CHEMICAL

EXPOSURE
RESPIRATOR
Y SYSTEM
CALCULATION FOR MEASURING THE EXPOSURE

Product Code Description Average Particle Size Part Response

Particle Size
(microns)
AS1/01 Fine White 15 12-20 Nose Sneeze / Filtration
Powder
AS1/02 Fine White 8 7-10 Respiratory Track Ciliary Escalator
Powder
AS1/03 Fine White 2 1-5 Alveoli Macrophages &
inflammation
Powder
 LD 50 LC 50
• LD stands for "Lethal Dose". LD50 is the amount of a
material, given all at once (dermal / Oral), which causes the
death of 50% (one half) of a group of test animals. The
LD50 is one way to measure the short-term poisoning
potential (acute toxicity) of a material.
• Toxicologists can use many kinds of animals but most often
testing is done with rats and mice. It is usually expressed as
the amount of chemical administered (e.g., milligrams) per
100 grams (for smaller animals) or per kilogram (for bigger
test subjects) of the body weight of the test animal. The
LD50 can be found for any route of entry or administration
but dermal (applied to the skin) and oral (given by mouth)
administration methods are the most common.
• LC stands for "Lethal Concentration". LC values usually refer
to the concentration of a chemical in air but in environmental
studies it can also mean the concentration of a chemical in
water.
• According to the OECD (Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development) Guidelines for the Testing of
Chemicals, a traditional experiment involves groups of animals
exposed to a concentration (or series of concentrations) for a
set period of time (usually 4 hours). The animals are clinically
observed for up to 14 days.
• The concentrations of the chemical in air that kills 50% of the
test animals during the observation period is the LC 50 value.
Other durations of exposure (versus the traditional 4 hours)
may apply depending on specific laws.
 # 01

•Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) are a type of limit used to establish

‘adequate control’ of substances hazardous to health.

Use the data below to calculate the 8 hour TWA exposure to flour dust for a
bakery operative.
Assume that Exposure is Zero during break times.

Work Period (Total Shift Time = 8 Task undertaken by Bakery operative Exposure to Flour dust (mg/m3)
Hours)

0800-1030 Weighing Ingredients 20

10.45 – 1245 Charging the Mixres 30
1245 - 1345 Lunch  
1345 – 1545 Cleaning Equipment 25
15.45 – 16.45 Assisting Maintenance Staff 0(assumed)
 # 02

Methanol (an organic solvent) is being used in the production of a specialist coating. An operative’s measurement
of exposure to the methanol varies throughout his 8 hour working day. The results of the measurement of his
exposure are as follows:

Table 1
Assume the exposure is zero at all times.
Calculate the 8 hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) exposure to methanol for the operative.
Task undertaken by operative Duration of Task Exposure to Methanol (ppm)

Measuring out and adding 15 min 280

methanol

Adding other components to the 1 hour 90

mix

Supervision of mix and decanting 2 hours 150

Clean down of equipment using 2hours 170

solvents
Information relating to methanol is as follows:
Table 2
Substance CAS Number Work place Exposure Limit Comments
Long term exposure limit (8 hour Short Term Exposure Limit (15-
TWA limit reference period) minute reference Period)

ppm Mg/m3 ppm Mg/m3 SK R11, 23/24/25,

39/23/24/25
Methanol 67-56-1 200 266 250 333

(B) Using your results from part (a), the original exposure information in Table 1 AND by
selecting the relevant data from Table 2, explain what actions might be required by the
employer in order to ensure that exposure to methanol was adequately controlled.
HEARING
CONSERVATION
PROGRAM
 HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME

The key elements of the organization's hearing conservation program are:

•Noise exposure measurements.
•High exposure areas or jobs.
•Audiometric testing and follow-up.
•Employee Education.
•Engineering and administrative noise exposure control.
•Personal hearing protection.
•Recordkeeping.
HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME

Impact:
Why Noise an Important Workplace hazard
• Hearing Impairment
• Annoyance
• Distraction
• Hearing Impairment
• Temporary Threshold Shift (Temporary hearing loss results from short-term exposures to
noise, with normal hearing returning after period of rest)
• Permanent Hearing Loss
• Noise induced Hearing Loss
• Tinnitus
• Effect on Job Performance
• Extra Auditory Effect
 WHAT MONITORING IS REQUIRED?

Employers must monitor all employees whose noise exposure is Employers must carefully check or calibrate
equivalent to or greater than a noise exposure received in 8 instruments used for monitoring employee
hours where the noise level is constantly 85 dB. exposures to ensure that the measurements are
accurate.
The exposure measurement must include all continuous,
intermittent, and impulsive noise within an 80 dB to 130 dB
range and must be taken during a typical work situation.

Employers must repeat monitoring whenever changes in

production, process, or controls increase noise exposure.

Employees are entitled to observe monitoring procedures and

must receive notification of the results of exposure monitoring.
 WHAT IS AUDIOMETRIC TESTING?
Audiometric testing monitors an employee’s hearing over
time. It also provides an opportunity for employers to
educate employees about their hearing and the need to
protect it.
Free of cost to Employee
The audiometric testing program follow up should
indicate whether the employer’s hearing conservation
program is preventing hearing loss.
A licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or
other physician
The employee needs a referral for further testing
when test results are questionable or when related
medical problems are suspected
There are two types of audiograms required in the
hearing conservation program:
baseline The baseline audiogram is the reference
audiogram against which future audiograms are
compared
annual audiograms. Employers must provide annual
audiograms within 1 year of the baseline. It is important
to test workers’ hearing annually to identify
deterioration in their hearing ability as early as possible.
WHEN IS AN EMPLOYER REQUIRED TO PROVIDE
HEARING PROTECTORS?

For any period exceeding 6 months from the time they are first
exposed to 8-hour TWA noise levels of 85 dB or above, until they
receive their baseline audiograms if these tests are delayed due to
mobile test van scheduling
■ If they have incurred standard threshold shifts that demonstrate
they are susceptible to noise; and
■ If they are exposed to noise over the permissible exposure limit
of 90 dB over an 8-hour TWA.
WHAT TRAINING IS REQUIRED?

Workers who understand the reasons for the hearing conservation programs
and the need to protect their hearing will be more motivated to wear their
protectors and take audiometric tests. Employers must train employees
exposed to TWAs of 85 dB and above at least annually in the effects of
noise; the purpose, advantages, and disadvantages of various types of
hearing protectors; the selection, fit, and care of protectors; and the purpose
and procedures of audiometric testing. The training program may be
structured in any format, with different portions conducted by different
individuals and at different times, as long as the required topics are covered.
 RECORD KEEPING

Employers must keep noise exposure measurement records for 2 years

Maintain records of audiometric test results for the duration of the affected employee’s employment.

Audiometric test records must include the

employee’s name and job classification,
date,
examiner’s name,
date of the last acoustic or exhaustive calibration,
measurements of the background sound pressure levels in audiometric test rooms, and the employee’s
most recent noise exposure measurement.
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS (OELS)

An occupational exposure limit is an upper limit on the acceptable concentration of a

hazardous substance in workplace air for a particular material or class of materials. It is
typically set by competent national authorities and enforced by legislation to
protect occupational safety and health.