Health hazard analysis

Ortiz, L. W. Fairchild, . I. "Aerosol Research and Development Related to Health Hazard Analysis", LASL Report LA-6539-PR, USERDA Contract W-7405-Eng. 36, 1976. 

The hazard identification process should be planned and managed to provide the necessary assurance that all relevant hazards have been identified (see Chapter 4 for the definition of hazards). There are a variety of tools and techniques available to identify hazards. The application of these tools and techniques depend on the specific product/process being considered, its complexity, the product lifecycle phase, etc. The most common tools and techniques used are FHAs, HAZOPs, occupation health hazard analysis, historical records, etc. (for more details on these tools, see Appendix A). 

For chemical faciUties in the United States, hazard analysis is not an option if inventories of hazardous chemicals are maintained in amounts greater than the threshold quantities specified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 1910.119. Many faciUties are finding that hazard analysis has many benefits. The process or procedure often works better, the quaUty of the product is improved, the process experiences less down time, and the employees feel more comfortable in the work environment after a hazard analysis has been completed. 

Conduct Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment. Ahazardis any biological, chemical, or physical property that may cause an unacceptable consumer health risk. AH of the potential hazards in the food chain are analyzed, from growing and harvesting or slaughtering to manufacturing, distribution, retailing, and consumption of the product. 

Crystallite Size. From the width of the peaks the computer can determine the size of the crystaUites in the sample. The smaller the crystaUite size, the broader are the diffraction peaks. This kind of analysis is important for determining particulate size of certain materials (eg, sUica) where a range of crystaUite size may be a health hazard if inhaled into the lungs. 

Chemical Exposure Index (CEI) Chemical Exposure Index, 1994). The CEI provides a method of rating the relative potential of acute health hazard to people from possible chemical release incidents. It may be used for conducting the initial process hazard analysis and it establishes the degree of mrther analysis needed. The CEI also may be used as part of the site review process. 

The book does not focus on occupational safety and health issues, although improved process safety can benefit these areas. Detailed engineering designs are outside the scope of this work. This book intends to identify issues and concerns in batch reaction systems and provide potential solutions to address these concerns. This should be of value to process design engineers, operators, maintenance personnel, as well as members of process hazards analysis teams. While this book offers potential solutions to specific issues/concerns, ultimately the user needs to make the case for the solutions that provide a balance between risk... 

HAZWOPER applies only where exposure to hazardous substanees or to health and safety hazards resulting from a hazardous waste operation is likely (see Eigure 2-1). This ean be determined by analysis of exposure monitoring data, hazard eharaeterization, hazard analysis, or exposure assessment [1]. Some of the speeifle examples of work aetivi-ties and situations will be eovered later. 

The SSAHP developed by the Site G contractor did not indicate that the contractors routinely conducted job- or task-specific hazard analyses. In addition, the SSAHP did not specify that PPE selection for jobs and tasks must be based on the analysis of the health hazards associated with each job. Eurthermore, the SSAHP contained no procedures for objectively determining the effectiveness of decontamination of personnel or equipment. The decontamination program required incineration of all materials that could not be readily decontaminated such materials were placed in labeled disposal containers. The program, however, did... 

Complete and accurate written documentation of chemicals properties, process teclinology, and process equipment is essential to the PSM program and to a process hazards analysis (PrHA). This information serves many users including the PrHA team. The needed chemical information includes fire and explosion characteristics, reactivity hazards, safety and health hazards and the corrosion and erosion effects. Current material safety data sheet (MSDS ) information helps meet this requirement, but must be supplemented with process chemistry information regarding runaway reactions, and over-pressure hazards. 

Molecular structural analysis is a developing method. The objective of a molecuhu structural analysis is to demonstrate a physical, structural, or chemical similarity between tlie chemical in question and a known toxic chemical tliat produces toxic and healtli effects in experimental animals and/or humans. Unfortunately, scientists do not fully understand tlie effects of slight changes in tlie chemical structure and tlieir biological effect on humans. As a result, tills type of analysis is useful in preliminary studies to identify potential health hazards for further e. amination with more established metliods in short-tenii tests or tests in experimental animals, hi its present stage of development, molecular structural analysis caiuiot be used to make absolute decisions about tlie appropriate levels of exposure of humans to chemicals... 

