ENMT322 2020 JUNE Full Course Latest

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 1 Discussion

DQ1 Workplace Project Introduction

In Week 1, your assignment is to start anticipating the possible hazards found in your workplace.  You are asked to identify possible areas for assessment and prepare some preliminary assessment information.   Please share the following information here:

Name of the business or work center,

Number of employees

A brief overview of the business to include the type of industry (i.e. retail, manufacturing, military, etc).

Description of your state's OSH program as it relates to your work center, if applicable

Preliminary list of expected hazards

DQ2 Anticipation of Hazards

When in the preliminary stage of "Anticipation", there are many sources of information at your fingertips.  One of these resources online is the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  This governmental agency conducts the  Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities (IIF) program which produces a wide range of information about workplace injuries and illnesses. This data are collected and reported annually through the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI).

Visit the BLS website to research the Case and Demographic Characteristics for Work-related Injuries and Illnesses Involving Days Away From Work  (https://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshcdnew.htm).   Choose the "Resource Table for 2018, then download the "R1. Detailed industry by selected natures (Number) (XLSX)".  Using the data found, post your industry's information as outlined below:

Industry Name/Type (be as specific as possible)

NAICS

Total number of cases for that year

Top Three categories for nature of injury or illness (i.e. fractures, burns, etc)

DQ3 OSHA Standards in Your Workplace

Using the OSHA Website at www.osha.gov, research the standard for your workplace (hint: It will most likely be either general industry or construction). If you are not currently employed, you can use previous employment or the employment location for a family member.  Look for your type of industry or a hazard in your industry.  Start a new thread titled "Last Name_Workplace" and describe what you found in 1-2 paragraphs.  The goal of this exercise is just to get familiar with the standards, not to become an expert! 

There are multiple ways to research a standard or resource.  You can search by Standards (General Industry, Construction, Maritime or Agriculture) or by the "Safety & Health Topics A-Z Index".  Please note that General Industry standards (29 CFR 1910) cannot be enforced in construction work and Construction Standards (29 CFE 1926) cannot be enforced in general industry.

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 2 Discussion

DQ1 Chemical Hazard Recognition

In Week 2, you were given the assignment to look at the chemicals used in the workplace.   In Part B, you should have summarized relevant information on one chemical product and researched the ingredients to start the recognition of the hazards process. 

Provide the  following information on your chemical of choice:

How the chemical product is used in the workplace (including application method, amounts used, personal protective equipment used, any other existing controls in place)

Describe the exposure routes.  Does the chemical have the potential to become airborne or is it a contact hazard?

What are the symptoms of exposure?

What is the type of systemic toxin (i.e is it a central nervous system depressant)?

Is there a specific toxic effect the chemical has (i.e. irritant, asphyxiant, carcinogen)?

DQ2 Biological Agent Risks

Various industries present unique biological hazards during the normal course of work. There are over 190 important biological agents that may be infectious, allergenic, toxic, or carcinogenic in the workplace. Many occupational groups are exposed to these biohazards, but risk may be greatest among:

health care and laboratory workers, and

agricultural, forestry, and fishing industry workers.

I have provided a list of industries below that typically experience exposure to biohazards.  Select one industry and summarize types of hazards within each industry and the recommended preventive measures. 

Food

Health Care

Laboratories

Agriculture

Metal and Wood Processing

Textile, print, and paper production

Archives, Museums, and Libraries

Construction and Demolition

DQ3 Indoor Air Quality

Visit the website for the EPA's Regional Office and State Indoor Air Quality Information, select your state, and select a topic from the state or region program website that addresses an indoor air pollutant.   Examples of topics that you might find include "Air Quality in Hotels", "Carbon Monoxide information", or "Indoor Mold and Health".

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/epa-regional-office-and-state-indoor-air-quality-information

Summarize the information found to share with your classmates.  Provide 1-2 paragraphs on the objectives or goals of the program and highlight any information that you found useful.

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 3 Discussion

DQ1 Radiation Sources

Radiation is one of the physical hazards that we can encounter either in our daily lives or occupations. For some, it involves working in medical or dental facilities where radiation is used to diagnose or treat certain medical conditions. For others in the industry, radioactive materials may be used to test for metal fractures, welds, etc. In the military or weapons production, handling radioactive devices or materials is an occupational hazard. The type of protection needed to prevent injury varies with the nature of the material and how it is used.  How many of you work around some form of radiation?  Has anyone ever been involved in a significant radiation event?

