October 2010

1. October 2010 October 2010 Health Hazards of Arsenic Health Hazards of Lead Occupational Health Department • EQUAL Code SSR023 Occupational Health Department

2. Outline • What is Lead? • Where is it found? Occupational, non-occupational • Routes of exposure • Health effects • OEL and DSR • Air sampling • Controls

3. Identify the Hazard What is Lead? CAS#: 7439-92-1 Bluish-white heavy metal Tarnishes to dull greyishcolour when exposed to air Dense, soft and easy to bend, shape Poor electrical conductivity, highly resistant to corrosion Organic and inorganic compounds

4. *Use of lead-containing products on decline since early 1980’s. Identify the HazardSources of Non-Occupational Exposure • Naturally occurring, found in small quantities in the earth’s crust and may be present in metallic ores. • Lead paint • Additives in gasoline • Food contaminated from soldered containers, leaded glass crystal • Water contaminated from lead-containing pipes and industrial discharge • Hobbies (making pottery or stained glass, ammunition, sinkers)

5. Identify the HazardSources of Lead Exposure • Occupational exposure to Lead and lead compounds may occur through exposure to: • Recycled scrap metal • Certain solders (eg. tin-lead solder) • Metal alloys (eg. for bearings) • Lead-acid batteries • Pipe tread, gasket sealants, electrical finish • Removing lead-based paints (especially sandblasting)

6. Identify the Hazard • Where it exists at Vale • Lead can be present in the process stream. • Example: in ore, processing

7. Identify the Hazard • Where it exists at Vale • A material containing lead or lead compounds. • Example: • Lead oxide added for Fire Assaying

8. Assess the Risk • How can Lead enter my body?

9. Assess the RiskRoutes of Entry • Inhalation – breathing in the chemical • Ingestion – swallowing the chemical • Absorption – the chemical soaks through the skin • *only a factor for organic lead

10. Assess the RiskOnce in your body • After inhaled or ingested, lead enters the bloodstream and travels to various organs • ie. liver, kidneys, brain, spleen, muscles, heart • After several weeks, lead moves into your bones where it can be stored for a long time • Levels in your body can build up over time • the more in your body, the more likely you will have health effects

11. How Can Lead Affect My Health?

12. *Short-term, high level exposures (acute poisoning) are rarely seen in occupations today as a result of strict controls. Assess the RiskAcute Health Effects • Fatigue, irritability • Muscle and joint pain • Headaches • Loss of memory, poor attention span • Stomach aches, cramps • More severe poisoning may cause metallic taste in mouth, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea Short-term exposure to high levels of lead may cause: .

13. Assess the RiskChronic Health Effects • Nervous system– damage to peripheral nerves can cause muscle weakness (aches,wrist drop), tremors; can lead to behavioural changes, impair vision, hearing; very high levels, can affect brain • Gastrointestinal system– may result in abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, constipation, diarrhea • Blood– blood cell formation, may lead to anemia • Kidneys– kidney damage • Reproductive system– may harm developing fetus, affect male fertility (lower sperm count) • Cardiovascular system – increased blood pressure Long-term exposure to lower levels of lead may affect:

14. Assess the RiskFactors that may increase your risk • Dose • Age of person • Occupational exposure • Duration of exposure • Health and lifestyle • Nutritional status • Pregnancy

15. Assess the Risk • Ontario’s Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) • Time-Weighted Average (TWA) concentration for a normal 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek, to which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse effects. • TWA for Lead =0.05 mg/m3for 8-hr workshift • =0.03 mg/m3for 12-hr workshift

16. Assess the RisksAir Monitoring • The Lead component of the Total dust is sampled. • The sampling train consists of a 37 mm cassette, a cellulose membrane filter and a pump.

17. Area Sampling: Placing the sampling equipment in a representative fixed position in the work area. Useful as an index of general contamination. Can be used to determine whether to post as a “Respirator Protection Required” area. Assess the RisksAir Sampling

18. *Results determine worker exposure (for comparison to OELs) Assess the RisksAir Sampling • Personal Monitoring is conducted: • In the worker’s breathing zone. • Doing his/her normal work activities. • Over an entire work shift.

