Week 10: Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Was created in 1970 to ensure that every working person has access to safe and healthful conditions. No employee will suffer diminished health, function or life expectancy from work. OSHA has the legal authority to create regulations and conduct inspections regarding workplace safety. can also fine employers for safety and health violations, shut down businesses in violation of standards, and take other measures to hold businesses accountable for employee conditions. Created Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) that are legally enforceable. Made ACGIH 1968 booklet the law of the land. OSHA does not cover certain workers such as miners, small farms, certain federal agencies (like DOT), or transient industries (oil, gas, etc) and temporary workers.

What are the various types of physical workplace hazards

chemical (gas/vapor, aerosol/particles, skin contact) physical (ergonomics, noise, radiation, heat/cold stress, building mold/mildew) biological (infestations)

Ceiling Limit

the maximum concentration allowed at any length of time, NEVER go above this concentration. Used along with STELs when a chemical can harm within a short period of time (cyanide, chlorine gas).

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

the maximum legal limits established by OSHA for regulated substances. These are based on employee exposure that is time weighted over an 8 hour work shift. When these limits are exceeded, employers must take proper steps to reduce employee exposure. (these limits tend to be less stringent than ACGIH's TLVs)

What is a protective measure for confined space entry in the workplace?

• Protective measures: Before entering the confined space, air is sampled at various strata to ensure no chemical hazards present and supplemental air is brought in through fresh air ventilation. Two worker program: Worker in the confined space is tethered while the standby worker on the outside of the space monitors. There is two way communication to be able to monitor the worker's speech to ensure no slurring which indicates chemical hazard.

Hierarchy of Hazard Controls: Personal Protective Equipment. Define it and provide an example:

PPE: the fifth most desirable form of hazard control, or least desirable. Protective equipment the individual wears. (respirators, ear plugs, yellow suit bois)

Explain the conditions for molds/mildew forming indoors:

Perfect conditions for mold/mildew growth include wet building materials (carpet, drywall etc.), a temperature between 68-90 °F, relative humidity greater than 60%, and no air movement.

What are some protective measures for lasers in the workplace?

Protective measures - Don't look!!!! BURN HOLES IN YOUR EYES Certain protective eyewear can protect you (safety glasses, goggles). For less potent lasers (class 2: like laser pointers), blink response is sufficient.

What are some protective measures for radiation in the workplace?

Protective measures: For penetrable radiation (gamma), your only defenses are: - more time (more time away from exposure) - more distance (increase distance from radioactive source) - more shielding (increase shielding such as leaded or concrete wall, something that absorbs radiation) Alpha radiation: only a problem if inhaled, outer coverings are used (yellow suit bois)

What is a protective measure for noise as a workplace hazard?

The 8-hour Time weighted average (TWA) limit is 85 decibels according to ACGIH. Protective measures include PPE: earmuffs, ear plugs, and helmets. The first step would be to directly reduce noise at the source (ex. a quieter drill or engine)

Other types of PPE: Hard Hats

Type 1 - full brim / top Type 2 - front brim / top & sides Class A: protect against falling objects, electrical shocks up to 2200 volts Class B: protect against falling objects, electrical shocks up to 20,000 volts Class C: protect against falling objects, no protection from electricity :(

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Was created in 1970 by the OSH Act and is the US federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness.

Discuss the ethical impacts of poor occupational health programs in developing countries

• Terrible working conditions: minimal to no safety standards, underreporting of injuries or fatalities, no one held responsible. Feature physical/verbal abuse, forced overtime, unsanitary conditions, denial of paid maternity leave, failure to pay, and long hours with no breaks • US industries (esp. Garment industry) contribute to this by going to countries with low costs, and hopping to new countries when costs rise. Ex. Rana Plaza incident in Bangladesh -1129 Garment workers killed in collapse • Additionally, workers often turn to be women and young, and the societal value of women is low. Additionally, managers tend to be men so gendered power dynamic

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)

- Private organization that existed before OSHA. When OSHA was first formed, it set its standards according to the ACGIH handbook. ACGIH has established the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for chemical substances and physical agents.