Sources of radiation are all around us all the time. Some are natural and some are man-made. Use the calculator below to estimate your yearly dose from the most significant sources of ionizing radiation. Radiation dose is expressed in a unit called millirem (mrem). In the United States, the average person is exposed to an effective dose equivalent of approximately 620 mrem (whole-body exposure) per year from all sources.  How did your yearly dose measure up to the average person in the U.S.?  What was the highest contributor to your exposure?  https://www.epa.gov/radiation/calculate-your-radiation-dose

DQ2 Noise and Vibration

Noise-induced hearing loss is widely prevalent but under-appreciated for the epidemic that it is. What are some of the challenges in hearing loss prevention in the workplace? What can be done? The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Sound Level Meter App is one tool available to the public to download on mobile iOS devices that measures sound levels in the workplace and provides noise exposure parameters to help reduce occupational noise-induced hearing loss.  Build a chart showing your measurements of five different noise sources found in your home or workplace.  By definition, are those sources considered to be hazardous or not?

Do you have any vibration issues in your work?  Does anyone work with power tools on a regular basis? 

DQ3 Thermal Stress

One of the occupational hazards for anyone who works outside is the threat of temperature extremes.  Anyone that has worked in construction in the South can tell you that thermal stress is real!  Similarly, someone who works in the frozen foods section of the local grocery store can tell you how hard it is all year round.  If you were an occupational safety and health professional, describe some of the specific hazards that you would find in your geographical location.  What type of controls would you recommend to protect workers?  What type of situations have you personally experienced?

OSHA has an ongoing campaign for heat: Water - Rest - Shade.  They've even created a Heat Safety Tool App for mobile phones, see http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html  and a web page on occupational heat exposure at: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/index.html

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 COVID-19 and protecting workersContains unread posts

 Many of the occupational safety and health professionals are experiencing how COVID-19 (and pandemics) can have a serious impact on the economy and affect worker safety.   Using your knowledge of government agencies, what resources or policies are available for employers?   From an employee standpoint, what has been your experience?  Have employers followed established guidelines?  What recommendations would you make as an occupational safety and health professional?  Are there different guidelines for occupational exposure for health care professionals versus non-occupational workers (i.e. retail or food industry).  Should there be?

Bear in mind, that the General Duty Clause requires employers to furnish to each worker "employment and a place of employment, which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm."  

DQ2 Heat Stress Evaluation - Case Studies

Here are three cases where workers suffered irreversible damage or death due to heat stress.  Select one of the following case studies and explain what steps you would have taken taken to avoid the casualty.  Remember, you are the safety professional on the job and so your explanation should be from a first person standpoint.  Cite your references and be as thorough as possible.

Case #1: Roofing worker

In July, a 42-year-old man started a new job as a roofer. His employer did not have a formal plan to protect new workers from heat-related illness although there was plentiful water, ice, and Gatorade available at the site. The worker felt fine during his first two days of work. His third day on the job was slightly warmer, with a high temperature of about 86°F and relative humidity of 57%, for a heat index of 90°F. In the afternoon, the worker told his co-workers he felt hot and sick. He climbed down from the roof and went to sit by himself in the sun. When his co-workers checked on him a few minutes later, he had symptoms of heat stroke. He was taken to a hospital where he died.  Scattered clouds may have reduced the radiant temperature somewhat but reconstruction showed a wet-bulb globe temperature of 82°F based on data from a nearby airport.

Case #2: Delivery worker

A 50-year-old man had been working at a delivery company for six years. His job involved driving a vehicle and walking in residential neighborhoods to deliver mail and packages. In late May, the weather suddenly became hotter. On the second day of hot weather, this worker developed heat cramps and heat exhaustion. He was hospitalized for two days with acute kidney failure due to dehydration. His condition improved after intravenous fluid replacement.

Case #3: Foundry worker A 35-year-old employee had worked at a foundry for six years. The indoor workplace had high levels of environmental heat from ovens and molten metal. His normal job tasks were in a cooler area of the building. On the day of the incident, he was asked to perform a job in a hotter environment near an oven. He wore heavy protective clothing to prevent skin burns. After several hours of work, the man collapsed and died of heat stroke.

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 5 Discussion

Credibility and Success

As many organizations rethink their approaches to safety, they are increasingly relying on the ability of their managers to lead change at every level. Credibility in particular is essential to success in this new environment.  As an Occupational Safety and Health professional, what does credibility mean to you?  Why is credibility important?  How do you demonstrate credibility in the OSH field?

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1 Trauma and OSH

In a recent article in Safety and Health Magazine, researchers say that nurses and other medical professionals are facing a new type of trauma.  Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses and other health care professionals across the country have reported a lack of masks, gloves, gowns and other protective gear to keep them safe while caring for patients with the coronavirus.

