Home Quality of Your Air

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When you think about air pollution, what comes to mind? Smog? Brown Cloud? Cars? How about “home”? Recent studies by the EPA show that the air inside homes and buildings is on average two to five times more polluted than the air in even the most industrial cities (1). With North Americans spending an average of 90% of their time inside, indoor air pollution can pose a serious health risk.




So what’s causing this toxic indoor environment? The culprits run the gamut from mold to invisible gases to household cleaning products. Let’s take a look at some common indoor air pollutants and how to eliminate them from your home.



Biological Pollutants

Not only do household allergens like mold, mildew, animal dander, and dust mites cause common irritations like sneezing and headaches, these biological contaminants have also been estimated to lead to 200,000 emergency room visits per year by asthma patients (2).



Biological pollutants can be reduced through regular household cleaning, removing mold and mildew from damp areas, washing bedding and pillows, and changing humidifier water regularly.



Radon

This colorless, odorless gas is actually the second leading cause of lung cancer, implicated in anywhere from 7,000-30,000 deaths every year (3). Radon gas naturally rises from the ground and dissipates into the air. The problem arises when structures such as homes are built over “hot spots,” thereby trapping the gas inside. When breathed in, radon reacts with lung tissue, causing damage that over time can lead to lung cancer.



The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to test for it. Radon test kits are now available for homeowners to check radon levels in the home.



Carbon Monoxide

There’s yet another colorless and odorless gas besides radon that may be lurking in your home, but this one could be far more dangerous. Carbon monoxide gas is a deadly indoor air pollutant and can be generated from the incomplete combustion of fuel in household devices like gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces, and cars. Carbon monoxide inhibits the transport of oxygen through the body. At low levels of exposure, it may cause dizziness, vomiting, muscle aches, and general weakness. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to death.



The number-one way to protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning is to purchase a carbon monoxide detector. These units function like smoke detectors and go off when carbon monoxide levels get too high. In addition, it’s wise to have a professional check all fuel burning devices in your home (the flames should be blue), never bring burning charcoal indoors, never leave cars running in an enclosed or attached garage, and always open the flue before starting a fire.



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Great Guides For Selecting a Respirator

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Shopping for and using particulate respirators doesn't have to be a confusing task. This PE Fact document sets forth all of the information you need to make informed purchasing decisions and safely use your particulate respirator.




Testing guidelines for air-purifying particulate respirators can be found under The Department of Health and Human Services Rules and Regulations 42 CFR Part 84. This test criteria applies to particulate-style, non-powered air-purifying respirators only.



You can identify filters that meet these specifications by a sequence of approval numbers for non-powered particulate respirators (TC-84A-XXXX). All particulate respirators approved under Part 84 will have a certification label bearing the NIOSH and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) emblems; those approved under Part 11 have the emblems of NIOSH and MSHA. This will allow users to distinguish particulate respirators certified before July 10, 1995, under Part 11 from particulate respirators certified after that date under Part 84.



In the past, HEPA filters were the only filters approved for protection against tuberculosis (TB), which was costly to the health care industry. With Part 84, industries have the ability choose a lower cost respirator which provides appropriate protection. Under current test guidelines, workers exposed to TB can use the N95 series respirator which is more affordable and provides the necessary protection.



Today's particulate respirators fall into nine different classes, have three levels of filter efficiency (95, 99 and 99.97%), and three categories of filter degradation (N, R and P). All nine classes filter the same particle size (0.3 micrometers aerodynamic mass median diameter).



The following chart shows the filter classes certified under 42 CFR Part 84.



Description of filter classes certified under 42 CFR 84

Class of filter

Efficiency (%)

Test agent

Test maximum loading (mg)

Type of contaminant

Service time1



N-series

N100

N 99

N 95

-

99.97

99

95

NaCI 2

200

Solid and Water-based particulates (i.e., non-oil aerosols)

Nonspecific 3,4



R-series

R100

R 99

R 95

-

99.97

99

95

DOP oil 5

200

Any

One work shift3,6



P-series

P100 7

P 99

P 95

-

99.97

99

95

DOP oil

Stabilized efficiency

Any

Nonspecific 3





1 NIOSH will be conducting and encouraging other researchers to conduct studies to assure that these service time recommendations are adequate. If deemed necessary, additional service time limitations may be recommended by NIOSH for specific workplace conditions.



