, and ex itin g from confined spaces. I t w ill also
make the worker cognizant of the hazards asso ciated with h is work area and
the safe work p ra c tic e s necessary to deal with these hazards.
(b) In fe c t ious Diseases
Although in fe c tio u s diseases have not been a major hazard in rendering
p la n ts in the United S ta te s , a few cases of b r u c e l lo s i s , p s i t t a c o s i s ,
Q-fever and anthrax have been reported. The agents for these diseases are
introduced into the rendering environment by in fec te d animal c a rcasses,
but the rendered product is expected to be free of the disease agents
because of the high temperature involved in the process. I f in fe c tio n
with a zoonotic agent does occur, e a rly diagnosis and treatment w ill tend
to lim it the duration and se v e rity of the d isease.
B ru c ello sis is a zoonotic disease transm itted by d ir e c t contact with
diseased animals ( c a t t l e , swine, sheep, goats, horses, and re in d e e r), by
co n jun ctiv al exposure, airborne d ro plet exposure, and ingestion of
contaminated m a te ria l. B ru cellosis is chara c teriz e d by m alaise, c h i l l s ,
sweating, body aches, headache, loss of a p p e tite , weight lo ss , and a fever
of 101-104 F (38-40 C). B ru cellosis has a f a t a l i t y r a t e of 2%, and death
i s ra re in persons with a n t i b i o ti c treatm ent. Untreated cases may become
chronic [35-37].
In the l a s t 3 years fo r which data are a v a ila b le , independent
rendering p lan t workers c o n stitu te d 1.1% (3 of 271) of the b ru c e llo s is
cases in the United S tates in 1976 [38], 1.7% (3 of 176) of the cases in
1977 , and 5% (8 of 161) in 1978. Other cases may occur among the
rendering workers of meat packing p la n ts , but no d e t a i l s are a v a ila b le (M
P o tte r , verbal communication, February 1979; A K ornblatt, verbal
communication, February 1981).
P s i t t a c o s i s is an in fec tio u s disease transm itted by d ir e c t contact
with infected birds (eg, turkeys and pigeons) or the in h a la tio n of dust
from t h e i r droppings. This disease is c h a ra c teriz e d by an abrupt onset of
shaking, c h i l l s , fever, headache, backache, photophobia, and loss of
a p p e tite [33-35]. Complications may r e s u l t , but recovery is the usual
outcome. F a t a li t y is ra re .

33
 In 1961 and 1973, Langmuir [39,40] reported on 26 cases of p s i t t a c o s i s
among 38 workers (68.4%) of an independent rendering p la n t in P ortland,
Oregon, during the w inter of 1955-1956. Infected turkeys had been chopped
in to small pieces and blown through a large duct in to a vat for
steam-pressure cooking. The disease occurred in workers in a l l job
c ateg o ries in the rendering p lan t except the truck d r i v e r s . The author
[40] suggested th a t the disease was transm itted by the in f e c tiv e aerosol
produced by the chopping and blowing of the infected m a te r ia l.
Q-fever is a zoonotic disease transm itted by d ir e c t contact with
infected animals (eg, c a t t l e , sheep, goats) or the in h a la tio n of dust from
t h e i r droppings. This disease is characterized by c h i l l y sen sation s,
re tro b u lb a r headache, weakness, m alaise, and severe sweating [35,36],
Pneumonitis occurs in most cases, with mild cough and chest pains. The
f a t a l i t y ra te of untreated p a tie n ts is less than 1%, and, for p a tie n ts
tre a te d with a n t i b i o t i c s , i t is n e g lig ib le .
In 1947, Topping et al [41] reported an outbreak of Q-fever among
workers in a c a t t l e and hog meatpacking p la n t in which rendering was also
performed. Of 97workers, 31(32%) had Q-fever, including 3 of the 4
workers in the lard and tankage areas associated with the rendering
process. These workers also a s s is te d in the slaug hterin g process;
t h e re fo re , the area of the p lan t where the in fe c tio n was acquired could
not be e sta b lis h e d . Three of five workers in the h id e-curin g area also
developed the d ise a se . The remaining cases occurred in the slaughtering
and d re ssin g , boning, and sausage a reas. The authors concluded th a t
handling the tis s u e s of fre s h ly slaughtered animals in a meatpacking p lan t
can carry a high ris k of Q-fever in fe c tio n .
Anthrax is a zoonotic disease transm itted by the in h a la tio n of spores
shed by infected animals (eg, c a t t l e , sheep, horses, and pigs) or by
d ir e c t contact with the animal. This disease is c haracterized by
headache, nausea, vomiting, and fever [35,37]. Untreated cutaneous
anthrax has a f a t a l i t y r a t e of 5-20%; with e f f e c tiv e a n t i b i o t i c therapy,
however, there are e s s e n ti a ll y no deaths.
The f i r s t case of human anthrax since 1955 was recorded in September
1980 in Colorado. I t occurred in a 30-year-old man who had worked with
animal c a rcasses. The man had a s s is te d in skinning animal carcasses at a
local rendering plant from August 26-31, during which time he was
scratched on the arm by an animal hoof. A lesio n and swelling developed;
B a n th ra cis was iso la ted from a wound c u ltu r e . Surveillance of other
workers at t h i s plant has yielded no other cases in humans [42].
Other zoonoses, such as le p t o s p i r o s i s , could presumably occur in
rendering plant workers; however, no cases of t h is disease have been
reported in the United S ta te s . Several measures can reduce the r i s k of
tra n s m ittin g these in fe c tio u s diseases in rendering p la n ts . These include
frequent washing of the hands, the provision of sep arate eating a reas, and
p rovision of v e n t il a ti o n con tro l to i s o l a t e airflow s from raw m a teria l or
processing areas into fin a l product areas. Wounds should be thoroughly