Staffing issues were reported by nurses who had to work shifts longer than 12 hours and who were exposed to unsafe situations that jeopardized patient safety. These were described as hurrying through tasks to complete them, falsifying patient care documents, and going without food and hydration during their shifts.  The nurses said they experience a range of negative emotions, such as stress, anxiety, grief, guilt, anger, burnout, and flashbacks. Physically, nurses reported nightmares, unhealthy diets, and substance use.

This brings up the question.. should mental health in the workplace be part of the health and safety pro’s responsibility?

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/20075-researchers-say-nurses-face-new-type-of-trauma-insufficient-resources

DQ2 Good Communication in OSH

To be effective, it is critical that your company's safety and health policy be communicated to all employees.  As a new OSH professional, what are some ways that you would ensure that all employees understood the policies and procedures for a safe working environment?

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 7 Discussion

DQ1 No. 1 Killer of Firefighters

The International Association of Firefighters says cancer is now the leading cause of death among firefighters.  A CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study tracked nearly 30,000 firefighters across the country in 2010 and found higher rates of cancer than the general population.  This is a relatively new development and one that hasn't been addressed much in industry literature.

As OSH professionals, what steps should we be taking to protect our firefighters?  Are we providing the right protective gear?  Are we providing the right amount of HAZCOM training?  What is the latest research telling us?  Has OSHA issued any citations for violations?

DQ2 Risks of being a Firefighter

Firefighters work long hours within unstructured schedules, making it a challenge to create a viable work-life balance. Conventional family life may be skewed, which can lead to familial discontent and disconnection. The need to work long hours is an especially critical factor in firefighters who are regionally deployed to combat wildfires or to assist in large natural disaster zones. The long hours further contribute to the overall stress of the position.  While firefighters are trained and educated about the potential physical and mental stress the job can take, not all realize the full impact until they are on the job, and some not until years after the fact.

What are some work-life balance initiatives and why should workplaces consider these programs?  What steps would you take to set up a program in your workplace?

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 8 Discussion

DQ1 Careers in Occupational Safety and Health

Rarely a day goes past without a reference in the newspapers, on the television or on the internet to illnesses or disabilities caused at work. In some cases, the effects may be reversible. In many others, detrimental effects on health cannot be overcome and can even shorten life expectancy. Occupational safety and health use science and engineering to prevent ill health caused by the environment in which people work.  It helps employers and employees to understand the risks and improve working conditions and working practices.

Reflect on our course and answer the following questions:

Which topic(s) covered in this course did you find the most interesting?  Why?

Which topic(s) did you find most challenging?  Why was it challenging?

Has your personal viewpoint on occupational safety and health changed? If so, how?

If you could change one thing about the course, what would it be?

Thank you for your input in advance!! 

DQ2 Final Exam Review

This review discussion forum provides you a chance to help each other review and prepare for the final exam.  To receive full credit, answers must be posted no later than August 8th @ 11:59 ET.

1. Ask two questions about the content covered in this course. Avoid simple yes/no or define questions. Then answer two questions, either both questions from one classmate or one question each from two classmates. Each answer should be at least three sentences. Answers must be written in your own words, with no direct quotes.

2.  Write one paragraph about one concept that you learned in this class that you found difficult to understand. Do not forget to document your sources, including our course materials. Then, respond to at least one of your classmates' posts, for example by adding an explanation, providing an example, relating the concept to other topics discussed in class, or making gentle corrections to help each other learn. Also, please answer any questions classmates might have about your post and provide additional feedback as necessary.

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 1 Assignment

Anticipation of Workplace Hazards

One of the "root causes" of workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated. A critical element of any effective safety and health program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards.To identify and assess hazards, employers and workers should collect and review information about the hazards present or likely to be present in the workplace.

Part A:The firstassignmentis to anticipate possible hazards in your workplace. To help you get started , use the OSHA Hazard Awareness Advisor to help you identify possible areas for assessment.  The Advisor will ask a series of questions designed to identify your potential hazards. Following the questions, the Advisor will prepare a text report identifying hazards that may be present in your workplace, providing best practices or strategies to control them, and listing applicable standards which you can later review.

NOTE:  The Advisor does not automatically save the results of each session. Use the print function to save as a PDF file.  File name should be “LAST NAME – OSHA Hazard Awareness Advisor”.

Part B – Prepare a table the following information, as a minimum. 

1)            Topic/title -

2)            Assessment location – Name of the business or workcenter, address, number of employees, brief overview of the mission of the business.  Identify type of industry and NAICS code applicable to the business.

3)            Brief history of the site – How long has the business been located in that physical location?  Was there prior businesses or industries in that location prior? 

4)            Preliminary list of expected hazardsin their respective categories (chemical, physical, biological)

5)            Which OSHA standard applies?  Does your state have an OSHA program?  Is there an industry-specific resource that applies to your job site?

