Fri 14 Dec 2012

Multi gas meters (4-gas)

Posted by admin under Air Monitoring, Chemical Exposure, Engineering Controls, Hazard Communication, industrial hygienist, Management, Multi gas meter, odor thresholds, Risk, Safety Policies, Safety Programs, Training
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Many construction companies have a multi gas meter (s). Here is my word of caution: if you have one, know how to use it.

I bet if you’re reading this post, you do know how. However, do your employees?multi meter

This type of training is SO critical. Below are some common mistakes I’ve seen from construction companies using these types of equipment:

  • Let someone else (a GC, or subcontractor) tell you if it’s ok to enter a confined space (or hazardous one).
    • = do you own monitoring, & use your own equipment!
  • Use someone else’s multi gas meter.
    • =do NOT use someone’s meter unless you 1. know the machine and 2. are able to calibrate and see the documentation. Would you send your employees to work in an area you think there might be a deadly hazard? Treat the 4-gas meter like it is your only available tool.
  • Not performing a precalibration and bump test before using the gas meter.
    • = ALWAYS perform a bump test (not just zero-out)
  • Not knowing which sensors are inside the machine (and what they mean).
    • =train your employees on when/why it alarms. CO is not CO2.
  • Blame the machine if it alarms
    • =the machine is alarming for a reason. You either screwed it up, or something is going on. Figure it out. I had a project where the handheld radios were interfering with the multi gas meter. It took us 2 days to figure this out. Luckily no one was so desperate to work they ignored the alarm. On another project, employees were telling me it was ok to work while the alarm was sounding off. Their response was that, “it always goes off for CO, but we aren’t worried”. Yikes! I was.
  • Not knowing what the hazards are
    • =you must know what you are measuring for. If you have isocyanates inside the confined space, the multi gas meter is probably not going to give you adequate warning.- if any. Just like wearing the right type of filter cartridge on your respirator, know the hazard you are measuring.

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Wed 12 Dec 2012

Pre task planning – for silica

Posted by admin under Air Monitoring, Behavior Based, Concrete, Dust, Engineering Controls, Exposure, Hazard Communication, HEPA, Management, Personal Protective Equip (PPE), Respirators, Safety Policies, Safety Programs, Silica, Training
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Controlling most of these types of exposures is really simple. If you know the job- and you know it will generate airborne silica = Pre Task Plan!

I wish Superintendents would enforce their project managers, or project engineers, to make a pre-task plan for every concrete/silica producing task. Then, (please don’t stop yet), review the plan once the project starts!

Below are two examples with different outcomes:wet saw

1. Cutting concrete block.

The pretask plan called for a garden hose with attachment(s) to wet the cutting area. Everything was perfect until the water was shut off. But, they improvised and found an electric water pump with bucket and recycled the water. It was a great outcome. What if the power went out? They could have used a Hudson sprayer.

2. Grinding plaster off a brick wall.

They built an enclosure and containment. They had a negative air machine with HEPA filters. They had a vacuum with HEPA filters, tyvek, 1/2 face respirator, eye protection, etc. But, as they worked the vacuum couldn’t keep up with the amount of dust generated by the 7 inch Bosch grinder. It was really dusty. They worked like this for days. No one onsite saw them because they were in containment. Unfortunately  the project is almost over and it could have been better. A simple shroud to the grinder, like this one (no endorcement) might have controlled the dust & silica. Sure, it might have been troublesome to find the exact one, and get a vacuum attachment, and have the extra weight, and ….

 

dustless shroud

So, let’s talk to people about silica, talk about solutions, and then check to see if they’re effective.

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Thu 6 Dec 2012

How NOT to hang your Christmas decorations

Posted by admin under Admin Controls, Behavior Based, Engineering Controls, Fall Protection, Misc, Personal Protective Equip (PPE), Risk
1 Comment

My friend, Shelley, sent me these pictures of a city maintenance crew hanging up the Christmas decorations in town. These guys have probably been working this way for years. What will take to make them change? Administrative controls? As I’ve mentioned before, falls are the #1 killer in construction.

 

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Mon 3 Dec 2012

Why I’m excited about the new GHS rules

Posted by admin under ACGIH, Federal OSHA, GHS, industrial hygienist, Management, Misc, MSDS, OSHA, PEL (Perm Exp Limit), Risk, SDS
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The new global harmonization system (GHS) is officially adopted by OSHA. Each state run program is rolling out their acceptance of the new changes. Where I live, we have until December 2013 to train employees in this new type of hazard communication.

Honestly, I’m NOT too EXCITED about it. But, I’m trying to have a good attitude. Below are some good things which may occur:

  • Raise the level of awareness of hazardous materials & their toxicity
  • Train employees (hopefully, retrain) on how to handle chemicals
  • More training = less citations. (?) OSHA’s top ten citations include #3 – hazard communication. Maybe people will actually do the training?! (my guess is that there will be more citations)
  • Consistent information worldwide.  All UN countries should have the same format. (this might take years)
  • Proprietary information will be more visible on the SDS. In the new rules, manufacturers are required to list the % of their proprietary ingredients.
  • Pictograms! They’re so cool. My favorite is the exploding person.
  • Maybe this is my favorite?!: Manufacturers will have to look again at their products and classify them according to the physical & health criteria. Nowadays with more relevant information from worldwide occupational exposure limits, it might help make employers aware of the hazards.
    • This might help OSHA enforce newer exposure limits (other than the 1978 AGCIH TLVs).

