A. Sussell, CDC-NIOSH, Cincinnati, OH; M. Fingerhut, CDC-NIOSH, Washington, DC.
One of the primary objectives of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is to enhance global workplace safety and health through international collaborations. Currently NIOSH chairs the World Health Organization Network of Collaborating Centers in Occupational Health, which includes 64 government agencies and universities in various countries, the International Labour Organization, and international NGOs including the International Occupational Hygiene Association. WHO estimates that only 10-15% of the global work force has access to occupational health services. The 2001-2005 WHO global work plan included 15 priority areas and 350 funded projects, with a focus on assisting developing nations and identifying practical solutions for workplace hazards. Additionally, since 1997 NIOSH has conducted targeted activities to increase occupational hygiene capacity in collaboration with international partners. Many of these have occurred in the Americas in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization. These include short occupational hygiene courses for health professionals, chemists, and engineers; technical assistance to other governments; fellowships for foreign scientists who have been trained in the United States under Fogarty training grants for environmental and occupational health; lending equipment to government agencies; and preparing training and educational materials to meet specific needs. The technical materials that are developed are disseminated freely. Examples include a Training Course and Manual for Industrial Hygiene Sampling developed to assist the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment, and Industrial Hygiene Equipment Data Sheets developed to assist a Central American regional occupational health center that was funded by the U.S. Planning for the next 5 years is ongoing.
G. Croteau, J. Camp, M. Yost, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; F. Nguyen, City of Seattle, Department of Transportation, Seattle, WA; B. Nguyen, Viet Nam National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
The purpose of this descriptive research project was to characterize exposure to silica and respirable dust in two Vietnamese refractory brick factories and to determine the relationship between the Vietnamese sampling and analytical method and the U.S. method. In collaboration with the Vietnamese National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, personal and area samples for respirable and total dust were collected using U.S. methods concurrently with area samples using the Vietnamese High Volume method. All personal samples and half of the area samples were analyzed at the University of Washington, and half the area samples were analyzed at the Vietnamese NIOEH. Eighty respirable silica dust samples were collected in four worker groups: Material, Forming, Furnace, and Other. Exposure concentrations were compared with the U.S. and Vietnamese permissible exposure limits. The silica and respirable dust concentrations were low; more than 50% of the personal samples were below the limits of detection. The geometric mean silica concentration at Factory #1 was 9 µg/m3 and 20 µg/m3 at Factory #2. When stratified by company and work location, the Materials section of company #1 had the highest silica and respirable dust concentrations (19 µg/m3 and 2.3 mg/m3, respectively), whereas the “other” section of Company #2 had the highest concentrations (0.03 mg/m3 for silica and 2.2 mg/m3 for respirable dust). For silica dust concentration, company and work location were found to be significant in the ANOVA model. For respirable dust concentration, work process was a significant predictor. Results of the comparison between Vietnamese and U.S. sampling and analytical methods are reported elsewhere. Although the average silica and respirable dust concentrations were low, exposures were highly variable and some work activities had exposures that exceeded the Vietnamese and U.S. exposure limits. Control measures such as local exhaust ventilation or proper respiratory equipment should be considered.
E. Iyiegbuniwe, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY.
Previous studies have documented strong associations between long-term combustion-related fine particulate and carbon monoxide air pollution and increased risk of adverse health outcomes. The combustion of firewood as the primary source of fuel for cooking is a family-centered activity in many rural Nigerian communities. Firewood combustion increases local air pollution and enhances the vulnerability of occupants to indoor air pollutants and diseases with potentially serious public health effects. An exposure assessment of indoor air pollutants was conducted as part of environmental risk factor assessment of a rural Nigerian population with a view to developing interventions to reduce risks. This pilot study focuses on the relationship between occupancy and measured concentrations of basic indoor air quality parameters and airborne levels of selected pollutants in a rural Nigeria. Ten randomly selected homes were included in the study (eight used firewood while two used kerosene stove for cooking). Measurements were made in June and July during the rainy season at three selected indoor locations during normal occupancy (bedroom, family room, and kitchen) and the outdoor. Environmental parameters were data-logged using a direct-reading instrument and particulate matter concentrations were determined using a particle counter (six channels of size distributions: 0.3-5.0 micrometer). Preliminary statistical results showed high mean levels of comfort parameters, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Peak levels of environmental parameters occurred in the kitchen during firewood combustion. Daily average CO2 differential ranged from 110 to 839 ppm with a peak of 2,039 ppm, as compared with 700 ppm recommended by ASHRAE. Peak carbon monoxide and particulate matter concentrations were well above indoor standards and up to 30 times higher than outdoor concentrations. Preventive measures and control strategies are recommended for reducing exposures. This study demonstrates the usefulness of collecting multiple environmental parameters during residential indoor air quality exposure assessment.
