Working Outdoors in Hot Weather

Outdoors work, in hot weather, presents special exposures for workers. Besides the long-term concern with skin cancer from exposure to the sun, three immediate concerns that should be addressed are heat exhaustion, Lyme disease, and West Nile Virus infection.

Heat

The combination of heat and humidity can be a serious health threat during hot weather. Workers at a beach resort, on a farm, or outdoors at a construction site should protect themselves from injury and illness due to exposure to excessive heat. Workers should consider the following precautions:

Drink plenty of water – don’t wait to get thirsty, and avoid caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar.

Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, such as clothing made of cotton.

Take frequent short breaks and stay in the shade.

Eat small meals, on a frequent basis, before and during work activity.

Be aware that equipment, such as respirators or work suits, can increase heat stress.

Lyme Disease

This illness is caused by bites from infected ticks. There is an increased risk for workers involved in construction, landscaping, forestry, brush clearing, land surveying, farming, railroads, oil fields, utility work, or park and wildlife management. Workers should consider the following precautions:

Wear light-colored clothes to make ticks more visible.

Wear long sleeve shirts, a hat, and tuck pants’ legs into socks or boots.

Wear high boots or closed shoes that cover the feet completely.

Apply tick repellants over the entire body, except the face.

Check for ticks after work and remove any attached ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers – do not use petroleum jelly, a hot match, or nail polish to remove ticks.

Shower after work.

Wash and dry work clothes at a high temperature.

West Nile Virus Infection

This illness is caused by bites from infected mosquitoes – while it is rare, it does happen. To protect from mosquito bites, workers should consider the following precautions:

Empty standing water in containers, discarded tires, and buckets, which can be mosquito breeding areas.

Apply insect repellent with DEET to exposed skin.

Spray clothing with repellents containing DEET or permethrin.

Wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks.

Be extra vigilant at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Controlling Hand-Arm-Vibrations

Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) is defined as the transfer of vibration from a tool to a worker’s hand and arm. Hand-arm vibration is caused by the use of vibrating hand-held tools, such as pneumatic jack hammers, drills, gas powered chain saws, and electrical tools such as grinders. The nature of these tools involves vibration (a rapid back and forth type of motion) which is transmitted from the tool to the hands and arms of the person holding the tool. The vibration is typically measured on the handle of tool, while in the grasp of the worker, and the amount of HAV is a function of the acceleration levels transferred to the worker.

Vibration restricts the blood supply to the hands and fingers. Signs and symptoms of vibration-induced injury, such as Reynaud’s phenomenon, start with occasional numbness or loss of color in the fingertips. This progresses to more frequent and persistent symptoms affecting a larger area of the fingers and resulting in reduction in feeling and manual dexterity.

This handout provides recommendations for managers and workers to minimize the injury risk from HAV.

Management

Train workers to recognize the warning signs of HAV.

Medically monitor workers who routinely use products associated with HAV.

Institute health care management practices ensuring early detection of hand/arm vibration disorders.

Purchase new vibration-reduced tools.

Inspect and service tools at regular intervals in accordance with manufacturer instructions.

Repair or replace tools producing high vibration levels due to wear and tear.

Workers

Wear protective clothing, such as multiple layers of gloves or anti-vibration gloves, to reduce the transmission of vibration energy to the hands and to protect the hands against exposure to cold.

In cold weather, dress adequately to keep the whole body warm since a low body temperature can make you more susceptible to HAV.

Take a 10-minute break after each hour of continuously using a vibrating tool.

Let the tool do the work by grasping it as lightly as possible, consistent with safe work practice.

Keep chisels and chainsaws sharp to reduce vibration. Using new grinder wheels will also reduce vibration.

Operate the tool at the minimum speed (and impact force) to reduce vibration exposure.

Substitute a manual tool or other process where practical.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Job Stress

As part of its mandate, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is directed by the U.S. Congress to study the psychological aspects of occupational safety and health, including stress at work. NIOSH works in collaboration with industry, labor, and universities to better understand the stress of modern work, the effects of stress on worker safety and health, and ways to reduce stress in the workplace.

Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can lead to poor health and even injury. No standardized approaches or simple “how to” manuals exist for developing a stress prevention program.

