Health & Safety

HEMPEL ACADEMY
Health & Safety
Introduction

During our daily life, and particularly during work on a

heavy industry site, there is a number of exposures that
may affect our health.
Health & Safety
Health affecting exposures – daily life

• In the traffic

• Banana skin on the floor

• Boiling water

• Leaking gas

How do YOU behave ?

Health & Safety
Health affecting exposures – daily life

Foresee the exposure, and take measures

to prevent it from affecting you - and others !
Health & Safety
Health affecting exposures - terms

• The exposure itself

• How it may affect the health

• Prevention
Health & Safety
Hazards at worksite - general

• Bars, plates etc. - in same level as head

• Objects on ground - left, ’dumped’ or ’installed’

• Falling objects - tools etc.

• Staging

• Moving objects

How do YOU behave ?

Health & Safety
Hazards at worksite - general

Risk : Physical injury

Safety : Awareness + helmet, safety shoes and gloves

Health & Safety
Hazards at worksite
Health & Safety
Hazards at worksite
Health & Safety
Hazards at worksite - specific

Surface Paint
Preparation Application

• Dust
• Noise
• Stray particles
• Paint material
• Solvents
Health & Safety
Dust - sources

• Crushing of abrasives
• Delamination / crushing of
Rust
Millscale
Paint
Health & Safety
Dust - characterisation

• < 10 micron
Invisible to the naked eye
Remain suspended in the air for a long time

• > 10 micron
Usually visible
Settles relatively quickly
Health & Safety
100
Dust - risk
80

60

40

20

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Aerodynamic particle diameter (micron)

Inspirable particulate mass

Nose & Mouth

Thoracic mass fraction

Wind pipe
Respirable mass fraction
Bronchies & Alveoli
Health & Safety
Dust - risk

Free silica particles - SiO2

can’t be dissolved by the lung fluids
white blood cells ingest the silica and die.
A fibrous tissue develops - ’Fibrosis’
Symptoms: shortness of breath, dry cough

May / will develop into ’Silicosis’

Symptoms: coughing blood, chest pain, loss of
appetite, trouble sleeping and heart failure
Health & Safety
Toxic dust - sources

• Grinding / blasting of coated surfaces

• Spray application of paint materials

Health & Safety
Toxic dust - examples

Toxic particles
• Lead, zinc, organo tin, amines, isocyanates,
cadmium and chromate

Carcinogenic agents
• Tar, bitumen, low molecular epoxy and chromium
Health & Safety
Toxic dust - risk

Symptoms
• Running eyes
• Coughing
• Itching skin
• Allergy / eczema
Health & Safety
Dust - safety

• Dust particles
Filter mask, goggles and cover-all

• Toxic dust
Air fed respiratory mask, goggles, gloves, cover-all,
protective cream
Health & Safety
Noise - sources

• ’Permanent’ site- and process- generated sources

Compressors, motors, air- and steam-vents
• ’Temporary’ work generated sources
Abrasive blasting, hydro-jetting, power-tool
cleaning, air fed respiratory helmet, communication
Health & Safety
Noise - characterisation

Measured in decibel (dB)

Sound pressure

Any doubling of sound pressure

4 P0 results in a 3 dB increase in
sound perception

2 P0

P0
Sound perception
0 3 6 (dB)
Health & Safety
Noise - safety

• Varying standards around the world

Threshold limit 80 dB to 85 dB
Based upon Walsh-Healey Standard – 1969

• Generally accepted that noise levels above 90 dB

are hazardous
 Health & Safety
Noise dB
140
Jet motor
130

120
Pain level for
the human ear
Rock concert 110
Hydro jetting 100
Abrasive blasting
90 Max TWA level
Diesel compressor
Airless pump 80 on worksites
70
Kids playground
60
Normal speech
50

40
Bedroom
30

20
Whispering 10

0
TWA=8hr Time Weighted Average level
Health & Safety
Noise - risk

Noise induced hearing loss results in

• Difficulty in understanding conversation in areas with
background noise (losing consonants).