Z. Said, A. Zainudin, PETRONAS, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The government of Malaysia introduced Noise and Hazardous Chemicals Exposure Regulations in 1989 and 2000, respectively. As these two hazards are most common to the oil and gas industry, Malaysia’s multinational oil and gas company has embarked on a program in assessing the compliance level of its operating units (OPUs) with these two regulations. The program aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses faced by the OPUs in complying with these regulations and striving for excellent health protection programs. The assessment, which involved 16 OPUs, was done via site visit, personnel interview, and reference to related documents using a checklist developed based on the two regulations. Once the assessment was completed, the results were compiled and major areas where improvement is needed were identified. The major noncompliance to the noise exposure regulations was on audiometric test. Issues like lack of baseline audiogram revision and lack of follow up on subsequent tests topped the list of problems faced by the OPUs. For the hazardous chemical exposure regulations, the key noncompliances included improper labeling and MSDS, as well as lack of chemical monitoring and LEV inspection. The problems arose when there was insufficient support on industrial hygiene technicality and lack of cooperation from chemical suppliers in providing the proper labeling and MSDS. Since the assessment, great initiatives have been taken in developing various enhancement programs in order to assist its OPUs, which has produced many success stories. These ongoing programs include development of trained personnel in performing chemical and noise monitoring, as well as LEV inspection, awareness training on noise and hazardous chemicals, and establishing a hazardous chemicals database system for MSDS and labeling. The implementation of these programs is strengthened with the systematic development of occupational health doctors and industrial hygienists within the company.
D. Rogers, Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd., Surrey, England; W. Johnston, Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland; A. Maayergi, Qatar Petroleum, Doha, Qatar.
Industrial hygiene studies in the Middle East present a number of challenges for the industrial hygienist. These include site accessibility and climate extremes, the ethnic mix of the work force, the range of skills and expertise of the work force, and the variability of a “safety culture” at different sites and among employers. A Health Risk Assessment and Industrial Hygiene Baseline Study was undertaken for 18 months by an international oil and gas company in the Middle East. The objectives were to review all work tasks at seven operational areas, to assess current workplace health risks to employees and others affected by the company’s operations, and to identify appropriate preventive and protective control measures to reduce such risks to acceptable levels. A team of industrial hygienists visited each of the sites. Health risks were established for exposure of employees and others using a variety of monitoring tools. It was concluded that most of these health risks could be substantially mitigated by ensuring consistency and standardization in the development and application of management systems. In addition, in some instances, engineering control measures were recommended for effective risk mitigation. As a result, a number of prioritized recommendations were made, most of which have been or are being implemented. These improvements are being implemented at the local level, with both management and employee involvement.
While there are a number of physical, managerial, climatic, and skill level challenges at industrial sites in the Middle East, the health risks posed and the associated risk mitigation solutions are similar to those that would be encountered elsewhere in the world. Careful and sympathetic implementation of industrial hygiene programs and health and safety management systems in such industrial sites can result in an improved “safety culture” in the organization.