Submit one document with Part A and B in the Assignment folder of LEO.  Don’t forget to document any sources used to answer these questions in APA format with a reference list at the end of your assignment.

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 2 Assignment

Chemical Hazard Identification and Assessment

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hazard communication standard (HCS), also known as the “employee right-to-know” standard, is found at 29 CFR 1910.1200 of the general industry standards and incorporated into the construction standard at 29 CFR 1926.59.This standard requires all employers to develop a written program addressing labeling and warning requirements, safety data sheets (SDSs) and employee training on hazardous materials. The standard also requires employers to develop and maintain a list of all hazardous substances in the workplace. 

Typically, the first step to hazard identification and assessment is looking at the physical inventory of chemicals used in the workplace.  If no inventory exists at your workplace, then it will be up to you to gather the necessary information.

•             Part A (20 points):  Students will need to collect information for one to threechemical product(s) used at their workplace.  The following information should be gathered and documented in a table format:

Product Name; ID Number; Manufacturer’s Name and Address; Manufacturer’s Telephone Number; SDS on file (Y/N)?

If the SDS is on file, be sure to get a copy for your records.  If not, then you will need to research the internet for that information.  The information found on the SDS will be used in Part B of this assignment.

Describe how the chemical product is used in the workplace (including application method, amounts used, personal protective equipment used, any other existing controls in place). 

*If your workplace appears to have no chemical products, look for portable fire extinguishers, cleaning supplies, sanitizers, paint cans, compressed gases, or other substances not necessarily used by employees, but nevertheless, present in the workplace. Pesticides, foods, drugs, alcohol beverages and other items listed in 29 CFR 1910.1200(b) are not regulated by OSHA, but are regulated by other federal agencies, and cannot be used in this assignment because they are subject to different labelling and information standards.  If nothing in your workplace meets the acceptable criteria, contact the instructor for acceptable alternatives.

**For students who are not currently employed, contact the instructor for alternative avenues.

•             Part B (30 pts):Forone chemical product, summarize the information provided on the Safety Data Sheet on the table format attached to this assignment.  Submit one full electronic copy of your SDS with the assignment; submitting just an URL will not acceptable and will result in complete loss of points.

•             Part C (50 pts):  Using the online version of the CDC’s NIOSH Pocket Guide, research the ingredients and complete the remaining information associated with exposure to the chemical. 

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 3 Assignment

Physical Agents Recognition

Identifying workers' exposure to health hazards is typically more complex than just identifying safety hazards. In Week 3, we identified chemical hazards found in the chemical products used in the workplacesuch solvents, adhesives, paints, toxic dusts, etc. Week 4 will be dedicated to physical hazards such as noise, radiation, heat, etc., and ergonomic risk factors like heavy lifting, repetitive motions, vibration.

Physical hazards are hazards that can cause harm without the worker coming into direct contact with the hazard. Issues such as high noise levels, extreme temperatures, or radiation fall into this category.  If your workplace is considered “administrative” in nature (i.e. office or retail), then an ergonomic evaluation may be appropriate.

Part A (30 pts):  Students will need to collect information for one physical hazard presented at their workplace.  You will need to provide the following information as a minimum:

•             Category of hazard (noise, thermal stress, radiation, ergonomic, etc)

•             Enter the name of the source presenting the risk in the workplace.  Use specific terms such as “Black and Decker 3/8” drill or AN/TPS-43 Ground Radar”

•             Applicable OSHA regulatory standard

•             Description of work process where the exposure occurs – include a physical description of the physical location (indoors vs outdoors), number of minutes (hours) that the exposure occurs.

•             Existing engineering, administrative or personal protective equipment controls

•             Identify any quantitative measurements taken if applicable.

Part B (50 pts):  Using the UMUC Library, search for relevant and scholarly articles that address health effects of the physical hazard you have identified.  

If you need help using the UMUC Library database, go to http://www.umuc.edu/library/ and click on the Ask a Librarian link, or use our library's tutorial on obtaining research materials: http://sites.umuc.edu/library/libhow/research_tutorial.cfm

If you are unsure about how tell if an article is scholarly, please review the following information: http://sites.umuc.edu/library/libhow/articles.cfm

Prepare a short essay detailing the following information:

1.            Using a relevant and scholarly article, prepare a concise two- to three-paragraph summary describing the potential physical effectson the human body with supportive detail. (50 points)

2.            Using a relevant and scholarly article,research the controls that are considered "best practices" for their, or a related, industry.  Prepare a one-paragraph discussion of how the information presented in your article relates to observable practices beingused in your workplace. Were the best practice principles being used? What additional recommendations would you make at this point? (30 points).