Consonants = high frequency / soft energy

Vowels = low frequency / intense
Health & Safety
Noise
Health & Safety
Noise - safety

Reducing the noise level by utilisation of

hearing protectors
Noise Reducing Rating (NRR) on packings

Hearing protectors do wear out

Earmuff seals become inflexible
Premoulded plugs loose elasticity
Headbands looses its tension
 Health & Safety
Noise - safety

NRR on the job:

E.g.: 3M Corded Foam Ear Plug has an NRR of 25 dB
The weighted noise exposure level of the worksite is measured to 93 dB

How to calculate the exposure level ’under the plug’

Noise at work site: 93 dB

NRR, earplug: (25 – 7) = 18 dB (safety margin deducted)
Noise under plug: (93 – 18) = 75 dB
75 dB (when used properly)
 Health & Safety
Solvents - source

Thinner
Solvents (volatile part of paint)
Cleaning agents

Remainings inside coating after storage / carriage in tanks

Health & Safety
Solvents - risk

• Physiological eg. nervous system

• Physical eg. eyes, skin

• Physical eg. fire, explosion

 Health & Safety
Solvents - risks

Organic solvents are lipophilic (’fat-loving’/dissolving)

Absorbed through both the respiratory system
and the skin (direct skin exposure and/or swallowed)

• Destructive to
Brain and nervous system
Respiratory system
Circulatory system (liver & kidney)
Reproductive system
+ Skin and eyes
Health & Safety
Solvents - risk

• Intoxicating effects
Irritating to eyes (skin)
Dizziness
Behavior changes
Loss of consciousness
• Chronic effects
Loss of concentration, co-ordination and memory
Irritability and aggressiveness
Health & Safety
Solvents - safety

• Respiratory protection
Half- and full-face masks with absorbant cartridge(s)
Fresh air fed breathing aparatus
from ’remote’ source
from self contained high pressure air bottles
Health & Safety
Solvents - safety

• Skin and eye protection

Goggles
Gloves
Protective cream
(Coveralls)
Health & Safety
Solvents

Threshold Limit Values (TLV)

The maximum concentration of solvents (or other

substances) allowed in the working environment
without harming persons breathing the contaminated
air for a maximum of 8 hours per day

Measured in PPM (Parts Per Million) or mg/m3

Health & Safety
Solvents – fire / explosion hazard

Three contributing factors for explosion to occur

• Fuel
• Air (oxygen)
• Ignition source
Health & Safety
Solvents – fire / explosion hazard Air
(oxygen)
Explosion Limits % by volume

• Upper Explosion Limit U.E.L.

maximum concentration of fuel in E
air which when ignited will cause X
explosion P R
L A
O N
S G
I E
O
- Lower Explosion Limit N
L.E.L.
minimum concentration of fuel
in air which when ignited will
cause explosion
Fuel
(vapour/gas)
% by volume
Health & Safety
Solvents – Fire / explosion hazard

Flashpoint
The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives-off
(liberates) sufficient vapour to form a mixture with air
which, if ignited, will make a flash but not catch
(sustain) fire.
Health & Safety
Safety

Precautions must be taken to

• Protect the general health
• Prevent accidents
• Protect the environment
Health & Safety
Health

Countries and companies have different laws, rules and

regulations governing worker’s health

These apply to the Inspector as well

• Think of yourself
• Be a good example
• Don’t compromise
low concentration + long-term exposure = DANGER
Health & Safety
Safety

• Familiarize yourself with local rules and regulations

• Know the products in use
Study and understand material safety data sheets
(MSDS)
• Study ( expect ) hazards in all phases of a job
• Know about correct personal protection equipment
(PPE)

Be prepared to advise about the content of the

MSDS - and to advise on appropriate PPE
Health & Safety

Stop - and think

but don’t forget to start again

End of

”Health & Safety”