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Hazards on the Job and How to Control Them

Health hazards

Water and wastewater treatment workers face many different hazards at work. Health hazards generally cause illnesses. Safety hazards cause injuries. Health hazards can be grouped in this way:

How hazards enter the body

To prevent exposure to health hazards, it is important to understand first how harmful agents enter the body. The way an agent enters your body also can make a difference in what happens to you.

There are four main ways that harmful agents can enter your body.

• Breathing (inhalation)

  You can breathe in chemicals, some that you cannot even see or smell.
  
  

• Swallowing (ingestion)

  Workers can swallow chemicals in different ways. You can swallow chemicals along with your food if you do not wash your hands after handling chemicals. In dusty areas you can swallow chemicals such as lead or asbestos particles that are in the air or that land on food or in drinks. Some diseases, such as hepatitis A, are spread by swallowing food or liquid that is contaminated with the hepatitis A virus. Other germs can be swallowed if you eat or touch your mouth without proper hand washing after touching soiled linens or other items.
  
  

• Skin (absorption)

  Many chemicals and some types of radiation can pass right through your skin. Some types of chemicals, germs or radiation will cause illness or symptoms just by coming into contact with the skin.
  
  

• Cuts (injection)

  Chemicals or germs can also pass through your skin if you get cut or get stuck with a sharp object such as a needle.
  
  

When hazards cause harm

Exposure does not always mean that a hazard must enter the body to cause damage. A person can hurt their back from lifting something too heavy. Someone can get frostbite from working outside in the winter. The type of harm that can occur depends on certain factors.

• Potency:

  The strength, or ability of an agent or process to cause serious problems.
  
  

• Amount:

  How much of the agent you are exposed to.
  
  

• Length of exposure:

  How long you are exposed to the agent.
  
  

• Route of entry:

  Whether you breathe in, swallow or absorb an agent through the skin.
  
  

Health effects

Hazards can affect health in different ways.

Acute Effects

Some hazards affect workers right away or soon after they are exposed. Symptoms that show up quickly are called acute effects. For example, exposure to chlorine makes it hard to breathe, and causes nausea, and stinging and burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat.

Chronic Effects

Many health problems are long lasting but do not show up right after an exposure. The symptoms or disease happen long after exposure or from being exposed to small amounts of an agent for a long time. These delayed or long lasting problems are called chronic effects. Cancer is an example of a disease that develops years after exposure.

Local Effects

A health effect is local when it only affects the part of the body exposed. A broken toe, a cut finger and a burn are examples of local effects.

Systemic Effects

A health effect is systemic when an agent enters the body and causes damage to other parts of the body. A cut that gets infected and causes fever and other symptoms is systemic. Breathing a chemical that makes you feel “high” or dizzy may cause liver or kidney damage if you are exposed over a long time, even if you have never had any acute or local effects.

Cancer

Cancer is a term that includes many different diseases. In all forms of cancer there is an abnormal growth of cells. These cells may form a growth called a tumor. The tumor can stay in one place or spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Does cancer always kill?

Cancer is not always fatal. There are effective treatments for some types of cancer. This usually depends on finding and treating the cancer early.

Can you get cancer because of your job?

You can develop cancer if you are exposed to a substance at work that causes cancer, often after a period of very low exposures. A carcinogen is something that causes cancer.

Is there such a thing as a “safe” amount of exposure to an agent that causes cancer?

The chance of getting cancer usually increases with exposure to a carcinogen. However, there is no amount of exposure to a carcinogen that is known to be completely safe.

Reproductive Hazards

Reproductive hazards result from chemicals, radiation or other agents that can affect a worker’s ability to have children. Reproductive hazards do not just affect women. Men can become infertile if they are exposed to agents that can destroy sperm, or interfere with sex drive and the ability to have an erection (impotence).

Exposure to certain agents can cause two other effects on reproduction in either men or women. A teratogen is something that damages an embryo. Teratogens can cause miscarriage or birth defects. A mutagen changes sperm or egg cells and causes sterility or birth defects.

Sensitization

Some workers may become very allergic or sensitive to some agents they work with. Sensitization can develop over time. You may work for years without any health effect, and then suddenly develop a severe, sometimes life-threatening reaction to even very small exposures that do not hurt other people. Some people become so allergic that they cannot do their jobs unless the sensitizers are eliminated.

