health hazard evaluations of worker exposures during cement tile roofing operations ronald m. hall,...
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Health Hazard Evaluations of Worker Health Hazard Evaluations of Worker Exposures During Cement Tile Roofing Exposures During Cement Tile Roofing
OperationsOperations
Ronald M. Hall, MS, CIHRonald M. Hall, MS, CIH
National Institute for Occupational Safety National Institute for Occupational Safety and Healthand Health
Division of Applied Research and Division of Applied Research and TechnologyTechnology
Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy
BackgroundBackground
NIOSH received three union Health Hazard NIOSH received three union Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) requestsEvaluation (HHE) requests
The requests listed dust, silica, and The requests listed dust, silica, and noise as potential hazards during noise as potential hazards during cement tile roofing operationscement tile roofing operations
Cement Tile RoofCement Tile Roof
Cutting of Cement TilesCutting of Cement Tiles
Roofing OperationsRoofing Operations
Worker Cutting TileWorker Cutting Tile
Worker Cutting TileWorker Cutting Tile
Worker Cutting TileWorker Cutting Tile
Sampling StrategySampling Strategy Personal breathing zone (PBZ) samples for Personal breathing zone (PBZ) samples for
respirable and total dust, and respirable silica respirable and total dust, and respirable silica (quartz) were collected during residential roofing (quartz) were collected during residential roofing operationsoperations
– Saw operatorsSaw operators– General working roofersGeneral working roofers
Noise dosimeters were used to collect full-shift Noise dosimeters were used to collect full-shift noise exposure measurementsnoise exposure measurements
Sampled for two or three consecutive daysSampled for two or three consecutive days
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria NIOSH REL is 0.05 mg/mNIOSH REL is 0.05 mg/m33
ACGIH TLV for Respirable Silica is 0.025 mg/mACGIH TLV for Respirable Silica is 0.025 mg/m33
OSHA General Industry StandardOSHA General Industry Standard PEL = 10 mg/m3PEL = 10 mg/m3 % Silica + 2% Silica + 2
OSHA Construction StandardOSHA Construction Standard PEL =PEL = 250 mppcf250 mppcf
% Silica + 5% Silica + 5
apply a conversion factor of 0.1 mg/mapply a conversion factor of 0.1 mg/m33 per mppcf per mppcf
NoiseNoise– OSHA 90 OSHA 90 dBA for 8 hours per day (5dB exchange rate)dBA for 8 hours per day (5dB exchange rate)– NIOSH and ACGIHNIOSH and ACGIH® 85 dBA for 8 hours per day (3dB exchange rate)® 85 dBA for 8 hours per day (3dB exchange rate)
PBZ Sampling for 1PBZ Sampling for 1stst HHE HHE
2 consecutive days of sampling was conducted
PBZ samples were collected– During roofing activities – At home sites where employees were cutting and laying roof tiles
throughout the day
16 full-shift PBZ air samples were collected for respirable dust and silica
19 full-shift PBZ air samples for total dust were collected over the 2 days
8 full-shift noise exposure measurements were collected on workers
PBZ Sampling for 2PBZ Sampling for 2ndnd HHE HHE
2 consecutive days of sampling was conducted
PBZ samples were collected– During roofing activities – At home sites where employees were cutting and laying roof tiles
throughout the day
10 PBZ air samples were collected for respirable dust and silica
8 PBZ air samples for total dust were collected over the 2 days
5 full-shift noise exposure measurements were collected on workers
PBZ Sampling for 3PBZ Sampling for 3rdrd HHE HHE
3 consecutive days of sampling was conducted
PBZ samples were collected– During roofing activities – At home sites where employees were cutting and laying roof tiles
throughout the day
8 PBZ air samples were collected for respirable dust and silica
9 PBZ air samples for total dust were collected
7 full-shift noise exposure measurements were collected on workers
Results - 1Results - 1stst HHE HHE
Respirable quartzRespirable quartz concentrations concentrations – Ranged from trace levels (between LOD and LOQ) Ranged from trace levels (between LOD and LOQ)
to 0.33 mg/mto 0.33 mg/m33
Respirable dust concentrations Respirable dust concentrations – Ranged from 0.23 mg/mRanged from 0.23 mg/m33 to 2.3 mg/m to 2.3 mg/m33
– Samples containedSamples contained 9.5% to 17.6% Quartz9.5% to 17.6% Quartz
Total dust concentrations Total dust concentrations – Ranged from 0.68 mg/mRanged from 0.68 mg/m33 to 13 mg/m to 13 mg/m33
Summary of Results - 1Summary of Results - 1stst HHE HHE
12 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated 12 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated concentrations exceeding the general industry concentrations exceeding the general industry OSHA PELOSHA PEL
14 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated 14 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteriaconcentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteria
5 of 8 TWA’s noise values exceeded the OSHA 5 of 8 TWA’s noise values exceeded the OSHA Action Level (AL), and 3 of 8 exceeded the OSHA Action Level (AL), and 3 of 8 exceeded the OSHA PELPEL
All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL
Results - 2Results - 2ndnd HHE HHE
Respirable quartzRespirable quartz concentrations concentrations – Ranged from 0.03 mg/mRanged from 0.03 mg/m3 3 to 1.1 mg/mto 1.1 mg/m33
Respirable dust concentrations Respirable dust concentrations – Ranged from 0.53 mg/mRanged from 0.53 mg/m33 to 7.1 mg/m to 7.1 mg/m33
– Samples contained 11.5% to 18.5% quartzSamples contained 11.5% to 18.5% quartz
