Document r6qRpqayLQEzZDBJb3Drw1wEG

NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60611 A NONGOVERNMENTAL, PRIVATELY SUPPORTED, PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATION APRIL 1977 Implement, Maintain Respiratory Protection Program THE successful implementation of a respiratory protection program is pri marily dependent upon the employers' belief in the need for the program and the employees' acceptance of the pro gram. This requires that both employer and employee thoroughly understand the plant processes and the possible hazards (both routine and non-routine or emergency) arising from these pro cesses. Obviously, control of respiratory hazards should start at the process in the form of engineering controls. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Act states that respiratory pro tection shall only be used when effec tive engineering controls are not feasi ble (with no consideration toward costs), or while engineering controls are being instituted. When respirators are required to protect the health of the employees, a full and complete respiratory protec tion program is imperative to the successful attainment of this objective. Naturally, the elements of a complete and successful respiratory rjjrotection program will differ from plant to plant. However, we can list sdm'e' of the minimum requirements of an effective program. 1. A written set of standard operat ing procedures governing the selection and use of respirators should be established. 2. Respirators should be selected on the basis of the hazards to which the worker is exposed. 3. The respirator user should be instructed and trained in the proper use of respirators and their limitations. 4. Each respirator wearer should be fit-tested and subsequently provided with a respirator that fits properly. 5. Where practicable, the respira tors should be assigned to individual workers for their exclusive use. 6. Respirators should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Respirators used by more than one worker should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use. 7. Respirators used routinely should be inspected during cleaning. Worn or deteriorated parts should be replaced. Respirators for emergency use should be thoroughly inspected at least once a month and after each use. 8. Respirators should be stored in a convenient, clean, and sanitary loca tion. 9. Appropriate surveillance of work area conditions and degree of employee exposure or stress should be main tained. 10. A regular inspection and eval uation procedure should be imple mented to determine the continued., effectiveness of the program. " 11. Persons should not be assigned ' to tasks requiring the use of respirators unless it has been determined by the respirator program administrator, using the guidelines of a physician, that they are physically and psychologically able to perform the work and use the equipment. This determination should be reviewed at least annually. 12. MESA/NIOSH certified respirators should be used for protec tion when they are available. Nonapproved respirators generally are not recognized as provjdirig adequate pro tection. - - r ' . T" ' Now that the standard operating procedures and policies have been out- "-' - lined, the real task begins: implement ing the procedures and maintairShgarP- effective program. Again; it shraild be emphasized that this, can .only |se ac-. ! complished with the -full support ofmanagement and full'acceptance and'understanding by the employees?"* ' ? Let us list the employers* and em-' ployees'responsibililies. It is the. em-,., ployers'-responsibility to provide respiratory protective: equipment when ? such equipment is necesary to protect the health of the employee, to provide... respirators which are applicable^'and . suitable for the: purpose intended, and " to establish and maintain an effective respiratory protection program. It is the employees! responsibility -to use the provided respiratory protection in accordance with instructions and training received,' to guard against damage to the respirator, and to report any malfunction of theLrespiratoncuhe - responsible person- for-correction-.