3.            Clear, concise paragraphs, with transitions between paragraphs and no grammatical or spelling errors (10 points)

4.            Appropriate APA in-text citations and reference list (10 points)

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 4 Assignment

Evaluation of Workplace Hazards

Wet-bulb Globe Temperature [WBGT]

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account: temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation).  This differs from the heat index, which takes into consideration temperature and humidity and is calculated for shady areas.  WBGT measurements are used to determine when heat exposure hazards are present in the workplace.  After the WBGT is measured, clothing adjustment factor added, and workload translated into metabolic rate.

For each step, record the information found on the Table located at the end of the lesson.  This will be your assignment submittal!

Step 1:  Assessing Conditions

Using the link below, perform an evaluation of the heat stress exposure for your "workplace".  (If working from home, use that as your workplace).  Be sure to use the information for OUTDOORS.   https://www.weather.gov/tsa/wbgt    Once you have clicked on the map to reflect your location, record the information on the Answer Sheet found at the end of this lesson.

Step 2:  Clothing Adjustment Factors (CAF):

Identify the ACGIH CAF based on the clothing workers are wearing from Table 2. Add the CAF to the WBGT to determine WBGTeff.

Table 2:  Clothing Adjustment Factors    

Clothing Worn   CAF

Work clothes (long sleeves and pants).  Examples:  Standard cotton shirt and pants         0

Coveralls (w/only underwear underneath).  Examples:  Cotton or light polyester material             0

Double-layer woven clothing      3

SMS Polypropylene Coveralls     0.5

Polyolefin coveralls.  Examples:  Micro-porous fabric (e.g. Tyvek suits)    1

Limited-use vapor-barrier coveralls.  Examples:  Encapsulating suits, whole-body chemical protective suits, firefighter turn-out gear               11

Example:July 2, 2020 @ 4 pm - HAZMAT Responder (firefighter) working a fuel spill outside onHwy 90 in Pensacola, Florida. 

WBGT:  84 degrees FWBGTeff = 84 degrees F + 11 degrees = 95 degrees F

Record your information on the Answer Sheet.

Step 3:  Determine the Metabolic Work Rate

The ACGIH metabolic work rates represent impacts to the body core temperature from the heat produced internally as exertion increases. Select a work category in Table 3 that best represents the workload using the examples as a guide. If different work activities are planned for the day, use the heaviest workload activity to determine if it’s possible the workers exposure will exceed the allowable limit without controls.

Using the equation below, determine the Estimated Metabolic Rate.  Multiply the metabolic rate from the table the ratio of the workers body weight to 70 kg (154 lbs).

Table 3:  Metabolic Work Rates

Work Category  Metabolic Rate (Watts) Activity Examples Jobs

Rest       115         Sitting   Reading a book

Light      180         Sitting, standing, light arm/hand work and occasional walking     Bank teller, store cashier

Moderate           300         Normal walking, moderate lifting              Retail, food server in restaurant

Heavy   415         Heavy material handling, walking at a fast pace  UPS Delivery

Very Heavy         520         Pick and Shovel Work     Construction crew

MRest =Work Category (in Watts from Table 3) x worker body weight (in lbs.)

 154 lbs

Example:  187 lb male working the HAZMAT spill from Step 2.

MRest = 415 Watts x 187 lbs     =    504 W

 154 lbs

Record your information on the Answer Sheet 

Step 4:  Determine the Threshold Limit Value or Action Limit:

The TLV is the temperature at which there is a heat hazard present for an acclimatized worker and the AL is the temperature at which there is a heat hazard present for a non-acclimatized worker. Once these limits are reached, either through environmental factors or workload, controls are necessary to prevent heat-related illness. Controls include work/rest regimens, shade, and hydration.

Using your results from Steps 1, 2 and 3, determine the TLV for an acclimatized worker and an Action Limit for an unacclimatized worker.

a.            Convert WBGTeff Farrenheit° to Celsius°

               C=  ( __°F -32) x 5/9

b.            Find WBFTeff on the y-axis and follow it across the table from left to right until it crosses either the dotted line (for AL) or solid line (for TLV) at the appropriate Metabolic Rate on the x-axis.

c.             Record your information on the Answer Sheet

Example:  HAZMAT Worker from Steps 2 & 3.

WBGTeff = 95°F or 35°C

MRest = 504 WPart B:  WBGT Answer Sheet  - Record your answers with the proper units (i.e. F, C, %, etc)

Workplace Conditions:

(geographic location, place of business, physical description of area where work is taking place)

Forecasted Max Temp(F°)          

Dew Point(F°)   

Relative Humidity (%)   

Wind Speed (mph)         

Cloud Cover(%)               

WBGT(F°)           

Precautionary Actions   

Clothing Adjustment Factor       

WBGTeff (F°)    

MRest (W)         

WBGTeff (F°)    

Did your worker exceed the AL?              

