OSHA, 8-11 standards

The standards for Occupational Safety and Health are found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Standards for Spedlic Industries are found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 

General Industry—29 CFR PART 1910 Shipyard Employment—29 CFR PART 1915 Marine Terminals—29 CFR PART 1917 

Longshoring—29 CFR PART 1918 Gear Certification—29 CFR PART 1919 Constrnction—29 CFR PART 1926 Agricnltnre—29 CFR PART 1928 Federal Agencies—29 CFR 1960 

OSHA standards and regulations for occupational safety and health are found in Title 29 of the CFR and can be obtained through the Government Printing Office (GPO). The standards for specific industries are found in Title 29 of the CFR (Table 16.2). 

An employer can seek relief (variance) from an OSHA standard. The reasons for variances approved by OSHA are 

Employer may not be able to comply with the standard by its effective date. 

Only employers of 11 or more individuals are required to maintain records of occupational injuries and illnesses. OSHA recordkeeping is not required for certain retail trades and some service industries. Even though employers of ten or fewer employees are exempt from recordkeeping, they must still comply with the other OSHA standards, including the requirement to display the OSHA poster. 

OSHA standards fall into four categories General Industry, Maritime, Construction, and Agriculture. The standards are available in 

Volume I General Industry Standards and Interpretations (includes Agriculture) 

These are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 and commercial publishers. Because some states adopt and enforce their own standards, copies of those may be obtained from the individual states. 

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Health and Safety Factors. Sulfur hexafluoride is a nonflammable, relatively unreactive gas that has been described as physiologically inert (54). The current OSHA standard maximum allowable concentration for human exposure in air is 6000 mg/m (1000 ppm) TWA (55). The Underwriters Laboratories classification is Toxicity Group VI. It should be noted, however, that breakdown products of SF, produced by electrical decomposition of the gas, are toxic. If SF is exposed to electrical arcing, provision should be made to absorb the toxic components by passing the gas over activated alumina, soda-lime, or molecular sieves (qv) (56). 

Toxicity. Sulfur tetrafluoride has an inhalation toxicity comparable to phosgene. The current OSHA standard maximum allowable concentration for human exposure in air is 0.4 mg/m (TWA) (54). On exposure to moisture, eg, on the surface of skin, sulfur tetrafluoride Hberates hydrofluoric acid and care must be taken to avoid bums. One case of accidental exposure of electrical workers to decomposed SF gas containing SF has been cited (108). 

The OSHA standard maximum allowable concentration for human exposure in air is 0.10 mg/m (TWA) (55). No commercial uses for this compound have developed. 

However, if air sampling estabHshes that the lead exposure concentration is excessive, engineering controls (such as improved ventilation), adrninistrative controls (such as job rotation), and work practices (such as improved personal hygiene of workers) have to be appHed to comply with the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of the OSHA standard. 

Color Coding. New machinery and equipment must conform to OSHA standards and OEM specifications for color coding. Color coding can also help to speed up maintenance procedures. Examples include lubrication information, orientation, timing marks, torque requirements, etc. 

Health and Safety. Petroleum and oxygenate formulas are either flammable or combustible. Flammables must be used in facUities that meet requirements for ha2ardous locations. Soak tanks and other equipment used in the removing process must meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for use with flammable Hquids. Adequate ventilation that meets the exposure level for the major ingredient must be attained. The work environment can be monitored by active air sampling and analysis of charcoal tubes. 

Phosphoms(V) sulfide is a mild skin irritant and may cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. The primary health ha2ard results from the Hberation of hydrogen sulfide after contact with moisture. Contact with moisture also forms phosphoric acid. A secondary ha2ard is the formation of sulfur dioxide when phosphoms(V) sulfide bums. The oral LD q of in rats is 389 mg/kg the OSHA standard time-weighted average (TWA) is 1 mg /m (33). 

Hot Work. The objective of a hot work standard is to prevent fires, explosions, and other causes of injury which might result from workplace ignition sources such as welding (qv), cutting, grinding, and use of electrically powered tools. The OSHA standards have specific requirements (36,94) for fire prevention and protection and a permit system. 

Current OSHA standards specify the threshold limit value (TLV) 8-h exposure to ammonia as 50 ppm (35 mg/m ). However, the ACGIH recommends a TLV of 25 ppm (96). Respiratory protection should be provided for workers exposed to ammonia. Protective clothing such as mbber aprons, boots, gloves, and goggles should be worn when handling ammonia. 

Included ia the OSHA regulations are standards for safe work practices such as lock-out/tag-out and confined space entry, personal protective equipment, storage of hazardous materials, welding process, forklift operation, and requirements for fire protection. Basically, all activities within a chemical facihty are covered by OSHA standards. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) covers a broad range of issues relating to worker health and safety, many of which impact the power generation industry (16,17). The Act sets standards designed to protect worker health and safety, particularly in industrial settings. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, organized under the U.S. Department of Labor, implements and enforces OSHA standards and periodically updates poHcies governing worker health and safety. 

There is an end-point color change from yeUow or yeUow-orange to pink. This method is useful over the range 6.6—26.8 mg/m and is useful for compliance with the OSHA standard (272). 

The oral toxicity is low OSHA standards for pulmonary exposure specify a TLV of 5 mg zirconium per m. ... 

Barium metal and most barium compounds are highly poisonous. A notable exception is barium sulfate which is nontoxic because of its extreme iasolubihty ia water. Barium ion acts as a muscle stimulant and can cause death through ventricular fibrillation of the heart. Therefore, care must be taken to avoid contact with open areas of the skin. Workers must wear respirators (of type approved for toxic airborne particles), goggles, gloves, and protective clothing at all times. The toxic barium aluminate residue obtained from barium production is detoxified by reaction with a solution of ferrous sulfate and converted iato nontoxic barium sulfate. According to OSHA standards, the TWA value for Ba and Ba compounds ia air is 0.5 mg/m. ... 

