Occupational Health / Industrial Hygiene Surveys

Occupational Health / Industrial Hygiene Surveys Source Evaluations Sampling & Analysis Plans Chemical and Physical Sampling Programs OSHA Compliance Monitoring PPE Assessments Job Safety Analysis

1Source staff has performed thousands of occupational health / industrial hygiene surveys and related services for clients in a variety of settings. These have ranged from one day sampling for a limited number of physical stressors and chemical substances to multiple-week sampling by a team of hygienists for a wide variety of chemicals and other exposures. Our professional certified industrial hygienists (CIH) identify potential chemical exposure issues, design sampling surveys to evaluate the potential for exposure and overexposure and develop recommendations to minimize or eliminate potential exposure. We follow strict QA/QC control procedures from equipment calibration through laboratory chain-of-custody. To ensure the accuracy of sample analysis we only use laboratories accredited by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). Need more information, or a proposal?  Please click on Information Request, or contact Colin J. Brigham, CIH, CSP, CPE, CPEA, Vice President Safety Management and Ergonomics at 888.873.9983, Ext. 24 or cbrigham@1ssh.com.

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Building Contamination Assessments

Reuse or demolition of industrial buildings that have been shutdown, idled or abandoned may pose a unique set of potential health issues to construction workers and future occupants. These issues must be considered as the owner or potential buyer determines the fate or reuse opportunity of a building along with the overall planning process. This is particularly true if there was extensive use of chemicals; however, there are many other variables that are of concern and critical in a health risk evaluation assessment, such as

The first step in the evaluation process is to understand the current and historical manufacturing processes that occurred within the building(s). This may include discussions with past employees, library searches, review of production documents and orders, etc. It is critical that the entire process is well defined in order to thoroughly assess chemical usage. In addition, chemicals used in the building systems, such as asbestos, lead, PCBs and cleaning compounds must all be identified. Occasionally, there may be radiological issues related to masonry building materials and/or other radioactive sources such as measurement gauges.

The second step is to obtain material safety data sheets (MSDS’s) for all the chemical products. If they are not available at the facility, the next best source is directly from the manufacturer. The MSDS’s must be reviewed in detail to identify the chemicals of most significance, i.e., those producing the most serious health effects and dose responses, those with a longer residual life, etc. Once the chemicals are all identified and overlaid with the manufacturing processes, a determination can be made as to those areas of the buildings that may have a higher potential for contamination.

Residual chemicals will often accumulate in areas such as expansion joints, cracks in floors, sumps and porous materials such as concrete and wood. Identification of these accumulation points, or chemical reservoirs, is important as these are the points where samples can be collected if there is further need to define both the chemicals present and their concentrations.

Lastly, microbiological activity related to chronic moisture resulting in wood decay, fungi and endotoxin exposure plays an important role. As such, a detailed assessment of moisture sources and water infiltration should be conducted to define the impact that microbiological activity may have on the building systems as well as the future occupants.

Please contact Chris Schneider, CIH at 888-873-9983 ext. 14 to discuss questions about building contamination assessments as they relate to health concerns.

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Emergency Response Planning

What you need to know to be prepared

Historically, Emergency Response Planning has been focused on major events such as fires, floods, explosions, power outages, and chemical spills. Although they can certainly be significant, they are not the most significant with regards to the impact on occupant safety and health. In recent years, facilities managers of offices, retail establishments, schools/universities, healthcare and other non-manufacturing facilities have become aware of additional unwanted or unplanned events. Unfortunately, specific plans to respond to these events often are never developed, and as a result, facilities managers find themselves unprepared to respond to the needs of management.

Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) should be very concise and address varied conditions. The first step in the development of your ERP is to conduct a standard GAP analysis that identifies predictable risks and events. Each predictable risk or event will have consequences that can be used to establish a response plan. The other very important part of understanding predictable risks and events is that doing so will permit the development and implementation of controls that will minimize or eliminate their occurrence. A side benefit of understanding and eliminating predictable risks is a reduction in insurance costs associated with workers’ compensation and property loss.

Examples of predictable risk or events to evaluate in the GAP analysis include:

• Asbestos and lead release incident
• Blood, vomit, and other body fluids incident
  
• Chemical spill incident
  
• Construction activity incident
  
• Domestic water release incident
  
• Domestic water contamination incident
  
• Fuel oil/gasoline spill
  
• Indoor air quality incident
  
• Legionellosis or other environmental disease incident
  
• Odor incident
  
• Outdoor air incident
  
• Pesticide and herbicide application incident
  
• PCB release incident
  
• Post-fire response
  
• Skin/rash/dermatitis incident
  
• Sewage spill release incident
  
• Storm and flood water incident
  
• Visible mold growth response

The second step is to develop the various scenarios and conditions that can lead to predicable risk events based on the GAP analysis. This information will assist planners and responders in better understanding conditions during an event, ensuring a more effective response.

The third step is to develop a list of site- and incident-specific responses for each predictable risk event. At a minimum, this list should include:

• Contact names and numbers, in order of importance
  
• Specific, immediate action steps to limit loss and business interruption
  
• Specific response steps to begin remediation and restoration efforts
  
• Development of communication to inform building occupants
  
• Plan to document effectiveness of response
  
• Sampling assessment to document levels of contaminants or microbiological organisms

The final step is training personnel in each of the ERPs to ensure that the plans are effective in responding to an incident. Training must be documented and conducted on an annual basis.

Please contact Chris Schneider, CIH, at 610.524.5525 extension 14 or  cschneider@1ssh.com to discuss emergency response plans for your facility.

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OSHA Standard Update – Chromium (VI)

OSHA recently passed a new comprehensive standard for employee exposure to hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium (VI), 29 CFR 1926.1026. Industries that use chromium-plated products, chromium-based paints or stainless steel must not only reduce employee exposure but must also address other requirements under the standard.

Some operations that may expose workers to chromium (VI) include chromium electroplating, steelmaking, spraying chromium-based paint or lead-chrome primer, and welding stainless steel.

Some important aspects of the new standard include the following:

Lower PEL: The new permissible exposure limit is 5.0 micrograms of chromium per cubic meter of air (µg/m3), based on an 8-hour, time-weighted average exposure.

Action Level: An action level of 2.5 µg/m3 has been established.

Employee Exposure Monitoring: If there is a chance that employees may be exposed to lead in concentrations of one tenth of the PEL, exposure monitoring must be done to reliably document actual employee exposures.

Engineering Controls: Feasible engineering controls must be implemented to reduce employee exposures to less than the PEL, or as low as possible if the PEL cannot be achieved. Engineering controls will be required if employees are exposed to more than the PEL for 30 days or more per year.

Hygiene Facilities: Changing rooms and washing facilities must be provided if employees have skin contact with chromium (VI).

PPE: Protective work clothing, gloves and eye protection must be provided if there is potential for skin or eye contact.
Respiratory protection must be provided to employees if engineering controls do not lower exposure levels to less than the PEL.

Medical Monitoring: If employees are exposed over the action level for 30 or more days per year, they must be included in a medical surveillance program provided by a physician or other licensed health care professional.

Hazard Communication: Employees must be informed of the hazards associated with exposure to chromium (VI).

Compliance Dates: Employers with 20 or more employees must be in compliance with all aspects of the standard except engineering controls by November 27, 2006. Employers with 19 or fewer employees must comply with all aspects of the standard except engineering controls by May 30, 2007. All employers must implement engineering controls by May 31, 2010.

For additional information please contact Dan Bruun, CIH, Vice President, at 888-873-9983, ext. 17, or  dbruun@1ssh.com.

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