Name the three industries with the highest fatality rate

1.Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 2. transportation and warehousing 3. construction (also mining, quarrying, and oil/gas extraction) - all three have high percentage of migrant workers (also known as farmin', truckin', and buildin')

Explain the roles/responsibilities from the various organizations involved with occupational health

ACGIH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists - Private organization, existed long before OSHA; publishes what chemical concentrations are deemed safe. OSH Act (1970): Occupational Safety and Health Act - Established OSHA (the org) and NIOSH OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration Legal authority, - takes info from NIOSH and decide whether to make regulations from their research NIOSH: National Institute of OSH - Research, provide info and recommendations to OSHA

Hierarchy of Hazard Controls: Elimination. Define it and provide an example:

Elimination: the most desirable form of hazard control. controlling hazard at the source (not using harmful chemicals, stopping noise, etc.)

Hierarchy of Hazard Controls: Engineering. Define it and provide an example:

Engineering: the third most desirable form of hazard control. Installing filters, scrubbers, guards, etc. (ventilation systems for coal mines & acid vats; splash guards on water fountains )

Explain the three control strategies for repetitive motion injuries (ergonomics)

Ergonomics Control: - fit the work to the person, not the person to the work • Reduce repetition (times/day) • Reduce force/weight - reduce the weight of things that must be lifted or carried reduces injury • Maintain Neutral Position - whatever keeps the body closest to a neutral position for the job is often the best

Other types of PPE: Hand and Foot Protection

Hand Protection: gloves (leather for rough surfaces, rubber for electricity, vinyl for chemicals, latex for germs/bacteria - latex bad for chemicals) Foot protection: boots (metatarsal good for warehouses, steel toe can sever toes if forklift is around, disposable for germs)

Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL)

Legal limits established by OSHA (along with ceiling limit) when a chemical can harm within a short period of time, an acute acting toxic event. STEL is maximum concentration allowed during a 15-minute continuous period (allowed 4 times per day, 60 minutes between).

What are some protective measures for mold/mildew in the workplace?

Mold/Mildew is controlled by keeping humidity below 60% (for human comfort, 40-50% humidity). Mold will be a problem if a house/area has been wet more than 24 hours. Once mold comes though, you have to get rid of the building materials usually, because even if cleaned, mold can remain in spore form which will easily sprout next time it comes into contact with moisture.

What is a protective measure to avoid heat stress in the workplace?

Protective measures: Work/Rest Cycles - check the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT) which takes humidity and solar radiation into account to determine a workers work/rest cycle. Based on light, moderate, and heavy workloads. (Example: 75% work, 25% rest) Clo factor: takes WBGT and the type of clothing being worn into account with heat stress levels. Not a legal requirement. Additional measures: access to water and water breaks so they do not self dehydrate.

Hierarchy of Hazard Controls: Substitution. Define it and provide an example:

Substitution: the second most desirable form of hazard control. Replacing one substance or activity with a less hazardous one (using a less corrosive chemical in the workplace, etc.)

Hierarchy of Hazard Controls: Administrative. Define it and provide an example:

Administrative: the fourth most desirable form of hazard control. Procedures to reduce opportunity for exposure. (safety regulations, PELs, TLVs, etc).

Name the two main types of respirators:

Air-purifying respirators (filtered masks, gas masks, etc) Supplied Air Respirators (Airline respirator, emergency escape, SCBA)

What are the differences between air purifying respirators and supplied air respirators?

Air-purifying respirators remove airborne contaminants such as particles, toxic vapors, and/or gases. They are appropriate for use in environments of low-level contamination and in environments where there is sufficient oxygen. Supplied-air respirators provide clean air from either a portable cylinder or from a remote source and are used in environments too hazardous for air-purifying respirators.

Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH)

Any atmosphere that poses an immediate hazard to life or produces immediate irreversible, debilitating effects on health. Limit where death may occur within 30 minutes. Mainly used in emergency response.

Ventilation Control

Bolometer: measures amount of airflow Good ventilation for chemicals: move pollutants away from breathing zone Coal mine ventilation: has both entry and exit shaft for stale air to exit, prevent build up of coal dust Airplane painting: needs respirators bc of toxic chemicals