Total dust concentrations Total dust concentrations – ranged from 1.3 mg/mranged from 1.3 mg/m33 to 22 mg/m to 22 mg/m33
Summary of Results – 2Summary of Results – 2ndnd HHE HHE
1 TWA exceeded the OSHA PEL for total dust1 TWA exceeded the OSHA PEL for total dust
4 out of 7 TWAs exceeded the general industry 4 out of 7 TWAs exceeded the general industry OSHA PEL and 3 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL and 3 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL for respirable silicaOSHA PEL for respirable silica
6 out of 7 TWAs for respirable silica also indicated 6 out of 7 TWAs for respirable silica also indicated concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteriaconcentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteria
3 out of 5 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA AL 3 out of 5 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA AL
All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL
Results - 3Results - 3rdrd HHE HHE
Respirable quartzRespirable quartz concentrations concentrations – Ranged from 0.06 to 0.27 mg/mRanged from 0.06 to 0.27 mg/m33
Respirable dust exposures Respirable dust exposures – Ranged from 0.32 mg/mRanged from 0.32 mg/m33 to 1.8 mg/m to 1.8 mg/m33
– Samples contained 12.9% to 21.7% quartzSamples contained 12.9% to 21.7% quartz
Total dust concentrationsTotal dust concentrations– Ranged from 1.8 mg/mRanged from 1.8 mg/m33 to 12 mg/m to 12 mg/m33
Summary of Results – 3Summary of Results – 3rdrd HHE HHE
7 of 8 TWAs for respirable dust exceeded the general 7 of 8 TWAs for respirable dust exceeded the general industry OSHA PEL and 2 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL and 2 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL for respirable silicaindustry OSHA PEL for respirable silica
7 of 8 TWAs for respirable silica indicated 7 of 8 TWAs for respirable silica indicated concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH occupational criteriaoccupational criteria
2 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA PEL and all 2 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA PEL and all 7 exceeded the OSHA action limit (AL)7 exceeded the OSHA action limit (AL)
All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL
Overall Summary for the 3 HHE’sOverall Summary for the 3 HHE’s
General OSHA Standard for Respirable SilicaGeneral OSHA Standard for Respirable Silica– Data indicates 74% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard Data indicates 74% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard
Construction OSHA Standard for Respirable SilicaConstruction OSHA Standard for Respirable Silica– Data indicates 33% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard Data indicates 33% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard
NIOSH and ACGIHNIOSH and ACGIH®® Criteria Criteria– Data indicates 87% of the respirable silica TWA’s were exceeding Data indicates 87% of the respirable silica TWA’s were exceeding
this criteriathis criteria
NoiseNoise– 25% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA PEL25% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA PEL– 75% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA AL75% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA AL– 100% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the NIOSH REL 100% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the NIOSH REL
Conclusion & RecommendationsConclusion & Recommendations Workers were overexposed to respirable silica and noise Workers were overexposed to respirable silica and noise
Provide trainingProvide training– workplace hazardsworkplace hazards– respiratorsrespirators– hearing protectionhearing protection– dust control measuresdust control measures
Implement a respirator protection programImplement a respirator protection program
Develop and enforce a hearing conservation programDevelop and enforce a hearing conservation program
Implement a medical screening programImplement a medical screening program
Investigate the use of engineering controls to reduce or eliminate Investigate the use of engineering controls to reduce or eliminate dust exposuredust exposure
Ensure compliance with fall protection standardsEnsure compliance with fall protection standards
Respiratory Protection ProgramRespiratory Protection Program
Written program following OSHA 1910.134 respiratory Written program following OSHA 1910.134 respiratory protection standardprotection standard
Fit testing quantitatively or qualitatively at least annuallyFit testing quantitatively or qualitatively at least annually
Medical screens or exams at least annuallyMedical screens or exams at least annually
Training on workplace hazards and use of respirators Training on workplace hazards and use of respirators (donning, doffing, cleaning, storage, etc.) at least annually (donning, doffing, cleaning, storage, etc.) at least annually
Must be mandatory until engineering controls are in place and Must be mandatory until engineering controls are in place and proven effectiveproven effective
Engineering ControlsEngineering Controls
Controls need to address both silica and noise hazardsControls need to address both silica and noise hazards
Commercially available LEV systemsCommercially available LEV systems
Wet cuttingWet cutting
Cutting using water mist systemCutting using water mist system
Other optionsOther options
– Cutting on ground with stationary sawCutting on ground with stationary saw– Substitute use of crystalline silica tilesSubstitute use of crystalline silica tiles– Use of a manual tile cutter to replace the sawUse of a manual tile cutter to replace the saw