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Industrial
Hygiene Insights – January 8, 2008 |
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Welcome to IH
Insights, the monthly electronic newsletter for industrial
hygiene practitioners. Each issue brings you analysis and
commentary
from our contributing editors, all veteran industrial
hygienists, plus
news on compliance, research, and professional practice from the
Occupational Hazards editorial team. |
In This
Issue:
Season of
Lights
Safety Roundtable:
Looking Inside the EHS Crystal Ball
Survey Reveals
PPE Compliance Concerns
Welding Safety:
Ventilation is a Breath of Fresh Air
EPA Quits River
Cleanup Talks With Dow
Season of Lights
By Dave Ermer
A good portion of the world's population has recently stowed away
decorative lights intended to dispel gloom. For industrial hygienists,
health physicists and safety professionals, I would suggest in our
history now is the season of laser light safety.
This is based on the following observations. Lasers have become
extraordinarily affordable and extremely widespread in use. They are so
useful it could be difficult if not impossible to find any
manufacturing, service or construction activity not dependent on their
use.
On top of this, we really do not know how many laser-associated injuries
occur. The estimates I have read suggest several hundred eye injuries a
year in the United States. To ice the cake, the lasers in the U.S.
market, at least in my experience, are generating more hazardous beams
from common power supplies (i.e., batteries). They are sometimes
mislabeled or poorly labeled as to their hazard class; can have pitiful
or cursory safety comments in their product literature; and in at least
one case -- marketed to appeal on something of a violent video game
level.
To my colleagues I would say:
- Be wary of green beam laser pointers and green beam laser devices
that resemble laser pointers.
Become familiar with or acquainted with the ANSI laser safety standards.
There is a horizontal standard supporting half dozen vertical standards
covering specific aspects of laser safety and some laser heavy
industries.
- Become familiar with FAA outdoor laser use restrictions.
- Be aware that state and local laser registration and safety
regulations are common; and that international laser safety regulations
exist.
- Enjoy the challenge of being the laser safety officer. The job is
possibly the best intersection of industrial hygienist, health physics,
and safety professionalism.
Something Extra
The Department of Homeland Security is creating work for industrial
hygienists. The new Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard appears to
potentially affect such diverse sites as large hardware stores and
academic campi. The basic chore is to compare a list of ~ 300 chemicals
of interest with their one-to-three threshold quantities against the
site's chemical inventory. If you have a good handle on your chemical
use, you should be able to exercise professional judgment to eliminate
most of the listed chemicals without resorting to a general bombardment
of your organization for chemical information.
Have a safe, healthy and successful 2008!
David K. Ermer, CIH, QEP, CLSO, can be reached at
Ermland@comcast.net.
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Did you Miss the Safety WebExpo and Conference?
Featuring: Understanding NFPA 70E and the Arc Flash Hazard
Presented by Westex
Protect your work force from the deadly hazard of arc flash hazard.
Watch this webcast and learn the essentials of arc flash and how to
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70E.
Log on today!
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Survey Reveals PPE Compliance
Concerns
A survey of nearly 200 safety professionals at the 2007 National
Safety Council (NSC) Congress indicates noncompliance with personal
protective equipment (PPE) continues to be an ongoing problem in the
workplace.
Read More
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EPA Quits River Cleanup Talks With
Dow
EPA recently halted negotiations with Dow Chemical, claiming the
company has not offered a deal representing comprehensive cleanup
efforts of the dioxin-contaminated Tittabawassee River system.
Read More
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TV! |
Click on a video to the right to watch the
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Tune in daily to see company
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demonstrations, reports from industry trade shows and
interviews with newsmakers.
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If you have
any comments or feedback about the content or format of IH
Insights, please share them with Editor Sandy Smith at ssmith@penton.com.
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