Workplace control

Technological Penalties Associated with Environmental and Workplace Controls... 

Regulations a. Air Rational OSHA Cancer-suspect agenti Specific regulations b. Non-specific media Stringent workplace controls, record keeping and medical surveillance OSHA 1971 29CFR 1910.1008... 

Before guidance on safe handling of potent compounds can be developed, it is helpful to try to understand as much as possible the potential hazards of the compound so that appropriate controls are selected. Selection of workplace controls should be made to target exposure points to these hazards, thus minimizing the risk of becoming inadvertently exposed to the compound. At the same time, it is desirable to make the controls as minimally burdensome as possible. 

In addition it was maintained that the scheme was aimed at small firms in which there was little chance of OELs being used appropriately. Therefore it did not in any way serve to undermine the role of OELs in determining the adequacy of workplace controls in establishments in which there was dedicated health and safety expertise to do so. Nevertheless, there seems little doubt in hindsight that these developments were important milestones in the changing conceptualisation of the role of OELs in what was seen to be the achievement of pragmatic and practicable approaches to risk management of for all users of hazardous substances in the UK. 

II. Toxic dose. A safe threshold of exposure to asbestos has not been established. Baiancing potentiai health risks against feasibility of workplace control, the current OSHA federal asbestos standard sets a permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (fibers/cc) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. No worker should be exposed to concentrations in excess of 1 fiber/cc over a 30-minute period. 

A. Emergency and supportive measures. Emphasis should be placed on prevention of exposure. All asbestos workers should be encouraged to stop smoking and to observe workplace control measures stringently. 

Earlier chapters introduced us to the many types of hazards in the workplace. Controlling those hazards involves the recognition, evaluation, and elimination of the hazard in the woik-place. If the hazard cannot be eliminated, it must be minimized as much as possible. When hazards cannot be engineered out of the workplace, administrative controls are the next logical step in hazard reduction. Administrative controls are procedures put into place to limit employee exposure to hazards. Their function is to influence worker behavior to follow operational, safety, and environmental procedures. Enforcement of the procedures may have penalties that vary in severity but can include employee termination of employment. 

Predictably, there is more research into controls further down the hierarchy, such as engineering, administration, and PPE controls. While some interesting work is being done on PPE and engineering controls, little of it amounts to evidence of effective workplace controls. 

Safe Work Australia, 2009a. Evidence on the Effectiveness of Workplace Controls to Prevent Exposure to Engineered Nanomateiials. Draft for Einal Comment. SWA, Melbourne. 

Easy-to-Use Workplace Control Scheme (COSHH-BAuA tool)/ EMKG-Expo-Tool. Screening-level tool that predicts exposure via inhalation considering two principal factors the exposure potential of the handled substance and the applied control strategy. 

A smaller workplace that utilises high levels of flammable material, predominantly built of wood, or provides sleeping accommodation, may be considered to present a higher level of risk, particularly if the larger, more complex, building has effective fire safety management systems, is well organised and has workplace controls in place. 

To reduce exposure to acetone, workplace controls such as local exhaust ventilation, respirators, and protective clothing are recommended. 

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