2 NaCl = sodium chloride



3 Limited by considerations of hygiene, damage and breathing resistance.



4 High (200mg) filter loading in the certification test is intended to address the potential for filter efficiency degradation by solid or water-based (i.e., non-oil) aerosols in the workplace. Accordingly, there is no recommended service time limit in most workplace settings. However, in dirty workplaces (high aerosol concentrations), service time should not go beyond 8 hours of use (continuous or intermittent) unless an evaluation of the workplace demonstrates (a) that extended use will not degrade the filter efficiency below the certified efficiency level, or (b) that the total mass loading of the filter is less than 200 mg (100 mg per filter for dual-filter respirators).



5 DOP oil = dioctyl phthalate



6 No specific service time limit when oil aerosols are not present. In the presence of oil aerosols, service time may be extended beyond 8 hours of use (continuous or intermittent) by demonstrating (a) that extended use will not degrade the filter efficiency below the certified efficiency level, or (b) that the total mass loading of the filter is less than 200 mg (100 mg per filter for dual-filter respirators).



7 The P100 filter must be color-coded magenta. The Part 84 Subpart KK HEPA filter on a PAPR will also be magenta, but the label will be different from the P100 filter, and the two filters cannot be interchanged.





Use Limitations



Filter usage is indicated by the N, R and P designations. N-series filters are "not resistant to oil," and should only be used for non-oil aerosols (e.g. solid and water-based). R-series filters are "resistant to oil" and P-series filters should be selected if there are oil aerosols (e.g. lubricants, cutting fluids, etc.) or non-oil aerosols in the workplace. Hygiene, damage, and breathing resistance are the three factors that limit the service life of all three filter categories (N, R and P). If damage, soiling, or increased breathing resistance occurs, filters should be replaced.



N-Series Filters

As stated above, the use and repeated use of N-series filters is generally limited only by hygiene, damage, and increased breathing resistance. However, if the particulate respirator is being used in extremely dirty or dusty working conditions that may result in high filter loading (200 mg), service time should be limited to continuous or intermittent use of 8 hours. An exception to this rule may be made if, upon evaluation, the specific workplace setting proves that extended use will not degrade the efficiency below the efficiency level of the specific respirator or that total mass loading of the filter does not exceed 200 mg.



R-Series Filters

If oil is present, R-series particulate respirator filters should be only used for one working shift (or for 8 hours of continuous or intermittent use). Otherwise, service time for R-series respirators can be extended using the same criteria as stated above (by evaluating the specific workplace setting and proving that extended use will not degrade the efficiency below the efficiency level of the specific respirator or that total mass loading does not exceed 200 mg).



Determinations for both N and R series particulate respirators must be re-evaluated should conditions change or modifications be made to processes that could alter the type of particulate being generated.



P-Series Filters

Hygiene, damage, and increased breathing resistance are the only three factors affecting use and reuse of P-series respirator filters.





Selection



In selecting the appropriate particulate respirator, the following conditions must be considered:



•The identity and concentration of the particles in the workplace air

•The OSHA or MSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL); NIOSH-recommended exposure limit; or other occupational exposure limit for the contaminant.

•The hazard ratio (HR) (i.e. the airborne particulate concentration divided by the exposure limit)

•The Assigned Protection Factor (APF) for the class of respirator (the APF should be greater than the HR).

•The immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) concentration, including oxygen deficiency (NIOSH 1994).

•Any service life information available for combination cartridges or canisters.

You can determine the maximum workplace concentration for which each particulate respirator can be used by multiplying the occupational exposure limit by the APF. For example, if the commonly accepted APF for a half-mask respirator is 10 and the PEL is 5 milligrams per cubic meter, then 50 milligrams per cubic meter is the highest workplace concentration in which a half-mask respirator can be used against that contaminant. If the workplace concentration is greater than 50 milligrams per cubic meter, a more protective respirator (with a higher APF) should be used. In no case should an air-purifying respirator be used in IDLH atmospheres or in areas that are oxygen deficient, and you should never exceed the manufacturer's guidelines.






