October 2010 Health Hazards of Arsenic Health Hazards

October 2010 Health Hazards of Arsenic Health Hazards of Lead Occupational Health Department 0 Occupational Health Department EQUAL Code SSR 023

Outline • What is Lead? • Where is it found? Occupational, non-occupational • Routes of exposure • Health effects • OEL and DSR • Air sampling • Controls

Identify the Hazard What is Lead? CAS#: 7439 -92 -1 Bluish-white heavy metal Tarnishes to dull greyish colour when exposed to air Dense, soft and easy to bend, shape Poor electrical conductivity, highly resistant to corrosion Organic and inorganic compounds 2

Identify the Hazard Sources of Non-Occupational Exposure Naturally occurring, found in small quantities in the earth’s crust and may be present in metallic ores. • • Lead paint Additives in gasoline Food contaminated from soldered containers, leaded glass crystal Water contaminated from lead-containing pipes and industrial discharge • Hobbies (making pottery or stained glass, ammunition, sinkers) *Use of lead-containing products on decline since early 1980’s. 3

Identify the Hazard Sources of Lead Exposure Occupational exposure to Lead and lead compounds may occur through exposure to: • • • 4 Recycled scrap metal Certain solders (eg. tin-lead solder) Metal alloys (eg. for bearings) Lead-acid batteries Pipe tread, gasket sealants, electrical finish Removing lead-based paints (especially sandblasting)

Identify the Hazard Where it exists at Vale Lead can be present in the process stream. Example: in ore, processing 5

Identify the Hazard Where it exists at Vale A material containing lead or lead compounds. Example: • Lead oxide added for Fire Assaying 6

Assess the Risk How can Lead enter my body? 7

Assess the Risk Routes of Entry • Inhalation – breathing in the chemical • Ingestion – • Absorption – swallowing the chemical soaks through the skin *only a factor for organic lead

Assess the Risk Once in your body After inhaled or ingested, lead enters the bloodstream and travels to various organs Ø ie. liver, kidneys, brain, spleen, muscles, heart After several weeks, lead moves into your bones where it can be stored for a long time Levels in your body can build up over time Ø the more in your body, the more likely you will have health effects

How Can Lead Affect My Health? 10

Assess the Risk Acute Health Effects Short-term exposure to high levels of lead may cause: -Fatigue, irritability -Muscle and joint pain -Headaches -Loss of memory, poor attention span -Stomach aches, cramps -More severe poisoning may cause metallic taste in mouth, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea . *Short-term, high level exposures (acute poisoning) are rarely seen in occupations today as a result of strict controls.

Assess the Risk Chronic Health Effects Long-term exposure to lower levels of lead may affect: Nervous system – damage to peripheral nerves can cause muscle weakness (aches, wrist drop), tremors; can lead to behavioural changes, impair vision, hearing; very high levels, can affect brain Gastrointestinal system – may result in abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhea Blood – blood cell formation, may lead to anemia Kidneys – kidney damage Reproductive system – may harm developing fetus, affect male fertility (lower sperm count)

Assess the Risk Factors that may increase your risk ØDose ØAge of person ØOccupational exposure ØDuration of exposure ØHealth and lifestyle ØNutritional status ØPregnancy

Assess the Risk Ontario’s Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) Time-Weighted Average (TWA) concentration for a normal 8 -hour workday and 40 hour workweek, to which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse effects. TWA for Lead = 0. 05 mg/m 3 for 8 -hr workshift = 0. 03 mg/m 3 for 12 -hr workshift 14

Assess the Risks Air Monitoring The Lead component of the Total dust is sampled. The sampling train consists of a 37 mm cassette, a cellulose membrane filter and a pump.

