WORK ENVIRONMENT

SAFETY

Engr. Lauro C. Canceran

Sr. Industrial Hygienist
OSHC - Environment Control Division
 Objectives
At the end of the course, the participants
will be able to:

 Know and understand the physical and chemical

hazards in the workplace; and
 Know the process of evaluating the physical and
chemical hazards in the workplace, through work
environment measurement, including the
instruments used and the standards to be
observed.
 Vapours
Gases Fumes
Work Dispersion
Dust Environment
Generation
Diffusion Contamination
Chemical Substance Noise
Raw Materials Mist
Heat

Contamination of Work Environment

Entrance Injury
to
Human Accumulation
Illness
Body Excretion
Death

Metabolic
Reaction
Types of Health Hazards

Chemicals Ergonomics

Biological
Physical
 Physical Hazards
Pressure Extremes
Radiation
Noise
Inadequate Illumination
Vibration
Temperature Extremes
Biological Hazards

 Bacteria
 Virus
 Fungi
 Enzymes
 Micro-organism
 Ergonomics Hazards
 Improperly designed tools or
workareas
 Improper lifting or reaching
 Poor visual conditions
 Repeated motion in awkward
position
 Chemical Hazards

 Solvents / Vapors
 Dust / Particulates
 Heavy Metals / Fumes
 Gases / Smoke
 Acids / Mist
Hazards Recognition
Recognition of the different hazards can be
accomplished by…

 Walk-through survey/ocular inspection

 Reviewing process involved
 Knowing the raw materials used,
products and by-products
 Gathering of worker’s complaints
 CSDS/MSDS
 What is CSDS/MSDS?

A summary of the important health,

safety and toxicological information on
the chemical or the mixture
ingredients.
 Contents of the CSDS/MSDS

1. Identification of the Chem’ls 9. Physical & Chemical Properties

2. Composition/Info on Ing. 10. Stability and Reactivity
3. Hazards Identification. 11. Toxicological Information
4. First-aid Measures. 12. Ecological Information
5. Fire-fighting Measures. 13. Disposal Considerations
6. Accidental Release Measures 14. Transport Information
7. Handling and Storage 15. Regulatory Information
8. Personal Protection 16. Other Information
 Solvents / Vapors
Carpet layers Vapors from
Soft tile installers/ bonding agents
Hard tile setters Solvent vapors
Painters
Dust / Particulates
Insulation workers Dust from asbestos
Carpenters & synthetic fibers
Drywall installers Wood dust
Drillers Silica dust
Heavy Metals / Fumes
Welders Welding emissions,
Solderers lead and cadmium fumes
Work Environment
Measurement

Refers to the determination of

environmental stresses and
their hazardous effects on
worker’s health through
direct measurement of
hazardous using IH
equipment.
Types of Environmental
Monitoring

 Area/Environmental Sampling
 Personal Sampling
 Biological Monitoring
Area/Environmental Sampling
Filter Holder

Elutriator
 Actual Personal Air Sampling
Equipment Set-up
 Sampling Pump
Low Flow – 50- 350 mL/min -
High Flow - 1 - 5 L/min

Sampling Media
Filter Cassettes
Sorbent Tubes
Impingers
Sample Bags
 Gases / Smoke
Hazardous Atmospheres

 Confined Spaces, and open locations

can both contain Hazardous
Atmospheres
 Examples of these hazards are
Combustible gases, Toxic gases and
Oxygen deficiency or enrichment
 Confined Space Examples
 Storage Tanks  Pipelines
 Sewers  Trenches**
 Boilers  Pits**
 Boilers  Silos
 Manholes  Vats
 Ship Voids  Wells
 Tunnels

** United States- any pit or trench>=4 ft. classified as a

Permit Required Confined Space
 Confined Spaces
 Hazards  Fatality Factors
Atmospheric Failure to recognize
 O2 deficiency hazards
 O2 enrichment  incorrect emergency
 Combustibles response
 Toxics
 Physical • Prevention
 engulfment •Detection
•Monitoring
 Methane
Carbon Monoxide
ATMOSPHERIC TESTING Hydrogen Sulfide

 Before an employee enters the

space, the internal atmosphere shall
be tested for the following conditions
in the order given.
- Sample What? - What Level
• Oxygen content 19.5 - 23.5%
• Combustible Gases < 10 % LEL
• Toxic Gases Depends on
gas type
 Atmospheric Testing
Methane TOP
Carbon Monoxide MIDDLE
Hydrogen Sulfide BOTTOM

Methane (lighter than air)

Carbon Monoxide(slightly lighter than air)
Hydrogen Sulfide (heavier than air)
COMBUSTIBLE
ATMOSPHERES

Fire Triangle
FUEL AIR

SOURCE OF IGNITION
 Common Combustibles
Lower Upper
Explosive Limit Explosive Limit
(LEL) (UEL)
%Vol %Vol
Hydrogen 4.0 75.0
Methane (natural gas) 5.3 13.9
Pentane (gasoline) 1.5 7.8
Butane 1.6 8.4
Propane 2.1 9.5
Acetone 2.1 13.0
Ethanol 3.4 18.4
Isopropyl Alcohol 2.0 12.7
Octane 1.0 6.5
 Example of Combustion
100 % LEL UEL

