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.

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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.

Carbon Monoxide Dangers and Prevention Issues

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause illness and death. CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, flu-like symptoms, and confusion. Breathing in high levels of CO can cause loss of consciousness, possible brain damage, and even death.

Even though deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning have declined over the past three decades, it should be acknowledged that CO poisoning is still recognized as being totally preventable.

CO poisoning can be prevented by taking some simple precautions, which include:

Properly install, maintain, and operate all fuel-burning appliances.

Annually inspect furnaces, water heaters, and gas dryers.

Each year, check and clean fireplace chimneys and flues.

Operate un-vented fuel-burning space heaters only while someone is awake to monitor them and doors or windows in the room are open to provide fresh air.

Annually inspect automobile exhaust systems.

Never use a gas range or oven to heat a facility.

Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.

Never run a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside a basement, garage, or other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open, unless the equipment is professionally installed and vented.

Never run a motor vehicle, generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine outside of an open window or door where exhaust can vent into an enclosed area.

Never leave the motor running in a vehicle parked in an enclosed or semi-enclosed space.

Never ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die, if you do nothing. In most cases of unintentional poisonings, victims did not realize that carbon monoxide was being produced or building up in the air they were breathing. Carbon monoxide can be easily and cheaply detected; several relatively inexpensive carbon monoxide alarms are available.

If you experience symptoms that you think could be from CO poisoning:

Get fresh air immediately.

Open doors and windows, turn off combustion appliances, and leave the facility.

Go to an emergency room.

Tell the physician you suspect CO poisoning. If CO poisoning has occurred, it can often be diagnosed by a blood test done soon after exposure.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

Hexavalent Chromium – General Information

This handout is part of a series intended to help small businesses comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) standard 29 CFR 1910.1026, Chromium (VI) that applies to occupational exposures to chromium (VI), known as Hexavalent Chromium. Workers exposed to chromium (VI) are at increased risk of developing serious adverse health effects, including lung cancer, asthma, and damage to the nasal passages and skin. The handout provides OSHA information that employers should know to help protect workers from the hazards associated with exposure to chromium (VI).

Hexavalent chromium is a toxic form of the element chromium. Chromium (VI) compounds are man-made and widely used in many different industries. Some major industrial sources of hexavalent chromium are:

Chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics.

Chromates added as anti-corrosive agents to paints, primers, and other surface coatings.

Chrome plating by depositing chromium metal onto an item’s surface using a solution of chromic acid.

Particles released during smelting of ferrochromium ore.

Fume from welding stainless steel or nonferrous chromium alloys.

Impurity present in Portland cement.

Workplace Exposure and Possible Health Effects

Skin exposure can occur during direct handling of hexavalent chromium-containing solutions and coatings, and Portland cement. Some workers can develop an allergic skin reaction, called allergic contact dermatitis. This occurs from handling liquids or solids containing chromium (VI). Once a worker becomes allergic, brief skin contact causes swelling and a red, itchy rash that becomes crusty and thickened with prolonged exposure. Allergic contact dermatitis is long-lasting and more severe with repeated skin contact. Direct skin contact with chromium (VI) can cause a non-allergic skin irritation. Contact with non-intact skin can also lead to chrome ulcers – these are small crusted skin sores with a rounded border that heal slowly and leave scars.

Lung cancer may develop in workers who breathe airborne hexavalent chromium. Breathing in high levels of hexavalent chromium can cause irritation to the nose and throat. Symptoms may include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itching and a burning sensation. Repeated or prolonged exposure can cause sores to develop in the nose and result in nosebleeds. If the damage is severe, the nasal septum (wall separating the nasal passages) develops a hole in it (perforation).

Breathing small amounts of hexavalent chromium even for long periods does not cause respiratory tract irritation in most people. Some workers become allergic to hexavalent chromium so that inhaling chromate compounds can cause asthma symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breath.

Workers can inhale airborne hexavalent chromium as a dust, fume, or mist while:

Producing chromate pigments and powders, chromic acid, and chromium catalysts, dyes, and coatings.

Working near chrome electroplating processes.

Welding and hot-working stainless steel, high chrome alloys, and chrome-coated metals.

Applying and removing chromate-containing paints and other surface coatings.

Also, irritation or damage to the eyes and skin may occur if hexavalent chromium contacts the eyes and skin in high concentrations.

OSHA’s Workplace Standard Requires Employers To:

Limit eight-hour time-weighted average hexavalent chromium exposure in the workplace to 5 micrograms or less per cubic meter of air.

Perform periodic monitoring at least every 6 months if initial monitoring shows worker exposure at or above the action level (2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average).

Provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment when there is likely to be a hazard present from skin or eye contact.

Implement good personal hygiene and housekeeping practices to prevent hexavalent chromium exposure.

Prohibit worker rotation as a method to achieve compliance with the exposure limit.

Provide respiratory protection as specified in the standard.

Make available medical examinations to workers within 30 days of initial assignment, annually, to those exposed in an emergency situation, to those who experience signs or symptoms of adverse health effects associated with hexavalent chromium exposure, to those who are or may be exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year, and at termination of employment.

COPYRIGHT ©2006, ISO Services Properties, Inc.