Reference no: EM133198066 , Length: Word count: 3 Pages
Question 1 (Part 1): The current OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for nuisance dust is 15 mg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure. The ACGIH has published a threshold limit value (TLV) for inhalable dust of 10 mg/m3. OSHA is required to consider economic and feasibility influences as well as health impacts for establishing or updating PELs. The ACGIH can consider only the health impacts when establishing TLVs. Imagine you are a safety officer having to establish an occupational exposure limit (OEL). Discuss how you would come to this exposure limit.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Question 1 (Part 2): Welding fumes are a common occupational exposure. Several different welding fumes can cause similar adverse health effects. Personal sampling of a welding operation at a manufacturing facility produced the following 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) results for individual metal fumes.
| Metal Fume |
Result |
OSHA PEL |
ACGIH TLV |
| Antimony |
0.05 mg/m³ |
0.5 mg/m³ |
0.5 mg/m³ |
| Beryllium |
0.00001 mg/m³ |
0.0002 mg/m³ |
0.00005 mg/m³ (I) |
| Cadmium |
0.025 mg/m³ |
0.005 mg/m³ |
0.01 mg/m³ |
| Chromium |
0.02 mg/m³ |
1 mg/m³ |
0.5 mg/m³ |
| Copper |
0.03 mg/m³ |
0.1 mg/m³ |
0.2 mg/m³ |
| Iron Oxide |
0.5 mg/m³ |
10 mg/m³ |
5 mg/m³ (R) |
| Magnesium Oxide |
0.02 mg/m³ |
15 mg/m³ |
10 mg/m³ |
| Molybdenum |
0.003 mg/m³ |
15 mg/m³ |
10 mg/m³ (I) |
| Nickel |
0.25 mg/m³ |
1 mg/m³ |
1.5 mg/m³ (I) |
| Zinc Oxide |
0.3 mg/m³ |
5 mg/m³ |
2 mg/m³ (R) |
(R) Respirable fraction (I) Inhalable fraction
Briefly summarize the primary health effects associated with overexposure to each type of metal fume, including both acute and chronic health effects. Explain what analytical methods you would use for evaluating health hazards in the workplace.
Identify the types of metal fumes that would produce similar health effects on an exposed worker. Assume that each listed metal can cause respiratory irritation. Use the equation in 1910.1000(d)(2)(i) to calculate the equivalent exposure (in relation to OSHA PELS) for the metal fumes with similar health effects based on the "Result" column in the table above. Discuss whether you believe any of the individual metal fume exposures or the combined exposure exceeds an OSHA PEL or an ACGIH TLV.
Your homework assignment should be a minimum of two pages in length.
Question 2: OSHA uses a 5 dBA exchange rate, meaning that the allowed exposure time is cut in half for every increase in exposure of 5 dBA. ACGIH and NIOSH recommend a 3 dBA exchange rate because noise energy exposure actually doubles every 3 dBA. OSHA explains the use of the 5 dBA exchange rate as a means to account for the time during a workday that the employee is not exposed to noise, like breaks. Imagine you are a safety officer who has to choose which exchange rate is preferable to use at your organization. Discuss in your journal entry whether the 5 dBA or the 3 dBA exchange rate should be used for controlling occupational noise exposure.
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Question 3 (Part 1): Imagine that you are a safety officer, and you have been asked to recommend a type of ventilation system for your company. Which one would you choose, and why?
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Question 3 (Part 2):
OSHA allows respirator fit testing to be performed using either qualitative fit testing (QLFT) methods or quantitative fit testing (QNFT) methods that are specified in Appendix A of 29 CFR 1910.134. Discuss the fit testing methods with which you are familiar and which methods you prefer to use. If you have never been fit tested or performed fit testing, read Appendix A and discuss which of the methods you believe would be the easiest to perform. Give the reasons for your choice.
How can you apply what you learned in this course to your career or life success?
Your journal entry must be at least 200 words. No references or citations are necessary.
Question 4: Choose an operation for a workplace where you once worked or with which you are familiar where either chemical hazards or noise exposures were present. If you have never worked in a location where chemical hazards or noise are present, read about some examples on OSHA's website and choose one that interests you. Complete the following tasks in a minimum two-page (500 word) essay:
Summarize the steps you would take to perform a hazard assessment of your chosen operation. Make sure you list the chemical hazards or noise hazards that are present using the example hazard assessment from OSHA's website or one with which you are already familiar.
Discuss the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for controlling occupational hazards in relation to the operation you chose.
Choose one hazard that you identified. The hazard can be a chemical or noise hazard. Summarize how you would evaluate employee exposures to the hazard. Include information about any sampling method you would use, how many samples you would collect, the types of samples you would collect (e.g., personal or area, TWA or short-term), and to which standards you would apply the results.
Assume there are several results indicating that employees are exposed to levels exceeding the applicable OSHA PEL. Using OSHA's Hierarchy of Controls, summarize the control methods you would employ to reduce the risk for employees to an acceptable level. Your summary should include examples from each level of OSHA's Hierarchy of Controls with a discussion of why you think the control would or would not be an effective method for reducing the exposure to an acceptable level.
Discuss how you would evaluate the effectiveness of the control methods you chose, both in the short-term and for the next 5 years.