500 EM385-1-1 Construction Safety Hazard Awareness for Contractors Sections 1 - 6

06.N.03 Medical Surveillance.

The employer must provide each employee a medical examination performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician and must provide the examination during the employee's normal working hours without cost to the employee.

The content of the medical exam must be determined by the physician based on the exposure records of the employee and guidance provided by NIOSH Standard DHS pub. No 92-102 Aug 1992 or OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.7 Oct 30, 1972.

1. Medical examinations must also be made available:
• (1) At least annually for each employee exposed to airborne concentrations of silica above the OEL for more than 30 days during the last year; and
• (2) Upon notification by the employee that he/she has developed signs or symptoms commonly associated with chronic exposure to silica.
2. Where medical examinations are performed, the employer must provide the examining physician with the following information:
• (1) The reason for the medical examination requested;
• (2) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;
• (3) A description of any PPE used or to be used;
• (4) The results of the employee's exposure measurements, if available; and
• (5) Upon request of the physician, information concerning previous medical examination of the affected employee.
3. Physician's written opinion. The employer must obtain and furnish the employee with a written opinion from the examining physician containing the following:
• (1) The signs or symptoms of silica exposure manifested by the employee, if any;
• (2) A report on the findings of any medical tests completed.
• (3) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition that would place the employee at increased risk of material impairment to the employee's health from exposure to silica or would directly or indirectly aggravate any detected medical condition;
• (4) Any recommended limitation upon the employee's exposure to silica or the use of PPE; and
• (5) A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of any medical condition that requires further examination or treatment.

06.N.04 Training.

Each employee who may be potentially exposed to silica must be instructed at the beginning of his/her employment or assignment of potential silica exposure in the following:

1. Relevant symptoms; appropriate emergency procedures; and proper conditions and precautions for safe use or exposure;
2. To advise the employer of the development of the signs and symptoms of prolonged exposure to silica;
3. Specific nature of operations that could result in exposure to silica above the OEL, as well as safe work practices for the release of the silica and the types and function of engineering controls;
4. Proper housekeeping practices;
5. The purpose, proper use, and limitations of respirators;
6. A description of, and explain the purposes for, the medical surveillance program; and
7. The increased risk of impaired health due to the combination of smoking and silica dust exposure.

06.N.05 Respiratory Protection.

1. When the exposure to silica cannot be lowered below the OEL by engineering and administrative controls, an employer must use respiratory protection.
2. Properly fitted particulate-filter respirators may be used for short, intermittent, or occasional dust exposures such as cleanup, dumping of dust collectors, or unloading shipments of sand at a receiving point when it is not feasible to control the dust by enclosure, exhaust ventilation, wetting, or other means.

06.N.06 Protective Clothing.

Where exposure to airborne silica or other substances is above the OEL, work clothing must be HEPA vacuumed before removal unless it is wet. Clothes must notbe cleaned by blowing or shaking.

06.N.07 Housekeeping.

1. To prevent the dispersal of silica dust, all exposed surfaces must be maintained free of accumulation of silica dust.
2. Dry sweeping and the use of compressed air for the cleaning of floors and other surfaces must be prohibited. If vacuuming is used the exhaust air must be HEPA filtered to prevent generation of airborne respirable silica concentrations. Gentle wash down of surfaces is preferred.
3. Emphasis must be placed upon preventive maintenance and repair of equipment, proper storage of dust producing materials, and collection of dusts containing silica. Sanitation must meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.141.

06.N.08 Personal Hygiene Facilities and Practices.

All food, beverages, tobacco products, nonfood chewing products, and unapplied cosmetics must be discouraged in work areas.

06.N.09 Engineering Controls.

1. Dust suppression. Moisture, mists, fogs, etc., must be added where such addition can substantially reduce the exposure to airborne respirable silica dust.
2. Ventilation. Where a local exhaust ventilation and collection system is used in a building, it must be designed and maintained to prevent the accumulation or recirculation of airborne silica dust into the workplace. The system must be inspected periodically. Adequate measures must be taken to ensure that any discharge will not produce health hazards to the outside environment.
3. Additional control measures. When mobile equipment is operated in areas of potential silica exposure, engineering controls must be provided to protect the operator from such exposure.

06.N.10 Itinerant Work.

When employees are exposed to airborne silica at temporary work sites away from the primary worksite, emphasis must be placed on respiratory protection, protective clothing, portable engineering controls, and provisions for personal hygiene and sanitation. Training of employees must be provided to protect them as well as others from airborne silica dust exposure.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.