Industrial Hygiene in Construction

This is a big distinction when evaluating a workplace.

If you find an overexposure (or simply a real-exposure), then it is prudent, and expected, to look for employees with possible symptoms.

If employees have symptoms (especially those nondescript ones, like; nausea, dizzyness, and fatigue) it is much harder to say they have an exposure. You really can’t make that assumption without more information.

For example, if you have cancer, do you assume it is from all the bad food you ate during your lifetime? or, is from multiple factors? On the flip side, if you are a pile driver for 30 years and at the age of 60 you find that you have hearing loss, everyone assumes it’s from your job.

However, a lot of industrial hygiene work comes from “my employees have these symptoms”. The hard part is taking that information and determining if there is concern in the workplace.

There is high demand!

See EHS article, which summarizes the NIOSH findings on the future of EHS jobs.

Yahoo Finance  (look at #6, but the information is a bit off)

If you’re wondering what the heck IH’s do…

• Remember that this is a technical-based career….you have to like science, chemicals, or physics.
• an Oklahoma article
• the standard answer: AIHA,
• another source: industrial hygiene support.

It’s a great career that offers challenges, diversity (as opposed to the daily grind) and… sometimes, you even help people! (ha).

This is cutting edge here, folks. A “new” mineral has been found to cause mesothelioma. As you might know, asbestos exposure can cause 3 diseases; 1. asbestosis, 2. lung cancer, and 3. mesothelioma. Previously it was thought that only asbestos exposures could cause asbestosis and mesothelioma. (Side: This is why late-night attorney’s wonder if you have those diseases….if you do, you were exposed at some point)

However, there is a new suspect: Erionite. (wiki it here)

This new mineral has been documented to cause mesothelioma and has asbestos-like physical properties.

The mineral is found in many places, near volcanoes. Below is a map from the fairwarning.org site.  Also, here is a link to the MSN republish of the fairwarning article. I guarantee there will be more news  in the media about this in the future. Here is the scientific article from University of Hawaii.

In construction there may be a time when employees need to weld on galvanized metal. This poses a unique problem since the zinc oxide fume can cause metal fume fever.  Should employees wear a respirator? Should mechanical ventilation be used? Should they drink milk? before? during and after welding? 

As with my answers to all welding types:  it depends.

However, I will make some generalizations. I have not seen a lot, or high airborne exposures (to zinc oxide) during galvanized steel welding. But, I typically recommend that welders are prepared and ready to wear a respirator if the need occurs. Welding is so variable, it is hard to make generalizations that cover all aspects.

Some questions that I ask before issuing respirators include:

• Does the welder have experience and training with this type of welding?
• How long will the welding occur?
• Is it spot welding? or for a duration of time?
• Is there mechanical ventilation in place, and can it be used for the entire project?
• Is there any portion of the welding that will be in a confined area with limited ventilation?
• Are there any coatings on the metal? Lubricants?

Once a respirator is decided to be issued, I only recommend a 1/2 face tight fitting respirator with HEPA filters. I know that N95 and other types of filtering dust masks do provide protection, but they, in my opinion, are not adequate if you really need them.

And, as far as drinking milk. If you feel sick after welding- drink it. It won’t hurt.