-- -- First, we mustmake-sure that the-, standard bperating procedures include: _All the information- and guidance . necessary for the proper selection,, use. and care of the needed equipment. Designation of the correct respirator for each job and an inventory system to identify the respirators and the employ ees to whom they were issued. Written procedures covering safe use of respirators in dangerous at mospheres. Continues on next page "V C 00340SA \A'T 3 _ i? Safety Newsletter Chemical Section Fire Warning Equipment Fills a Household Need HENRY KAISER, the founder of Kaiser Industries, defines marketing as the "finding of a need and filling it." Such a need exists in the field of household fire warning equipment. There are so many different man ufacturers of so many different types of home alarms that the situation is confusing. To further complicate this market, some manufacturers are mak ing household fire warning devices for other distributors. Approximately 30 companies have introduced detectors in the last couple of years under SO to 60 brand names. Two big companies. North Amer ican Phillips Corp. (Norelco) and Hon eywell recently have moved into the detector field and are distributing their products nationally. Norelco did not even go into a test market. The compa ny felt this market was so huge that the saturation factor was nil. That such detector devices are needed is beyond question. NFPA data estimates 12,000 lives are lost each year in fires. The majority result from the effects of smoke and toxic gases before being exposed to flames. Another 300,000 people are injured annually in fires. Early warning from home fire warning equipment provides a high potential for reduction of these injuries. To be effective, home fire warning equipment must possess a high degree of reliability over a long period of time (30 years does not seem unreasonable). There are essentially two types of home fire warning equipment. One type is activated by heat, the other is a smoke detector. The 1974 edition of NFPA no. 74, however, recognizes thtfTact :.that_ smoke detector technologgihad. ad vanced to the point where the judicious installation of one or two smoke detec tors could be more effective than a house full of heat detectors in alerting occupants of fire. Further, from available statistical data, it appears that most dwelling fires start with smoldering. The first com bustion product is smoke, thus, it would be valid to select a smoke detector rather than a heat detector as a more suitable early warning fire detec tion device. Essentially, two different sensing modes are used by single station smoke detectors. In one type of detector (re ferred to as a photoelectric smoke detector) the principle of scattered or reflected light is used. Under no-smoke conditions the chamber is dark and the light shines across the chamber and is received in a light trap on the far side. When smoke is present in the cham ber, a photocell located on the side of the chamber at right angles to the light source sees the light scattered off the smoke particles and, at a suitable illumination level, triggers the alarm. In the other type of detector De ferred to as an ionization chamber smoke detector) a radioactive source material is used to ionize the air within the sensing chamber. The ionization of the air results in a very small electrical current flow, and smoke particles from a fire enter the chamber. This reduces current flow and the reduction in current actuates an alarm horn. There is no lack of discussion regarding the relative merits of these two types of smoke detectors. For every point on one side, there seems to . be a point for the other. Current usage is greater in photoelectric, so this type should be permanently wired into the dwelling's electrical circuit. The power consumed by the ionization chamber, type is very low and for this reason battery power can be used safely. In no case should either type be used when no UL or FM listing appears on the unit. At present, it is the ionization chamber battery power which seems to be gaining in favor. Two types of batteries are now used in the battery-operated detectors: alkaiine and mercury. Alkaline batteries :, have almost a descending straight line deterioration voltage graph and need some method of avoiding a reduction in sensitivity as the battery voltage declines. The mercury batteries have a fairly constant voltage during their useful life, hence the detector has a uniform sensitivity during the life of the battery. This, certainly, is a point in their favor.: All types of household fire warning equipment are constantly improving. An improvement under development at this time would produce a longer life source for the photoelectric detector, such as a lightemitting diode. Another example is utilization of a solid state, semi-conductor crystal sensitive to combustible gases. It is assumed that the owner of the home will take care of regular mainte nance. Maintenance should include the following: Replace batteries at least once a year, even if the warning device for weak batteries has not sounded. Replace photoelectric bulbs once a year. More and more these devices are being required by law and/or bqilding codes. For example: : ~ FHA now requires the installation r of at least one smoke detector in homes 4 which it finances. . . *= Various local building ^odesc _ throughout the nation are ordenijg the detectors in all new construction: " - All mobile homes built henceforth will require these devices.. At the low cost of these devices and considering their proven reliability,, no. _ householder should fail to protect his family from fire. They are a safety.,, precaution that should be utilized to* ` day,. T. Ferree, Safety Manager r'iri . DeSoto, Inif-~ - Des Plaines, Hi. -- Annual Conference THE American Industrial, Hygiene Association Annual Conference will be held at the-- ... Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans, *- -- May 22-27,1977;J*r -f. v Introductory Class -- AIHA/NIOSH Course SiPcrih-- troduction to. Industrial* Hygiene" will-be given- April 25-29, 1977 in Ann ArborvMich. 1 and June 6-10, 1977 in Phila delphia, Pa. For information or registration call or write AIHA, 66 S. Millef Rd., Akron, Ohio 44313 (telephone 216-836-9537). Fee is $250. c 003429 Hi Chemical Section National Safety Council >: Program must periodiciiliy reinforce^ this need . Continued from page 1. ' '**3* on a continuing basis. L-'< Provisions f&t/tiindql ; Finally, with the full cooperation, * by a qualified individual understanding, conviction,- and assis respirators are properly, tance of both the employer and the cleaned, maintained.-an$ employee, we can implement our via Periodic training/fe'tainmt WMioris ^ to insure that users are familiar with, the proper use of the respirator and its ; ` limhaitohsf ^ Specific procedures on the mainte- *nance and care of respirators to.indude . inspection (including teak testing), cleaning,! and. disinfecting, repair andr \ . storage, '"~ ble respiratory protection program. But in order to successfully implement our program on a continuing basis, we mustmainiain an ongoing surveillance and evaluation of the program and its effectiveness. This will necessitate con tinual assessment of the respiratory hazards encountered and immediate changes in the program when needed. If we have the full cooperation and Survival Test To Be Televised May 1 DON'T MISS television's "Big Event" on Sunday, May 1. The National Disas ter Survival Test, a 90-minute NBC program, will be aired at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The program will be produced for NBC by Bush Productions, Inc., in cooperation with the National Safety Council. It was Warren Bush, president of BPI, who wrote and produced the National Drivers' Test for CBS in 1965. The program won the coveted Peabody ~/~Next, the responsibility and au- assistance of everyone involved in Award and generated more mail than thority for the respirator program must/ be assigned to a single person. This administrator should have sufficient implementing the procedures we have outlined above on a daily basis, we can successfully implement a complete and . any TV program before or since. But . unlike the Drivers' Test, which focused strictly on traffic safety. The knowledge of respiratory protection to properly supervise the respirator pro successful respiratory protection pro gram. National Disaster Survival Test will be concerned with all types of safety. - gram. Further, he should have the authority to make the necessary deci-* r sions to attain successful implementa tion of the program.' ; " --Harry W. Rapp, Jr. Director The Trawlers Insurance Companies For more details, check the March and April issues of the National Safety?. News. .* - - After completely outlining our respiratory protection program; elab orating on our standard operating pro- - In Proper Perspective cedures to the point of pinning down all possible, loose ends and spelling out* ' responsibilities, we now have to moti-.j__ vale the employee to use the respirator he has been provided. This motivation TM EVEN IF you are a less than average reader, you have no doubt noticed the increase in articles concerning toxic substances in our environment, both at work and at home. Many of these `canbe accomplished effectively through, training/retraining, the- em-Li: ployee in, the understanding nf the- i: hazards being faced and the problem^arising from the lack of the proper useu_- articles mention ppm (parts per mil lion) ppb (parts per billion) and even ppT(parts per trillioji). These terms are used to indicate the amount of con taminants in the air we breathe. Dr. Warren B. Crummett of the Dow Chemical Co. has provided the following table so that lay people can better understand the terms. The table was published in the October 1976 issue of MCA News, published by the Manufacturing Chemists Associa tion. ` -- of appropriate respiratory protection. Having motivated the employee to use the respiratory protection provided, we-~- UNIT LENGTH 1 pan pet million 1 mch/ 16 miles TRACE CONCENTRATION UNITS 1 pan per billion 1 part per trillion 1 inch/ 16.000 miles 1 inch/16.000.000 milts ( A sisinch leap on a Editor: journey to the sun) Thomas A McWillle, C.SJ^~. Industrial Resource*^; Brookh Suite 210 9900 N.W. I Houston, Tex^TTi Associate Etfiierr^ Rudy WiljamaaCorporata Salaiy Manager-- National Distillers- t Chemical - Cbrp,-- -.. SZZZ:' ._ 77T0 Reading Rtf.