Thu 9 Jun 2011
un-safety with ladders
Posted by admin under Ladder
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Mon 9 May 2011
Paint Shop (spray finishing) with isocyanates
Posted by admin under Air Monitoring, MSDS, odor thresholds, Respirators, Spray Finishing
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When performing spray finishing activities with any product that contains isocyanates (diisocyanates, HDI, MDI, TDI) the minimum respiratory protection to be worn is a powered air supply respirator.
The reasoning is simple: isocyanates DO NOT have good warning properties.
Painters can usually tell when their cartridges are wearing-out, or getting “break through”. However, with isocyanates, the odor threshold is much too high to detect (it can be detected, but only at harmful levels).
In addition, isocyanates have a skin-notation, meaning that if the product gets onto the skin, it can be absorbed. As you can see, this employee was not wearing the proper PPE (personal protective equipment).
However, when you’re a consultant, you have temper your comments. We did educate him and also told the general manager of our concerns and the reasoning.
On the plus-side, they had a manometer that was used and the employee knew when to change out the filters. How this simple meter works is this: A manometer measures the pressure differential between two different areas. In a paint booth it measures the pressure between each side of the air filters for the air coming into the booth. If the pressure gets too high, then the filters are clogged (or built-up). Notice the arrows on the bottom of the gauge to see when to service the filters. When the manometer (in this case) reads above 0.045 either the fan has to work harder, or the air escapes by the filter (in various ways- more information for another time)
Fri 22 Apr 2011
Screening operation- MSHA
Posted by admin under Uncategorized
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Another MSHA site where they are actually not crushing rock or selling it. This location only screens the rock/dirt and loads it. It’s transported to another location where they screen it again (wet, this time) and sell it. They had two loaders and an excavator working this pit. We would have normally performed air and noise monitoring at the at the crusher location. However, the crusher was actually not crushing rock and was only screening the rock wet. At this location they were at least screening dry. We figured this would be the best chance of finding any dust. However, we found hardly anything.
There was nothing too exciting or unique, other than a strong wind in the afternoon and a pesky pheasant that remained out of site, but kept cackling.
Thu 21 Apr 2011
PBDE in insulation- illegal in OR
Posted by admin under insulation, Management, PBDE, polybrominated diphenyl ether
1 Comment
The big scare in commercial construction is a new Senate House Bill 596 which makes certain insulation with the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) illegal to install if you’re in Oregon. I think this bill caught everyone off guard.
PBDEs are used in fireproofing as a flame-retardant. However, they are in LOTs of other things including; foam products, plastics, couches, etc.
The issue is that this chemical(s) is a bioaccumulator. And this description is telling. It accumulates in your body. Health studies are inconclusive, and forthcoming, but it could be linked to brain development, memory, learning, and lowering thyroid hormone levels.  Most all symptoms are long term, but as mentioned before, it accumulates.
For more information about PBDE you can start at the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. The Oregon Health Authority is enforcing the rule. The Fact Sheet is here dated January 28, 2011.
I am cautious about saying if this is a real-public health issue, or just a passing scare. Honestly I don’t know. I haven’t seen a lot of information about the health effects from unbiased sources (please point me in if you have).  Regardless, this is in some brands of commercial insulation, and if you’re in Oregon, you should not install it.
Fri 8 Apr 2011
Rock Crusher – Air monitoring tips/hints
Posted by admin under Air Monitoring, MSHA, Silica
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Another week – another rock crusher. ”Tiz the season for the crushing to begin.
This particular rock crusher happened to be located a few miles up the mountain. Which had a great view
, but the elevation difference can significantly change your flow rate if you precalibrated the pumps at sea level (which we did). The difference between our pre and post calibration (post calibration was done onsite) had a difference of 1.4%. Not too much, you say, but multiply that times 10 hours of sampling and… that might be significant.
The quick solution is to calibrate onsite. Pre and post. There is a formula you can use to calculate the difference in pressure (due to altitude) but it makes me dizzy just thinking about how to post it on this site.
Wed 23 Mar 2011
Welding in a Mechanic’s Bay – Phosgene
Posted by admin under Chlorinated Solvent, Phosgene, Welding
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Sometimes the perfect storm happens and the situation seems so innocent. Here are the variables:
- A new shop with a great ventilation system- the airflow moves from Bay 1 to Bay 5 in rapid succession
- Bays 1-4 are mechanics who occasionally work on heavy equipment/ vehicles
- Bay 5 is for welding- has local exhaust and ventilates directly outside
Situation:
- Welder usually does maintenance – small jobs
- On one particular day he is laying down A LOT of wire- and preheats the metal
- Same day- a mechanic needs to clean some parts and uses a cleaner found in most mechanic bays
- Welder “smells” something unusual- get tightness in his chest and almost passes out
What occurred was the perfect combination for a deadly situation. Chlorinated solvents, when their vapors are heated, can form phosgene.
Here is a link to the CDC regarding phosgene. Abbreviated as CG by the military- since it was used in WW1 as a weapon.
Tue 15 Mar 2011
IH for Construction- the worst offenders
Posted by admin under Asbestos, Lead, Noise, OSHA, Silica, Uncategorized, Welding
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As I compiled information for a presentation titled, “Industrial Hygiene in Construction”, 
I wondered how to approach this topic. What I decided, is that I would start with the most frequent, the most common, with the most room for improvement. So, my list begins.
The caveat is that this list is NOT a list of the relative hazard compared to each other. This is just the IH hazards I see the most frequently. They should really NOT be compared to each other.
- Silica – in regards to airborne overexposures and lack of controls.
- Noise – in regards to overexposures and lack of adequate controls.
- Lead – in regards to compliance with OSHA / EPA.
- Asbestos – in regards to training employees and compliance with OSHA/EPA
- Welding – in regards to overexposures and lack of controls.
Wed 2 Feb 2011
Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference 2011
March 7 through 10, 2011
This is an excellent way to learn more about safety and health topics from many industries.
Thu 2 Dec 2010
Fireproofing and Airborne Silica
Posted by admin under Uncategorized
[5] Comments
The actual application of the fireproofing is not a high silica producer. Mainly due to the “wet” product as it’s applied. It’s messy but keeping it wet keeps the silica from becoming airborne.
However, someone has to mix the dry product and make the slurry. This individual has an exhaust ventilation above (see picture). He/she opens the bag into the mixing hopper, adds water and then dumps it into the pump hopper. When opening the bag, a plume of dust escapes and may cause an issue. 
The MSDS states 1 – 10 % quartz silica (by weight) in the bag. We will know the results in about 2 weeks. Look for the update.
These guys are building a top-notch building…
Fri 19 Nov 2010
How to get a OSHA Inspection
Posted by admin under MSHA, OSHA
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Some people really know how to stir it up, don’t they?