In the process of identifying chemical health hazards, tlie near term and long tenn fate of tlie hazard should be incorporated into tlie analysis. Near-term concerns relate primarily to tlie release of the chemical into the enviromnent. This leads to the general subject area of e.xposure assessment, including routes of e.xposure - a topic that is treated in e.xtensive detail in Cliapter 12. However, tlie fate of the chemical (hazard) following tlie point of human entry is another consideration when attempting to identify health hazards. An overview of tliis topic is presented here... 

Some think that efforts should be made to simplify the nomenclature and to encourage industry to do proper toxicological research and supply methods for analysis before a new compound is submitted for registration. The study of antidotes should be encouraged. It is clear that research in the health hazards as well as the benefits of insecticides must be intensified and that the efforts of different laboratories should be better coordinated. Education of industry, of handlers and operators, of the medical and public health profession, and of the public must be advanced. 

Chemical Exposure Index (CEI) (Chemical Exposure Index, 1994 Mannan, 2005, pp. 8/22-8/26.) The CEI provides a method of rating the relative potential of acute health hazard to people from possible chemical release incidents. It may be used for prioritizing initial process hazard analysis and establishing the degree of further analysis needed. The CEI also may be used as part of the site review process. The system provides a method of ranking one risk relative to another. It is not intended to define a particular containment system as safe or unsafe, but provides a way of comparing toxic hazards. It deals with acute, not chronic, releases. Flammability and explosion hazards are not included in this index. To develop a CEI, information needs include... 

The General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970 states that "Each employer. shall furnish to each of his employees, employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees ... More specifically, Section (e)(3) of 29 CFR 1910.119 states that process hazard analysis shall address facility siting. OSHA has recognized and pointed out the... 

World Health Organization, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System Concept and Application, report of a WHO Consultation with the participation of FAO, unpublished WHO document, Geneva, 1995. 

Suter, Edgar A. Assault Weapons Revisited— An Analysis of the AMA Report. Joarw / of the Medical Association of Georgia, vol. 85, May 1994, n.p. Criticizes the American Medical Association report Assault Weapons as a Public Health Hazard in the United States. Suter argues that the high ammunition capacity of such weapons is usually irrelevant because only a few shots are fired in most incidents other than well-publicized mass shootings. Suter also accuses the report for relying only on unsubstantiated anecdotal data. 

First, we analyzed samples for a large number of elements to Identify any elements, regardless of toxicity or typical concentration, that would provide signals for the presence of material from certain types of sources. Both ambient samples and particles from sources were analyzed by Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), by which one can often measure about 35 elements In Individual samples (17), As the Important elements Pb, N1 and Cd are not consistently, If ever, observed by INAA, they were often measured by other methods. As INAA Is sensitive to very small amounts of obscure elements, we have obtained reliable data for elements such as Ga, Hf, Sc, In, W and many rare earths which pose no known health hazard at present levels and contribute Insignificant amounts of mass to TSP. However, as discussed below, many trace elements have already been shown to be Important In receptor... 

Among the separation techniques, liquid-liquid (solvent) extraction is one of the best-known, well-established, versatile, and easy to use. However, traditional extraction employs conventional organic solvents immiscible with water, which are typically volatile, flammable, and health hazardous. This makes extraction inappropriate for modern and future environmental-friendly technologies and analysis processes. Another problem with conventional solvents is that their number is rather limited, so it may be difficult to find fhe solvenf ideally suifed for a particular application (even considering solvent mixtures). 

The body of knowledge surrounding this subject has grown tremendously during the last two decades. Published reports have identified two conceptual areas which are particularly relevant to the problem, namely, the variability of airborne exposures and the health hazards posed by exposures. These topics will be developed first as the framework for analysis of air-sampling schemes. 

In achieving this target, all countries should seek common, science-based, international standards. FSIS should continue to ensure that equivalent inspection systems and standards for meat and poultry products exist in all countries exporting such products to the United States, especially in light of the better US safety standards expected under Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). FDA also should evaluate the food safety systems of other countries, with the purpose of entering into agreements with those countries having food safety systems that offer equivalent levels of public health protection to those of the United States or that can provide assurance that their products will be in compliance with FDA requirements. 

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