34
cleaned and receive prompt f i r s t aid. Since minor cuts are r e l a t i v e l y
common in the rendering in d u stry , tetanus immunizations should always be
current.
Work areas in rendering p lan ts should have conveniently located
handwashing f a c i l i t i e s with bowls large enough to minimize splashing.
These areas should be supplied with hot and cold running water and should
be d i r e c t l y connected to the drainage system. Smoking and eating in work
areas of edib le-ren d erin g p la n ts is p ro hibited by the US Department of
A g ric u ltu re .
(c) Chemical I r r i t a n t s A ffecting the Skin, Eyes, and Mucous Membranes
Chemicals are used in rendering p la n ts mostly for cleaning, to process
animal m a te r ia l, t r e a t waste water, and control odors, and in cooling
towers and b o ile r s (Table 1-1). However, workers are usually only exposed
to the chemicals used for cleaning, deodorizing, and water treatm ent.
G enerally, these chemicals are a lk a lie s or oxidizing agents and may cause
chemical burns or i r r i t a t i o n . In h ala tio n of these agents may r e s u l t in
lung i r r i t a t i o n and in ju ry . Skin contact may r e s u l t in d e rm a titis .
I n j u r ie s from mixing, s to r in g , and applying these chemicals can be
prevented i f workers are tra in e d to use personal p ro te c tiv e equipment and
the proper methods of handling chemicals. F u ll-fa c e sh ie ld s over chemical
sp lash -ty pe goggles, rubber gloves, rubber boots, rubber aprons, or rubber
s u i t s are examples of equipment th a t may be req uired . Where workers do
t h e i r jobs in the presence of vapors or d ust, there must be adequate
v e n t i l a t i o n . This may include a combination of general a i r v e n t il a ti o n
and local exhaust v e n t il a ti o n . R espirators must be a v a ila b le for
emergency p r o te c tio n where toxic vapors may be generated from some of the
chemicals used in rendering p lan ts (eg, c h lo rin e ). I f a job req uires a
r e s p i r a t o r , the employer must ensure th a t the worker is thoroughly tra in e d
in i t s use. Workers should be capable of and resp o nsib le for t e s ti n g for
leakage, proper f i t , and proper operation of r e s p i r a t o r s .
I f chlo rine or other toxic chemicals are used in a rendering f a c i l i t y ,
sp e c ia l engineering co n tro ls and work p ra c tic e s may be necessary. D etails
concerning safe work p ra c tic e s and engineering con tro ls are presented in
the c hlo rine c r i t e r i a document [43].
The employer should ensure th a t a l l compounds are used only in proper
concentrations and in ways su ita b le for t h e i r intended purposes.
Procedures must be e s ta b lis h e d for mixing chemicals as recommended by the
manufacturer or as developed by q u a lifie d plant personnel. In a d d itio n ,
employers should be fa m ilia r with a l l chemicals used, including t h e i r
physical p ro p e rtie s and any asso ciated hazards. They must ensure th a t
chemicals are kept in designated storage areas and th a t t h e i r use is
accompanied by proper recordkeeping. Containers of chemicals should be
t i g h t l y sealed and stored in a dry place. All chemical containers must be
la b e le d .

35
 As ind icated in Table 1-1, hydrazine may be used as an oxygen
scavenger in b o ile r systems. Hydrazine deserves sp e cia l a tt e n t i o n because
i t may be absorbed through the skin, is to x ic , and is judged by NIOSH to
be a p o te n tia l human carcinogen. A recommended standard, including work
p r a c t i c e s , is presented in the hydrazine c r i t e r i a document [44]. Because
other oxygen-scavenging chemicals may be used to remove oxygen, the use of
hydrazine is unnecessary in rendering b o i l e r systems (W Prokop, w ritte n
communication, March 1979).
(d) Allergens
Rendering p la n t workers are exposed to a v a r ie ty of animal danders,
including those of the h a i r , skin, fe a th e rs , and other animal m a te ria ls.
Exposure to airborne animal-dander p a r t i c l e s may r e s u l t in asthma,
inflammation of the nasal mucosa, and c o n j u n c ti v it i s . A scratch by a p art
of a carcass can cause a p r u r i t i c wheal and f l a r e response ( u r t i c a r i a ) at
the s i t e of con tact. No data are a v a ila b le to assess the e ffe c ts of
worker exposure to a lle rg e n s in rendering operatio n s.

36
 III. HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES

NIOSH has formulated these guidelines as a result of this study. These

recommendations apply to workers who render animal materials, which includes
the use of heat or mechanical means to reduce fat-containing tissues, bones,
and whole carcasses, the reclaiming of grease, and the production of blood
and feather meal. These recommendations also apply where dead stock is
skinned, gutted, and boned and hides are trimmed and processed. They are not
intended for workers who reduce marine raw materials because of differences
in the process, raw material, and finished product.

Engineering Controls
Engineering co n tro ls are the p referred approach to minimize the
hazards from l i f t i n g , pushing, and p u llin g large and heavy containers and
c arc asses, excessive noise, wet and slip p e ry s u rfa c e s, grease and fa t
buildup, unguarded process equipment, dust exposure, and p o te n tia l toxic
gas buildup in confined spaces. NIOSH recommends engineering con tro ls to
minimize the following hazards in rendering p la n ts .
(a) L iftin g
A program should be i n s t i t u t e d to id e n tify hazardous l i f t i n g jobs.
(1) All manual l i f t i n g jobs should be c l a s s i f i e d according to
the c r i t e r i a se t fo rth in NIOSH's Work P ra c tic e Guide for Manual L i f t i n g .
(2) Manual l i f t i n g tasks c l a s s i f i e d between the action level
(AL) and the maximum perm issible level (MPL) re q u ire e i t h e r adm in istrativ e
or engineering co n tro ls; l i f t i n g tasks above the MPL re q u ire engineering
c o n tro ls such as cranes and h o is ts [19].
(b) Pushing and Pulling
A program should be i n s t i t u t e d to id e n tify hazardous pushing and
p u llin g jobs.
(1) Engineering c o n tro ls such as h o i s t s , conveyors, hand trucks,
and automatic b a rre l decanters should be considered when frequent pushing
or p u llin g is a p art of any job.
(2) I f mechanical conveying devices are not a v a ila b le to
minimize hazardous pushing and p u llin g , the layout of work s ta tio n s in the
p la n t should be planned to minimize the d istan ce objects have to be
tra n sp o rte d . For example, drums should be unloaded as close as possible
to processing operatio n s.

