Industrial Hygiene in Construction

To simplify OSHA’s rules for lead in construction this is how I explain it:

Do you have lead (lead in paint usually) on the construction project? …Then you must comply with the entire rules.

How do you start? You start by listing the tasks where you will disturb the lead. For example, demolition, hand scraping, torch cutting.

After you’ve identified the tasks, then you can look at the OSHA rules and determine the minimum personal protective equipment (PPE) that will be necessary for your employees to wear while they’re performing each individual task.

Next, train your empoyee’s in lead awareness, which is the dangers, prevention and hazards of lead poisoning.

There is one other important aspect. Measuring your airborne levels of lead. This is done by air monitoring with a battery powered pump (and is typically one role of an industrial hygienist). Airborne lead results will indicate if you are generating a lot of lead into the air, or not. If you’re not, you can sometimes downgrade (bad word) the level of respiratory protection for your employees.

• Caveat: this is not a complete summary of the rules. Please know and understand your local and federal rules entirely! This also does not cover the EPA’s Lead Rules which have specific items that you must do.

No, and maybe yes.

Crystalline silica (the dangerous type) is typically NOT added into precast concrete. On the other hand, Silicon dioxide (also called micro silica, or silica fume) is added for strength, bonding, and compression strength to concrete. It is usually added at the cement factory. This type of silica binds with the portland cement and (from an inhalable particulate standpoint) is not dangerous.

However, danger lies it what ELSE is added to the precast concrete…..ROCKS!

Rocks, dirt and soil contain varying amounts of silica in the Northwest US. And, if these are broken, ground, chipped, hammered, they can become airborne….which allows the crystalline silica to be released and THAT is dangerous.

Always use wet methods when working with precast concrete.