Respirator Fit Check - Personal Protective Equipment Although negative pressure respirators are an accepted way to reduce exposure to airborne contaminants, engineering controls should always be your first choice. Sometimes strategies such as adequate ventilation can reduce contaminants to levels where personal protection is not required. However, if you do choose this equipment, you must be certain of two things: Have you selected the proper respirator with the correct filtering media, and does it fit properly? No amount of training or respiratory equipment will provide the protection you need unless a good seal is made. Prior to entering a contaminated atmosphere, you...

Safety Considerations For Sandblasting Sandblasting operations can be overlooked when preparing safety plans because they are generally a small part of a larger project such as cleaning and refinishing or painting. As a result, many workers are exposed to the hazards of sandblasting without adequate protection. Even if all sandblasting equipment is properly designed and regularly inspected, users must always be alert to the hazards of these operations and take precautions against harmful exposures. Airborne dust: This is one of the most serious hazards associated with blasting operations. When evaluating this hazard, it's important to consider the concentration of dust and the...

Is Fiberglass A Health Hazard? Everyone has heard about the association between lung cancer and asbestos. Since some forms of asbestos are similar in appearance to fiberglass fibers, many people wonder if handling fiber-glass could also result in the development of cancer or other serious health hazards. Scientists have made over 400 studies of fiberglass in an attempt to answer this question. The conclusion is that it will not because its properties are very different from asbestos. OSHA confirmed these findings in 1991 when it decided to regulate fiberglass as a nuisance dust, and not as a cancer-causing agent. The state...

Respirator Program Respirators and a written respirator program are required by OSHA whenever air contaminants are above the Permissible Exposure Level. A respirator program should include the following elements: ___ Physician's examination to determine the worker's capability of wearing a respirator ___ Program implementation and annual re-evaluations ___ Written standard operating procedures for the selection and use of respirators ___ Fit testing ___ Purchase of respirators and/or filters for each atmospheric need ___ Purchase of cleaning materials, filters, pre-filters, canisters and spare parts ___ Documented employee training on respirator use and limitations ___ Equipment inspection, cleaning, maintenance and storage procedures and records ___ Work-area monitoring to establish degree of exposure...

Welding On Galvanized Metals One of the most significant health hazards in the welding process is the generation of fumes and gasses. Do you weld on galvanized metals? Zinc is the coating used on galvanized metals, and when you heat the metal, it produces vaporized metal droplets which are called fumes. This is the smoky haze which consists of fine particles of metals or silicates. When you breathe these fumes, they may work deeply into your lungs. The typical effect of breathing zinc fumes is metal fume fever. One or two hours or more after welding-without proper personal protection-you may experience severe...

Painter Safety (2) A painter applies coatings and paint to interior and exterior building surfaces with a variety of job sites, chemical use, and physical and ergonomic demands. A lot of painting work is done from heights. Inspect ladders daily, set them properly, and work from ladders safely. Make sure a qualified person properly installed your scaffolding. Do not use makeshift ladders or scaffolds that could fail and cause a fall. Know when to use fall protection and how to use it properly. Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to learn about the chemicals in paints and surface preparation materials you use. Even...

Painter Safety (1) A painter applies coatings to surfaces and products to protect and/or beautify them. They use chemicals such as solvents, fillers, etchers, primers, color, and clear coats. Be familiar with the chemicals you use in the workplace. Read and understand the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the proper use of each chemical. Chemical containers require labels with at least the name and the primary hazard of the chemical inside. Choose chemicals that have lower hazard ratings for fire, health, and reactivity. Spray painting and the use of solvents may cause you to inhale dust, vapors, and mists of coating chemicals. Do...

Limitations Of Cartridge-Type Respirators A half mask cartridge-type respirator is the most common type used for protection against organic vapors, dusts, mists, acid gases, and fumes. You should be aware, however, that respirators of this type provide adequate protection only under limited conditions. This type of respirator is designed mainly for short-term operations that do not contain atmospheres that are "immediately dangerous to life." To use this type of respirator you must know both the type and concentration of contaminants in the air. Cartridge type respirators are approved only for low concentrations of contaminants in the air, the maximum permitted level of...

Auto Repair Safety - Automobile Repair Services Automobile repair services include inspections, maintenance, and repairs to vehicles. Repairs may require computer analysis, fluid changes, parts changes, or major mechanical work, exposing workers to fire and explosion hazards, chemicals, ergonomic strains, awkward postures, and tool and machinery safety concerns. Get the proper training you need to safely use your equipment and tools. Get training, read, and understand the material safety data sheet on the chemicals you use. Know where emergency exits and equipment are located. Get fire extinguisher training. Emergency eyewash stations and showers should be available, easily accessible, and ready to use...

Asphalt Worker Safety Asphalt is used for paving and surfacing roads, roofing, concrete work, and paints. It is made from petroleum products and is usually heated between 150-200 degrees F. Asphalt is often mixed with solvents (diesel, kerosene, naphtha, toluene, and xylene), binders, hardening and bonding agents (resins), crushed rock, sand, and recycled rubber. Exposure to asphalt fumes can cause serious health effects, so get training, and use safe work practices. When asphalt is heated, the fumes can cause coughing, a scratchy throat, or lung irritation. Long-term exposure can lead to bronchitis or emphysema. Asphalt additives may create vapors that can cause...