37
 (c) Noise

The employer should be aware of the Federal re g u la tio n (29 CFR

1910.95) th a t p ro te c ts workers against the e f f e c t s of noise exposure.
(1) To reduce noise exposure, techniques such as preventive
maintenance, using proper operating speed, choosing appropriate equipment
lo c a tio n s , and simple machine treatments (eg, v ib r a tio n i s o la tio n or
c o n tro l) should be considered f i r s t .
(2) Other forms of noise c o n tro l, such as sh ie ld s and b a r r i e r s ,
should be considered when these other measures are inadequate.
(3) NIOSH's In d u s tr ia l Noise Control Manual, the United Auto
Workers' Noise Control (Workers' Manual), OSHA's Noise Control Manual, and
other sim ilar p u b lic a tio n s should be consulted [21,45,46].
(d) Heat and Air Contaminants
A program should be i n s t i t u t e d to p e r io d ic a lly id e n tif y any heat,
humidity, or a i r contaminant problems in the p la n t.
(1) V e n tila tio n systems are recommended for c o n tro llin g these
problems.
(2) V en tila tio n con tro l of fa t and grease emissions is
recommended when the buildup of these m a teria ls makes walking and working
surfaces hazardous.
(3) V en tila tio n control of fa t and grease emissions is
recommended when the buildup of these m a teria ls in the p lan t c re a te s a
f i r e hazard.
(4) Local exhaust v e n t i l a t i o n is recommended when general
v e n t i l a t i o n does not adequately control these hazards.
(5) V e n tila tio n and/or a ir-c o n d itio n e d enclosures should be
provided in areas considered to be hot environments.
(6) V e n tila tio n systems should be designed to prevent a i r
movement from raw m a teria l or processing areas to f i n a l product areas.
(7) V en tila tio n systems should be subjected to reg ular cleaning
and preventive maintenance to ensure t h e i r continued e ffe c tiv e n e s s .
(8) V en tila tio n systems discharging in to the outside a i r should
conform to applicable lo c a l, s t a t e , and Federal a i r p o llu tio n
r e g u l a ti o n s .
(e) Machines and Conveyors
Guarding of machinery and power transm ission equipment in a rendering
p lan t should provide the maximum degree of p ro te c tio n to the workers.
38
 (1) Machines and power transm ission equipment can be guarded
with b a r r i e r s , or be is o la te d .
(2) Screw conveyors should be f u lly covered or guarded so th a t
n e ith e r workers nor t h e i r c lo th in g can contact moving p a r ts .
(3) Federal re g u la tio n s (29 CFR 1910.219) e x is t which req uire
mechanical power-transmission equipment ( s h a f ts , gears, p u lley s, etc)
w ith in 7 fe e t (2.1 m) or less of the flo o r or of work platforms be covered
or guarded.
( f ) Working in Confined Spaces
V e n tila tio n , as described in the NIOSH c r i t e r i a document Working in
Confined Spaces [34], is recommended for a l l confined space work.
I n s t a l l a t i o n of a v e n t i l a t i o n system (eg, fans) for a confined space,
where outside a i r is introduced and stagnant a i r is exhausted, w ill help
prevent accumulation of any toxic gases.
(g) Walking-Working Surfaces
Walking-working surfaces should receive a tt e n t i o n to minimize the
number of accidents involving them.
(1) Walking-working surfaces should be s l i p - r e s i s t a n t .
(2) Worn walking-working surfaces th a t have lo s t their
s l i p - r e s i s t a n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s should be replaced or re fin is h e d .

Work P ra c tic e s
(a) Walking-Working Surfaces
I n j u r ie s caused by unsafe working surfaces can be reduced by
minimizing the accumulation of grease or fa t on flo o rs , and by following
the g uid elines below:
(1) Working s u rfa c e s, such as flo o r s , p latform s, and s t a i r s ,
s h a ll be kept clean and o rderly. Federal re g u la tio n 29 CFR 1910.22
re q u ire s aisleways and passageways be kept c l e a r , dry, and in good
repair.
(2) All elevated platform s, p i t s , and stairways should be
guarded. P it s receiving raw m a teria l should be guarded on a l l sid e s. I f
n ecessary, guards may be removable on not more than two sid e s. The
employer should be aware of the Federal reg ulatio ns (29 CFR
1910.23-1910.24) th a t e x is t for the guarding of flo o r and wall openings,
h o le s, and s t a i r s .

39
 (b) Hand-Held Equipment
The use of hand-held equipment can be hazardous in rendering tasks
[13]. Compliance with the following recommendations w ill reduce the
number of i n ju r ie s asso ciated with hand-held equipment.
(1) Personal p ro te c tiv e equipment such as mesh gloves, abdominal
p r o te c to r s , and arm guards should be worn by workers for hide removal and
any carcass c u ttin g o p eratio n s.
(2) The employer should be aware of the Federal re g u la tio n s (29
CFR 1910.241-1910.247) th a t p ro te c t the worker against the hazards of hand
and portab le powered to o ls . Subsections of 29 CFR 1910.243 e n t i t l e d "(a)
P ortable powered to o ls" and "(b) Pneumatic powered too ls and hoses" are
s p e c i f i c a l l y relev ant to rendering processes.
(3) Employers should ensure th a t knives with hand guards are
used in a l l carcass c u ttin g and hide removal procedures.
(4) Employers should ensure th a t workers using knives are
provided with scabbards and are in stru c te d in t h e i r proper use.
(5) Employers should ensure th a t electric hand tools are
properly grounded when in use.
(6) Employers should ensure th a t a l l hand-held e l e c t r i c a l tools
with pressure switches (deadman c o n tro ls) are considered for use.
(c) Emergency Procedures
When emergency procedures are e stab lish e d and p ra c tic e d , prompt and
e f f e c tiv e action is f a c i l i t a t e d , and the adverse e f f e c t s of an emergency
can be minimized. Emergency procedures in rendering p la n ts should include
plans such as those described below.
(1) F ire s, Chemical Leaks, E lectrical Malfunctions, and
Evacuation
(A) Personal p ro te c tiv e equipment and p ro te c tiv e clothing
should be used by personnel during emergency operatio n s. R espirators
should be placed a t re a d ily a c ce ssib le and c le a r l y labeled lo catio n s.
(B) Workers not engaged in c o rre c tin g the emergency should
be evacuated from hazardous a re a s. The perim eters of these areas should
be posted and secured.
(C) Only those personnel tra in e d a gainst the attendant
hazards should con tro l and re p a ir leaks and fig h t f i r e s .
(D) F ire f ig h tin g procedures should be e sta b lis h e d for areas
where flammable m a teria ls are used. Requirements for f i r e p ro te c tio n are
s ta te d in 19 CFR 1910 Subpart L (156-165).