Did your worker exceed the TLV?

Double check your work:

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatstress/calculator.html

Did it match your evaluation?

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 5 Assignment

Controlling Hazards

You have been hired at a local industry and must conduct your first workplace visit.  Go to OSHA eToollink and select an industry:  https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/oshasoft/index.html

Grading Rubric:

•             Part A:  Identifying Hazards (15 points)

•             Part B:  Controlling the Hazard (65 points)

•             References (20 points) – provide for each section in proper APA format.

Part A:  Identifying Hazards(15 points)– Under each eTool, there might be multiple types ofoperationsto choose from.  Select oneand evaluate for the chemical or physical hazard.This website will provide a lot of information for your research: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/text_index.html

NOTE:I have included examples of information in each area so please delete those before completing your evaluation.

Name of Process:

Battery Manufacturing – Oxide Production

Describe the process (the work environment, layout, conditions, etc.):

Lead oxide is made from refined lead. The oxide is then made into a paste by mixing it with water, acid, and other chemicals. In a process parallel to the production of paste, grids are cast from lead alloy. The paste and grids are later combined in the pasting process.

The major source of lead exposure in the oxide production process comes from leaking equipment and system upsets.

Reference:  OSHA eTool:  Battery Manufacturing.  Retrieved from:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/battery_manufacturing/oxide_grid/oxide_production.html

Potential Hazard:

Lead Dust

Applicable OSHA Standard:

29 CFR 1910.1025

Part B: Controllingthe Hazard (65 points):  Nearly every process in any industry has a form of chemical exposure.  Select one chemical component from your process to evaluate.

Type of Hazard (Chemical, Physical or Ergonomic):

Chemical

Potential Source(s) of Exposure:

Lead dust can become airborne due to improper air flow or exhaust ventilation, which results in "puffing" of lead oxide at the mill inlet.

Reference:  OSHA eTool:  Battery Manufacturing.  Retrieved from:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/battery_manufacturing/oxide_grid/oxide_production.html.  

OSHA Safety and Health Topics:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/batterymanufacturing/hazards.html

Route(s) of Exposure:

Inhalation of dust particles; ingestion of dust particles

OSHA Safety and Health Topics:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/batterymanufacturing/hazards.html

Associated Health Hazards:

Exposure to high levels of lead may cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage. Very high lead exposure can cause death.

Lead can cross the placental barrier, which means pregnant women who are exposed to lead also expose their unborn child. Lead can damage a developing baby’s nervous system. Even low-level lead exposures in developing babies have been found to affect behavior and intelligence. Lead exposure can cause miscarriage, stillbirths, and infertility (in both men and women).

Generally, lead affects children more than it does adults. Children tend to show signs of severe lead toxicity at lower levels than adults. Lead poisoning has occurred in children whose parent(s) accidentally brought home lead dust on their clothing. Neurological effects and mental retardation have also occurred in children whose parent(s) may have job-related lead exposure.

REFERENCE:  NIOSH (n.d.).  Lead: Information for Workers.  Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/lead/health.html#:~:text=Exposure%20to%20high%20levels%20of,a%20developing%20baby's%20nervous%20system.

OSHA Safety and Health Topics:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/batterymanufacturing/hazards.html

Engineering Controls Options:

•             Local exhaust ventilation around dust generation points or

•             Isolate the process:Separate the operation from the rest of the plant and keep it under negative pressure.Build a positive pressure control room for the operator.

Reference:  OSHA eTool:  Battery Manufacturing.  Retrieved from:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/battery_manufacturing/oxide_grid/oxide_production.html

Administrative Controls Options:

•             Implement written policy and procedure to notify supervisor of oxide leaks and perform temporary repairs immediately.

•             Implement routine maintenance and monitoring schedule to ensure that the local exhaust ventilation is working properly.

•             Housekeeping procedures:  Vacuum all oxide spills immediately with a central vacuum system or a HEPA vacuum whenever possible during each shift.

•             Provide a change of clothes, and shower rooms to minimize contamination spread.