The first steps in the process of controlling job stress is identifying the critical factors leading to stress and providing some of the organizational changes that need to be made to reduce this stress. Program design and appropriate solutions will be influenced by several factors, including the size and complexity of the organization, available resources, and the unique types of stress problems faced by the organization. NIOSH identified the following factors in the work environment that may lead to job stress:

The Design of Tasks. These include heavy workloads; infrequent rest breaks; long work hours; shift work; and hectic and routine tasks that have little inherent meaning, do not utilize a worker’s skills, and provide little sense of control.

Management Style. These include lack of participation by workers in decision-making, poor communication in the organization, and lack of family-friendly policies.

Interpersonal Relationships. These include poor social environments and lack of support or help from coworkers and supervisors.

Work Roles. These include conflicting or uncertain job expectations, too much responsibility, and too many “hats to wear.”

Career Concerns. These include job insecurity; lack of opportunity for growth, advancement, or promotion; and rapid changes for which workers are unprepared.

Environmental Conditions. These include unpleasant or dangerous physical conditions, such as crowding, noise, air pollution, or ergonomic problems.

Recommendations for an Organization to Control Job Stress

Although it is not possible to give a universal prescription for preventing stress at work, it is possible to offer guidelines on the process of stress prevention in organizations. Such guidelines, which are derived from NIOSH studies, include:

Ensure that the workload is in line with workers’ capabilities and resources.

Design jobs to provide meaning, stimulation, and opportunities for workers to use their skills.

Clearly define workers’ roles and responsibilities.

Give workers opportunities to participate in decisions and actions affecting their jobs.

Improve communications – reduce uncertainty about career development and future employment prospects.

Provide opportunities for social interaction among workers.

Establish work schedules that are compatible with demands and responsibilities outside the job.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Controlling Whole-Body Vibration

Vibration is an occupational hazard in the workplace. It is separated into two sub categories – Hand-Arm vibration (HAV), which is usually associated with the use of vibrating hand tools, and Whole-Body Vibration (WBV), which is experienced when the operator or driver sits or stands on or in a vibrating machine. Such operations include truck and tractor driving, forklift operating, and driving earth moving machines

The health effects from vibration is caused by the energy wave that is transferred from the energy source (i.e., a hand tool or vehicle) into the body of the operator and is transmitted through the body tissues, organs, and systems of the individual. The body can tolerate certain levels of vibration, but eventually starts to deteriorate and fail as long-term damage is done and natural processes and systems of the body are disrupted.

The most pronounced and common effect of WBV is lower back pain, resulting from the degeneration of the intervertebral discs in the spinal column. Muscle fatigue also occurs as the muscles try to react to the vibrational energy to maintain balance and protect and support the spinal column. Other health effects that have been associated with WBV, and especially the driving environment, are hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, kidney disorders, and even impotence and other adverse reproductive effects in both men and women.

Prevention or mitigation of exposure to WBV is generally accomplished by eliminating the vibration source, reducing vibration at the source, reducing the transmission of vibration to the body, or reducing the duration of vibration exposure. The following are recommendations to control the exposure to WBV.

Train workers to recognize the warning signs of WBV injury.

Medically monitor workers who routinely use products associated with WBV.

Consider rotating jobs to limit worker exposure to WBV, but beware of increasing the number of workers exposed to risk.

Check, lubricate, and maintain seat, cab, and chassis suspensions according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

Keep suspension seats in vehicles in good working order and replace when worn out. A seat usually has a shorter working life than that of the vehicle.

Replace vibration dampers in suspension seats when worn out.

Show drivers how to adjust seats so that they are able to easily reach the vehicle’s pedals.

Show drivers how to use and adjust back supports.

Show drivers how to adjust the seat so it provides support for their thighs.

Show drivers how to adjust the suspension mechanism correctly. A suspension seat is usually adjusted in the middle of the suspension range for a particular driver’s weight.

Balance all machinery to eliminate unwanted vibration.

Change machinery speed so the resulting vibration frequency is not in a range that affects the human body.

Use additional mass to shift the natural frequency of the machine.

Level all roads or tracks that heavy machinery uses as a platform for movement.

Fill in all potholes that might cause problems for powered industrial trucks.

Adjust bridge cranes to ensure the rail track of a bridge crane provides a smooth ride.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Does Your Facility Need an Emergency Action Plan?

In general, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Standard 29 CFR 1910.38, Emergency Action Plans (EAP), requires employers to develop plans to handle fires and other emergencies that may require evacuation of the premises. Such plans must be in writing, kept in the workplace, and be available to employees for review; however, an employer with 10 or fewer employees may communicate the plan orally.