40
 (2) Administration of First Aid

(A) At l e a s t one person per s h i f t in each rendering

f a c i l i t y should be tra in e d and c e r t i f i e d in f i r s t - a i d procedures. As a
minimum, t r a in i n g should include proper treatment for s l i p s and f a l l s and
emergency care of eye i n j u r i e s , burns, and wounds.
(B) All workers having wounds should be tre a te d immediately
to prevent blood poisoning, and should wear impervious gloves or otherwise
dress the wound to prevent in f e c tio n (unless counseled otherwise by the
resp o nsib le phy sician ).
(c) S u ita b le Eyewash Fountains
Federal re g u la tio n 29 CFR 1910.151, Paragraph (C), re q u ire s
s u it a b le f a c i l i t i e s for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes where skin
or eye contact with c a u stic or corro siv e chemicals may occur.
(3) A ssistance for Injured Workers
Immediate evacuation, tr a n s p o r ta tio n , and medical a s s is ta n c e
should be a v a ila b le for injured workers. This should include a le r t i n g the
medical f a c i l i t y of the impending a r r i v a l of injured workers.
(4) Medical F a c i l i t i e s for Emergencies
All workers should be told which medical f a c i l i t i e s are
designated for use by p la n t personnel for jo b -r e la te d in ju ry or i l l n e s s .
(5) Entry into Areas for Cleanup, Decontamination, or
Maintenance Following Release of Toxic M aterials
(d) Laundering
Frequent laundering of so iled work c lo th in g is a generally accepted
p ra c tic e demonstrated to be e f f e c tiv e in in d u s tr ie s th a t are associated
with the use of chemicals or o th er agents th a t may i r r i t a t e skin or be
toxic through dermal absorption. The harmful e f f e c t s of these agents can
be exacerbated by prolonged co n tac t. Soiled work clo thin g should be
laundered freq u en tly , and the employer should ensure th a t clean work
clo th in g is worn d a ily .
(e) M aterials Handling and Storage
Accidents involving powered i n d u s tr ia l trucks have been recorded [13],
and many of them could have been prevented by the following.
(1) The employer should be aware of the provisions of 29 CFR
1910.176-1910.190, which p ro te c ts the worker against the hazards
asso c ia ted with m a te ria ls handling and storage. Sections 176, 178, and
184, which address m a te ria ls handling, powered i n d u s tr ia l tru ck s, and
s l i n g s , are e sp e c ia lly re lev a n t to rendering p la n ts .

41
 (2) Employers should p ro h ib it operators of front-end loaders or
f o r k l i f t trucks from r a is in g or lowering the loader or forks while the
v eh icle is in motion in the p la n t.
(3) Workers should operate f o r k l i f t s with t h e i r load raised only
enough to c le a r the d rivin g surface.
(f ) Maintenance
Many problems occurring in rendering p la n ts could be prevented by
adhering to the following recommendations.
(1) A reg ular preventive maintenance program should be
e stab lish e d to avoid f i r e s and excessive noise generation th a t r e s u l t s
from inadequate lu b ric a tio n , misaligned b ea rin g s, and improperly adjusted
b e lt-d riv e n machinery.
(2) All equipment, including valv es, f i t t i n g s , and connections,
should be checked re g u la rly for tig h tn e ss and kept in good working
c on d ition . Inspections should be made immediately a f t e r new connections
are made and a f t e r m a teria l is introduced.
(3) Leaking steam lin e s should be rep aired promptly.
(4) Whenever maintenance work is to be performed, standardized
sa fe ty procedures should be followed. These procedures should include
adherence to NIOSH's recommendations for hazard control during maintenance
[20], the use of p ro te c tiv e equipment, and the proper s e le c tio n and use of
hand to o ls .
(5) Maintenance work in a confined space should adhere to the
recommendations of the NIOSH c r i t e r i a document, Working in Confined Spaces
[34].
(g) Entry into Confined Spaces
When cleaning, maintenance, and re p a ir of rendering equipment re q u ire
entry in to a confined space, the recommendations in the NIOSH c r i t e r i a
document should be adhered to. These recommendations include the
following [34],
(1) The employer s h a ll designate in w ritin g a person q u a lif ie d
byeducation or sp ecialized tra in in g to a n t i c i p a te , recognize, and
evaluate worker exposure to hazardous substances or other unsafe
conditions in a confined space. This person s h a ll be authorized to
specify necessary c o n tro ls and p ro te c tiv e a ction s to ensure worker
safety.
(2) Entry in to a confined space s h a ll be by permit only. The
permit s h a ll be an a u th o riz a tio n and approval in w ritin g th a t sp e c ifie s
the lo c a tio n and type of work to be performed. I t should also c e r t i f y

42
t h a t a l l e x is tin g hazards have been evaluated by the q u a lifie d person and
th a t necessary p ro te c tiv e measures have been taken to ensure the safety of
each worker.
(3) The designation of a confined space s h a ll be based on the
e x i s t i n g or p o te n tia l hazards associated with i t .
(4) Entry in to a confined space sh a ll be pro hibited u n t i l the
atmosphere has been i n i t i a l l y te ste d from the outside and found to be
s a fe . The t e s t s to be performed should include those for oxygen
d e fic ie n c y , flam m ability, and, i f appropriate, toxic m a te ria ls.
(5) The entry permit sh a ll include a l i s t of p ro te c tiv e
equipment necessary for work in the confined space, as determined by the
q u a l if ie d person.
(6) All workers asso ciated with confined space entry sh a ll be
tra in e d in the use of the app ro p riate personal p ro te c tiv e equipment.
(7) The need for re s p ira to ry p ro te c tio n s h a ll be determined by
the q u a lif ie d person based on conditions and t e s t r e s u l t s of the confined
space and on the work to be performed.
(h) Waste Disposal
Local, s t a t e , and Federal reg ulatio ns recognize the need for proper
waste d isp o sal in m aintaining community h e a lth . Waste m aterial should be
disposed of in a manner not hazardous to p lan t personnel, and these
d isp o sal methods should conform to applicable lo c a l, s t a t e , and Federal
reg ulations.
( i ) S a n ita tio n and Personal Hygiene
Some b io lo g ic a l agents and chemical substances found in rendering
p la n ts can harm exposed workers. Adherence to the following guidelines
w il l minimize these exposures.
(1) Federal re g u la tio n 29 CFR 1910.141 req uires plant
s a n it a ti o n . Subsections e n t i tl e d (a) General, (c) T o ilet f a c i l i t i e s , (d)
Washing f a c i l i t i e s , (e) Change rooms, and (g) Consumption of food and
beverages on the premises are e sp e c ia lly relevant to rendering processes.
(2) Workers should be in stru c te d by t h e i r employer to wash t h e i r
hands with soap and water as frequently as p ra c tic a b le . As a minimum,
workers should be encouraged to wash t h e i r hands during a l l workbreaks,
before e a tin g , and before and a f t e r using t o i l e t f a c i l i t i e s .
(3) Preparing, s to r in g , dispensing (including vending machines),
and consuming food or beverages should be p ro hibited in work areas.

