CoatingsPro Magazine

JUL 2016

CoatingsPro offers an in-depth look at coatings based on case studies, successful business operation, new products, industry news, and the safe and profitable use of coatings and equipment.

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COATINGSPRO JULY 2016 25 WORK IT SAFE Water found in improperly maintained eyewash stations is more likely to contain organisms (e.g., Acanthamoeba, Pseudomonas, and Legionella) that thrive in stagnant or untreated water and are known to cause infections. When a worker uses an eyewash station that is not maintained, organisms in the water may come into contact with the eye or skin or may be inhaled. Workers using eyewash stations after exposure to a hazardous chemical or material may have eye injuries that make the eye more susceptible to infection. Also, workers with skin damage or compromised immune systems (e.g., transplant recovery, cancer, and lupus) are at increased risk for devel- oping illnesses from contaminated water. Early diagnosis is important to prevent infections from causing serious health effects, including permanent vision loss and severe lung diseases (e.g., pneumonia). PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE Eyewash station manufacturer instructions provide directions on how often and how long to activate specific plumbed systems to reduce microbial contamination, and they generally reference the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) Standard Z358.1-2014, "Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment." Self-contained eyewash units must be maintained, and employers should consult the manufacturer's instructions for maintenance procedures. This includes flushing the system and using only solutions appropriate for flushing eyes. F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t : O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h Administration (OSHA), www.osha.gov simplify that process for you in regards to both OSHA and ANSI standards pertaining to the proper protection of respirator users in particular and to help make compliance easier, faster, and more economical. The Fundamentals of Respirator Selection In the presence of possible industrial breathing contaminants, a respirator must be provided to each employee to protect his or her health and well-be- ing. Employers are required per OSHA to provide respirators specifcally designed for the purpose intended. An important stipulation is the establish- ment and maintenance of a respiratory protection program, which has defnite requirements. See Figure 1. for a simplifed approach to determining how best to comply. Te fundamental goal of any respi- ratory protection program is to control occupational diseases and injuries caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smoke, sprays, and/or vapors. Te defense against these contami- nants is simple: Keep them out of the air that workers breathe. You should always implement engineering and/ or administrative controls frst. But if contaminants still present a hazard, you must provide appropriate respira- tory protection for every employee who might be exposed to them. Employers must follow the require- ments set forth by NIOSH and OSHA regulations, both the general regula- tions that apply to all workplaces and the specifc regulations that apply to individual types of exposures. According to program details in OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134), standard operating procedures governing the selection and use of respirators provide several key fundamentals: • A written plan detailing how the program will be administered; • A complete assessment and knowl- edge of respiratory hazards that will be encountered in the workplace; • Procedures and equipment to control respiratory hazards, including the use of engineering controls and work practices designed to limit or reduce employee exposures to such hazards; • Guidelines for the proper selection of appropriate respiratory protective equipment; • An employee training program covering hazard recognition, the dangers associated with respiratory hazards, and proper care and use of respiratory protective equipment; • Inspection, maintenance, and repair of respiratory protective equipment; • Medical surveillance of employees. Compliance Made Easy Proper protection of respirator users is the overall goal of a respirator program. Most respirator manufacturers have tools designed to simplify the process of developing, administering, and maintaining a respiratory protection program in a work environment. Some examples are: • Respirator Selection Guide: The purpose of a Respirator Selection Guide is to offer a compilation of a broad range of respiratory protective products to help you to determine which respiratory solution best fits your specific requirements. Not only does the Respirator Selection Guide encompass your various choices in respirator options, but it will offer guidance on choosing the correct cartridges and/or filters for that Safety Watch

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