WORKPLACE CHEMICAL MONITORING

Even allowing for employees who work at multiple disposal sites over the duration of the CSDP, Table 1-1 shows that a substantial number of people will be involved in the destruction of the stockpile. The focus of this report is on workplace chemical monitoring and worker activity and health monitoring practices at CAMDS, JACADS, TOCDF, and, by extension, at the other seven disposal facilities planned or under construction. The preparation, maintenance, and accessibility of records are also evaluated. Findings on current practices and recommendations for extending and/or improving them are then presented. 

In June 1999, the Army requested that the Stockpile Committee examine issues related to workplace chemical monitoring and worker health monitoring at the currently operating chemical disposal facilities. The committee was also asked to evaluate the adequacy of current practices for disposal facilities in the planning or construction phases. The statement of task for this study is reproduced below. 

The following findings and recommendations on occupational health and workplace chemical monitoring at CSDP facilities are based on the review described in Chapters 1 through 4 of this report. 

Conduct a review of the chemical monitoring analytical methods and protocols being utilized for workplace monitoring at chemical agent disposal facilities within the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (CSDP). 

In the case of an important industrial chemical such as acrylonitrile, that can be used in quantities of the order of 1000s of tonnes, measures to reduce risk will include deflning an acceptable exposure level at the workplace and monitoring the environment to ensue compliance. Ideally, the workers themselves should be monitored to determine the quantities absorbed during exposure, but this is rarely practical. An important parallel contribution to the overall safety assessment of acrylonitrile is an epidemiological study of the mortality figures for the exposed workforce. 

Harper M (2004) Assessing exposure to workplace chemicals the role of exposure monitoring. Journal of Environmental Monitoring 6 404—412. 

Banning, Margaret Workplace Chemicals Put the Emphasis on Occupational Health. Monitor, May 1984,16-17. 

Entry into Confined Spaces. In 1993 OSHA adopted a confined space entry rule (93) requiring employers to evaluate the workplace to (/) determine if it contains any confined spaces, (2) mark or identify such confined spaces, and (2) develop and implement a permit program for entry into such spaces. The program must include a permit system which specifies the steps to be taken to identify, evaluate, control, and monitor possible electrical, mechanical, and chemical ha2ards select and use equipment institute stand-by attendance and estabflsh communications. The reference standard (93) should be studied for details. 

HS(Gjl67 Biological monitoring m the workplace - a guide to its practical application to chemical exposure... 

Amherst, NH 03031-0668 Monitors chemical inventories and locales (603) 672-7230 hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Emergency... 

These improvements are more likely to occur at the program and element level. For example, at one chemical company a group of senior operators took an initiative to redesign the work permit process that reduced the number of forms required, reduced the time required to issue a permit from an average of two hours to 30 minutes and improved the workplace monitoring needed to ensure a safe work environment. The reduction in the time to issue permits increased maintenance productivity by at least 10 percent, by reducing maintenance worker time spent waiting for permits. This more responsive system also reduced the number of instances where work went ahead without the appropriate permit. 

EH56 Biological monitoring for chemical exposures in the workplace. 

Biological monitoring in the workplace - Information for employees on its application to chemical exposme... 

NRC. 2001. Occupational Workplace Monitoring at Chemical Agent Disposal Eacilities. Washington, D.C. National Academy Press. 

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