Safety Hazards

Water and wastewater treatment workers also face a wide variety of safety hazards on the job. Examples of safety hazards are:

Working in Traffic Zones

Many AFSCME members have been killed or seriously hurt after being hit by a vehicle in a traffic zone. This danger exists when traffic is not properly routed and/or adequate barriers are not placed between the workers and the traffic.

Confined Spaces

A confined space is an area with small openings for a worker to enter and exit and is not designed for regular work. Examples of confined spaces include manholes, sewer digestors and silos, tunnels, pumping stations, and utility vaults.

There are many hazards in confined spaces. Workers can become unconscious and die from a lack of oxygen. At other times, there may be too much oxygen, or other chemicals can be present that can catch fire or explode. Poisonous gases and vapors, such as hydrogen sulfide or carbon monoxide, may also build up in a confined space. Confined spaces can also pose physical hazards. They can be very hot or cold. Such an area can be very loud. Workers can slip on wet surfaces. Grain, sand or gravel can bury a worker.

Trenching and Excavations

Working in an area that has been dug up can be very dangerous. A trench is a space that is deeper than it is wide. An excavation is any depression formed by earth removal. The main danger in trenching and excavation work is cave-ins. If a trench caves in, workers can be buried, crushed, drowned or suffocated.

Violence

Violence on the job has been a growing problem. In fact, homicides are the second leading cause of workplace fatalities.

Machines

Machinery can cause injuries in different ways. Workers can get parts of their body caught in or struck by exposed moving parts if machines are not properly guarded, or if they are not locked out when being repaired. Workers can be struck by flying objects from grinders and other machines that do not have protective guards.

Fire and Explosions

Improper labeling, handling or storage of certain materials can pose a risk of fire or explosion. Every workplace should have an evacuation plan for getting people out of a building in case of fire. Every workplace should have an alarm or alert system to quickly inform employees of an emergency. Every worker should be trained on what to do in case of an emergency.

Slips/Falls

Bad housekeeping and poor drainage can make floors and other walking surfaces wet and slippery. Electrical wires along the floor pose a tripping hazard. Workers can fall if they are not provided safe ladders and footstools.

Controlling hazards in the workplace

After you find the hazards, the task is to correct the problems. The different ways to control hazards, from most effective to least effective, are called the hierarchy of controls. The best methods are shown first.

Substitution — Keep hazards From entering your workplace

You do not have to worry about a hazard if it is not there. One way to get rid of a hazard is to replace a dangerous situation with one that is not. Chemicals can be switched, or substituted. A chemical that causes cancer may be replaced with a chemical that does not. Maybe no chemical is needed at all.

Engineering controls — Equipment and work processes

There are many types of equipment that make work safer. Ventilation is a good way to get rid of harmful substances in the air. General ventilation can be for a large area such as a building’s air handling system. Local ventilation is designed for a small area or specific operation like a fume hood.

Ergonomics — Make the job fit the worker

Workers come in all different sizes, shapes and abilities. Ergonomics makes work safer by changing the job to fit the needs of each worker. Equipment that allows workers to do their jobs without having to work in awkward or uncomfortable positions is one way to prevent injuries. Another aspect of ergonomics is reducing the number of times and/or the speed at which a worker must perform the same motion. Job rotation, doing different tasks and rest breaks all help to reduce repetitive motion.

Administrative controls — Change the Way Workers Do Their Jobs

Changing the way that jobs are performed can reduce injuries. Examples include:

• reducing the weight that one worker must lift or by having more than one person perform a lift;
  
  
• reducing exposure to hot or cold conditions by taking breaks;
  
  
• reducing exposure to noise by rotating tasks to reduce the amount of exposure for each worker;
  
  
• preventing hepatitis B disease by providing hepatitis B vaccine; and/or
  
  
• training workers about hazards and how to avoid being injured.
  
  

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Safety Clothing and Equipment (29 CFR 1910.132)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes respirators, hardhats, gloves, safety shoes and protection for the eyes, hearing, face and torso. PPE is the least effective way to protect workers because it does not eliminate or control the hazards. If the equipment fails, the worker is immediately exposed to the hazard.

PPE is needed if there is no other solution, until a better control is installed or as a supplement to other protective measures. The proper use of PPE requires:

• selecting equipment that will protect workers against a particular hazard(s);
  
  
• training workers on the right way to use the equipment; and
  
  
• maintaining the equipment so that it functions properly.
  
