OSHA Related

Opioids, Suicide Prevention & Nanomaterials

Opioids and the Workplace training materials from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (includes ins: https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=2587  

Workplace suicide prevention plan: https://workplacesuicideprevention.com/  

CPRW toolbox talks on the hazards of nanomaterials (also available in Spanish): https://www.cpwr.com/sites/default/files/publications/TT_Prevent_Exposure_Nano.pdf https://www.cpwr.com/sites/default/files/publications/Nano-Wood-Coatings-StainTBT_1.pdf https://www.cpwr.com/sites/default/files/publications/Nano-Cement-Dust-Titanium-Dioxide-TBT_3.pdf  

Crystalline Silica, OSHA Related

OSHA Issues NEP on Respirable Crystalline Silica

OSHA issued the National Emphasis Program – Respirable Crystalline Silica effective 2/4/2020. See the full directive here.

This Instruction describes policies and procedures for implementing a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in general industry, maritime, and construction industries.

This replacement NEP addresses enforcement of OSHA’s standards for RCS, promulgated in 2016. One standard covers general industry and maritime, and the other covers construction. Both standards set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) for RCS of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The former TWA PELs for respirable quartz silica were calculated based on silica content and were approximately equivalent to 100 μg/m3 for general industry and 250 μg/m3 for construction and shipyards (81 FR at 16294, March 25, 2016).

OSHA Related

Worker Exposure to Flame Retardants Study Released

Thank you to Anchor Insulation for assisting the CDC by participating in the NIOSH Flame Retardants Study.

From Chris King, M.S. OSH, Director of Safety, Anchor Insulation

All, below is a link for a paper titled, Worker exposure to flame retardants in manufacturing, construction and service industries just published by NIOSH/CDC. Anchor Insulation participated in this study, particular to Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation installation. Although not stated in paper, informal discussion with the authors indicate that the PPE currently utilized by Anchor’s Spray Foam workers consisting of non-permeable tyvec (with booties and hoodies), nitrile gloves, and supplied air respirators are effective in protecting workers against flame retardant components used in SPF. Another reason to engage in industry best practices as identified by the Spray Polyurethane Foam Association.

Link to the paper is here.