Hydrogen
(H2)

0 4 75.0 100 % vol

Too lean
to burn Explosive Too rich
Mixture to burn
 Oxygen Deficiency
 Risk of asphyxiation caused by
Consumption
• People 19.5% Oxygen
• Oxidation
Displacement
• Humidity
• Decomposition
Inertion
 Oxygen Enrichment
 Seriousfire hazards
 Materials burn much more rapidly
 Caused by
– Leaking valve
– Leaking cylinder

Oxygen
23%
 Toxic gases

 Pose a threat to human life – react in the

body in a poisonous fashion
 Often colorless and odorless
 Some of the toxic gases are

Carbon Monoxide Hydrogen Sulfide

Nitrogen Dioxide Nitric Oxide
Sulfur Dioxide Ammonia
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES

 Refer to airborne concentration of

substances and conditions that nearly all
workers may be repeatedly exposed daily
without adverse health effects.

Categories:
Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA)
Short Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL)
Threshold Limit Value - Ceiling (TLV-C)
 WEM Equipment
 Lux Meter - Illumination
 Sound Level Meter - Noise
 Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer - Heat
 Psychrometer - Humidity
 Anemometer - Air Movement
 Vibration Level Meter – Vibration
 Gas Monitor - Gases
 Recommended Illumination Levels
 A minimum of 50 lux – passageway, corridor,
warehouse
 A minimum of 100 lux – engine and boiler
rooms; toilets and washrooms
 A minimum of 200 lux – canning and
preserving; planing of lumber and veneering
 A minimum of 300 lux – medium inspection;
office deskwork with intermittent reading
and writing for filing and mail sorting.
 Permissible Heat Exposure
Threshold Limit Values
Work-Rest Workload Workload Workload
Regimen Light Moderate Heavy
Continuous 30.0 oC 26.7 oC 25.0 oC
75% work - o o o
30.6 C 28.0 C 25.9 C
25% rest
50% work - o o o
31.4 C 29.4 C 27.9 C
50% rest
25% work -
32.2 oC 31.1 oC 30.0 oC
75% rest
Permissible Noise Exposure Level
Duration/day Sound Level
Hours (hr) dB(A)
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1½ 102
1 105
1/2 110
1/4 115
TLV of Airborne Contaminants

GASES VAPORS
CO 50ppm Acetone 1,000ppm
Benzene 25ppm-C
CO2 5,000ppm
Toluene 100ppm
Cl2 1ppm
Methanol 200ppm
O2 19.5 % Ethanol 1,000ppm
H2S 10 ppm Methyl 500ppm-C
Chloride
TLV of Airborne Contaminants

Particulates Mists

Asbestos –2 fibers/cc HCl - 5 ppm

Dust (resp.)- 5 mg/m3 H3PO4 - 0.25 ppm
H2SO4 - 0.25 ppm
Dust (total)- 10 mg/m3
HNO3 - 2 ppm
General Environment
Control Measures

1. Engineering control
2. Administrative control
3. Use of Personal Protective
Equipment
 ENGINEERING CONTROL

1. Substitution
2. Modification in
Process/Equipment
3. Maintenance of
equipment
4. Isolation
5. Wet method
6. Industrial Ventilation
 ISOLATION
Prior to entry into a
confined space, the space
should be isolated to
prevent any hazardous
materials from entering.
Example:
Locking,blanking,bleeding
and tagging valves and
pumps in all piping leading
to the space.
 FORCED VENTILATION

A confined space should always

be ventilated w/ adequate fresh
air by means of air blowers with
trunking or extension hoses
before and after entry.
 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
1. Reduction of work periods
2. Adjusting work schedules
3. Employee information and training
4. Job Rotation
5. Education of supervisors

6. Housekeeping and Maintenance

 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
(PPE)

1. Dust / Gas Respirators 5. Aprons

2. Safety Goggles/Spectacles 6. Safety Shoes
3. Face Shields 7. Helmets
4. Earplugs /Earmuffs 8. Gloves
TYPES OF RESPIRATORS

1. Air Purifying Respirators

2. Air - supplying Respirators
AIR PURIFYING RESPIRATORS

Mechanical filter respirators

Chemical cartridge respirators
Combination of mechanical/chemical
Powered air-purifying respirators
AIR - SUPPLYING RESPIRATORS
a. Supplied air - respirators
b. Self contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA)
c. Combination - SCBA and supplied -
air respirators
 CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
OF RESPIRATORS

1. Identification of contaminants
2. Maximum possible concentration of
contaminants in the workarea
3. Acceptability in terms of comfort
4. Compatibility with the nature of job
5. Proper fit to the face of user to present
leakage
 Maraming
Salamat Po!