Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

1. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards This course covers the basics of airborne hazards and controls effective to prevent incidents.

2. AECOM – Company Confidential and Proprietary • This module and any attachments are the property of AECOM Corporation and contains information not to be disclosed outside of AECOM. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

3. Objectives • This course addresses the hazards of toxic and oxygen deficient atmospheres. Methods for monitoring contaminated air and controlling airborne hazards ae also discussed. • Introduction • Airborne Hazards • Air Monitoring • Controls Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

4. Introduction • Harmful chemicals can enter your body in any of the following ways. Which route of entry causes the most injury and illness? • Ingestion • Absorption • Injection • Inhalation • Inhalation is the most common route of entry for work-related injury and illness. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

5. Introduction • Hazardous atmospheres can be explosive, radioactive, toxic or oxygen deficient. This course focuses on the hazards associated with toxic and oxygen deficient atmospheres. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

6. Introduction • Regardless of your environment, you can be exposed to toxic and/or oxygen deficient atmospheres. At home, young children and the elderly are especially prone to hazardous atmospheres. At work airborne hazards can exist even in the office. Injuries and illnesses due to these hazards ae surprisingly common. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

7. Introduction • The information in this course can help you keep yourself, your coworkers, and your loved ones safe from: • Acute and chronic damage to lungs • Asphyxiation • Mutagenic damage (damage to DNA) • Cancer • Death Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

8. Objectives • This section introduces the basics of airborne hazards. • Introduction • Airborne Hazards • Air Monitoring • Controls Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

9. How to Airborne Hazards Work? • Substances can become airborne as gases, vapors, or particulates. • Gases and Vapors can diffuse freely in the air within an area or containers. The concentration in the air is typically measured in parts per million (ppm). • Particulates are measured both by the size of the particles (micron or 1/1000 of a millimeter), and concentration (milligrams per cubit meter of air or mg/m3). Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

10. How to Airborne Hazards Work? • Some gases can also act as asphyxiants that deprive the body of oxygen. Asphyxiants can be: • Simple asphyxiants such as nitrogen, helium and methane displace the oxygen in the air and cause suffocation. • Chemical asphyxiants like carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide prevent cells from receiving oxygen. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

11. How to Airborne Hazards Work? • Airborne hazards do not always come through work-place exposure. Radon, a naturally occurring, odorless gas, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in some countries. According to the World Health Organization, it causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

12. How to Airborne Hazards Work? • Awareness is critically important when it comes to preventing illness and injury from hazards like radon. If you feel there are other hazards that should also be addressed in this training module, please let us know by leaving an observation in your location’s near miss/observation database, Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

13. Objectives • This section introduces the basics of air monitoring requirements and methods. • Introduction • Airborne Hazards • Air Monitoring • Controls Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

14. Air Monitoring at Work • If higher levels of airborne exposure are anticipated or materials are present that cannot be sampled in real time e.g., lead, arsenic asbestos), an industrial or occupational hygienist must be assigned the role of project-specific Respiratory Protection Administrator. This person will be responsible for: • Assessing the hazards • Identifying air monitoring tools • Providing the correct respirators for the hazards • Continuous monitoring, if necessary • Ensuring records and documentation will be stored for at least 30 years. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

15. Air Monitoring • If conditions require air monitoring or air sampling, the Respiratory Protection Administrator is responsible for determining the means of assessing the hazard. Options are: • Air Sampling – A sample of the atmosphere or the airborne chemical is taken to a lab for analysis. • Air Monitoring – A direct-read instrument is used to measure the presence and concentration of airborne chemicals • On some projects, both methods may be necessary. The next few slides will cover this topic in more detail. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

16. Air Sampling • Laboratory analysis can be performed on nearly any chemical compound. Samples can be sent for testing via the following methods: • Closed Container – Samples of the atmosphere can be collected using evacuated (vacuum) canisters. When the valve is opened, the air in the atmosphere rushes into the container. The sample can then be transported to the lab for analysis. • Media – Chemicals can be collected on an appropriate media such as filter, sorbent tube, or impinger/bubbler solution. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

17. Air Monitoring • When laboratory analysis is not required, direct-read instruments are used for on-site air monitoring because they provide instant results, are durable, portable, an easy to use. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

18. Air Monitoring • Each instrument is designed to detect specific contaminants. It is critical that the correct direct-read instrument is selected for the contaminants that are present at the site. • It is also important that the instrument is calibrated before use. Without proper calibration, instrument readings are meaningless. • The next few slides will review the most common types of direct-read instruments. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

