In the hierarchy of controls for preventing workplace hazards, engineering controls rank right in the middle—after elimination and substitution and before administrative controls and use of personal protective equipment. Today and tomorrow we will take a look at a database for engineering controls recently launched by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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Engineering controls protect workers by removing hazardous conditions or by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard. According to NIOSH, well-designed engineering controls can be highly effective in protecting workers and will typically be independent of worker interactions. The initial cost of engineering controls can be higher than some other control methods, but over the longer term, NIOSH claims that operating costs are frequently lower, and in some instances, can provide a cost savings in other areas of the process.
The NIOSH Engineering Controls database (ECD) is a central repository of current NIOSH information on engineering control technology. The content of the database is summarized from previously published NIOSH research findings. This research was originally published in a variety of formats—NIOSH Engineering and Physical Hazard Reports, Workplace Solutions, and trade and journal articles. If the data was summarized from a NIOSH Engineering and Physical Hazard Report, there will be a report number noted in the summary.
To take a stab at judging its effectiveness, we chose, at random, six examples of hazards where NIOSH claims engineering controls are effective and plugged them into the database. We chose aerosols, asphalt fumes, ethylene oxide, hydrogen sulfide, noise, and organic solvents. Here’s what we came up with. How helpful is the database? You be the judge!
Aerosols
The use of aerosols is quite common in the workplace. They pose many hazards, including flammability and respiratory issues. When we searched the NIOSH ECD for aerosols, there were two results—both related to the healthcare industry. One concerns the use of portable air cleaners (PACs) to remove infectious microorganisms. Although three Engineering and Physical Hazard Reports are cited in the summary, there are no links to them. In determining how well the engineering controls are, NIOSH found substantial differences in the effectiveness of the different PACs studied. The other result is about controlling smoke during laser surgeries. Five references are cited in the summary, but there are no links. As a result of the studies, NIOSH recommended ventilation and work practices such as keeping devices such as smoke evacuators on at all times during surgery. However, in the hierarchy of controls, work practices generally come under administrative controls—not engineering controls.
Asphalt Fumes
According to OSHA, over a half-million workers are exposed to fumes from asphalt, a petroleum product used extensively in road paving, roofing, siding, and concrete work. The search of the ECD for asphalt fumes brought up two results. One concerns roofers using roofing kettles. The summary includes links to eight Engineering and Physical Hazard Reports. Here NIOSH determined, in part, that when fume-suppressing asphalt was used, exposures to contaminants in the asphalt fumes were reduced by 70 percent to 83 percent for kettle operators. The other result is for engineering controls for hot mix pavers. The summary includes links to 11 Engineering and Physical Hazard Reports. NIOSH basically calls on paver manufacturers to develop and install exhaust ventilation systems with a minimum controlled indoor capture efficiency of 80 percent.
Ethylene Oxide
Ethylene oxide (EtO) is produced in large volumes and is primarily used as an intermediate in the production of several industrial chemicals, the most notable of which is ethylene glycol. It is also used as a fumigant in certain agricultural products and as a sterilant for medical equipment and supplies. According to OSHA, EtO is both flammable and highly reactive. Acute exposures to EtO gas may result in respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. Chronic exposure has been associated with the occurrence of cancer, reproductive organ effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization.
When we searched the ECD for ethylene oxide, no results came up.
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we will report the ECD search results for hydrogen sulfide, noise, and organic solvents.