Janet Keyes, CIH, recently attended the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (AIHCe) in Denver. We have been featuring some of the highlights from that conference. (see blogs on NIOSH and OSHA, control banding and skin exposures). This will be the last update from the conference.
Free Training on Occupational Hygiene Topics
There’s a strong move towards providing training in occupational hygiene in those areas where resources are scarce. OHTA, the Occupational Hygiene Training Association, is aggressively leading this effort, by developing training materials and making them available for use at no cost (the training modules are available online ). They also are promoting an international qualifications framework, so occupational/industrial hygienists worldwide follow the same consistent high standards. OHTA is a collaboration of industrial hygiene organizations worldwide.
Firefighters and fine particulates
One of the student posters (student Poster 41) was about a research project finding that showed that firefighters were exposed to very high levels of fine particulate matter during live overhaul (the final stages of firefighting—searching out hidden fires and cleanup). Particulate levels were also much higher at the fire station than background (just in the general environment) – in the kitchen (probably from cooking) and in the truck bay, where the smaller particles outnumbered the larger (likely from diesel exhaust).
The significance: fine particulate matter has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, and firefighters have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Firefighters often don’t wear respirators during overhaul.
Globally harmonized MSDS standards
Once this is adopted, it will change how Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) look, especially because they’ll use R phrases, which are standardized risk phrases, and S phrases, standardized precautions (e.g., R23: Toxic by Inhalation). This is an OSHA priority, but there’s conflict about whether TLVs (Threshold Limit Values—the limits at which it is believed workers can be exposed) would be listed. Many (but not all) MSDSs follow an ANSI 16-part format, which includes regulatory, ecological, and transport information – OSHA does not now require those, but they would be part of a globally harmonized system material data sheet.
For more information on this or assistance with other safety issues, please contact CHESS.