Ms. Diane Whitney

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Ms. Diane Whitney
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Status of DESCs Occupational Health Program

• DESC Americas West
• Quality Conference
• April 15-19, 2002

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Overview

• DESC Directors Policy Statement
• Revisions to Existing DESC Policies
• Employee Exposure Data Collection
• Photo-Ionization Detectors (PIDs)
• Atmospheric Monitoring Equipment
• QR Medical Surveillance Program
• Safety Equipment/Checklist

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Why Have a Safety Program?DESC Safety Program
Goals

• DESC Directors commitment to safety and
  occupational health.

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DIRECTOR'S POLICY STATEMENT

• I am committed to a strong accident
  prevention and occupational health program. I
  call on everyone in the Defense Energy Support
  Center to make the same commitment. It is
  important for all managers and supervisors to set
  an example regarding fire protection, safety and
  occupational health programs. When we take
  responsibility for our actions, our safety goals
  are naturally achieved.
• Accidents are preventable, and we must
  take action to prevent them. All supervisors are
  expected to demonstrate concern for employees
  safety and take steps to provide a healthful
  workplace. To accomplish this goal, all DESC
  employees must comply with DLA and DESC safety
  polices and procedures for reporting unsafe
  conditions and actions, timely submission of
  occupational injuries or illness reports, and
  participation in supervisory and employee safety
  training. A full and successful implementation
  of the DESC safety program will result in reduced
  occupational injuries and illnesses, reduced
  accident related costs and increased
  productivity.
• 
  Jeffrey A. Jones

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Safety Policies and Training Programs

• Contractor to review DESC safety training
  programs and written plans/policies.
• Easier to read and reference
• Condensed version of federally mandated
  regulations.
• Training Plan completed 02/08/02 waiting for
  review by union and then DESC Directors
  approval.
• Written Plans 2nd Draft Revision received
  02/26/02.
• Future Availability on the WEB?

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Exposure Data and PIDs

• DESC continues to conduct research of confined
  spaces and respiratory protection.
• Preliminary Review of Photo Ionization
• Detectors Results.
• Organic Vapor Monitoring Badges for
• Benzene.

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Observation

• In the past oversight of confined space
  activities indicated that tests for Oxygen and
  Flammable Gas content were adequately performed,
  but very seldom was a test for toxic contaminants
  performed.
• In addition, no records of test results for
  exposures to toxic contaminants were available,
  and a TWA for exposures was not determined.

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Possible Toxic Contaminants in the Workplace

• VOCS
• JP-8
• JP-5
• Most refiners have suggested exposure levels for
  these fuels of 100 ppm JP-8 MSDS
• Ethyl Benzene JP-8 MSDS
• Ethanol JP-8 MSDS
• Toluene Suspected

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Action

• With the advent of improved photo- ionization
  detector (PID) technology, monitoring of the
  workplace for VOCS became possible at an
  affordable cost.
• The decision was made to have QSRS use the PID
  to monitor their VOC exposures during inspection
  activities!

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Advantages of Photo Ionization Detector

• Will monitor exposures throughout a space
• Will monitor 99 of the possible workplace
  contaminants
• Will give Peak Exposures
• Will give running time
• Small, very portable
• Low maintenance
• Will give a Time Weighted Average (TWA)
• Accuracy /- 2 ppm

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QSR Activities that indicate a need for PID
Monitoring

• Inspection of Ship Tanks
• Laboratory Activities
• Inspection of Land Storage Tanks
• Work around loading facilities
• Mixing of Fuel Additives
• Deck level exposures during tanker loading
• Rail Car / Truck Loading
• Other activities where there is a possibility of
  toxic contaminants being emitted

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Activities Participating in Data Collection
DESC Pacific (Korea and Anchorage) (3) DESC
Europe (DFSP Speyer and LAB (1) DESC Liverno
(2) DESC London (10) DFSP Houston (2) DFSP
Charleston (2) DFSP Tampa (10) DFSP San Pedro (0)
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Observation

• Based on this information informed decisions on
  the following should be possible
• Are the correct tests for toxic contaminants
  being performed.
• Are DESC Confined Space and Respiratory
  Protection Policies adequate.
• Is Respiratory Protection necessary. If so, what
  type.
• Is medical surveillance adequate

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What would we like to find?