43
Medical

Preplacement medical examinations should be made a v a ila b le to a l l

workers engaged in rendering processes so as to id e n tify e x is tin g
conditions th a t might predispose a worker to in ju ry or i l l n e s s .
Subsequent periodic medical examinations provide for the reassessment of
h e a lth and physical fi t n e s s in r e l a t i o n to p ossib le job s tr e s s or
hazards. Tetanus vaccinatio n and b o o sters, unless c u rre n t, are
recommended because of the r i s k of cuts and puncture wounds. The medical
su rv e illa n c e program should include the following.
(a) Preplacement Examinations
These examinations should include at l e a s t :
(1) A request th a t the employer provide p e r tin e n t information to
the resp o nsib le physician, such as an estim ate of the worker's p o te n tia l
exposure (including any a v a ila b le workplace sampling r e s u l t s ) , and a
d e s c rip tio n of any p ro te c tiv e devices or equipment the worker may be
required to use.
(2) Comprehensive medical and work h i s t o r i e s with special
emphasis on a ll e r g ie s and the m usculoskeletal system.
(3) Physical and job fi t n e s s examinations giving p a r ti c u l a r
a tt e n t i o n to the skin, eyes, back, and r e s p ira to ry system.
(4) A tetanu s v accinatio n th a t subsequently should be made
a v a ila b le on an appropriate ro u tin e schedule.
(5) A judgment of the w orker's a b i l i t y to use n eg a tiv e- and
p o s itiv e -p re s s u re r e s p i r a t o r s .
(6) Baseline audiograms when exposures to noise are judged to
p ossibly exceed Federal l im it s .
(7) A w ritte n statement specifying any lim ita tio n s th a t should
be placed on the w orker's job function (prepared following completion of
the examination by the examiner).
(b) Periodic Examinations
These examinations should be made a v a ila b le a t l e a s t every 3 years,
and include a t le a s t:
(1) Reassessment of h e a lth and job f i t n e s s .
(2) Physical examination and procedures o utlin ed in paragraphs
( a ) ( 2 ) , ( a ) ( 3 ) , (a )( 4 ) , and (a)(7) above.
(3) L istin g of any lim ita tio n s that should be placed on the
w orker's job function.

44
 (c) Audiometrie Testing
An audiometric t e s ti n g program should be made a v a ila b le for workers
who may be exposed to noise th a t exceeds 85 dBA for an 8-hour workday.
(d) Maintenance of Medical Records
P e rtin e n t medical records should be maintained for a l l workers exposed
to hazards in rendering p la n ts . Records of environmental exposures to
physical or chemical agents of a worker should be included in h is or her
medical records. Such records should be kept for at l e a s t 5 years a f t e r
term ination of employment.

Personal P ro te c tiv e Equipment and Work Clothing

Although engineering co n tro ls are the most e f f e c tiv e means of
minimizing hazards (such as n oise, h e a t, slip p e ry working surfaces, and
confined spaces), personal p ro te c tiv e equipment and work clo thin g are
necessary to back up those engineering c o n tro ls. The following guidelines
are recommended.
(a) Safety shoes or boots with toe guards and s l i p - r e s i s t a n t soles
should be worn at a l l times.
(b) Personal p ro te c tiv e equipment, such as ear p ro te c to rs , should be
provided and used i f noise c o n tro ls f a i l to reduce sound lev els to or
below lim its recommended by NIOSH. Ear plugs should be in d iv id u a lly
f i t t e d to provide proper p ro te c tio n .
(c) The employer should ensure th a t app ro p riate c lo th in g is worn by
a l l workers.
(d) In designated a re a s, sa fe ty helmets meeting s p e c ific a tio n s in
ANSI Z89.1-1969 should be worn.
(e) Mesh gloves, abdominal p ro te c to rs , arm guards, and other
p ro te c tiv e equipment should be worn to remove hides and cut carcasses.
( f ) Workers using chemical compounds in rendering operations should
use gloves r e s i s t a n t to that p a r t i c u l a r compound.
(g) When r e s p i r a to r s are needed, the employer should be aware of the
Federal re g u la tio n (29 CFR 1910.134) and the American National Standard
I n s t i t u t e recommendation (ANSI Z88.2-1969) th a t p ro te c t the worker against
the e f f e c ts of atmospheric contamination.

Posting
Workers should be apprised of hazards in rendering f a c i l i t i e s and of
methods to p ro te c t themselves. Although a l l who work in rendering

45
f a c i l i t i e s should receive such tra in in g p r i o r to placement, signs serve as
important reminders. Signs are also an i n i t i a l warning to workers not
fa m ilia r with the f a c i l i t y , such as c o n tra c to rs , d elivery people, and
o th e r s .
(a) Signs should be p rinted in English and in the predominant
language of non-English-reading workers. Workers unable to read these
signs should in some manner receive a l l necessary information regarding
hazardous areas and should be informed of the in s tru c tio n s p rin te d on
these signs.
(b) Signs should be kept clean and re a d ily v i s i b l e a t a l l tim es. In
rendering work areas, signs should be posted where a p p lic a b le . The
information may be arranged as in the following examples.
SAFETY HAT AREA
DO NOT ENTER
WITHOUT APPROVED HARD HAT

NOISE EXPOSURE AREA

HEARING PROTECTION REQUIRED

CAUTION
SLIPPERY FLOORS
PROCEED WITH CAUTION

EYE PROTECTION REQUIRED

DANGER
GREASE AND ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARD
AVOID OPEN FLAMES, EXCESSIVE HEAT, AND SPARKS
IN CASE OF FIRE, USE CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHERS

WARNING
OPEN PIT
PROCEED WITH CAUTION

DANGER
HAZARDOUS AREA
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR ENTRY

46
I f r e s p i r a to r y p ro te c tio n is necessary, the following statem ent, in large
l e t t e r s , should be added to any other information on a sign.
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION REQUIRED IN THIS AREA

Training Workers and Informing Them of Hazards

Companies with su perio r sa fe ty performances have safety evaluation
programs th a t a n t i c i p a te and manage p o te n tia l hazards. These companies
have a strong management commitment to sa fe ty , are c h a ra c teriz e d by a
sa fe ty program in te g ra te d into the la rg e r management system, and they deal
with sa fe ty as an i n t r i n s i c p art of plant operations [47].
Training should be repeated a t l e a s t annually to re in fo rc e e stab lish e d
safe work p ra c tic e s and to update worker knowledge of changes in work
p r a c t i c e s , personal p ro te c tiv e equipment, and process m o d ificatio ns.
The employer should:
(a) Ensure th a t workers can perform t h e i r assigned tasks safely
before allowing them to p a r ti c ip a t e in a rendering operation without
d i r e c t supervision.
(b) Ensure th a t a continuing tra in in g program is conducted at
l e a s t annually th a t includes formal in s tr u c tio n by persons q u a lifie d by
tr a in i n g or experience.
(c) Ensure th a t at l e a s t one person on each s h i f t is tra in e d and
c e r t i f i e d in f i r s t aid . F i r s t - a i d tra in in g should include, as a minimum,
completion of an approved f i r s t - a i d tra in in g course.
(d) Ensure that workers are informed both o ra lly and in w ritin g
of the sa fe ty ru le s e stab lish e d at t h e i r rendering f a c i l i t y . Those ru les
should provide safe standard operating procedures for a l l a c t i v i t i e s
performed in the p la n t. Workers should also be informed o ra lly of the
hazards of each rendering operation.
(e) Ensure th a t a l l new workers are tra in e d in at l e a s t these
fiv e su b je c ts.
(1) The s p e c ific job function of the worker.
(2) The general hazards of the rendering p la n ts , including
p o t e n t i a l sources of mechanical inju ry and e f f e c t s of excessive heat and
n o ise , chemicals, decomposition gases, and in fe c tio u s agents.
(3) The proper use and maintenance of p ro te c tiv e equipment,
including r e s p i r a t o r s , when ap p lic a b le .
(4) Correct housekeeping p ra c tic e s .