This handout presents information provided by OSHA that can be used by employers to identify their need to develop an EAP. It is important to note that this information does not alert employers to other OSHA standards that may be associated with the emergency plan or to the additional OSHA standards that apply to their facilities.

QUESTION	YES	NO
Are fire extinguishers provided in the workplace?
Are the fire extinguishers intended for employee use?
Will any of your workers be required to evacuate the workplace?
If you answered “no” to either of the first two or “yes” to all three questions then you are required by OSHA to develop an EAP. Otherwise, you should continue with the questions below

 

QUESTION	YES	NO
Does your facility use a total flooding extinguishing system that provides any one of the following design concentrations: 4 percent or greater of Halon 1211? 4 percent or greater of carbon dioxide? 10 percent or greater of Halon 1301, or concentrations exceeding 7 percent when egress from an area cannot be accomplished in one minute?
Does your facility use a fire detection system with alarms or devices that are delayed by more than 30 seconds for reasons other than a total flooding extinguishing system listed above?
Are you required to comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.119, Process Safety Management?
Are you required to comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.272, Grain Handling Facilities?
Are you required to comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1047, Ethylene Oxide?
Are you required to comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1050 Methylenedianiline?
Are you required to comply with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1051, 1,3-Butadiene?
Do you plan to evacuate all of your employees and to rely on an outside party to provide emergency response to a hazardous substance release? Note: if a hazardous substance emergency could occur at your facility and you plan to have any of your employees participate in the emergency response, you are required to have an emergency response plan consistent with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.120(q) Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response.
If you answered “YES” to any one of the questions above, you are required by OSHA to develop an EAP.

 

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Controlling Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is a serious condition caused by the failure of the body’s internal mechanism to regulate its core temperature. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can result in death. During heat stroke, sweating stops and the body is unable to eliminate excessive heat. The heat stroke victim can experience: dry, pale skin (no sweating); hot, red skin (looks like sunburn); mood changes (irritable, confused); seizures/fits; and collapsing/passing out. The following actions may help reduce worker exposure to heat stroke.

Work Environment

Provide general ventilation throughout the work areas.

Provide local exhaust ventilation in areas of high heat.

Provide heat shielding to protect workers from radiant heating.

Provide air conditioning or evaporative cooling in work areas.

Repair and eliminate any steam leaks in the work environment.

Understand that fans do not decrease the temperature; they only move the hot air.

Provide recovery areas, such as air-conditioned rooms.

Work Clothes

Provide ice vests, with internal pockets to hold pre-frozen gel-type packs or ice (ice vest will normally last two to four hours).

Provide localized cooling with specially-designed, air-supplied hoods or helmets.

Provide vest-style garments that employ a battery-powered pump, and a pouch that holds a bag filled with water and crushed ice.

Take into consideration that wearing respirators and special suits to protect against toxic substances can increase the risks of heat-induced illnesses.

Ensure exposed workers wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, where possible.

Provide power tools, rolling carts, and manual material handling equipment to reduce manual labor.

Work Practices

Ensure worker acclimatization by way of gradual exposures to heat – brief periods followed by longer periods of work in the hot environment. Government agencies recommend that new, hot-area workers be exposed to the heat for only 20 percent of their work time the first day, with a 20 percent increase in exposure each additional day.

Consider starting the work earlier in the day when temperatures are generally cooler.

Discourage workers from eating large meals, drinking caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, and smoking before working in hot environments.

Ensure workers are provided the opportunity to drink a large amount of fluid.

Provide regular work breaks in a cooler environment.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Welding Hazards

Welding is inherently hazardous to workers. Besides the hazards from noise, electric shock, and fires and explosions, exposure to welding “smoke” (i.e., gases and fumes) can lead to acute or chronic respiratory diseases, such as lung-function impairment, obstructive and restrictive lung disease, cough, dyspnea, rhinitis, asthma, pneumonitis, pneumoconiosis, and carcinoma of the lungs. In addition, welding workers suffer from eye irritation, including photokeratitis and cataracts; skin irritation, such as erythema, pterygium, non-melanocytic skin cancer, and malignant melanoma; and infertility due to reduced sperm count and motility.

With proper planning and attention to detail, however, workers can increase their margin of safety. The following safety recommendations during welding operations may help reduce the potential for worker injury.

Preparing to Weld

Before any welding is started, identify the hazards for that particular welding operation. The hazards will depend on the type of welding, the materials used, and the environmental conditions.

