[ OSH-Link Home
| IVI Online
| Comments ]
The results of an OSHA investigation of worker exposures to metals and noise during the mechanical removal of surface coatings on a bridge were discussed. The investigation was initiated as result of both a referral to OSHA and a local emphasis program. At the worksite, the workers were removing old paint on a bridge with hand held disc grinders, needle guns, and disc grinders. Numerous safety violations were observed. A review of the employer's medical monitoring records found one of eight workers on medical removal because he had a blood lead (7439921) level of 72 micrograms per 100 grams (microg/g). None of the other workers had blood lead concentrations above 50microg/100g, although the records indicated that their blood concentrations were increasing. The workers had been using half face respirators. On the day of the survey, the employer switched the workers to supplied air, continuous flow respirators. The employees had not received baseline audiometric tests and no noise control procedures or equipment were in place. Noise exposures were monitored on two workers using pneumatic tools to remove old paint. Breathing zone samples were collected for four workers. The time weighted average noise exposures of the two workers were 104.5 and 103.6 decibels-A (dBA), well above the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 90dBA. Breathing zone lead concentrations ranged from 0.934 to 5.54mg/m3, well above the PEL of 0.05mg/m3. These workers were also overexposed to iron (7439896) and zinc (7440666). Wipe samples collected on a lunch box in a lunch room, inside a supplied respirator, and at other sites contained lead in amounts ranging up to 89microg. The author concludes that workers at the site were overexposed to lead, iron, and zinc and noise while using pneumatic tools to remove old surface coatings.
Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 11(11):1278-1280, 1996. (7 references)
You can do a search of the OSH-DB database and get a list of articles on any topic of interest on our Visitor Search Page. Access to read the articles is limited to OSH-DB subscribers.