Engineering Controls-exposure to lead.

 

Engineering controls and good work practices are the major defense against employee expo­sure to lead.

When feasible engineering controls and work practices cannot reduce worker exposure to lead at or below the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over 8-hours, respirators must be used to supplement the engineering controls and work practices.

Engineering controls

Engineering controls reduce employee exposure either by remov­ing or isolating the hazard, or isolating the worker from exposure through the use of technol­ogy. Engineering measures could include:

·         Exhaust ventilation such as dust collection shrouds exhausted through a high-effi­ciency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum system.

·         For abrasive blasting with full containment, the containment structure should be designed to optimize ventilation flow thereby reducing the lead concentration and improve visibility.

·         Enclosure/encapsulation is an engineering alternative. Lead-based paint can be made inaccessible by: (1) encapsulation with a material that bonds to the surface, (2) enclosing the paint using systems such as gypsum wallboard or plywood panelling, and (3) cover­ing floors coated with lead-based paint using vinyl tile or linoleum flooring.

·         Material substitution can include:

·            using primers that contain zinc.

·            using mobile hydraulic shears instead of torch cutting.

·            using surface preparation equipment, such as needle guns with multiple reciprocating nee­dles completely enclosed within an adjustable shroud.

·            using chemical strippers instead of hand scraping using a heat gun.

·         Component replacement is a permanent solution, i.e., replacing lead-based painted windows, doors, and trim with new lead-free components.

·         Process/equipment modification could include:

·            brush or roller application of lead paints instead of spraying.

·            hydro- or wet-blasting and vacuum blasting (blasting tech­niques that are less dusty than abrasive blasting).

·            using proper vacuum brushes of various sizes, crevice and angular tools, to enhance the quality of the HEPA-vacuum­ing process.

·         Isolation helps reduce the potential for exposure to lead. Keeping employees not involved in the operations as far away as possible reduces their exposures to lead.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com