19. Direct-read Instruments • Toxic Gas Meter • Toxic gas meters contain sensors designed to measure the quantity of a specific gas such as: • Hydrogen sulfide • Carbon monoxide • Hydrogen cyanide • Sulfur dioxide Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

20. Direct-read Instruments • Oxygen Meter • Oxygen metes work on the same principle as toxic gas meters and are used in areas where oxygen deficiency may be a concern. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

21. Direct-read Instruments • Photoionization Detector (PID) • PIDs use an ultraviolet lamp to ionize compounds. The current created by these ionized compounds is then analyzed by a sensor. • A limitation of these units is that they are broad band detectors (not compound selective) and can only be used for compounds whose ionization potential (IP) is less than that of the UV lamp used. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

22. Direct-read Instruments • Photoionization Detector (PID) (cont) • For example, toluene has an IP of 8.82 eV. A PID with a common UV lamp strength of 10.6 eV can easily ionize toluene for measurement. • Because methane has an IP of 12.9 eV, the same PID would be unable to ionize the methane for measurement. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

23. Direct-read Instruments • Combustible Gas Indicator (GCI) • GCIs use a hot wire to burn a small portion of the atmosphere. Sensors then detect the concentration of combustible gases in the air in percent of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL). • CGIs do not work well in low oxygen concentrations. Therefore, oxygen meters and CGIs are frequently packaged together. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

24. Direct-read Instruments • Aerosol Monitor • Aerosol monitors measure particulate concentrations in the atmosphere using light scattering techniques. The quantity of light reflected from a sample of the collected atmosphere corresponds to the quantity of the particulate matter. • Size-selective filters cannot discriminate between mists, dusts, or other particulates. However, they can be useful in measuring various airborne contaminants if conservative estimates are made from their results. Aerosol monitors cannot detect asbestos. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

25. Direct-read Instruments - Summary • No matter which instruments used it is important to remember that a zero result may not mean a “clean” result. Exercise caution when interpreting results and allow for the possibility that: • The instrument is malfunctioning. • The wrong instrument is being used, • The area being tested has a lower concentration of contaminants than other areas on the work site. • If an instrument reading exceeds the action level defined in the Health and Safety Plan, action is required to reduce exposure, upgrade PPE, or if necessary, evacuate the area. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

26. Air Monitoring – Practice 1 • An AECOM field team will be collecting groundwater samples from established, up-gradient monitoring wells. Is air monitoring needed. Yes or No? Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

27. Air Monitoring – Practice 2 • AECOM is contracted to excavate and remove buried drums containing pesticide waste. Subcontractors will operate excavation equipment and haul waste off-site. New housing developments and a school boarders the site. Is air monitoring needed? Yes or No? Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

28. Practice Answers • 1: No, it is not likely air monitoring will be needed in this situation because there are no expected contaminants, the work will be performed in the open, no intrusive activities are planned, and “up-gradient well” indicates good knowledge of the site. • 2: Absolutely. A complex air monitoring solution will be required. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

29. Objectives • This section reviews methods you can use to prevent injury or illness to yourself and others when airborne hazards are present. • Introduction • Airborne Hazards • Air Monitoring • Controls Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

30. Controls • If air monitoring shows that airborne contaminants are present, you can prevent injury or illness to yourself and other using the following controls • Engineering (Elimination and Substitution) • Administrative • Personal Protective Equipment Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

31. Controls • Engineering elimination and substitution controls work by removing, diluting, or containing the hazard. Examples include: • Removal of a hazard from the work area. • Substitution with a less hazardous material. • Changing a process to use less of the hazardous material. • Diluting the airborne contaminant with fresh air or local exhaust ventilation. • Isolating the airborne contaminant with enclosures that prohibit access to area with elevated contaminant levels. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

32. Administrative Controls • Administrative controls reduce hazards through: • Planning (scheduling shifts that minimize exposure time) • Training • Written policies and procedures • Safe work practices • Inspections and maintenance • Medical surveillance (exposure monitoring) Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

33. Personal Protective Equipment • Personal protective equipment (PPE) should only be used when substitution, engineering, and administrative controls cannot bring the hazard below the action level. In these cases, respiratory protection may be required. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

34. Respirators • Before you can wear a respirator, you must first have medical clearance completed by a physician or licensed health care professional and a complete review of your medical history. You may also need a: • Medical Exam • Spirometry Test • Chest X-ray • Copies of medical clearance must be stored with the project documentation. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