How do you plan on training your employees? If you need help, contact me here.

 

 

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Thu 29 Nov 2012

Construction Lead Paint – the basics

Posted by admin under Admin Controls, Bio Exposure Index, Biological Monitoring, Engineering Controls, Hazard Communication, industrial hygienist, Lead, Leaded Sheetrock, OSHA, PEL (Perm Exp Limit), Personal Protective Equip (PPE), Respirators, Training
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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

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Mon 26 Nov 2012

Risk tolerance changes

Posted by admin under Air Monitoring, Exposure, Federal OSHA, Hazard Communication, industrial hygienist, OSHA, PEL (Perm Exp Limit), Risk, Silica
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You probably already knew this. Risk changes over time.

As we start to measure, and value, loss we immediately want to minimize it. However, it’s an unobtainable goal. “Zero losses”. Really? It’s not actually possible, you know (at least in the long term).

Look at this graph of the number of deaths in the US over the years due to silica. In 1968 we had approximately 1,000 deaths. Now, in the year 2005, we are less than 200. Yet, OSHA wants us to lower the exposure limit.  (I am personally not opposed to it – but I am open to debate about it, really)

Our world is becoming smaller. But, you already knew this, too.

To give an example, look at what happened in Bangladesh on November 24/25, 2012. Meanwhile in the US, we were watching football and eating leftover turkey.  Over 100 people died due to safety concerns that turned into a fire. This country is going through what the US experienced pre-1970. Other countries have similar problems.

I suppose living in the US is a yet another reason for thanksgiving. Yes…, But.  What can you do to make the biggest impact? I don’t have the answer, but, I am open to suggestions.

 

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Wed 21 Nov 2012

What is disturbance of asbestos?

Posted by admin under Asbestos, Carcinogen, EPA, Federal OSHA, Hazard Communication, OSHA, Training, Uncategorized
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When training people who work around asbestos I usually discuss the word “disturbance” for a LONG time. The reason is simple. If you avoid “disturbing” it, you avoid most of the health issues.

As most people are aware, asbestos is found in many types of materials. Floor tiles, popcorn ceilings, wall panels, etc.

Disturbance relates to the specific activities you perform AND the type of material the asbestos is in.

If the asbestos containing material (ACM) is non-friable, then in theory, it takes more effort to disturb the asbestos. If the material is friable, well, you need to be REALLY careful. – and in some cases, breathing can disturb it. For example, an electrician who uncovers an ancient acoustical ceiling panel and finds damaged asbestos pipe insulation laying on top of it…is probably already in trouble. He has essentially disturbed friable asbestos by merely moving the panel.

In contrast, a remodeling company installing a floating laminate hardwood over asbestos 9×9 inch tiles (without damaging them) is [probably*] NOT causing airborne releases of asbestos.

Most of the OSHA/EPA asbestos rules hinge on the matrix of the material and the activity you are performing on it. The reason is this is what makes the asbestos fiber airborne.

*the OSHA rules are very specific as to work activity, please do your due diligence.

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Mon 19 Nov 2012

Before you wear a respirator

Posted by admin under Biological Monitoring, Exposure, Federal OSHA, Hazard Communication, Management, odor thresholds, OSHA, Personal Protective Equip (PPE), Respirators, Safety Policies, Safety Programs, Training
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There are some items you need to do BEFORE you wear a respirator. If you are using it on a voluntary basis, go here.

  1. obtain medical approvalfor employees to wear a respirator
  2. have a fit test performed
    • qualitative fit test unless you wear a full face mask, or a type better than this
    • my favorite choice is irritant smoke, but it could also be saccharine, isoamyl acetate (banana), or Bitrex (R).
  3. get trained. Learn how to:
    • clean it
    • store it
    • know what your respirator can’t protect you from
    • choose the right cartridges
    • know when you have break through
    • fit check (different than a fit test -BTW)

Wondering how often you must update the above steps? Go here. There are more steps to having a respiratory program, but you must do these things before you start.

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Fri 16 Nov 2012

Construction Lead Paint- follow EPA or OSHA

Posted by admin under Air Monitoring, Biological Monitoring, Dust, EPA, Federal OSHA, HEPA, Lead, OSHA, Personal Protective Equip (PPE), Respirators, Safety Programs, Training, Uncategorized
1 Comment

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.

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Fri 9 Nov 2012

We all make mistakes

Posted by admin under Air Monitoring, Chemical Exposure, industrial hygienist, PEL (Perm Exp Limit), Personal Protective Equip (PPE), Respirators, Uncategorized
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People who work in industrial hygiene try NOT to admit fault. There are reasons;  legal implications, credibility, and of course, pride. Since this blog is about being transparent, I will confess I made a huge mistake. My mistake wasn’t disastrous, but it could have been.

Background:

Employees were using a hudson sprayer (pump style) to apply a liquid waterproofing material. Air monitoring was performed and found to be 50% of the OELs. However, given the environmental conditions, and different areas they would need to access, I recommended they wear 1/2 face respirators. The hazard was isopropyl alcohol and a 1/2 face respirator with organic vapor cartridges was sufficient, with goggles & protective clothing.

However. It wasn’t isopropyl alcohol….it was methyl alcohol (methanol). And, there is a HUGE difference. Organic vapor cartridges (filters) provide NO protection to methanol. I should have recommended supplied air respirators.

I feel terrible, and I apologized.

“Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time” – George Bernard Shaw

 

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