Assess the Risks Air Sampling Area Sampling: ØPlacing the sampling equipment in a representative fixed position in the work area. ØUseful as an index of general contamination. ØCan be used to determine whether to post as a “Respirator Protection Required” area. 16

Assess the Risks Air Sampling Personal Monitoring is conducted: ØIn the worker’s breathing zone. ØDoing his/her normal work activities. ØOver an entire work shift. *Results determine worker exposure (for comparison to OELs) 17

Control Types of Controls ØEngineering Controls ØAdministrative Controls ØWork and Hygiene Practices ØPPE 18

Controls Engineering Controls Includes: ØVentilation ØEnclosure/isolation ØSubstitution The above controls can be implemented: Ø At the source Ø Along the path Ø At the worker 19

Controls Administrative Controls Includes: ØTraining on hazards recognition, safe work & hygiene practices ØMaintaining adequate hygiene facilities (hand washing and showering) ØTransferring high risk workers out of work area ØOccupational Health & Medicine Programs ØWritten documentation of safe work procedures (site specific) 20

Controls Work Practices and Hygiene Practices Some of the things you can do to protect your health: ØWash hands, face, scrub nails before eating, drinking or smoking - Ensure: using soap & warm water & washing for sufficient time ØShower, wash, change before going home ØEat, drink only in designated areas ØKeep your work area clean – daily housekeeping ØFollow adequate controls (ie. wearing PPE) ØREPORT any illness or injuries right away (even if you think they are minor) 21

Controls PPE: Respirators The concentration of Lead determines type of respirator required. Respirator fit testing can be done at Vale’s First Aid facilities. Refer to the Divisional Respirator Protection Program. 22

Controls PPE: Respirator Selection Where airborne concentrations are: < = to 10 x TWA (NIOSH Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 10) Half-mask respirator with particulate filters (P 100) < = to 25 x TWA (NIOSH Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 25) Powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) equipped with a hood or helmet and particulate filter. 23

Controls PPE: Respirator Selection Where airborne concentrations are: < = to 50 x TWA (NIOSH Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 50) Full face respirator. 24

Controls PPE: Respirator Selection The respirator must: Have the proper cartridge or filter to protect against the contaminant. Must provide adequate protection, depending on exposure limit and concentration. *Never remove respirator in the contaminated area. 25

Controls PPE: Respirator Seal Checks Do a seal check each time you put on your respirator Positive 26 Negative

Control Program Where Assessment determines that a worker within a particular job code is at risk, a Control Program is required: Control Program must include provisions for: • • • Controls Methods for monitoring airborne exposure lead Maintaining personal records of worker exposures (air) Medical examinations and clinical tests Maintaining medical and clinical records

Medical Surveillance Medical Examinations • Pre-placement Medical • Periodic Medical (carried out at least every two years on a voluntary basis) Include: • History • Physical Exam

Identify the Hazard Designated Substance Lead is identified as a Designated Substance in Ontario (Regulation 490/09). Applies to workplaces: ü where lead is present, produced, processed, used, handled or stored; and ü at which the worker is likely to inhale, ingest, absorb 29

Medical Surveillance Medical Examinations Pre-placement and Periodic: • Blood lead *Best indicator of recent lead exposure • Pulmonary function test • Chest x-ray (if not done if previous 3 years) Quarterly biological monitoring: • Blood lead

Blood Lead Levels Acceptable values: Blood lead concentration < 1. 45 µmol/L Alert level: Blood lead concentration > 3. 40 µmol/L

What Happens if Your Blood. Lead Level is Too High? When Alert level reached: • Follow-up test requested by Occupational Medicine – If results are confirmed, worker must be removed from lead exposure • Occupational Health site contact must interview worker and verify work practices and hygiene practices • Return to work may be permitted when level of blood reaches 2. 42 µmol/L or less

Please Ensure these Practices (Controls) are Protecting YOU by…. . Participating in air monitoring (wearing a pump) Ø tells us about YOUR lung exposure to dusts that shift Participating in biological monitoring (giving a biological sample) Ø tells us how much has gone into YOUR body from all sources of exposure THEY ARE COMPLIMENTARY!! 33

Take home message Emphasis is on what you can do; how you go out in the plant and recognize and understand a hazard and assess the level of risk. Planning for controls is done ahead of time. If no control is in place or you think the hazard still exists, talk to your supervisor Following established controls and continually monitoring and assess controls; if no control is in place or you think the hazard still exists, talk to your supervisor 34

Thank you!