19. Control • Types of Controls • Engineering Controls • Administrative Controls • Work and Hygiene Practices • PPE

20. The above controls can be implemented: ControlsEngineering Controls • Includes: • Ventilation • Enclosure/isolation • Substitution • At the source • Along the path • At the worker

21. ControlsAdministrative Controls • Includes: • Training on hazards recognition, safe work & hygiene practices • Maintaining adequate hygiene facilities (hand washing and showering) • Transferring high risk workers out of work area • Occupational Health & Medicine Programs • Written documentation of safe work procedures (site specific)

22. ControlsWork Practices and Hygiene Practices Some of the things you can do to protect your health: • Wash hands, face, scrub nails before eating, drinking or smoking - Ensure: using soap & warm water & washing for sufficient time • Shower, wash, change before going home • Eat, drink only in designated areas • Keep your work area clean – daily housekeeping • Follow adequate controls (ie. wearing PPE) • REPORT any illness or injuries right away (even if you think they are minor)

23. ControlsPPE: Respirators • The concentration of Lead determines type of respirator required. • Respirator fit testing can be done at Vale’s First Aid facilities. • Refer to the Divisional Respirator Protection Program.

24. ControlsPPE: Respirator Selection • Where airborne concentrations are: < = to 10 x TWA(NIOSH Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 10) Half-mask respirator with particulate filters (P100) < = to 25 x TWA(NIOSH Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 25) Powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) equipped with a hood or helmet and particulate filter.

25. ControlsPPE: Respirator Selection • Where airborne concentrations are: < = to 50 x TWA(NIOSH Assigned Protection Factor (APF) of 50) Full face respirator.

26. *Never remove respirator in the contaminated area. ControlsPPE: Respirator Selection • The respirator must: • Have the proper cartridge or filter to protect against the contaminant. • Must provide adequate protection, depending on exposure limit and concentration.

27. Positive Negative ControlsPPE: Respirator Seal ChecksDo a seal check each time you put on your respirator

28. Control Program Where Assessment determines that a worker within a particular job code is at risk, a Control Program is required: Control Program must include provisions for: • Controls • Methods for monitoring airborne exposure lead • Maintaining personal records of worker exposures (air) • Medical examinations and clinical tests • Maintaining medical and clinical records

29. Medical SurveillanceMedical Examinations • Pre-placement Medical • Periodic Medical (carried out at least every two years on a voluntary basis) • Include: • History • Physical Exam

30. Identify the Hazard • Designated Substance • Lead is identified as a Designated Substance in Ontario (Regulation 490/09). • Applies to workplaces: • where lead is present, produced, processed, used, handled or stored; and • at which the worker is likely to inhale, ingest, absorb

31. Medical SurveillanceMedical Examinations • Pre-placement and Periodic: • Blood lead *Best indicator of recent lead exposure • Pulmonary function test • Chest x-ray (if not done if previous 3 years) • Quarterly biological monitoring: • Blood lead

32. Blood Lead Levels Acceptable values: Blood lead concentration < 1.45 µmol/L Alert level: Blood lead concentration > 3.40 µmol/L

33. What Happens if Your Blood-Lead Level is Too High? • When Alert level reached: • Follow-up test requested by Occupational Medicine • If results are confirmed, worker must be removed from lead exposure • Occupational Health site contact must interview worker and verify work practices and hygiene practices • Return to work may be permitted when level of blood reaches 2.42 µmol/Lor less

34. Please Ensure these Practices (Controls)are Protecting YOU by….. Participatingin air monitoring(wearing a pump) • tells us about YOUR lung exposure to dusts that shift Participating in biological monitoring(giving a biological sample) • tells us how much has gone into YOUR body from all sources of exposure THEY ARE COMPLIMENTARY!!

35. Take home message • Emphasis is on what you can do; how you go out in the plant and recognize and understand a hazard and assess the level of risk. • Planning for controls is done ahead of time. If no control is in place or you think the hazard still exists, talk to your supervisor • Following established controls and continually monitoring and assess controls; if no control is in place or you think the hazard still exists, talk to your supervisor

36. Thank you!