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Confined Space Death

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OSHA has completed inspections prompted by a June 29, 2009, triple fatality at a recycling facility in Jamaica, N.Y. An employee of S. Dahan Piping and Heating Co., of South Ozone, N.Y., was fatally overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas while cleaning a dry well at Regal Recycling Co. Inc. The owner of S. Dahan Piping and Heating, who was also the worker's father, and a Regal Recycling employee also succumbed while trying to rescue him from the dry well.
OSHA's inspection found that S. Dahan Piping should have monitored the air quality in the dry well to determine if there was a lack of oxygen or the presence of another breathing hazard before any of its employees entered the dry well to perform their duties. If a hazard was found, protective measures would need to have been implemented prior to employee entry. OSHA defines a confined space as a space that has limited or restricted access of entry or exit, is large enough for a worker to enter and work in, but is not designed for continuous occupancy. The agency noted that Regal Recycling failed to post signs warning its employees of hazards that may be present in a confined space, such as the dry well.
"Unfortunately, this incident was a classic example of a multiple-fatality event where would-be rescuers are themselves overcome in their attempt to save the initial victim," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director for Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. "Many deaths in confined spaces occur because people who are attempting to rescue someone else are neither trained nor equipped to do so."

As a result of its findings, OSHA has issued four serious citations to S. Dahan Piping for the confined-space hazards and for not having a respiratory-protection program.
"This family has already paid an incalculable price with the loss of two of its loved ones," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York. "Nothing can restore their lives, but it is our hope that employers will heed these findings and take effective action to prevent future confined-space tragedies."
The agency issued Regal Recycling one serious citation for the absence of warning signs and for failure to abate notices for not correcting unrelated respiratory protection and guardrail hazards cited after a January 2009 OSHA inspection. Regal Recycling faces a total of $79,000 in fines.
OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known. Failure-to-abate citations are issued when an employer does not correct specific hazards cited in a previous OSHA inspection.
Detailed information on confined-space hazards and safeguards is available online at www.osha.gov/SLTC/confinedspaces/index.html.
Both companies have 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA, or contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Queens District Office in Little Neck, N.Y


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Snow Safety For Seniors

Sandra Gimpel fell more than 500 times in the last year-without serious injury. Not so fortunate were some 16,000 Americans who die each year from falls, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).


The difference? Gimpel's falls were not accidental, but planned and executed with precision. She is a 3rd degree black belt Karate instructor and Hollywood stunt woman who earns a living falling in movies and television commercials.



Falls rival poisoning as the number one home accident in the U.S. The number of injuries or deaths from falls due to winter conditions is not recorded by the NSC. But, safety experts agree that many injuries result from falls on ice-covered surfaces.



Safety Tips



It's important that individuals recognize the hazards of slippery surfaces. Here are helpful hints from winter-safety experts that will reduce the risk of falling when slippery conditions exist:





•Wear boots or overshoes with soles. Avoid walking in shoes that have smooth surfaces, which increase the risk of slipping.



•Walk consciously. Be alert to the possibility that you could quickly slip on an unseen patch of ice. Avoid the temptation to run to catch a bus or beat traffic when crossing a street.



•Walk cautiously. Your arms help keep you balanced, so keep hands out of pockets and avoid carrying heavy loads that may cause you to become off balance.



•Walk "small." Avoid an erect, marching posture. Look to see ahead of where you step. When you step on icy areas, take short, shuffling steps, curl your toes under and walk as flatfooted as possible.



•Remove snow immediately before it becomes packed or turns to ice. Keep your porch stoops, steps, walks and driveways free of ice by frequently applying ice melter granules. This is the best way to prevent formation of dangerous ice patches. Using a potassium-based melter, such as Safe Step, instead of salt will prevent damage to concrete, grass and other vegetation or to carpets and floors should you track in some.

Falling Safely



Even when you practice safe walking habits, slipping on ice is sometimes unavoidable.



"It takes less than two seconds from the moment you slip until you hit the ground," says Sandra Gimpel. "That's precious little time to react. In that instant, the risk is an injury to your head, a wrist, hip or shoulder."



Gimpel says knowing how to fall will help you reduce the risk of injury. In the stunts she performs and the Karate courses she teaches, Gimpel uses a tuck-and-roll principle.



"It's important to tuck your body, lift your head and avoid trying to break the fall with a hand, which can cause a wrist injury," says Gimpel. "The idea is to make yourself as small as possible by rolling up into a ball." She suggests you practice the techniques as follows:





•Sit on the floor with your legs out flat in front of you. To simulate a backwards fall, slowly begin to lie back toward the floor and quickly tuck your head forward, chin to chest. At the same time, lift your knees to your chest and extend your arms away from your body and "slap" the ground with your palms and forearms. This maneuver will help prevent your head, wrists and elbows from hitting the ground.



