HEALTH HAZARDS Occupational Safety and Health Hazards for

HEALTH HAZARDS Occupational Safety and Health Hazards for Construction Industry

OSH Act of 1970 u The purpose of the OSH Act is to “assure so far as possible every working, man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources. ”

Routes of Entry u Inhalation – airborne contaminants u Absorption – penetration through the skin u Ingestion – eating – drinking

OSHA Hierarchy of Control ÊEngineering Ë Work controls practice controls Ì Administrative Í Personal controls protective equipment (PPE)

Types of Exposure u Acute – Short term period between exposure and onset of symptoms u Chronic – Long time period between exposure to an agent and the onset of symptoms

Exposure Limits Air Contaminants u OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration u NIOSH – National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health u ACGIH – American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

Exposure Limits Air Contaminants u OSHA – PEL, STEL, Ceiling u NIOSH – TWA, STEL, Ceiling u ACGIH – TWA, STEL, Ceiling

Exposure Limits Air Contaminants u TWA – takes into account variable exposure through a full shift, 8 hour work day u STEL – limit of exposure during a short period, 15 minutes u CEILING – absolute maximum level of exposure not to be exceeded

Exposure Limits Air Contaminants u Legally enforceable – OSHA PEL – OSHA AL (action level) – OSHA EL (excursion limit)

Silica Special Emphasis Program (SEP) u Special Emphasis Program--Silica u OSHA’s Industrial Hygiene initiative u Collaboration of OSHA Compliance and Consultation Programs Si. O 2

Why Target Crystalline Silica Exposure? u Widespread occurrence and use u Number of related deaths u Number of exposed workers u Health effects

Occurrence and Use of Silica u Si. O 2 - basic component of sand, quartz & granite u Quartz - 2 nd most common mineral in the earth’s crust u Airborne silica is produced by:

Occurrence and Use of Silica u Airborne silica is produced by: – – – sandblasting rock drilling foundry work stone cutting drilling quarrying – – tunneling jack hammering concrete manufacturing demolition asphalt pavement manufacturing

Construction Targeting u jack hammering u rock drilling u abrasive blasting u concrete mixing u brick and concrete block or slab cutting

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Silica 10 mg/m 3 % Quartz +2 = ? mg/m 3 PEL for respirable dust containing a % silica.

Silicosis Prevention Program u Medical surveillance program – baseline examination • medical and occupational history • prior to exposure – every 5 years if < 20 years of exposure – every 2 years if > 20 years of exposure – baseline chest x-ray – pulmonary function tests (PFT) – x-ray upon termination of employment Source: OSHA SEP

Silicosis Prevention Program u Personal air monitoring program u Training and information on crystalline silica u Availability of air and medical surveillance data to workers u Respiratory protection program Source: OSHA SEP

Silicosis Prevention Program u Hygiene facilities and clothing change areas u Recordkeeping u Personal exposures below the PEL OR facility has an abatement program that provides interim worker protection u Housekeeping program u Regulated areas Source: OSHA SEP

Health Effects u Acute - intense crystalline silica exposure u Accelerated - more intense exposure over 5 to 15 years u Chronic - 20 to 45 years prolonged exposure to crystalline silica

Common Hazard u Abrasive u Paint blasting removal u Renovation u Road repair & demolition

Exposure Controls Substitution u Coal slag (black beauty) u Steel grit u Aluminum oxide u Wild stuff (frozen CO 2, walnut shells, baking soda

Exposure Controls Wet Methods u Water suppression of dust u Very effective method u May be less efficient u Requires supply of water and clean up u Power tools with HEPA exhaust

Silica Case Example u 39 year old sandblaster diagnosed with silicosis and tuberculosis after 22 years of abrasive blasting – shortness of breath – wheezing – chest discomfort – lung tissue samples - extensive fibrosis (silicosis)

Silica Case Example u 49 year old man diagnosed with silicosis, emphysema, and asthma after 21 years of work as a tile installer where he was exposed to dust from cutting, drilling, and working with grout. He was a nonsmoker

Cadmium 29 CFR 1926. 1127 u Blue-white metal u Grayish-white powder u Found in lead, copper, and zinc sulfide ores u Compounds – highly colored from brown to yellow and red

Cadmium 29 CFR 1926. 1127 u Uses – electrode component in alkaline batteries – stabilizer in plastics – paints

Cadmium 29 CFR 1926. 1127 u Short term exposure – irritation of upper respiratory tract – constriction of the throat – metallic taste – cough – flu-like symptoms

Cadmium 29 CFR 1926. 1127 u Long term exposure – kidney damage – lung cancer – prostate cancer

Scope u All occupational exposure to cadmium compounds – in all construction work • construction • alteration • repair

Covered Activities u Wrecking u Electrical grounding w/cadmium u Salvage u Installation of u Use of cadmium products containing paints u Emergencies u cutting, brazing, burning, grindingu Transportation, disposal, and or welding storage u Demolition

Definitions u Action – level (AL) 2. 5 g/m 3 u Competent – – – person (29 CFR 1926. 32) determines presents of cadmium regulated areas access PPE training

