Industrial Hygiene in Construction

Unfortunately this website has taken a backseat to actual work. My apologies for not updating the information, and especially to trusted subscribers of this site.

In the coming months, I plan to publish more posts with the same type of information. Thanks for hanging on. – Alden

As a preview: Did you notice that the State of Michigan OSHA (MIOSH) has updated (lowered) their lead (Pb) blood level mandates? Sadly, it took a lot of people being overexposed to lead (remember Flint, MI?) in order to make this simple change. I hope other states follow.

Looking back at my lead in construction posts, I realized I did an inadequate job of summarizing why construction activities are dangerous when working with lead.

If you work in construction, here’s are the quick points as to why you should be concerned about lead.

• There has been A LOT of lead added to paint over the years. (it can vary 0.01% to upwards of 20%, and there’s no way to tell by looking)
• The activities we do in construction disturb this paint (some worse than others)
• You can be exposed to paint by inhaling it (if it is airborne), and if you happen to get it on your hands and you eat it (by transfer).
• The real concern is kids. (your kids, the kids who might be there after you’re gone, AND, the kids unborn (lead exposure can go from mom to baby)

The solution is simple (and, of course, more complicated as you dig in):

• test the paint to see if there’s lead in it
• if you disturb it, follow the rules (OSHA, EPA, HUD, City, etc.)
• train your employees (and measure the lead in their blood)
• prevent the dust from going everywhere (containment)
• measure the air to see if you are really screwing it up, or doing a good job.
• finally clean up. (the area, you, your hands, the perimeter) and dispose properly

You must follow both. (I’ve mentioned this before)

OSHA’s rules are very detailed and apply to any amount of lead in paint (even less than 0.5%) if you are disturbing it. The only time OSHA rules do not apply is:

• if you are working as a sole-proprietor (no employees), or
• if you are in some other country.

EPA’s rules are just a start. They apply to any residential facility where there are kids under the age of 6. OSHA’s rules are much more comprehensive and protective. (in some instances, overkill)

To EPA’s credit, they have done a great job of marketing and letting contractors know they insist on compliance. OSHA, on the other hand, only inspects 2% of businesses/year and does virtually no marketing. The chances of OSHA showing up on any given jobsite, is nearly 0%.

OSHA’s rules are very complete and comprehensive. You WILL need air monitoring, blood monitoring, PPE, change areas, water/sanitation, and training. The worst thing you can do is NOT follow the OSHA rules, find overexposures, and then try to “make up” for it. From my experience this scenario is a bad place to be, and happens all the time.

The answer is Yes.

If you are working with lead (in any amount) and you are performing any of the “trigger tasks” in construction = you must follow OSHA rules. Trigger tasks are demolition, removal, encapsulation, new construction, installation, cleanup, abrasive blasting, welding, cutting, torch burning, transporting, storing, heat gun work, sanding, scraping, spray painting, burning, welding, etc. What about the EPA rules (RRP)? Look here.

The only exceptions to not measuring employees blood lead are:

I’ve mentioned this before.

If you’re using these tools in construction please be careful.

Quick summary:

• the powder contains lead (Pb)
• you can be exposed to lead when it is airborne, AND if it gets on your hands & you eat it.
• lead is not healthy for kids
• Wash!

Chinese made pirate costumes were seized due to high lead (Pb) being found in them. CNN reported that levels were 11x over the allowable level (100 parts per million) by the consumer safety products division. The NBC news video can be found here, and they reported 40x the limits.

As you may know, sometimes tin knockers (aka sheetmetal workers)  use sheet lead, or lead soldering, to make flashing on roof vents. Here is a picture of what these commonly look like (if there is (?) a common one).

The lead iron is heated up. Lead solder, or sometimes lead/zinc solder is used. Muratic acid (or similar) is used to clean the stainless steel. The iron is used to heat up the solder and drip it on the stainless surface. Anyways, the process creates lead fumes. This is dangerous both from airborne inhalables to the contact surfaces surrounding the area.

The surfaces around these areas are usually very high in lead content. There is not a OSHA standard for lead wipe tests. However, in the past OSHA has used the HUD standards and cited employers under the general duty clause. If you are performing these tasks, please make sure you are doing everything you can to limit the airborne, dermal, and ingestion exposure.

• Follow OSHA Lead Standard (1926.62).
• Train your employees.
• Ventilation (downdraft is best). This is the best way to control the fumes.
• Post signs in the area “lead work and hazardous”.
• Perform air monitoring. I have found levels both above, and below, the exposure limits.
• Wear a respirator (1/2 face negative air with HEPA).
• Do not: eat, drink or smoke in this area.
• Good hygiene. Wash after doing these activities.
• Use a plastic sheeting on all surfaces. This makes it 100x easier to clean up.

in other words, don’t do what is in this picture below:

For employees (carpenter, laborer, iron worker, plumber, electrician) using powder actuated tools, please take caution! There are possible airborne lead exposures during powder actuated tool use.

The best safety practice is to eliminate the hazard. In this case there are two easy alternatives;

1. using lead-free loads, or
2. using a pneumatic type nailer (like this one made by Pneutek, Hilti makes a CO2 type as well)

However, if you are an employee, I realize there are times that you are not given a choice. If this is the case, please consider:

• asking for the MSDS for the primer loads (look for lead styphnate, or similar)
• lead exposure can occur by inhalation and by ingestion (wash!)
• wash & be diligent around eating & what you “take home” to your family
• lead exposure to children is serious (they absorb lead better & it causes more detrimental health effects)
• respirators might be required when using these tools (so wear one!)
• working overhead (nailing into ceiling) might have higher airborne levels than other positions
• bringing up these concerns with your safety professional onsite
• performing air monitoring to determine airborne levels (although for the price of an industrial hygiene consultant, you could own a CO2 actuated tool)
• reading more about it from my earlier post here.
  

When taking blood lead levels, the occupational health clinic will typically measure both the lead in the blood, and the zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP). The reason for this is the blood lead level measures just that, only the lead in the blood – which can come from previous exposures and whatever amount has been stored in your bones (soft tissues). It really only gives one piece of information. An early indicator of  lead exposure is the ZPP level.

The ZPP level indicates lead absorption. If your ZPP levels are elevated, this may mean that lead is being absorbed into your body (affecting the heme synthesis pathway). However, an elevated ZPP can be caused by other things, including iron deficiency anemia, etc.

If you have elevated ZPPs, you need to find out what is causing it. If you’re working with lead, you may have overexposure. If this is the case, your blood lead levels will most likely elevate in 2-6 weeks.

Ask your occupational health clinic for ranges of acceptable blood lead levels and ZPP levels.