IDLH Values for 6 Chemicals Coming Soon

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced in the Federal Register that the Agency intends to evaluate the scientific data for 6 chemicals—allyl alcohol, bromine chloride, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen iodide, lewisite (a chemical warfare agent), and propylene imine—to develop new or updated Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) values.

 

IDLH values are based on health effects considerations determined through a critical assessment of the toxicology and human health effects data. This approach ensures that the IDLH values reflect an airborne concentration of a substance that represents a high-risk situation that may endanger workers' lives or health.

 

 

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Instead of using chemical solvents, some workers use biowashers or biological degreasing stations to clean oily or greasy parts. The degreasing agents in these washing stations contain bacteria for which no data were available for assessing the occupational risk of exposure through inhalation.

 

To address this lack of data, researchers monitored five biological degreasing stations for a year, taking 50 mL samples of degreasing fluid every two months and, for comparison purposes, an initial sample of unused degreaser from each station. Using a variety of methods, the researchers counted and identified the bacteria that colonized the degreasers. They detected 60 species of bacteria at concentrations ranging from 3.6 x 104 to 2.6 x 107 CFU/mL in the used fluids, whereas only one species, Bacillus subtilis, was found in the unused fluids.

 

“Microorganisms, which include bacteria, can be classified into four infectious groups, and the degreaser manufacturers claim that their products are harmless (Risk Group 1). However, analysis of the samples we collected showed that many of the bacteria identified belonged to Risk Group 2, meaning they represent a moderate risk of infection to individuals, but a low risk to the community,” said IRSST microbiologist Geneviève Marchand. “Strict individual hygiene practices, including hand washing before and after using a biowash station, and wearing gloves, are therefore recommended, chiefly to avoid skin contact,” noted Professor Maximilien Debia of the department of environmental and occupational health at the Université de Montréal.

 

The study also showed that for these same workers who use biowash stations, exposure through the respiratory tract is very low, even when the stations have a blower to dry the degreased parts. The researchers concluded that no respiratory protection is required to ensure worker health and safety.

 

The study also showed that for these same workers who use biowash stations, exposure through the respiratory tract is very low, even when the stations have a blower to dry the degreased parts. The researchers concluded that no respiratory protection is required to ensure worker health and safety.

 

A copy of the study is available at https://www.irsst.qc.ca/en/publications-tools/publication/i/100959/.

 

 

Oregon OSHA has fined West Coast Roofing and Painting Inc. more than $12,000 for violating job safety rules, including exposing employees to falls that could seriously injure or kill them. 

 

This is not the first time Oregon OSHA has cited the Portland-area contractor for neglecting to follow fall protection requirements.

 

The latest citation stems from an inspection of a job site at a house in Portland, where employees of the company were tearing off an existing roof and preparing to install a new one. The inspection found four employees were exposed to falls of about 11 feet with no fall protection systems in place. 

 

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry. Oregon OSHA maintains rules for construction activities that specify the minimum height at which workers must be protected from falling. In the case of West Coast Roofing and Painting, the company failed to implement fall protection systems – such as a personal fall restraint system or other measures – where employees were exposed to falling six feet or more to a lower level. 

 

In fact, the company has now failed to heed that requirement three times since 2018. Two of those violations – including the latest one – were repeat offenses committed by the company within a month of each other this year.  

 

“There is never a good reason to ignore the need to protect workers from fall hazards, much less to repeatedly overlook rules that are designed to prevent serious injury or death,” said Oregon OSHA Administrator Michael Wood. 

 

The inspection that led to the current citation also found other repeat violations on the part of West Coast Roofing and Painting. Those are:

 

Under Oregon OSHA rules, penalties multiply when employers commit repeat offenses. The citation against West Coast Roofing and Painting carries a total proposed penalty of $12,440. The fine amount includes a standard penalty reduction based on the small size of the company, which employed about 16 people at the time of Oregon OSHA’s inspection.