•Assume the original position. To practice a sideways fall - which usually causes a shoulder, hip, elbow or wrist injury - begin to roll to one side or the other. As you do so, lay out your arm parallel to your body so that your forearm, not your wrist or shoulder, is first to contact the floor. Also, lift your head toward your shoulder opposite the fall. Next, practice the procedure in the opposite direction.



•From a kneeling position, practice for a potential front fall. Begin to lean forward and as you fall, roll to one side, laying out your arm parallel to your body, again so the forearm and not your wrist makes contact with the floor. Lift your head to the opposite shoulder and continue to roll.

Following these guidelines may not qualify you to handle movie stunts, but they can help protect you from serious injury this winter.



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Confined Space Safety

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration is investigating an accident in a manhole at a Superior, Wisconsin landfill that claimed four lives. The incident started when one worker in the hole was overcome by toxic fumes. One by one, the other three victims went to help their colleagues and were themselves overcome. All four were dead of hydrogen sulfide poisoning by the time rescue workers arrived at the scene.


The men were reportedly trying to fix a sewer in a hole three feet in diameter and more than 25 feet deep at the privately owned landfill. None of the men were wearing respirators or safety masks, and emergency responders found no evidence of gas detection or other safety equipment at the accident scene.



Hazards of hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide is a poisonous, flammable, colorless gas that gives off a strong odor of rotten eggs. At high concentrations, it will deaden the sense of smell, consequently odor may not provide adequate warning of hazardous concentrations. Even brief exposure to high concentrations can cause difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.



The landfill was owned by Kimmes Construction of Superior, a family business that included two of the victims. The other two men were contractors working at the landfill.



The four men were working with two others, who called 911 after the men failed to emerge from the hole. It took about 25 minutes from the time of the call for firefighters to reach the first victim. The last body was removed from the pit about three hours from the time of the initial call. The bodies were found in about four feet of water at the bottom of the hole.



Firefighter response

Firefighters with OSHA-mandated safety equipment including breathing apparatus, masks and radio communication gear led the response. An oversized tripod was positioned over the manhole and firefighters were lowered into the pit by way of a rope and pulley system. Private employees working in confined spaces and rescuers are required to use the same type of equipment and to take the same pre-entry precautions as firefighters. One blogger on the Firehouse.com Forum, a firefighter with the Superior Fire Department who responded to the accident, wrote this: “This is a great example as to why we have to look before we leap. We were told one person in the well, (on dispatch) after we arrived it was 4. It was training and experance that told us to slow down, hydrogen sulfide 200+ppm, Low O2, Lel above limits and lack of personal to safely consider rescue. Considering was not a thought, CFR1910.120 spells it out. since the investigation is still going on all I will say here is, Use your Training, brain and gut to determine your course of action, not your heart.”



Jim Rigstad, a battalion commander for the Superior Fire Department, said that upon arriving on the scene it quickly became evident that survival of the victims was not likely, and that responders were on a recovery mission rather than a rescue mission. A gas meter lowered into the manhole showed hydrogen sulfide levels of 200 parts per million, twice what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has deemed to be Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) concentrations. Experts said that the level of fumes inside the pit was so high that unprotected workers would have immediately been rendered unconscious.



Dangers of Confined Spaces

Almost every kind of industry has some type of confined spaces. Storage tanks, tunnels, pipelines, storm drains, silos and ships’ holds are all examples of confined spaces. More than 1.5 million workers enter these spaces each year for the purposes of maintenance, repairs, installations, inspections, and meter reading.



A confined space is an enclosed area with the following characteristics:



It is configured and has adequate size so that a person can enter and perform work;

It has limited and restricted means of access and egress;

The primary use of the space is for something other than continuous human occupancy.

There are a number of hazards associated with confined spaces. A significant threat to life in confined spaces are atmospheric hazards which may be flammable or explosive, toxic, oxygen deficient, oxygen enriched or corrosive. Other hazards associated with confined spaces include possible cave ins, heat injury due to elevated temperatures, electrical hazards, the hazards associated with mechanical equipment, and poor visibility, just to name a few.

