Confined Space Awareness

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Module 7
Health
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DISCLAIMER

• This material was produced under grant number
  SH-22248-1 from the Occupational Safety and
  Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.
  It does not necessarily reflect the views or
  policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor
  does mention of trade names, commercial products,
  or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S.
  Government.

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Objectives

• After this module you should be able to
• identify the most common health hazards
• take the necessary steps to avoid and control
  those hazards

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Health Hazards

• Chemical Hazards
• hydrogen sulfide
• silica
• hexavalent chromium
• Physical Hazards
• noise
• temperature extremes
• Biological Hazards
• bloodborne pathogens
• staph/MRSA

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OSHAct of 1970

• The purpose of the OSHAct is to assure, so far
  as possible, every man and woman in the nation
  safe and healthful working conditions and to
  preserve our human resources.

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HazCom

• Why should chemical hazards be communicated?
• Exposure Risk about 32 million workers are
  potentially exposed to chemical hazards
• Number of Chemicals about 650,000 chemical
  products exist hundreds of new ones are
  introduced annually
• Health Effects may include heart ailments,
  central nervous system damage, kidney and lung
  damage, sterility, cancer, burns, and rashes
• Safety Hazards potential to cause fires,
  explosions, or other serious accidents

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Purpose of HazCom

• The purpose of OSHAs Hazard Communication
  Standard is to
• ensure employers and employees know about work
  hazards and how to protect themselves so that the
  incidence of illnesses and injuries due to
  hazardous chemicals is reduced.

Container Labeling
Hazard Communication Program
Safety Data Sheet
Label
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Why a Written Program?

• Employers program ensures that all employers
  receive the information they need to inform and
  train their employees
• Employees program provides necessary hazard
  information to employees

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Labeling

• Containers of hazardous chemicals entering the
  workplace must be labeled with
• identity of chemical
• appropriate hazard warnings
• message, picture, or symbol
• hazards of chemical
• target organs affected
• name and address of responsible party
• legible in English, may have other languages

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NFPA Label

• National Fire Protection Association
• The higher the number (max is 4), the greater the
  hazard
• Check the SDS

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whats in the bucket?
labels on secondary containers like this must
legibly identify the contents and the hazards
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Multi-Employer Workplaces

• When other employers have employees on site that
  may be exposed, the program must include
• methods to provide contractor employees with
  on-site access to SDSs
• methods used to inform other employers of
  precautionary measures for normal and emergency
  situations
• the employers chemical labeling system

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Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

• Prepared by chemical manufacturer, distributor,
  or importer and describes
• chemical composition of product
• physical hazards, such as fire and explosion
• health hazards
• symptoms of exposure
• routes of exposure
• precautions for safe handling and use
• emergency and first aid procedures
• control measures
• AND MUCH MORE

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SDSs should be kept in a location(s) that can be
easily accessed at all times
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read the label and SDS before using
identify what it is and what type of health
issues are present
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DOT HM-126

• Applies to workers involved in shipping and
  packing hazardous materials for transport
• If your job involves such activities, you will be
  trained on DOT HM-126 things like
• shipping papers, labeling, packaging, and
  markings
• loading, segregating, and placards
• properties, classifications, and emergency
  response actions

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Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

• Other names include sour gas, sewer gas, stink
  damp
• Flammable, colorless gas that is toxic at
  extremely low concentrations
• Smells like rotten eggs even at low
  concentrations
• Causes a worker to quickly loose the sense of
  smell
• Heavier than air and can accumulate in low-lying
  areas

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Hydrogen Sulfide
PPM Effect Time
10 this is the PEL 8 hours
50 100 mild irritation of the eyes and throat 1 hour
150 olfactory nerve paralysis 1½ hours
200 300 significant irritation 1½ hours
500 700 unconsciousness, dizziness, death 15 30 minutes
gt 1000 unconsciousness, death, cessation of respiration a few minutes
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H2S Monitoring

• Active monitoring for H2S gas and good planning
  and training programs for workers are the best
  ways to prevent injury and death

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1910 Subpart Z

• 1910.1000 Air Contaminants
• includes Z-Tables, worker exposure rates for
  specific listed substances
• worker exposure must not exceed these limits
• PEL permissible exposure limit

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1910.1000(a) Table Z-1

• Types of exposure limits
• time weighted average (TWA)
• short-term exposure limit (STEL)
• ceiling limit (C)
• Two common units of measure for limits
• parts per million (ppm)
• milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3)

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Steps to Protect Workers

• Anticipate potential hazards
• Recognize potential hazards
• Evaluate exposure and risk
• Control exposure and risk

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Routes of Exposure

• Inhalation
• airborne contaminants
• Absorption
• through the skin or eyes
• Ingestion
• eating
• drinking
• Injection
• high-pressure sprays into skin or eyes

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Controls

• Engineering controls (remove hazard)
• process change, chemical substitution
• ventilation, shielding, guarding
• requires little or no worker action

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Controls

• Administrative controls (manage exposure)
• worker rotation, procedures, training
• controlled access areas
• requires worker action
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• respirators, gloves, clothing
• requires individual worker action
• last line of defense

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whats the health hazard?
identify what it is and what type of health
issues are present
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warning signs can alert workers to workplace
hazards
workers should be made aware of hazardous areas
and be prepared to enter such areas
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Health Effects of Silica

