Workplace environments

A guide to the integrity, workplace environment and miscellaneous aspects of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc) Regulations 1996 Control of substances hazardous to health m fumigation operations... 

The evaluation phase determines the extent and degree of employee exposure to toxicants and physical hazards in the workplace environment. 

The two major control techniques are environmental controls and personal protection. Environmental control reduces exposure by reducing the concentration of toxicants in the workplace environment. This includes enclosure, local ventilation, dilution ventilation, wet methods,... 

Figure 3-5 The difference between a positive and a negative pressure ventilation system. The negative pressure system ensures that contaminants do not leak into workplace environments.

It has been estimated that 200 to 300 agents have been identified as inducers of occupational asthma [4], The LMW agents can be broadly classified by chemical class such as isocyanates, anhydrides, metals, dyes, amines, drugs, acrylates and other compounds. The HM W agents can be broadly classified as animal protein, plant protein and microbial byproducts. Table 33.1 shows apartial listing of LMW and HMW sensitizers along with the workplace environments where these agents can be encountered. 

The goal of OSHA is to ensure that no employee will suffer material impairment of health or functional capacity, due to a lifetime occupational exposure to chemicals and hazardous substances. The statute imposes a duty on employers to provide employees with a safe workplace environment, free of known hazards that may cause death or serious bodily injury. 

Because of its exceptional selectivity, sensitivity and speed, IC is particularly suited to applications involving analysis of anions and cations in wastewater, natural waters, source effluents, workplace environments, ambient air and rain water. The analysis of organic as well as inorganic ions can be performed by 1C. Table I is a growing list of ions which have been successfully separated and detected. The principles of IC and selected applications to environmental pollutants are described in this paper. 

OSHA is responsible for regulating the workplace environment. The site has information on current standards and business requirements. 

The workplace environment is a significant part of the total ecological system. Since it can be measured, some control over it can be achieved, and improvements in the control technologies in the workplace can be made. Because of the rapidly growing production of complex chemical substances and the use of these in modern living during the past three decades, the existence of chemical hazards in workplaces in relation to worker health and safety has become the subject of great concern. 

A detailed protocol for laboratory validation of sampling and analytical methods for toxic substances in workplace environments is given in Figure 1. The literature was searched and a method of sampling and analysis was selected. The next step was to evaluate and, if necessary, develop an analytical method that was compatible with the sampling medium. If a satisfactory analytical method became available only then did we undertake generation of a test atmosphere. Then samples were collected with the appropriate collection medium. Both capacity and collection efficiency were evaluated. 

Conclusions. A sampling and analytical method for two chlorinated isocyanuric acids, NaDCC and TCCA, in air has been described. Briefly, these acids can be collected from air with DM-5000 (PVC copolymer) filters. The filter samples are extracted with water and titrated against sodium thiosulfate using constant-current potentiometry. The titration method will neither separate or distinguish NaDCC in the presence of TCCA or the reverse. The identity of either compound must be known in the workplace environment along with the identities of any other interfering... 

Airborne inorganic acids exist in the workplace environment as both vapors and particulates. To monitor for the common inorganic acids, a single, non-liquid sampling device to collect both vaporous and aerosol contaminants quantitatively, and an analytical method to determine these acids in a single sample was desired. 

Monitoring skin contamination at a coal gasifier. Recently the luminoscope was field tested at a coal gasifier facility. The purpose was to evaluate the performance of the prototype apparatus in a real-life workplace environment and to test the applicability of the instrumental concept in actual measurements. The skin contamination survey was carried out on six workers during two work-shifts. All measurements were carried out before and after washing. The portions of the workers bodies most likely to be directly exposed to coal and tar are those not protected by clothing, e.g., hands, arms, and faces. The measurements performed during this field trip were restricted only to arms and hands. 

Application of Glass Capillary Gas Chromatography for Determination of Potential Hazardous Compounds in Workplace Environments... 

Presently the measurement and control of chemical hazards in the workplace environment is attracting increasing attention. 

The PAH pollution found in these cases consists of an extremely complex mixture of individual PAH compounds. In some cases more than 100 compounds have been identified in the particulate matter from workplace environments (13). This means that, for a complete characterization of the potential hazardous compounds in some of these workplace environments, analytical techniques with very high resolving power, high sensitivity and good reproducibi- lity for quantitative determinations are necessary. At present GC seems to be the best method to meet these requirements (14). 

Previously, the main attention to PAH in workplace environments has been focused on the occurrence of benzo(a)pyrene. This compound has also been suggested as an indicator of the PAH level in work atmospheres containing tar and pitch volatiles (30). This study demonstrates the existence of other potentially hazardous materials as well. ... 

Compliance with environmental regulations related to waste management and workplace environment. 

Regulation. The identification of health risks associated with asbestos fibers, together with the fact that huge quantities of these minerals were used ( 5 x 06 Uyr) m a variety of applications, has prompted strict regulations to limit the maximum exposure of air-borne fibers in workplace environments. 

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