Reference:  OSHA eTool:  Battery Manufacturing.  Retrieved from:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/battery_manufacturing/oxide_grid/oxide_production.html

Personal Protective Equipment

OSHA Lead Requirements >> Protective Clothing and Equipment:

The following protective clothing and equipment must always be used when lead levels are above the PEL: [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(1)] (Figure 1)

?             Coveralls or similar full-body work clothing; [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(1)(i)]

?             Gloves, hats, and shoes or disposable shoe coverlets; and [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(1)(ii)]

?             Face shields, vented goggles, and other appropriate protective equipment. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(1)(iii)]

Clean and dry protective work clothing must be provided daily or weekly depending on exposure levels. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(i)]

?             Cleaning, laundering, or disposal of protective clothing and equipment must be provided. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(ii)]

?             Protective clothing and equipment must be repaired or replaced as needed to maintain its safety an effectiveness. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(iii)]

?             All protective clothing must be removed at the end of a work shift in change rooms provided for that purpose. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(iv)]

?             Contaminated protective clothing, which is to be cleaned, laundered, or disposed of, must be placed in a closed, labeled container in the changing area. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(v)]

?             Persons who clean or launder protective clothing or equipment must be informed in writing of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to lead. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(vi)]

Containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment must be appropriately labeled. [29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(vii)]

Reference:  OSHA.  29 CFR 1910.1025.  Retrieved from:  https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/battery_manufacturing/requirements/ppe.html#Clothing

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 6 Assignment

ENMT 322 - Week 6 Assignment

Overview:  Your assignment is to use the OSHA Guide to conduct an incident investigation into your chosen topic.  The guide describes a 4-Step Systems approach and your job is to identify and summarize the steps by the information as described by the report.

Instructions:

1.            Chose a safety topic from the Week 6 Reading (scaffolding, confined spaces, etc).

To locate an incident report on your chosen topic, go to the OSHA Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries website: (https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/accidentsearch.html),enter your chosen topic in the “Keyword” search and press submit.

The next screen will give you the search results for that occupational safety and health topic.  Pick an event date within 2019 and click on the “Summary Nr”.

This will bring up the Accident Report Details for that incident.  As you can see on the screen below, it will show the details including date of incident, number and demographics for the employees affected.  Click on “Inspection” to access additional information.

Part A (20 pts):

1.            Summarize the employer information, date of accident andaccident summary.  Research the company through Google (or other search engine) to include pertinent information such name of the business or workcenter, address, number of employees, brief overview of the mission of the business.  Identify type of industry and NAICS code applicable to the business.

2.            Using the table found in the Inspection Detail (example below), summarize all of the violations to include interpretation of each standard cited.

Note:  All of the numbers in the standard are run together (i.e.19100134 = 29 CFR 1910.134.)

Part B (80 points):

1.            40 points - Using the OSHA Incident Investigation Guide, determine the root causes.  The root causes of an incident are exactly what the term implies: The underlying reasons why the incident occurred in a workplace. Root causes generally reflect management, design, planning, organizational and/or operational failings (e.g., employees were not trained adequately; a damaged guard had not been repaired).

2.            40 points - Using the OSHA standard applicable to the incident, make recommendations for corrective actions.  Make sure that the corrective actions address the root causes of the incident.  For example, if an employee fell off scaffolding, what would have prevented that incident?  Use of fall protection equipment?  Written policy on fall protection?  Training employees on the use of fall protection equipment?  Be specific because most hazards will have more than one recommendation.  Hint:  read the OSHA standard and see where the worker failed to meet compliance requirements.

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 7 Assignment

Watch the CBS Remember the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ulaG9x4GpE and using Google, find an article or video about the Imperial Chicken fire in 1991, or the Bangladesh Tazreen factory fire of November 2012. Write a 300-word paper comparing the Triangle fire with one of these fires, with an emphasis on the unsafe conditions in the two workplaces. Include references to both sources of information in a bibliography using the APA format.

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Week 8 Assignment

There is one thing that occupational safety and health professionals know: it’s not enough to just report and track incidents, near misses, and daily behavior—you have to learn and communicate the lessons exposed by the data. Communicating lessons learned leads to improved safety – no one wants to get hurt at work.

Your Week 8 assignment is to evaluate a major incident in recent history and prepare short “Lessons Learned” briefing.  Examples could include a natural disaster, extreme weather event, mass casualty incident, large-loss fire, large-scale hazardous material incident, transportation disaster, terrorist event, or major wildland fire. To be considered a major incident, the incident will normally involve a large-scale response with assistance from other agencies (e.g. fire departments, Homeland Security, FBI, etc.).

The following include a list of recent disasters that you may choose to use:

•             Hurricane Harvey (Tx)

•             Hurricane Katrina (La)

•             Hurricane Maria (PR)

•             9/11

•             Tohoku (Japan) Earthquake/Tsunami

•             BP Oil Spill

•             2017 Camp Fire (Paradise, California) wildfire

•             2011 tornado that struck Tuscaloosa Al

Instructions:

1.            Research your chosen incident and collect the following information:

•             Summary of the event (date, location, type of disaster,)

•             Summary of conditions that led to the disaster. Was it safety related?