• Silicosis
• irreversible but preventable
• most commonly associated with silica dust
• Other possible effects
• lung cancer
• some auto-immune diseases

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silica exposure during fracing operations has
been an important concern
workers should wear a NIOSH-approved respirator
for respirable dust additionally, water can
suppress the dust
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can you identify the hazard?
Corrective Action repair air conditioning for
cab so that operator can close windows and
prevent dust from entering cab
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Hexavalent Chromium

• A toxic form of chromium metal, generally not
  naturally occurring
• Used in many industrial applications, primarily
  for its anti-corrosive properties
• Can be generated when welding on stainless steel
  and metal structures coated with chromate paint
• Used in electroplating (chrome plating)

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Welding Work Practices

• Keep your head out of the welding plume
• Use local exhaust ventilation when available

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Noise Exposure Limits
duration per day, hours sound level, dBA slow response
12 87.5
10 88
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1 ½ 102
1 105
½ 110
¼ or less 115
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Noise Exposure Examples
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Audiometric Testing

• If you are exposed to 85 dBA or greater, you
  might be required to take a baseline audiometric
  test within 6 months of exposure and annually
  thereafter
• You must avoid excessive noise 14 hours prior to
  taking an audiometric test

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Audiogram
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Factors Leading to Heat Stress

• High temperature and humidity
• Direct sun or heat
• Limited air movement
• Physical exertion
• Poor physical condition
• Some medicines
• Inadequate tolerance for hot workplaces

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extreme temperatures are just as hazardous as
anything else at the workplace
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Heat Stress
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Preventing Heat-Related Illness

• Know the signs/symptoms of heat-related illness,
  detect them in your co-workers
• Block out direct sun or other heat sources
• Use cooling fans or air conditioning
• Drink water, 1 cup every 15 minutes
• Wear lightweight, light colored clothes
• Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, or heavy meals
• Rest periodically in a cool area

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Cold Stress

• The harmful effects of hypothermia, frost bite,
  and trench foot may arise for any worker exposed
  to high winds and cold temperatures
• Wet conditions increase these effects
• Hypothermia is when the bodys temperature dips
  to 95F or below
• symptoms are fatigue, uncontrolled shivering,
  slurred speech, irritability, bluish skin, and
  clumsiness

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Preventing Cold Stress

• Personal protective clothing (3 layers)
• outside layer to block the wind
• middle layer of wool or synthetic fabric
• inner layer of cotton to allow ventilation
• Cover hands and face
• Use an on-site source of heat such as air jets,
  radiant heaters, or warm contact plates

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Bloodborne Pathogens

• Avoid contact with blood or other potentially
  infectious material (OPIM) i.e. certain body
  fluids, tissues
• Use latex gloves or CPR barrier kits
• Practice universal precautions on everyone, even
  if you are sure they dont have infections
• Report all exposures as soon as possible

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Staph/MRSA

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Bacteria commonly carried on skin or in the nose
  of healthy people
• Cause skin infections
• minor pimples or boils
• major serious infections such as surgical wound
  and bloodstream infections and pneumonia
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  (MRSA) is antibiotic-resistant

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keep the change house as orderly as possible
disinfect frequently
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proper hygiene is key to the prevention of
illnesses
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Applicable Standards

• 1910.95 Occupational Noise Exposure
• 1910 Subpart Z Toxic and Hazardous Substances
• 1926.52 Occupational Noise Exposure
• 1926 Subpart Z Toxic and Hazardous Substances

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Your Employer is Responsible For

• Managing the HazCom program and training
  employees
• Provide the appropriate PPE necessary to protect
  against chemical, physical, and biological health
  hazards
• Providing a system to control or warn against an
  H2S release

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You Are Responsible For

• Reading the label or SDS or asking your
  supervisor if you are unsure of the hazard
• Wearing appropriate PPE when necessary to protect
  against chemical, physical, and biological health
  hazards
• Taking the steps necessary to prevent heat- or
  cold-stress
• Practicing proper hygiene to prevent the spread
  of infections

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Case Study

• A 46-year-old was changing a gas-flow measuring
  device where high levels of hydrogen sulfide
  (H2S) was present.  When the worker failed to
  check in at 5pm, a co-worker was sent to check on
  him, he found that the hydrogen sulfide alarm
  system in the area had been set off and the
  worker lying dead.

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Always Remember

• Ensure containers are properly labeled
• If you are not sure about a chemical, read the
  SDS
• Wear the appropriate respirator when welding,
  mixing chemicals, or in dusty environments
• Wear hearing protection were required
• Practice universal precautions around blood,
  OPIM, needles, razor blades

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Memory Check

• What are the 4 routes of entry of chemicals into
  the body?
• ears, eyes, nose, and mouth
• nose, mouth, eyes, and skin
• swallowing, inhaling, smoking, and drinking
• inhalation, absorption, ingestion, and injection

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Memory Check

• What information can be found on an SDS?
• signs/symptoms of exposure
• protective equipment to wear
• first-aid measures
• all of the above

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Memory Check

• An SDS
• is an acronym for Safety Data Sheet
• should be on file for hazardous chemicals used,
  stored, and produced on site
• provides information for handling and storing
  chemicals
• all of the above