Relevant OSHA standards

OSHA’s Permit-Required Confined Space Standard (29 CFR 1910.146) mandates a comprehensive approach for the control of permit space hazards and includes provisions for entry permits, training, hazard recognition, isolation procedures, atmospheric testing, mechanical ventilation, and personal protective equipment.



Another OSHA standard, 29 CFR 1910.120, commonly called the Hazwoper standard, defines the level of training workers must have before being allowed to enter a hazardous environment either for work or for rescue. OSHA’s Respiratory Standard, 29 CFR 1910.134, requires certain respiratory protection and other safety precautions for workers before they may enter a hazardous atmosphere, and also outlines a protective practice known as “2 in/2 out”, requiring at least two employees to enter an IDLH atmosphere and to remain in visual or voice contact with one another at all times, while at least two employees be located outside the hazard area but properly equipped and trained to enter the space if rescue becomes necessary.



It is a sad fact that when multiple deaths occur at confined space incidents, the majority of the victims in each event die while trying to rescue the original entrant. In fact, would be rescuers account for more than half of the confined space fatalities

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Dangers of Welding fumes

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Welding fume exposure in the workplace is a serious occupational hazard. Employee exposure to welding fumes, specifically to those that contain manganese, has garnered national media attention within the last few years. Thousands of welders have filed lawsuits against welding rod manufacturers, distributors and suppliers alleging that the manganese present in welding fumes causes a host of illnesses, including Parkinson's disease. While manganese exposure does lead to symptoms that are similar to Parkinson's disease, further research must be conducted to confirm a connection between manganese and Parkinson's.

This article is adapted from recent print and online resources to provide an overview of:

• welding fumes and the health effects of manganese present in these fumes;
• the differences between Parkinson's disease and manganese-induced parkinsonism;
• current litigation among welders;
• measures to protect welders from welding fumes.

What Are Welding Fumes?

Welding is the method of joining two metal parts together by applying intense heat between them, which causes the parts to melt and intermix. This process can be done directly between the two parts or through the use of an intermediate molten filler metal. The filler, base metal and base metal coating used during welding operations and the subsequent gases that are formed during the welding process release small, solid particles into the air creating a plume. This plume is called "welding fume."

All welding processes produce these fumes, but most fumes are produced during arc welding. In this type of welding process, high heat from an electric arc (formed between the work and an electrode) is used to melt and fuse the metal at the joint between the two parts. When a welder strikes an arc, the arc's heat vaporizes a small quantity of metal and releases welding fumes into the air, which can adversely affect the health of the welder as well as the health of those in the immediate area.

The contents of the welding fumes depend on the components of the base metal, coatings and/or filler materials and the temperatures used in the welding process. Types of metals commonly found in welding fumes include aluminum, beryllium, cadmium oxides, chromium, copper, fluorides, iron oxide, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium and zinc oxides. Welding fumes also produce gases, which can contain carbon monoxide, fluorine, hydrogen fluoride, nitrogen oxide and ozone.

Health Effects of Welding Fume Exposure & Manganese

Exposure to welding fumes can cause numerous health problems. When inhaled, welding fumes can enter the lungs, bloodstream, brain nerve cells, spinal cord and other organs and can cause both short- and long-term health effects (see sidebar above).

Of the many welders who work in factories or in the construction, ironworks, manufacturing, mining, metallurgy, petrochemical, railroad, shipbuilding or steel industries, most suffer from some sort of respiratory illness or pulmonary infection. In recent years, however, the effects of manganese welding fume exposure on welders' health have warranted closer study.
Manganese is a naturally occurring metal and the twelfth most abundant element on earth. It is a highly reactive gray-white metal that resembles iron, and it is often added to carbon steel and stainless steel to increase hardness, stiffness and strength. In addition to steel, manganese is found in many different types of welding rods and wire, and it is considered the most harmful metal present in welding fumes. Even when used properly, manganese welding rods can still emit manganese fumes.

An essential trace nutrient, manganese is necessary for healthy skin, bones and cartilage in humans, but high concentrations of manganese in the body, often referred to as "manganese poisoning" or "manganism," can irreversibly damage the brain and central nervous system. Studies have shown that exposure to high levels of manganese welding fumes for only a few months can cause sickness, and since many welders are exposed to these fumes on a regular basis, they are at an increased risk of developing manganism or "Welder's Disease."