47
 (5) Emergency procedures for f i r e s , chemical leaks,
e l e c t r i c a l malfunctions, and evacuation of disabled workers.
(f) Ensure th a t se lec te d workers on each s h i f t a lso receive
tr a in in g in f i r s t - a i d procedures, f i r e f i g h t i n g , chemical leaks, and entry
in to confined spaces.

I n d u s t r i a l Safety and Health Surveys and Monitoring

To ensure th at workers are not exposed to hazardous co n d itio n s, the
workplace should be surveyed p e r io d ic a lly . I n d u s tr ia l safety and h ealth
surveys should be conducted according to the following g uid elines.
(a) The surveys should determine the adequacy of: illu m in atio n in
a l l areas of the p la n t; guarding for p i t s , elevated platform s, s t a i r s ,
and machines and other process equipment; general and local exhaust
v e n t i l a t i o n ; e l e c t r i c a l wiring and equipment; noise c o n tro l; heat
c o n tro l; f i r e prevention and steam lin e in s u la tio n ; chemical storage
procedures; posting of information; general p la n t s a n ita tio n ; personal
p ro te c tiv e equipment; tra in in g programs; and recordkeeping.
(b) In d u s tr ia l sa fe ty and h ea lth surveys should id e n tify where
workers are exposed to hazardous conditions. I f the employer concludes
th a t there are no areas where exposure to hazardous conditions occurs, the
records should s t a t e the b asis for th is conclusion. Surveys should be
repeated at l e a s t annually and w ithin 30 days a f t e r any process change
lik e ly to c re a te a hazard.
(c) I f i t has been determined th a t exposure to hazardous conditions
e x i s t s , the employer should i n s t i t u t e a program of personal monitoring to
id e n tif y and measure, or to permit c a lc u la tio n of, the exposure of each
worker. Source and area monitoring might be used to supplement personal
monitoring.
(1) In a l l personal monitoring, samples re p re se n ta tiv e of
exposure in the breathing zone of the worker should be c o lle c te d . All
noise measurements should be made with the sound-level meter or noise
dosimeter in a locatio n c lo se ly approximating the noise levels a t the
w orker's head during normal operations.
(2) I f a worker is found to be exposed to hazardous agents
exceeding recommended l im it s , h is or her exposure should be measured
freq u en tly , control measures should be i n i t i a t e d , and the worker should be
n o t i f i e d of the exposure and c on tro l measures. Accelerated monitoring
should be considered u n t i l r e s u l t s in d ica te that the con tro l measures are
e f f e c tiv e and th a t the worker's exposure no longer exceeds the recommended
occupational exposure lim it . Routine monitoring may then be resumed.
(d) Some occupational hazards in the rendering process, prim arily
those re la te d to s a fe ty , cannot be monitored as discussed above. When

48
such hazards are i d e n ti f i e d in the in d u s tr ia l sa fe ty and h ea lth survey,
the employer should n o tify workers of the hazardous condition, post the
are a , and i n i t i a t e c o r re c tiv e a c tio n . In creasin g ly frequent safety
surveys should be considered u n t i l the hazardous condition is corrected .

Recordkeeping
Accurate recordkeeping of surveys, medical examinations, and other
p e rtin e n t m a teria l w ill enable the employer to assess the e ffic ie n c y of
the p l a n t 's control program.
(a) These records should be kept for a t l e a s t 5 years a f t e r
term ination of employment.
(b) Records should include: i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of the worker being
monitored; d u ties and job locatio ns w ithin the w orksite, times and dates
of sampling and a n a l y t i c a l methods used, and a v a ila b le evidence of t h e i r
p re c isio n and accuracy; the number, d uration , and a n a ly tic a l r e s u l ts of
samples taken; and personal p ro te c tiv e equipment used by the worker.
Records of sa fe ty surveys should c le a rly id e n tify and describe any
hazardous condition and s t a t e the c o rre c tiv e a c tio n taken.

49
 IV. WORKER TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Because rendering operations involve p o t e n tia l hazards to sa fe ty and

h e a lth , proper tra in in g and education of workers is v i t a l . A
comprehensive, well-organized tr a in in g program enables the employer to
educate new workers in safe work p ra c tic e s and techniques from the
beginning of t h e i r employment. Such tra in in g helps to e s ta b lis h a
p o s itiv e employer-worker re la tio n s h ip by demonstrating the employer's
concern fo r, and commitment to, safe work p r a c tic e s .

Training Methods, Need and Frequency, Evaluation, and O bjectives

(a) Methods
Workers can be tra in e d most e f f e c tiv e ly while on the job. Q ualified
personnel explain and demonstrate p art of the ta s k , and then the worker is
allowed to do i t . As the worker develops p ro fic ie n c y , other work segments
may be added. Each new step req uires close supervision u n t i l the worker
is judged competent to perform h is tasks p r o f i c i e n t l y and s a fe ly .
(b) Need and Frequency
The employer must ensure th a t a l l workers can perform t h e i r intended
tasks safely before allowing them to work in rendering operations without
immediate supervision. The need and frequency for a d d itio n a l tra in in g
w ill vary depending on the in d iv id u a l, the complexity of the task, and the
nature of the o p e ra tio n 's hazard. F i r s t - l i n e supervisors may be the best
judges of when and in what areas workers need a d d itio n a l tra in i n g , because
they can observe the workers frequently and be fa m ilia r with t h e i r work
h ab its and performance. These supervisors are also lik e ly to be best able
to suggest how worker accidents might be minimized, since they u sually
have firs t-h a n d knowledge of the circumstances.
(c) Evaluation
Evaluations of worker safety performance should be conducted by
f i r s t - l i n e supervisors who are best able to discern whether workers adhere
to e s ta b lis h e d work p ra c tic e s and sa fe ly perform t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r ta s k s.
W ritten t e s t s or check sheets may be used in conjunction with tr a in in g and
evaluating procedures. The success of the tra in in g program depends on
p a r ti c ip a t io n and p o sitiv e m otivation by management.
(d) Goals
S pecific goals should be e stab lish e d for each problem area in
operations for which tr a in in g is o ffe re d , including the following:
(1) The worker should know th a t a leading cause of accidents in
rendering operations are unsafe walking-working surfaces. Workers should