Review material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to identify the hazardous materials used in welding and the fumes that may be generated. Substitute less hazardous materials, where feasible.

Use cadmium-free silver solders and asbestos-free electrodes.

Wear gloves and ensure that hoods and ductwork are constructed of fire-resistant materials.

Use shielding to protect people in the work area from the light of the welding arc, as well as from heat and hot spatter.

Ensure welding booths are painted with a dull finish that does not reflect ultraviolet light.

Use acoustic shields between the worker and the noise source to reduce noise levels.

Remove all flammable or combustible materials in the immediate area before striking an arc or lighting a flame.

Ensure that the proper fire extinguishers are readily available.

Make sure that equipment is properly maintained (e.g., replace worn insulation and hoses).

During Welding Operations

Use soapy water, instead of matches, to check for leaks in hoses, fittings, and valves in welding equipment.

Use ventilation to the maximum extent possible. Local exhaust ventilation that removes the fumes and gases at their source is the most effective method. This can be provided by a partial enclosure, such as a ventilated work bench, or by hoods positioned as close to the point of welding as possible.

For gas-shielded arc welding processes, provide local exhaust by means of an extracting gun – this can reduce worker exposure to welding emissions by 70 percent.

Do not weld on painted or coated parts – if possible, remove all surface coatings before welding.

Use a water table under plasma arc cutting to reduce fume and noise levels.

Use the sub-arc process to minimize light and fumes created by a visible arc.

Position your body while welding or cutting so that your head is not in the fumes.

Minimize welding fumes by using the lowest acceptable amperage and holding the electrode perpendicular and as close to the work surface as possible.

Do not perform arc welding within 200 ft (61.0 m) of degreasing equipment or solvents.

Ensure materials that have been recently welded are marked “HOT” to avoid burns.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) – a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas – is one of the most common industrial hazards. Small quantities can cause illness and large quantities can kill. The more CO in the air, and the longer a worker is exposed to it, the greater the danger. Any one or more of the following symptoms can signal carbon monoxide poisoning: headaches, tightness across the chest, nausea, drowsiness, inattention, or fatigue. As the amount of CO in the air increases, more serious symptoms develop, such as lack of coordination, weakness, and confusion.

CO is a common industrial hazard resulting from the incomplete burning of natural gas and any other material containing carbon, such as gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, or wood. Forges, blast furnaces, and coke ovens produce CO, but one of the most common sources of exposure in the workplace is the internal combustion engine.

Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain, and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome a worker in minutes without warning, causing loss of consciousness and, eventually, suffocation.

Workers who suspect exposure to CO should get out of the area and into the open, fresh air. If it can be done safely, help remove anyone overcome by the gas and provide artificial respiration. Call for a doctor and continue the artificial respiration until the doctor arrives or the person recovers. Prompt action can make the difference between life and death.

Suggestions for Employers

Instruct workers in the hazards of CO and train them in the proper use of respirators.

Use a full-face-piece pressure-demand self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) certified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), or a combination full-face-piece pressure-demand supplied-air respirator with auxiliary self-contained air supply in areas with high CO concentrations (i.e., atmospheres that are immediately dangerous to life and health).

Install a ventilation system to remove CO from the area and install CO monitors with audible alarms.

Maintain appliances and equipment in good order, adjusting flames, burners, and drafts to reduce the formation of CO.

Consider switching from fossil fuel-powered to battery-powered equipment.

Provide periodic medical examinations for workers who may be exposed to CO.

Suggestions for Workers

Be alert to ventilation problems, especially in enclosed areas where exhaust from burning fuels may be released. Report to your employer any condition that might create CO.

Don’t overexert yourself if you suspect CO poisoning. Physical activity increases the body’s need for oxygen and thus increases the danger of poisoning. Report promptly complaints of dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea.

If you get sick, don’t forget to tell your doctor about the possibility of exposure to CO.

Think carefully about your smoking habits. Tobacco, when burned, releases CO that reduces the oxygen-carrying ability of the blood, even before any industrial exposure is added.

Avoid the use of gas-powered engines, such as those in powered washers, as well as heaters and forklifts, while working in enclosed spaces.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Hazard Communication Program – Self-Evaluation Checklist

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to establish a hazard communication program that provides workers with information on the hazards of the chemicals with which they work. This information is derived from labels on containers, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and training programs.