Permissible Exposure Limit PEL = 5 g/m 3

Exposure Monitoring u Prior to performance u Exposure at or above the AL – – relevant plans reports MSDSs other records u Frequency u Additional monitoring

Initial Monitoring u As soon as practicable u Higher concentrations – monitor while conducting task u Objective data u Documentation – > 5 g/m 3 – < 5 g/m 3

Prohibited Activities u Eating u Drinking u Smoking u Chew tobacco u Apply cosmetics OR carry such products into regulated areas

Methods of Compliance u Intermittent exposure u Exposure < 30 days per year u Engineering and work practice controls are not feasible – – reduce exposure to lowest level PPE

Methods of Compliance Employee Rotation

Compliance Program u Exposure > PEL u Written program u Review and update as necessary

Other Requirements u Hygiene areas and practices u Housekeeping u Medical Surveillance – – – 30 or more days > action level Communicating hazards Recordkeeping

Lead in Construction Standard 29 CFR 1926. 62 u SCOPE AND APPLICATION – Applies to all construction work where an employee may be occupationally exposed to lead. – Excludes construction work covered in the general industry standard.

Lead in Construction Standard u Applies to: – Demolition – Removal and Encapsulation – New construction, alteration, repair, or renovation – Installation of products containing lead – Lead contamination/ emergency cleanup – Transportation, disposal, storage – Maintenance operations associated with construction

Selected Definitions u LEAD – Metallic lead – All inorganic lead compounds – Organic lead soaps ~ Excludes organic lead compounds. ~

Selected Definitions u COMPETENT u ACTION PERSON LEVEL (AL) – 30 g/m 3 u PERMISSIBLE (PEL) – 50 g/m 3 EXPOSURE LIMIT

Selected Definitions u ALLOWABLE (in g/m 3) EXPOSURE 400 # hours worked

Selected Definitions u INITIAL DETERMINATION – To determine whether employees are exposed at above the action level – May rely on historical data – May rely on objective data

Exposure Assessment Lead in Construction u INITIAL DETERMINATION – TASK 1 TRIGGERS: • Exposure up to 500 g/m 3 (10 x the PEL) • Activities include: – manual demolition of structures, hand scrapping or sanding, heat guns, power tool cleaning with dust collection systems, spray painting

Exposure Assessment Lead in Construction u INITIAL DETERMINATION – TASK 2 TRIGGERS: • Exposure up to 2, 500 g/m 3 (>10 x the PEL, but less than 2, 500 g/m 3 ) • Activities include: – using lead containing mortar, cleanup where dry expendable abrasives are used, rivet busting, power tool cleaning without dust collection systems, movement/removal of enclosures

Exposure Assessment Lead in Construction u INITIAL DETERMINATION – TASK 3 TRIGGERS: • Exposure > 2, 500 g/m 3 (>50 x the PEL) • Activities include: – abrasive blasting, welding, cutting, torch burning

Exposure Assessment Lead in Construction u POSITIVE INITIAL DETERMINATION – Exposure at or above the action level and below the PEL • Conduct monitoring representative of each exposed employee – May use historical data – Additional monitoring - every 6 months – Document

Exposure Assessment Lead in Construction u POSITIVE INITIAL DETERMINATION – Exposure at or above the PEL • Conduct monitoring representative of each exposed employee – May use historical data – Additional monitoring - quarterly – Document

Exposure Assessment Lead in Construction u NEGATIVE INITIAL DETERMINATION – No exposure at or above the action level – Additional monitoring is not required unless there is a change in: – equipment, process, control, personnel or task resulting in levels at or above the action level – Document

Methods Of Compliance Lead in Construction u Engineering Controls u Respiratory protection u Compliance program u Mechanical ventilation u Administrative u Good controls work practices

Respiratory Protection Lead in Construction u REQUIRED: · While engineering and work practice controls are being installed or implemented · During activities when engineering and work practice controls are not feasible · Where engineering and work practice controls are not feasible to reduce exposures below PEL/AL · In emergencies

Respiratory Protection Lead in Construction u Must be provided whenever an employee requests a respirator. u Must provide a PAPR whenever an employee requests one and it is protective against the level of exposure.

Exposure > PEL Lead in Construction u Respiratory u Personal u Change protection protective equipment rooms u Showers (where feasible in construction) u Eating u Hand facilities washing facilities

Housekeeping Lead in Construction u Maintain surfaces as free as practicable of lead accumulation.

Medical Surveillance Lead in Construction u INITIAL MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE – Exposure > AL one day u MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM – Exposure > AL for more than 30 days per year

Medical Removal Lead in Construction u Two blood lead levels > 50 g/d. L u Return - < 40 g/d. L u Benefits

Employee Training Lead in Construction u EXPOSURE u ANNUALLY > AL

Recordkeeping Lead in Construction u EXPOSURE DATA – At least 30 years u MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE – Duration of employment plus 30 years

Recordkeeping Lead in Construction u MEDICAL REMOVAL – At least duration of employment u OBJECTIVE – 30 years DATA