50
know th a t the frequency of s lip s and f a l l s can be reduced by using proper
flo o r m a te ria ls and footwear. Workers should be aware of sp e cia l hazards
a sso c ia te d with unguarded p i t s and elevated work s ta tio n s in rendering
o p e r a tio n s .
(2) In the tra in in g program, the worker should be warned th a t
hand to o ls are a major source of injury in rendering o perations,
e s p e c ia lly where whole carcasses are cut with knives or axes, and in many
maintenance operatio n s. The worker should understand the purposes of the
p r o te c tiv e devices a v a ila b le , which, i f used properly, w ill minimize or
e lim in ate i n j u r i e s . The worker should know how to properly s e le c t and f i t
mesh gloves, arm guards, and p ro te c tiv e aprons. They should understand
th a t properly used mechanical aids to l i f t or tra n s p o rt objects can help
reduce the incidence of in ju ry . I f manual l i f t i n g is necessary, a job
a n a ly s is should be performed before any l i f t i n g is done. The worker
should be f u l ly aware th a t the use of these techniques w ill minimize the
chances of s t r a i n s , sp ra in s, and other in j u r i e s .
(3) Workers should be given safety o rie n t a t i o n , in which
p o t e n t i a l hazards in the rendering f a c i l i t y are pointed out, eg, hot
process equipment, e l e c t r i c a l equipment, confined spaces, and chemical
storage a re a s. The worker should know the hazards asso ciated with each
chemical he uses and the proper procedures for handling such m a te ria ls.
He should also know the signs and symptoms associated with ill n e s s e s that
might r e s u l t from contact with in fec tio u s agents in h is rendering
o peratio n , and know how these diseases can be transm itted.
(4) Workers should know emergency plans and procedures for
f i r e f i g h t i n g , cleaning up chemical leaks, and entering confined spaces.
Workers who use r e s p i r a to r y p ro te c tiv e equipment should know how to use
and m aintain i t .
(5) Workers should know where to obtain f i r s t a id .

51
 V. REFERENCES

1. Everds JH: Engineering O rien tation to Meat Packing, rev ed.

Washington, DC, American Meat I n s t i t u t e , Center for Continuing
Education, 1976, pp 42-53
2. Fats and O ils— SIC industry groups 2074, 2075, 2076, 2077, and 2079,
in 1977 Census of Manufactures, Industry Series MC 77-1-20G. US
Dept of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, July 1980, 31 pp
3. Crouse J: US Rendering industry d ata— 1979. National Renderers
A ssociation. Render:45-48, April 1980
4. Denit JD: Development Document for E ffluent L im itations Guidelines
and New Source Performance Standards for the Renderer Segment of the
Meat Products Point Source Category, EPA 440/1-74/031-d. US
Environmental P ro te c tio n Agency, Office of Water and Hazardous
M a terials, E ffluent Guidelines D ivision, 1975, pp 9-43,177-83
5. Clean Water Act of 1977, Public Law 95-217. US Congress, 95th
Congress, 1st session, Dec 15, 1977
6. Meat Products— SIC industry groups 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2017, in
1977 Census of Manufactures, Industry Series MC 77-1-20A. US Dept
of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, July 1980, 30 pp
7. Occupational I n ju r ie s and Illn e s s e s in 1977: Summary. US Dept of
Labor, Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s , 1979, pp 2,7,14,19
8. Chartbook on Occupational In ju r ie s and I lln e s s e s in 1976, Report
535. US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s , 1978, pp
1,5,23-24,37-38
9. Chartbook on Occupational In ju r ie s and Illn e s s e s in 1975, Report
501. US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s , 1977, pp 22,23
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US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s , 1976, 28 pp
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1830. US Dept of Labor, Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s , 1974, pp
1-61,21-22
12. Root N, McCaffrey D: Providing more information on work injury and
i l l n e s s . Monthly Labor Review, April 1978, pp 16-21
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201, 203, 204 (fo r SIC Code 2077). US Dept of Labor, Bureau of
Labor S t a t i s t i c s , 1978

52
14. Bureau of Labor S t a t i s t i c s —Supplementary Data System, SDS Numbers
501, 502, 503, 504 (fo r SIC Code 2077). US Dept of Labor, Bureau of
Labor S t a t i s t i c s , 1978
15. Rendering Plant Walk-Through Survey Reports. Performed by NIOSH,
October 1980
16. F i r s t Reports of Occupational Injury and I l l n e s s for SIC 2077 from
Five S ta te s — Idaho (1979-80), Missouri (1979), C a lifo rn ia (1979),
Nebraska (1979), and Wisconsin (1977-80) (unpublished)
17. Dionne ED: Unsafe walking surfaces. Natl Saf News 122(2):51-52,
1980
18. Meat Industry Safety Guidelines, ed 2. Chicago, National Safety
Council, 1978, 106 pp
19. A Work P ra c tic e s Guide for Manual L iftin g . C in c in n a ti, OH, US Dept
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for
Disease Control, National I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safety and
Health, 1980, 179 pp (unpublished)
20. Recommended C r i t e r i a for Hazard (Energy) Control during Maintenance
( Lockout/Tagout), Volume I. Unpublished re p o rt of the US Dept of
Health and Human S ervices, Public Health Service, Centers for
Disease Control, National I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safety and
Health, D ivision of Safety Research (p rin to u t dated Oct 10, 1980)
21. Jensen P, Jokel CR, M ille r LN: I n d u s tr ia l Noise Control Manual, ed
rev, DHEW (NIOSH) P u b lic a tio n No. 79-117. C in c in n a ti, US Dept of
Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for
Disease C ontrol, National I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safety and
Health, 1978, 336 pp
2 2. C r i t e r i a for a Recommended Standard—Occupational Exposure to Noise,
P ub licatio n No. HSM 73-11001. C incinn ati, US Dept of Health,
Education, and Welfare, Health Services and Mental Health
A dm inistration, National I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safety and
H ealth, 1972, pp 1-1 to VII-55
23. Compendium of M aterials for Noise Control, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication
No. 80-116. C in c in n a ti, US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National
I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safety and Health, 1980, 380 pp
24. Rendering (R -27), in B e s t's Loss Control Engineering Manual.
Oldwich, NJ, AM Best Company, Inc, 1979, re v ised , pp R-27-1 to
R-27-5
2 5. Accident Prevention Manual For I n d u s t r i a l Operations, Seventh
E dition. National Safety Council, 1974, pp 1332-33