•             From Emergency Preparedness perspective:Were they prepared? Did they have emergency plans?  Were they effective?

•             From response worker perspective: what hazards were present; was the PPE provided adequate? Was the training adequate?  Have there been any lingering health effects?

•             Summary of agencies involved (FEMA, OSHA, EPA, DHS, etc.)

•             What changes were implemented as a result of this disaster?

2.            After Action Report -

•             Prepare a PowerPoint Presentation to address the concerns. Organize the presentation around the following questions:

•             What was expected to happen?

•             What actually occurred?

•             What went well and why?

•             What can be improved and how?

•             Areas of grading focus will include:

•             Focused Perspective–The focus of your research and your report should be from an Occupational Health and Safety perspective.  The observations and conclusions should relate to the content of this course (i.e. human health hazards, protecting employees from safety and health hazards, emergency response). 

•             Tailored Content - Your audience will be non-scientist executives so your briefing should be written in easy to understand language suitable for that audience. Tell the story the way you would do it around the water cooler, while keeping it technically accurate.

•             Appropriate Length and Organization - The material should be grouped on 7-10 slides using headings or bulleted lists (not including the title slide, overview, or summary slide).  Please add supporting details (if needed) in the Notes portion of the slides.

•             Credible References - Use reliable, credible references. These include federal or state government agencies, peer-reviewed articles, or industry trade resources.

•             The specific grading rubric can be found in your Assignments folder. 

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Midterm Part 1

1) Which is considered preferable for controlling a potential hazard?

A.            Engineering controls

B.            Health surveillance

C.            Personal protective equipment

D.            Administrative controls

2)The OSHA maximum permissible exposure level (PEL) for continuous noise for an 8-hour work period is: 

A.            70 decibels

B.            80 decibels

C.            90 decibels

D.            100 decibels

3) The minimum temperature to which a substance must be heated before it will spontaneously burn   independently of the source of heat is known as the

                A.            flash point.

                B.            lower flammability limit.

                C.            ignition temperature.

                D.            concentration of vapors.

Part 1, Section B (5Points each)

1)            A.  Discuss three major categories of hazard controls

B.   Give at least two examples of specific control measures for each category. 

C.   What is the hierarchy of controls?

2)            Skin conditions are a major occupational hazard. Discuss the nature and causes of occupational dermal hazards and the preventive measures that can be taken to prevent them from occurring. (Hint: use a table)

Causes of Occupational DERMAL HAZARDS          PREVENTATIVE MEASUES

3)            What is a BLEVE?  Discuss the causes, prevention and remediation of a BLEVE (research question).

4)            What are the symptoms of Silicosis? Identify the recognized cause(s).Describe the routes of exposure and indicate the affected industries. 

5)            A. Explain the key difference between the ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. 

B. List the types of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation

C. Describe resultant health problems that can result with excess exposure to ionizing radiation and to non-ionizing radiation.

 

ENMT322 Occupational Health and Safety

Midterm Part 2

Consider the following scenario and answer the questions in parts (A) and (B) that follow.  Please note: This question is worth 33% of the midterm and is worth 5% of your total grade for the course.

Scenario:

The shipping and cold storage room at Pick 'n Pay Produce (fruit and vegetables) warehouse is a busy place. Twelve-foot vertical racks in the cold storage room hold multiple pallets.  Some of the fruit is tightly packed and overripe.  The boxes are heavy and sometimes damp.  Electric forklifts move pallets from place to place, including an outdoor dock where transportation trucks are loaded all year round by the forklifts.

The manager is giving a tour of the area to the boss’s nephew who will be working there for the summer.  The manager wants to impress upon the young man that this is serious work with a variety of hazards.

Questions:

•             What four major safety and health (including ergonomic) hazards can you identify and control?  For each of these four, identify their potential impact on worker health and safety and some ways to control the hazard.  [HINT: See grading rubric below.]

•             Using the scenario above, select two categorically different hazards or potential hazards that you identified in part (A) and answer the following for each of the two distinct hazards.  [HINT: See grading rubric below.]

•             Identify at least one OSHA standard for each hazard that would reduce the hazard

•             Cite the standard as "29 CFR 1910.x, Name of Standard"

•             Analyze the major requirements of the standard as they address the hazard

•             How would implementing any of those requirements reduce or eliminate the hazard?

•             Is implementing an OSHA requirement sufficient to ensure worker safety?  Why or why not?

Note: some standards are lengthy; select only the relevant paragraph(s) of the standard.  Do NOT exceed one page per question.