Chemicals pose a myriad of hazards to exposed workers, from mild health effects, such as skin irritation, to injuries, such as rashes and burns, and to death, such as from poisoning. Some chemicals can pose physical hazards to workers by contributing to accidents, such as fires and explosions. The following list of questions can help guide supervisors and workers to ensure the exposure to hazardous substances is minimized.

Questions	Yes	No	N/A
Is there a written hazard communication program dealing with MSDS, labeling, and employee training?
Does the program include an explanation on how to obtain and use a MSDS?
Does the program include an explanation of “Right to Know?”
Is a written copy of the program posted in the workplace for employee referral?
Are employees informed when and where hazardous substances may be present in their work areas?
Does the program include information on the physical and health hazards of the hazardous substances in the work area and specific protective measures that can be used?
Does the program include details of how to use the labeling system and MSDS?
Is there an employee training program for hazardous substances?
Is a list maintained of the hazardous substances used in the workplace?
Is there a MSDS readily available for each hazardous substance used?
Is each container for a hazardous substance (i.e., vats, bottles, storage tanks, etc.) labeled with product identification and a hazard warning (i.e., an explanation of the specific health and physical hazards)?
Are employees trained in how to recognize tasks that might result in occupational exposure to hazardous substances?
Are employees trained in how to use work practice, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment?
Are employees trained in how to identify their physical limitations?
Are employees trained in how to obtain information on the types, selection, proper use, and location of personal protective equipment?
Are employees trained in how to obtain information on removal, handling, decontamination, and disposal of personal protective equipment?
Are employees trained in who to contact and what to do in an emergency release of a hazardous substance?

 

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

OSHA – Hearing Conservation Program – Audiometric Testing

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) hearing conservation program is designed to protect workers that are exposed to occupational noise from suffering material hearing impairment. OSHA requires that employers establish and maintain audiometric testing program, which includes baseline audiograms, annual audiograms, training, and follow-up procedures, for workers exposed to significant occupational noise, even if they are subject to such noise exposures over their entire working lifetimes. Audiometric testing not only monitors the sharpness and acuity of an employee’s hearing over time, but also provides an opportunity for employers to educate employees about their hearing and the need to protect it.

The two types of audiograms required in the hearing conservation program are baseline and annual. The baseline audiogram is the reference audiogram against which future (annual) audiograms are compared. The essential elements of an audiometric testing program include:

Making audiometric testing available at no cost to all employees who are exposed to an action level of 85 dB or above, measured as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA).

Having a licensed or certified audiologist (i.e., a specialist dealing with an individual having impaired hearing), an otolaryngologist (i.e., a physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ear, nose, and throat), or a physician responsible for the program.

Both professionals and trained technicians may conduct audiometric testing. The professional in charge of the program does not have to be present when a qualified technician conducts tests. The professional’s responsibilities include overseeing the program and the work of the technicians, reviewing problem audiograms, and determining whether referral is necessary.

Baseline Audiograms

Baseline audiograms must be provided within six months of an employee’s first exposure at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 dB. An exception is the use of mobile test vans to obtain audiograms. In these instances, baseline audiograms must be completed within one year after an employee’s first exposure to workplace noise at or above a TWA of 85 dB.

Employees must be fitted with, issued, and required to wear hearing protectors for any period exceeding 6 months after their first exposure until the baseline audiogram is conducted.

Employees must not be exposed to workplace noise for 14 hours preceding the baseline test; however, appropriate hearing protectors can serve as a substitute for this requirement and can be worn during this time period.

Annual Audiograms

Annual audiograms must be conducted within one year of the baseline to identify deterioration in hearing ability so that protective follow-up measures can be initiated before hearing loss progresses. Annual audiograms must be routinely compared to baseline audiograms to determine whether the audiogram is valid and to determine whether the employee has lost hearing ability, i.e., if a standard threshold shift (STS) has occurred. STS is an average shift in either ear of 10 dB or more at 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 hertz. An averaging method of determining STS was chosen because it diminished the number of persons falsely identified as having STS and who are later shown not to have had a change in hearing ability. Additionally, the method is sensitive enough to identify meaningful shifts in hearing early on.

The employee must be given a referral for further testing when test results are questionable or when problems of a medical nature are suspected.

If additional testing is necessary or if the employer suspects a medical pathology of the ear is caused or aggravated by the wearing of hearing protectors, the employee should be referred for a clinical audiological evaluation or otological exam, as appropriate.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.