53
26. Rendering P la n ts—Good P ractices for Employees, HEW P ub licatio n No.
(NIOSH) 76-150. C incinnati, US Dept of Health, Education, and
Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National
I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safey and Health, 1976, 21 pp
27. Hot Environments— 1980, DHHS (NIOSH) P u b lic a tio n No. 80-132. US
Dept of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Center for
Disease Control, National I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safety and
Health, 1980, 17 pp
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Environments, P ublication No. HSM 72-10269. C in c in n a ti, US Dept of
Health, Education, and Welfare, Health Services and Mental Health
Adm inistration, National I n s t i t u t e for Occupational Safety and
Health, 1972, 103 pp
29. Adrion W, Bernans J, Olney ME, Temple RC, Fulmer M, Kimmerer R,
Oliver JH, Selchar D, Tyler E, Chadle G, Halpin TJ, Gohar M: Deaths
at a rendering p la n t—Ohio, in Morbidity and M ortality Weekly
Report. A tlanta, GA, US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Public Health Service, Center for Disease C ontrol, 1975, vol 24, pp
435-36
30. Inspection Report for BC Rogers and Sons, Inc Processing P lant.
Jackson, MS o ffic e , of US Dept of Labor, Occupational Safety and
Health Adm inistration, June 27, 1980
31. Caplan PE, Ligo RN: In v e s tig a tio n of Six Deaths at Inland Products
Company, Columbus, Ohio, Due to Exposure to Toxic Gases on June 30,
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fo r Occupational Safety and Health, D ivision of Technical Services,
Medical Services Branch, July 1975, 4 pp
32. C r i t e r i a for a Recommended Standard—Occupational Exposure to
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US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service,
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1979, 68 pp

54
35. Benson AS (ed): Control of Communicable Diseases in Man, ed 12.
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47. Cleveland R, Cohen HH, Smith MJ, Cohen A: Safety Program P ra ctice s
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Occupational Safety and Health, 1979, pp 24-29

56
 VI. APPENDIX

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN RENDERING INDUSTRY

Blood meal - A p ro te in product c o n sistin g of dried blood

sol i d s .
C entrifuge - Machine using c e n trifu g a l force for
sep arating m a te ria ls of d if f e r e n t
densities.
Continuous rendering - This is synonymous with continuous
cooking. The raw m a teria l is fed
continuously to the cooking device, and the
cooked m aterial discharges e s s e n t i a l l y at a
constant r a t e .
Cooker, batch - H orizontal, steam -jackated cylinder
equipped with a mechanical a g i t a t o r . The
batch cooker follows a r e p e t i t i v e cycle:
i t is charged with the proper amount of raw
m a te r ia l, dehydrates t h is m a teria l and
f i n a l l y discharges the cooked m a te ria l.
Cracklings - Solid p ro te in m a teria l discharged from
screw press a f t e r removal of liq u id fa t .
Crusher, Grinder, Hogger, Machine containing blades or knives which
P re-b reak er, e tc . reduce raw m a teria l to a r e l a t i v e l y
uniform siz e .
Edible fa t - Fat taken from edible p a rts of the animal.
Fat products - Inedible tallow or grease.
Feather meal - P rotein product also known as hydrolyzed
p ou ltry fe a th e rs.
Grease - A fa t product with a t i t e r less than 40.0
degrees centigrade.
Hydrolyzed - Chemical re a c tio n with water to break down
the i n d ig e s tib le p ro te in of poultry
feath ers in to a d ig e s t ib l e form.
Lard - A fa t obtained by rendering the fa t removed
from various edible tis s u e s of pigs
(h o g s).

57
Meat-and-bone meal - Dry rendered p ro te in product from mammal
t is s u e s with more than 4.4% phosphorus.
Meat meal - Dry rendered p ro te in product from mammal
tis s u e s with 4.4% or less phosphorus.
O ffal - All m a teria l from the anim al's body cavity
used for inedible rendering.
P ressure le a f f i l t e r • Machine for removal of s o lid s from liq u id s
where a f i l t e r clo th mounted on a s e rie s of
leaves or p la te s is capable of accumulating
a so lid cake as pressure is applied
con tin u ou sly .
Raw m a teria l - All m a teria l from animal and poultry
sources used for ine d ib le rendering.
Rendering, dry - The process of re le a s in g fa t by dehydrating
raw m aterial in a batch cooker or
continuous rendering system with no d ir e c t
a d d itio n of steam or water.
R estaurant grease - A waste fa t m a teria l obtained p rim arily
from fa s t food r e s ta u r a n ts .
Screw press - Machine used to sep arate fa t from tankage
continuously by applying the required
pressu re with a r o t a t i n g screw.
Tallow -
In edib le Tallow Fat obtained from the in e d ib le body tis s u e s
of c a t t l e and sheep. Animal fa t product
with a t i t e r of 40.0 degrees centigrade or
higher.
Edible Tallow Fat obtained from the edib le p a rts of
c a t t l e and sheep.
Tankage - Cooked m a teria l remaining a f t e r the liq u id
fa t is drained and separated.
T i te r - An a n a ly tic a l measurement used to in d icate
the hardness or so ftness of f a t s . I t is
expressed in degrees centig rad e.
Wet scrubber - P o llu tio n control device for contacting a i r
exhausted from rendering p la n t with a water
so lu tio n containing deodorizing chemicals.
Zoonotic disease - A disease th a t can be transm itted from
animals to man.
58

* U.S.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I 981 - - 7 5 7 - 0 7 4 / 1 0 9 5

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
P U B L IC H EA LT H S E R V IC E
C E N T E R S F O R D IS E A S E C O N T R O L
N A T IO N A L IN S T IT U T E FOR O C C U P A T IO N A L S A F E T Y A N D H E A L T H
R O B E R T A. T A F T L A B O R A T O R IE S
4 6 7 6 C O L U M B IA P A R K W A Y , C IN C IN N A T I, O H IO 452 26

O F F IC IA L B U S IN E SS
Third Class Mail POSTAGE A N D FEES P A ID
U.S. D E P A R TM E N T OF HHS
P E N A L T Y FOR P R IV A T E USE. * 3 0 0
H H S 39 6

D H H S (N IO S H ) Publication No. 81-133