  

Respirators — (29 CFR 1910.134)

Ventilation is the best way to control exposure to harmful substances in the air. Where ventilation is not adequate, respirators are used to avoid breathing and swallowing poisons in the air.

Types of Respirators

There are two main types of respirators, atmosphere-supplying and air-purifying. Atmosphere-supplying respirators provide workers with air from a safe source. A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) allows the user to carry a supply of air. (See Figure 1.) Supplied-air respirators provide the user with clean air through an air line. (See Figure 2.)

Air-purifying respirators filter harmful dusts, gases, vapors and mists from the air. As the worker breathes, the air is drawn through filters that capture contaminants. A variety of cartridges and canisters that filter the air can be used with an air-purifying respirator. The choice of which type of cartridge or canister to use depends on the harmful agent(s) in the air.

WARNING: Air-purifying respirators can only be used if there is enough oxygen in the air for you to breathe!

Respirator Styles

Respirators come in a variety of styles.
Respirators are designed to cover the nose and mouth or the whole face. All of these respirators must fit tightly against the user’s face in order to be effective. (See Figure 3.)

YOU MUST RECEIVE A TEST TO MAKE SURE THE FACEPIECE FITS YOUR FACE BEFORE WORKING WITH A RESPIRATOR.

There are also helmets and hoods that are designed to filter the air. Some helmet or hood style respirators do not depend on a tight fit to protect the worker.

Negative vs. Positive Pressure Respirators

A negative pressure respirator means that the air pressure inside the worker’s facepiece is less than the air pressure outside the mask. If the seal between the worker’s face and mask is not tight, harmful substances in the air will leak into the mask without first passing through the filters. Most air-purifying respirators work under negative pressure.

With a positive pressure respirator, the air pressure inside the facepiece is greater than the air pressure outside the mask. If the seal between the face and mask is not tight, air leaks away from the worker’s face. Therefore, positive pressure respirators usually provide more protection than negative pressure respirators. (See Figure 4.)

A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is an example of a positive pressure respirator. The PAPR has a pump that pulls in air. The air is filtered before it is pumped into the helmet or facepiece. (See Figure 5.)

Respirator Program

If workers need to use respirators, OSHA requires that employers have a respiratory protection program that includes:

• procedures for selecting respirators that will be used in the workplace;
  
  
• medical evaluations for workers to determine if they can safely use a respirator;
  
  
• fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators;
  
  
• procedures for the proper use of respirators in routine and emergency situations;
  
  
• procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding and maintaining respirators. This includes cleaning respirators after each use if a respirator is shared among workers;
  
  
• procedures to make sure there is enough breathing air when using atmosphere-supplying respirators;
  
  
• training workers about the breathing hazards to which they may be exposed;
  
  
• training workers on how to put on and remove respirators, and the limitations, proper use and maintenance of respirators; and
• evaluation of the respirator program.
  
  

Hardhats — (29 CFR 1910.135)

Hardhats are worn primarily to prevent injuries from falling or flying objects. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) sets standards for the design of hardhats.

Face and eye protection — (29 CFR 1919.133)

Safety goggles, face shields and welding helmets are used to protect the eyes and face. This type of protection should be worn when using power tools or to prevent being splashed with liquids in the eyes or face. (See Figure 6.)

Hearing protection — (29 CFR 1910.95)

Ear plugs and ear muffs are the most common types of hearing protection. Ear muffs are more comfortable and are effective for noise reduction if the seal around the ear is good. Ear plugs can also be effective, though some workers find them uncomfortable and have to use them carefully to avoid irritation. (See Figure 7.)

Gloves — (29 CFR 1910.138)

Gloves can prevent cuts, infections and burns. They can also protect the hands and arms from irritation and block hazardous substances from passing through the skin. Like respirators, the type of glove that must be used depends on the hazard(s) that is present in the work area.

Protective clothing

The style and type of protective clothing depends on the hazard and nature of the work. Workers on road crews need reflective clothing so that they will be seen more easily by other drivers.

Foot protection — (29 CFR 1910.136)

Safety shoes and boots with heavy duty steel toes, reinforced plastics or hard rubber protect feet against heavy impacts. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) sets standards for foot protection. As with respirators, gloves or other gear, safety footwear must be selected based on the hazards in the workplace.

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