According to National Safety Council, exposure to manganese dust or fumes can cause:

• asthenia;
• dry throat and cough;
• dyspnea;
• encephalopathy;
• fatigue;
• fever;
• insomnia;
• lower back pain;
• malaise;
• mental confusion;
• metal fume fever;
• paralysis;
• rales;
• spastic gait;
• tightness in the chest;
• vomiting;
• weakness.

Documented cases of manganese poisoning date back to the early 19th century. During this time, J. Couper, an English physician, published a report in which he described how workers in a manganese ore grinding plant in France developed symptoms of manganese poisoning such as loss of muscle control, slowed movements and lowered speech. Throughout the 20th century, other occurrences of manganese poisoning had been found in Chilean miners, Taiwanese ferromanganese smelters and in those involved in the manufacture of dry batteries. As these and other cases mounted, few could deny the link between routine manganese exposure and ill health.

Further studies have addressed the effects of manganese on welders. In 1932, a published article advised welders to avoid working with manganese electrodes. In 1963, Dr. Irving Sax, a toxicologist, published a book in which he detailed the negative effects of manganese on the nervous system and the risks of manganese exposure during electric arc welding. In 1981, World Health Organization (WHO) recognized chronic manganese poisoning as a serious occupational health hazard among welders.

Today, studies show that a substantial percentage of welders have developed symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease (see sidebar below). This condition is referred to as "manganese-induced parkinsonism, which is different from Parkinson's disease. Still, many contend that manganese welding fumes are a direct cause of Parkinson's disease and of the increased risk of the disease among welders.

Parkinson's Disease Versus Manganese-Induced Parkinsonism

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that damages brain cells in the midbrain or substantia nigra. This area produces dopamine, a chemical that helps to transmit signals in the brain. Dopamine loss can cause slow and unsteady body movements, stiff limbs, poor balance and tremors. Other classic symptoms include:

• drooling;
• fixed gaze;
• gait changes;
• loss of facial expressions;
• slow reflexes.

Although the cause of Parkinson's disease remains unknown, many believe that environmental factors are to blame, especially since welders tend to develop Parkinson's at a higher rate than others. A recent study of 20,000 welders determined that 10 percent had developed Parkinson's disease as compared to only one percent of the general population. Also, the onset of the disease in welders tends to occur around age 46, about 17 years earlier than in other Parkinson's patients. Many assert that exposure to manganese welding fumes is directly responsible for the elevated rate of Parkinson's disease among welders. However, no conclusive studies confirm this theory. 
It is important to note that manganese-induced parkinsonism differs from Parkinson's disease because it appears to affect the basal ganglia region of the brain and not the substantia nigra. Those with manganese-induced parkinsonism also do not respond well to dopamine therapy, which is normally used to treat Parkinson's patients.

While exposure to manganese can disrupt normal neurological processes, welding fumes contain other metals such as aluminum, copper and lead, which may also be risk factors in the development of Parkinson's disease. Other issues, such as how much manganese must be present in welding fumes to incur toxic effects and the duration of exposure to these fumes, are still under debate. Some suggest that Parkinson's disease may actually encompass a combination of symptoms that have overlapping characteristics.

Before a concrete association between manganese welding fume exposure and Parkinson's disease can be determined, further research must be conducted that takes into account the neurological differences behind manganese-induced parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease.

Current Litigation among Welders

Approximately 10,000 welders nationwide have filed lawsuits against current and former welding rod manufacturers, distributors and suppliers on the grounds that welding fume exposure caused them to develop manganese-induced parkinsonism as well as Parkinson's disease. The plaintiffs include welders who already have manganese-induced parkinsonism, early onset Parkinson's disease or no symptoms but a history of manganese exposure. The plaintiffs also claim breach of express and implied warranties, civil conspiracy, fraud, intentional and negligent misrepresentation, loss of consortium, negligence, strict liability, survival actions and wrongful death.

Within the last 15 years, seven cases were ruled in favor of the welding rod industry when it could not be proven that the industry had failed to protect workers from manganese in welding fumes. That changed on Oct. 28, 2003, when Larry Elam, a former welder, received $1 million from a Madison County, IL, jury against Lincoln Electric, Hobart Brothers and BOC. Elam claimed that he developed manganese-induced parkinsonism as a result of breathing welding rod fumes at work. The jury decided that welding rod manufacturers neglected to warn Elam about the potential health risks associated with breathing welding rod fumes.