35. Respirators • If you experience a change in your medical status that could limit your ability to use a respirator, talk with your safety representative right away. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

36. Respirators • Before using a respirator you must also receive training in the use of the respirator, including its limitations, at the following times: • Before respirator use • Annually • Anytime a new hazard or job is introduced • If you cannot demonstrate proper use and knowledge Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

37. Respirators • The training must also include • Donning and doffing procedure • Positive and negative pressure checks • Maintenance and care of the respirator • Decontamination of the respirator Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

38. Respirators • Generally speaking respirators can be classified into the following two types • Air purifying • Atmosphere supplying Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

39. Respirators – Air Purifying • Air Purifying respirators (APRs) are light weight and mobile. They are available in the following types: • Half-face • Full-face • Powered (PAPR) Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

40. Respirators – Air Purifying • APRs clean the air you breath by using filtration, absorption, or adsorption. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

41. Respirators – Air Purifying • APRs are not always the best option. Before you choose an APR for respiratory protection, consider that they: • Cannot be used in atmospheres with less than 19.5 percent oxygen or when concentrations of specific substances create conditions that are immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH). • Cannot be used for entry into an unventilated or confined area where the exposure conditions and/or potential contaminants have not been characterized. • Only protect against specific chemicals and up to specific concentrations. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

42. Respirators – Air Purifying • If you are using an APR, you must also choose the correct respirator cartridge. The correct cartridge should be specified in the Project Health and Safety Plan. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

43. Respirators – Atmosphere Supplying • Atmosphere supplying respirators provide better protection than APRs and can be used in areas where there is insufficient oxygen. Types of atmosphere supplying respirators include: • Air line respirators • Self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBA) Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

44. Respirators – Atmosphere Supplying • Air line respirators provide a source of air some distance away from where you are working. The air travels through a hose to your mask. • Advantages: Protects against most airborne contaminants. Enables longer work periods and is less bulky and heavy than an SCBA. • Disadvantages: Not approved for use in IDLH or oxygen deficient atmospheres unless equipped with an emergency egress unit. Impairs mobility. Maximum hose length is limited. Air line is vulnerable to damage. Decontaminating hoses maybe difficult. Worker must retrace steps to leave the work area. Requires supervision or monitoring of the air supply line. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

45. Respirators – Atmosphere Supplying • SCBAs allow you to carry your air source with you. • Advantages: Provides the highest level of protection against airborne contaminants and oxygen deficiency, especially under strenuous work conditions. Offers un-tethered access to nearly all portions of the work site. • Disadvantages: Bulkily and heavy. Finite air supply limits work duration. Escape-only SCBAs may have only 5-10 minutes of air. May impair movement in confined spaces. Requires monitoring of the air supply. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

46. Selecting a Respirator • There are several factors to consider when choosing a respirator. • You: 1) What is your general health? 2) Do you wear contacts or glasses? 3) Do you have any facial features, such as dentures, scars, or facial hair that might hinder proper operation of the respirator? 4) Are you sensitive to latex and other chemicals? 5) Are you claustrophobic? • Contaminants: 1) What is the identity and state? 2) How long will you be exposed and at what concentrations? 3) What are the permissible exposure limits? 4) What is the IDLH concentration? 5) What are the warning properties? 6) Is it flammable? • Respirator: 1) Is it mobile enough? 2) What is the service life? 3) Is it durable? 4) Can it easily be decontaminated? 5) Is it comfortable? 6) Is it compatible with the other PPE you will be using? 7) Has it been fit-tested for you? Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

47. Selecting a Respirator • Each respirator type has a maximum use limit (MUL) depending on which airborne contaminants are present. • MUL = Protection Factor x Exposure Limit • Once the MUL has been reached, the respirator may be insufficient to control the hazard. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

48. Selecting a Respirator • Regardless of the type of respirator you choose, it will only work if it fits snugly and securely. Fit Testing must be performed: • Any time you are assigned a different respirator than the one previously tested. • Within one year prior to respirator use. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

49. Selecting a Respirator • NIOSH has assigned protection factors to indicate the degree of protection provided by each type of respirator. The formula used to calculate these protection factors is: Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards

50. Selecting a Respirator • Some things can interfere with proper fit of your respirator: • Glasses (you can use a spectacle insert kit to resolve this problem). • Contact Lens are not recommended in dusty areas if you use a half-mask face piece. In Europe it is NOT recommended to wear contacts with a full-face respirator. Protecting Yourself from Airborne Hazards