C. Keil, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH; S. Yimer, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. Its infrastructure for regulating occupational safety and health (OSH) is only now emerging and is faced with many challenges. These represent a microcosm of the OSH challenges typical in African countries. Ethiopia has some legal instruments that address OSH policy generally, but there are few specific regulations detailing standards and empower enforcement. OSH compliance is the responsibility of the Working Conditions and Environment Research and Inspection Team in the Labor Affairs Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. This team faces significant manpower challenges. The labor inspection services are staffed by 45 personnel: 6 federal and from 0 to 13 inspectors from each administrative region. Specialized OSH training is limited. Nationwide there are no OSH educational programs. There are some environmental and public health programs having varying OSH content. This deficit is being addressed to some degree by training personnel abroad and by the more cost-efficient method of conducting training in Ethiopia. The task before these inspectors is large. OSH policy emphasizes the nation’s approximately 1,000 medium and large manufacturers employing a total of more than 100,000 workers. The mean fatality rate among reporting facilities in the group is 16.8 per 100,000. The prioritization of medium and large industries reflects their easy identification and their proximity to the government centers from which the inspection teams work. However there are 1.32 million employees in small and cottage industries. Also, the agricultural and service sectors, representing over 80% of the workforce, are largely nonregulated. Strategic planning and international support is needed to develop the OSH manpower and technical resources needed to expand OSH broadly to the population. This needs to be done within a policy context that addresses the short- and long-term development goals of the country.
R. Brandys, Occupational & Environmental Health Consulting Services, Hinsdale, IL.
As many safety professionals know, the OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs) cover approximately 500 chemicals. However, most of these 500+ PELs are based on toxicological data from 1968. Alternatively, ACGIH has about 600 TLV standards that are updated annually, but the ACGIH standards are not mandatory. Given this situation, are the OSHA and ACGIH limits truly protecting U.S. workers? Further complicating this is that thousands of chemicals are used in workplaces for which the United States has no standards. Are there other sources of occupational exposure limits that safety and health professionals can access to insure adequate protection of their workers? This presentation will discuss over 2 years of research into global occupational exposure limits (OELs). Over 35 countries worldwide regulate over 3,500 occupational chemicals. Most of them are updated with the latest toxicological data every 2 to 3 years. How might this affect the safety professional in the United States? How might it affect U.S. manufacturing facilities overseas? Exposure standards that are promulgated globally can include no effect levels, 8-hour exposure standards, 15-minute exposure standards, ceiling limits, or levels that are immediately dangerous to life and health. This presentation provides a summary of this body of knowledge by listing the lowest standard, the mean standard, and the highest standard for chemicals in each classification. Significant legal liability questions are starting to be raised for CIHs and CSPs who are unaware of these global regulatory standards for chemicals that are unregulated in the United States. This is occurring in both the United States and in corporate manufacturing facilities around the world. The Code of Ethics for CIHs and CSPs requires professionals to be updated on current information. Questions regarding both legal and ethical practice implications of this information will be included.
J. Hinton, Baker Hughes-Centrilift, Claremore, OK; R. Bui, Richard A. Bui and Associates, Wexford, PA; C. Glencross, True North Concepts, New Smyrna Beach, FL; W. Skocypec, Wayne J. Skocypec and Associates, Perkasie, PA.
International settings can be fraught with a mix of ethical challenges. These challenges can extend to the professional practice of industrial hygiene, environmental health, or safety. This is particularly true in countries where business corruption is the norm and can be intensified when the political or regulatory system not only condones corrupt practices but is also fed by it. The EHS professional is further challenged when there is more than one international partner responsible for the operation, and the partners have their own interpretation as to what is ethical and what is not. Kazakhstan is rapidly becoming one the key resources of the world’s supply of oil and gas. It also ranks as one of the lowest on the CPI, the Corruption Perception Index. And, given the technological and financial challenges, the western geographic sector of Kazakhstan is being developed by oil and gas consortiums of ethically diverse companies and countries. In the middle, is the EHS professional, committed to good science and a professional code of ethics. In such a backdrop, the EHS professional is challenged to become an effective diplomat and champion of social responsibility so that good science and the ethical practice of EHS can be used and maintained. The EHS Management System and personal integrity of EHS professionals at the massive Karachaganak oil and gas field in Western Kazakhstan demonstrated that good science and professional ethics could prevail and be effectively practiced in such a challenging environment. Case-in-point examples are provided of the technological, management, regulatory, and political challenges that were successfully met to bring state-of-the-art and ethically correct practices to a setting that would have compromised their application.
Posted May 30, 2006