In July 2005, a federal panel ruled that a large number of welding fume lawsuits in the U.S. would be consolidated before U.S. District Judge Kathleen McDonald O'Malley in Cleveland. The lawsuits allege that the defendants knew of the health hazards associated with welding fumes and failed to warn welders about them. O'Malley has allowed the plaintiffs in these cases to testify that welding fume exposure indeed causes Parkinson's disease, which will allow thousands of other welding fume cases to proceed in state courts.

Plaintiffs' attorneys believe that welding fumes cause Parkinson's disease, and they have requested welding fume warnings and improved ventilation for those working in the welding industry. If juries rule in favor of the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs could then sue those in the welding industry for damages. At this stage, it is difficult to predict how these lawsuits will affect the welding industry when a definitive link between welding fumes and Parkinson's disease has yet to be determined, but organizations such as the Gases and Welding Distributors Assn. (GAWDA) have taken precautionary measures. GAWDA's board of directors has created a Joint Defense Fund for Welding Fume Litigation that will assist GAWDA members defend against welding fume claims.

In the meantime, more and more welders have begun to file workers' compensation claims citing welding fume exposure, and a class-action lawsuit involving 3,700 plaintiffs was recently filed in West Virginia. Many legal experts predict that welding fume litigation could rival that of asbestos given the considerable number of claimants.

Measures to Protect Welders from Welding Fumes

Until the potential health hazards of welding fume exposure can be confirmed, employers should make every effort to safeguard employees against welding fumes. Ventilation systems, respirators, training, industrial hygiene monitoring and alternative welding methods can help to improve fume conditions in work areas.
Ventilation Systems
For indoor welding operations, all employers should ensure that proper ventilation systems are incorporated into welding work areas. These systems, which may include hoods, roof vents and high-speed intake and exhaust fans, should capture toxic fumes and gases at their source and remove them so that they never enter the welder's breathing space. Most source-capture mechanisms are ducts that can be easily attached to exhaust or filter systems, but welding guns can also help to extract fumes from the air.

To capture welding fumes in large work areas, the use of downdraft worktables is recommended so that the fumes are directed down and away from the welder's breathing space. Ceilings more than 16 feet high and routine air monitoring to determine any changes in exposure levels will also help to reduce welding fumes and gases in work areas. 
For outdoor welding operations, all employers should instruct welders to avoid standing directly in or near the fume plume and to work upwind to reduce their exposure. This is especially critical for welders who work in small outdoor welding boxes where ventilation may be overlooked, thus allowing fumes to collect. Fans may also be used to blow fumes away from welders.

Respirators

Employers may choose to supplement ventilation systems in welding work areas with respiratory protection. All respirators used in the workplace must be certified by NIOSH, and employers should select those that afford welders the best possible protection. Employers must also adhere to OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard, which requires employers to implement a written respirator program with procedures that are specific to the work area, develop a medical surveillance program to evaluate employee's medical capability to wear a respirator and deliver training on the proper use and storage of respiratory protection. This program should be evaluated regularly. Employers are responsible for selecting the right respirators for their individual employee jobs while providing welders with guidelines for appropriate respirator storage, cleaning and filter replacement.

Training

In addition to training welders in the correct use of respirators and other PPE, all employers should advise welders to avoid standing directly in the welding fume plume (no matter whether they are working indoors or outdoors) and to position themselves so that the fumes and dust particles do not accumulate inside their face shields. Employers should also train nonwelders not to stand in or near the welding fume plume. Employers should enforce the use of engineering controls, safety practices and emergency procedures that mitigate welders' exposure to fumes, and they should also teach welders to heed all signs, labels and other markings in the work area which warn welders of fume exposure hazards. These warnings must be clearly presented throughout the area. All employers and welders should be familiar with ANSI Z49.1, Safety in Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes, copies of which should be readily available throughout the workplace.

Employers should also make a conscious effort to promote healthy habits among welders. A company-sponsored smoking cessation program and annual physical exams are just a few ways in which employers can positively impact the well-being of their welders.