• JP-8 / JP-5 Exposures
• TWA less than 50 ppm, action level (margin of
  safety)
• If less than 50 ppm, OK for Ethyl Benzene,
  Toluene, JP-5, JP-8
• TWA less than 100 ppm Exxon recommendation, OK
  for JP-5, JP-8
• Peaks less than 150 ppm, OK for Acute Exposures
  

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Preliminary PID Test Results

• Activity Peak
• Tank Gauge 239-104 ppm
• Laboratory ? 90 ppm
• Shore Tank 287-73 ppm
• Barge Discharge 13 ppm
• Tanker Discharge 8.9 ppm
• Rail Car 162-102 ppm
• Truck Loading 104-76 ppm
• TWA (All Activities) lt 1ppm
• TWA OK Chronic Exposures
• Peaks Some unacceptable, more evaluation needed.

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Preliminary Conclusions

• Based on TWAS obtained thus far Chronic Health
  Issues to VOCS do not seem to be a problem.
• Rail Car, Truck Loading and Laboratory peak
  exposures exceeded acceptable levels in some
  cases, but changing work habits should reduce
  these hazards.

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Conclusion

• Purchase and Training of QSRS on PIDS began in
  late November 2000 and was completed in April,
  2001.
• By the last quarter of 2001 enough data was
  available to make informed evaluations of QSR
  exposure levels to VOCS.
• Some locations have not participated in the
  program. Full participation is required!!

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Organic Vapor Monitoring

• December 2001, Fifty Organic Vapor Monitoring
  Badges were distributed to various locations in
  the CONUS and OCOUS.
• Problems encountered by the laboratory performing
  the analysis
• Contamination monitor was received uncapped.
• No user identification
• Loss of exposure data

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Atmospheric MonitoringEquipment

• MultiRAE Low Level Hydrocarbon Monitor
• Only instrument that can offer protection using
  both standard gas detection sensors for the
  detection of oxygen, combustible gas, CO and H2S,
  as well as integrated PID for the ultimate
  broad-range toxic gas detection.
• Versatile quick and easily changed from a
  sophisticated technician instrument to a simple
  text or display only monitor.
• Same monitor can be used a personal monitor, a
  hand-held sniffer or as a continuous operational
  area monitor.

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Atmospheric Monitoring Equipment

• 3 Year Warranty Service Package
• Twice a year scheduled maintenance by authorized
  factory/dealer.
• Cost 5680.00
• Number of Units 38
• Total expenditure 250,000.00

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Medical Surveillance Program

• Annual Physical Examinations are required for
  all QSRs.
• DESC Policy, DESC-FQ 00-01, dated March 21,
  2000 issued.
• Federal Occupational Health is being recommended
  to conduct Annual Medical Exams. (Ann Sielaty)
• Commanders/Deputy Commanders are ultimately
  responsible for over site.
• Quality Managers need to develop a system to
  track medical exams.

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QSR Safety Equipment

• DESC Policy FQ-99-02
• PPE Authorized for Issue includes
• Coveralls, Nomex
• Gloves, butyl rubber
• Gloves, leather
• Hard Hat (safety)
• Safety Shoes, non-sparking, steel-toe
• Goggles, impact resistant or eyeglasses
• Eyeglasses (prescription), industrial

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Safety Equipment Contd

• Goggles, chemical splash
• Aural protector (earmuffs)
• Flashlight (explosion proof)
• Gloves, disposable surgical (lab)
• Half-face Organic Vapor Respirators
• Multi-Rae or equivalent testing equipment.

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Safety Equipment

• Foul/Cold Weather Gear - authorized by the DESC
  Region Commander
• Goggles, sun, wind, dust
• Sunglasses, safety, general purpose
• Sunglasses, safety prescription
• Foul (wet) weather gear
• Rubber (steel towed) knee high rain boots
• Cold weather gear
• Gloves, cold weather

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Use of Safety Equipment

• QM shall ensure QSR personnel are issued and
  wearing equipment.
• DESC Safety Equipment Checklist will be used to
  verify equipment issued.
• Verification shall be done twice a year and
  certified by the Commander.
• DESC-FQ (Safety) will verify documentation during
  annual inspections or unannounced data call.

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Questionsand Answers