Controlling Hazards
How will hazards and employee exposure be controlled at the site? Typically, a "Hierarchy of Controls (HOC)" is used to systematically control hazards on site.
You can control hazards most effectively with engineering controls that physically designs or modifies the work environment to reduce exposures to safe levels. Safe-work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) are less effective but can be combined with engineering controls to protect employees.
Using PPE
If employees use personal protective equipment (which includes respirators) during hazardous-waste operations, your written program must ensure the following:
- Equipment is selected to protect employees against site-specific hazards.
- Employees maintain and store the equipment properly.
- Employees understand the equipment's limitations.
- Equipment is decontaminated and disposed of properly.
- Employees are trained to use, wear, and inspect equipment.
- Equipment fits employees who use it.
Air Monitoring
Air monitoring can tell you the concentration of air contaminants in areas where employees may be exposed to hazardous substances. Monitoring is required during initial site entry and during clean up.
- Personal sampling/monitoring tests exposures of individual employees by sampling the air in their breathing zones.
- Area sampling/monitoring tests the air for contaminants in specific locations or areas. It is used to estimate exposures affecting groups of employees.
The employer must establish a monitoring policy that applies to conditions at the site.
- Briefly describe what you are monitoring for, the monitoring equipment that you will use, and how often you will monitor.
- Specify the concentrations of airborne contaminants at which you will reevaluate the effectiveness of the site's engineering controls, safe work practices, and PPE.
When and How to Monitor
At initial entry and when an employer suspects hazardous conditions or hazardous atmosphere, monitor the air to identify any condition immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) and hazardous exposure levels.
After the cleanup phase of a hazardous waste operation begins, use personal sampling to monitor employees likely to have the highest exposures to hazardous substances.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-6. Once the cleanup phase of a hazardous waste operation has begun, how should employees with potentially high exposure levels be monitored?
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