In 1971 the OSHA standard for benzene (20 CFR, Part 1910.0000) adopted a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 10 ppm benzene measured as an 8-h TWA. In October of 1976 NIOSH updated its earlier criteria document on benzene and recommended that OSHA lower the benzene exposure standard from 10 to 1 ppm. This proposed implementation was blocked by the United States Supreme Court iu 1980 on the basis of iusufficient evidence linking benzene to cancer deaths. By the mid-1980s convincing evidence of the carciuogenicity of benzene appeared through animal studies which justified reconsideration of the 1 ppm PEL (130). 

Operations capable of generating airborne beryUium particulate, such as melting, machining, welding, grinding, etc, are effectively controUed by local exhaust ventilation or other control measures. To assure a safe environment and measure compliance with the OSHA standards, employee exposures should be periodicaUy measured by prescribed air sampling and analytical methods. 

Limited to residents in BRA s weatherization program Adopted OSHA standards Indoor air exposures considered in determining drinking water levels Restricts use and sales of pesticides which may cause indoor air pollution Bans on use of some potential indoor pollutants in consumer products Restricts smoking in specified indoor environments Restricts use of asl estos in VA buildings... 

With respect to the formation of unwanted polyaromatic hydrocarbons in the pyrolytic process, it has been shown that conditions can be maintained where such fonuation is negligible according to EPA and OSHA standards. As production rates are increased, it will be incumbent on any manufacturer to maintain a set of operating parameters which produce an environmentally-benign product however, current information regarding the process for fiber formation reveals no barriers to accomplishing this. 

What specific OSHA standards are applicable to indoor air quality ... 

Short Term Exposure Limits - Defined as the parts of vapor (gas) per million parts of contaminated air by volume at 25 C (77 °F) and atmospheric pressure. The limits are given in milligrams per cubic meter for chemicals that can form a fine mist or dust. The values are the maximum permissible average exposures for the time periods specified. The term Short Term Exposure Limit, or STEL, is also used and is considered interchangeable with Short Term Inhalation Limit. The STEL designation is derived from the OSHA standards. 

Here again, published exposure levels are specifically mentioned when no PELs exist. Considering published exposure levels while monitoring is not often found in OSHA standards. The authors believe that utilizing all available hazard information can give you a better opportunity to adequately protect workers. 

In prineiple and in praetiee, being eompliant (at a minimum) will help to proteet site workers, the publie, and the environment. More progressive or eonservative organizations will not use eomplianee only as a benehmark, but will have internal requirements that are more stringent or proteetive. After all, OSHA standards are minimum requirements. 

For asbestos removal, the provisions of the OSHA Asbestos Standard 29 CFR 1926.1101 are more protective of worker health and safety than are the more general provisions. The HASP therefore provides that the asbestos removal tasks conducted inside the building will be performed in accordance with the OSHA Asbestos Standard. After the asbestos has been removed, the lead-based paint will be removed. Again, the provisions of the OSHA Standard for lead removal are more protective of worker health and safety than are the more general provisions of 29 CFR 1910.120. Therefore, the removal of the lead-based paint inside the building will be performed in full compliance with the OSHA Lead Standard [1]. 

The JHA is not a mandatory requirement or a standard, and you are not required to use the recommended methods. It is considered a management tool and a BMP, going beyond the OSHA standard. 

Noise monitoring is usually located in the HASP as part of the monitoring program. Noise monitoring should be performed in accordance with acceptable practices. Typically, noise levels are monitored in the field with either a Type I or Type II sound level meter (SLM). Noise dosimeter readings can also be obtained to determine the percent (%) noise dose. Noise levels and % doses measured are then compared to limits listed in OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.95, Hearing Conservation [3]. 

Most requests for proposals and bid speeifieations will inelude statements that all work will eomply with all applieable safety guidelines. You may eome aeross the argument that, Sinee we have already agreed to abide by the law (OSHA standard), why not just submit the latest eopy of 29 CFR or another applieable guidanee and inelude it as an attaehment to our work plan, and save the time and effort of developing a safety plan ... 

The use of proper PPE is an integral part of many jobs when dealing with hazardous waste. OSHA standard 1910.132 of 1998 requires an assessment be eondueted to determine the appropriate PPE for eyes, faee, head, and extremities whenever hazards eneountered are eapable of eausing injury or impairment in the funetion of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation, or physieal eontaet. Aeeording to the PPE standard, it is the employer s responsibility to determine if hazards are present (or likely to be present). If the employer determines that hazards are present, the employer should ehoose the types of PPE that will proteet affeeted employees from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment [1]. 

Wliether a standard exists or not, eompanies should realize that operating safely is a responsibility of any eorporation and is a part of the eost of doing business. They should realize that operating safely does not rest on the shoulders of government regulation. After all, OSHA standards are minimum performanee standards and do not always offer the solution for eaeh situation. It is up to eaeh employer to develop the appropriate solutions to any identified hazards. 

The OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.120) mandates that site safety and health programs require task- and operation-speeifie hazard analyses be eondueted at the site. These analyses are intended to ensure a eom-prehensive and systematie approaeh to hazard antieipation, reeognition, and evaluation at hazardous waste sites. Sinee work operations and site eonditions ehange at different stages of the remediation proeess, the potential hazards assoeiated with eaeh operation must be reevaluated periodieally to ensure that employees reeeive appropriate proteetion. 

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