---- -Cincinnati. Ohio 45237- The Information contained In thi* newsletter ha* baan obtained from aourcea believed ta be reliable, and the editor* have eaerciaed. raatonable ear* to aaaor* tta accuracy: However, the National Salaty Council doe* not guarantee that contenta ot thia publication are correct.- and atatement* attributed to other aourcea do not neceaaarily reflect the opinion or poaition of the Council. TIME MONEY WEIGHT VOLUME AREA _ ACTION 0UAIITY RATE 1 minute/2 years 1 second/ 32 years 1 second/320 centuries If/S 10.000 1 C/S 10.000.000 ic/$ 10.000_000.000_____ 1 ounce/ 31 tons potato chips 1 diop VfctfTMjUth/ 80"liflhs" gin t pinch salt/10 tons pntato.chips . 1 drop vermouth/ _. 500 barrels gin 1 pinch salt/ 10.000 tons potato chips. t drop vermouth/ 250.000 hogsheads of gin ot. 1 drop vermouth in 520 ^30.000 gal tank cars of gin 1_sq It/ 23 acies__ 1 sq ft/36 sq mi. 1 sq in/ 250 sq mi. _ _ 1 bogey/3.500 goll tournaments 1 lob/1,200 tennis matches 1 bogey/ 3.500.000 golf toumaments 1 lob/1.200.000 tennis matchejs____ 1 bogey/3.500.000.000 " - golf tournaments 1 lob/1.200.000.000 tennis matches 1 bad apple/ 2.000 benels 1 bad apple/ 2.000.000 bartels 1 bad apple/ 2.000,000.000 battels _ 1 dented lender/ 10 1 dented lender/ 10.000 1 dented fender/ 10 000.000 car lifetimes car lifetimes car lifetimes ----------- C"003430------------------- -I 3 Chemical Section Newsletter Safety Classes Tailored To Fit A NEW Occupational health training course tailored to the needs of in dividual companies has been intro duced by the American'Industrial Hygiene Association. The five-day course on "Recogni tion of Occupational Health Hazards" was inaugurated recently for 28 repre sentatives of Diamond Shamrock Corp. from its plants throughout the country. "By conducting the course for em ployees of our company only, we were able to tailor the course to Diamond Shamrock's specific needs," says Jim Laurence, a Shamrock corporate in dustrial hygienist. "We spent less time on certain subjects and techniques which we would not encounter or need at our plants," he explains, "and we ex panded our study in other areas impor tant to us." The course is aimed at plant man agement personnel who aren't occupa tional health specialists but whose responsibilities include insuring proper health and safety procedures in the workplace. Practical techniques are emphasized for identifying biological, chemical, environmental, and physical hazards in industrial surroundings. Diamond Shamrock's school met in Akron, but AIHA says it can present the course anywhere in the country, according to client needs. For more information about the course, contact William E. McCormick, AIHA, 66 S. Miller Rd., Akron, Ohio 44313. a A Chemical 8action Safety Seminar, held January 27 In Los Angeles, Calif., was co sponsored by the National Safety Council and the Greater Los Angeles Safety Council. The LA Council promoted the meeting and the NSC's Chemical Section procured speakers for the seminar. The photos, show clockwise from top right, Joe Kaplan, president of the Greater Los Angeles Safety Council welcoming guests to the seminar; Roger Carley, Chemical Section vice chairman of. Programs addressing the seminar; National Safety Council President Vincent Tofany, Chemical Section General Chairman-elect T. A. Yoder, and General Chairman Owen Kubias; and Harry Edwards of Dow Chemical addressing the seminar on respiratory protective equipment. Take It Easy HOW MUCH time is saved by a driver who weaves in and out of traffic? That was the question posed recently by a builder of precision instruments and a tire manufacturer. In a joint effort to find the answer, they equipped two identical cars with instruments to record driving details. Over half of the 1,000 mile test route was on freeways. Driver number one was instructed to travel the route in the shortest possible time. Driver number two was advised to avoid all risks, maintain the traffic tempo, and relax. Driver number one crossed the finish line after twenty hours and twelve minutes driving time. The driv er of car number two arrived 31 minutes later. Although the fast driver took con siderably more risks, his average speed was less than SO mph compared to the slower driver's average of 48-plus mph. Other statistics follow: Panic stops Applied brakes Passed others Passed by others Fast Driver 4 1335 2004 13 Slow Driver 0 652 645 142 In addition to the greater wear and tear on car number one it consumed ten gallons more gasoline than car number two. --Safeco Loss Controller Printed in U.S.A. c 003431 Stock No. 112.03-05047