Industrial Hygiene Expertise

All employers should have an industrial hygiene monitoring plan in place for all welding work areas, and industrial hygienists should be present in all work areas to monitor welders for exposures and potential exposures. Industrial hygiene monitoring in the form of both personal and area monitoring should be performed to assess exposure levels. This information can also be used to determine the appropriate respiratory protection, where required. Typical analysis of samples collected by filter cassette may include a broad metal scan to detect metals such as iron, lead and manganese to comprehensively analyze welding fumes. Industrial hygienists should also work one-on-one with welders to educate them about the dangers of welding fumes.

Alternative Welding Methods

To further reduce welding fumes in work areas, employers may want to consider using less-hazardous materials such as low-fume welding rods and alternative welding methods such as stick welding, which creates less fumes than flux core welding. OSHA also recommends that all paint, solvents and other residues be removed from materials before any welding or torch-cutting processes are performed to curb hazardous fume release.

Since galvanized steel tends to produce more hazardous fumes during welding and creates poor-quality welds, most welders do not weld on it. Galvanized metals in general tend to produce more fumes because they are covered with a zinc coating. However, if galvanized steel is used, most welders will grind back the zinc coating on the steel at least four inches from either side of the weld area to get a higher-quality weld. This practice helps to reduce the release of harmful fumes as well.

Employers may also decide to galvanize steel after fabrication. Although this practice is costly, takes more time and must be performed carefully to ensure an even coating and to inhibit rust formation, post-fabrication galvanized steel has been shown to release less-harmful fumes during welding.

Conclusion

As welding fume lawsuits escalate in number and severity, employers must play an active role in preventing welding fume exposure in the workplace. The health risks associated with routine manganese exposure are many, but more must be done to verify the existence of a relationship between manganese and Parkinson's disease.

Sean Kling

WWW.SPKTRAINING.COM

215-600-1774

Travel Safety for the Holidays

Sean Kling
http://www.spktraining.com/
620 West Chestnut Street, Suite 201, Perkasie, Pa. 18944
215-600-1774
EPA Lead Renovators Training, American Heart Association CPR Training, OSHA Training, Forklift Training, Onsite Safety Consulting



Traveling with kids can be a challenge, especially with the added worry of safety thrown into the mix.






It is the responsibility of parents to ensure their children's safety, so these following suggestions may help to avoid accidents and the horror of lost children...



Before leaving on your holiday remind children about your family safety procedures for dealing with strangers, what to do if they get lost.



Keep a recent photo of children handy, also a photocopy of passports kept in a safe place or with a relative that can fax it to you in case of loss.



If you label children's clothing, make sure the label is inside so strangers are not able to learn child's name.



A single parent travelling with children should ensure that permission from other parent is readily available for authorities (this is to prevent one parent abductions). This is especially important for air/train or cross border travel.



Always ensure one parent is in charge of keeping an eye on children and perhaps other parent can look after arrangements for travel.



Dressing children in bright colors makes them readily visible. Try to remember what they are wearing



Consider using a harness for toddlers, especially in busy places like airports, attractions.



Remind children about road safety rules, hold the hand of children under nine at all times when crossing a road or at an intersection.



Remind older children to always tell you where they are going, who with and what time they will be back, have a contact number for them also.



Review your home address, telephone number and provide your children with the name, address and telephone number of a relative or friend to contact in an emergency.



Provide a relative or friend with your travel itinerary and the name and telephone number of any hotels or resorts where you will be staying, if available.



Ensure that all occupants of any vehicles are properly secured and that there are no large or heavy items in the vehicle that may injure the occupants at any sudden stops. See the link below for more information on car safety.



Never leave children alone in a car, temperatures can rise rapidly in a parked car, especially in tropical places.



If travelling by air, make sure all family members are secured by the safety belts when seated.



When using highchairs in restaurants, make sure that children are secured by waist and middle strap.



Remind children to stay away from all animals. Make them aware of poisonous insects, snakes etc.



Keep medicines and poisons away from small children and watch that children don't eat any plants.



If you are bringing or plan on using bicycles while on vacation make sure all family members are biking safely



Go over pool and water safety with them.





Keep them safe!



Sean Kling
http://www.spktraining.com/
620 West Chestnut Street Suite 201, Perkasie, Pa. 18944
215-600-1774
 
EPA Lead Renovators Course, OSHA Training, Forklift Training, LEED Certification , Lead Dust Sampleing Services, Onsite Safety Consulting