Protect Yourself During Abrasive Blasting

 

Overview

During abrasive blasting operations, both the abrasives and the surface coatings on the materials blasted are shattered and pulverized. This creates particle “dust” which workers breathe in. The composition and toxicity of the dust from these sources must be considered in making an evaluation of the potential health hazards.

Respirators

Use only respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under 42 CFR 84 to protect yourself from dusts produced during abrasive-blasting operations.

Abrasive-blasting respirators must be worn when you are:

(a) working inside of blast-cleaning rooms, or

(b) using silica sand in manual blasting operations where the nozzle and blast are not physically separated from you in an exhaust ventilated enclosure, or

(c) working where concentrations of toxic dust dispersed by the abrasive blasting may exceed the limits set in 29 CFR 1910.1000 and the nozzle and blast are not physically separated from you in an exhaust-ventilated enclosure.

Dust filter respirators

You may use properly fitted particulate-filter respirators, commonly referred to as dust-filter respirators, for short, intermittent, or occasional dust exposures such as cleanup, dumping of dust collectors, or unloading shipments of sand at a receiving point when it is not feasible to control the dust by enclosure, exhaust ventilation, or other means.

The respirators used must be approved by NIOSH under 42 CFR 84 for protection against the specific type of dust encountered.

You may use dust-filter respirators to protect yourself outside of abrasive-blasting operations where nonsilica abrasives are used on materials having low toxicities.

Dust-filter respirators must not be used for continuous protection where:

·         silica sand is used as the blasting abrasive, or

·         toxic materials are blasted.

Respiratory protection program

If you use respirators required by this section, your employer must implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.

Other protective equipment

You must be equipped with heavy canvas or leather gloves and aprons or equivalent protection to protect yourself from the impact of abrasives.

Safety shoes must be worn to protect against foot injury where heavy pieces of work are handled.

Safety shoes must conform to the requirements of American National Standard for Men's Safety-Toe Footwear, Z41.1-1967.

You must use equipment for protection of your eyes and face when the respirator design does not provide such protection. This equipment must conform to the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.133.

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

Walking- Working Surfaces

 

Overview

Slips, trips, and falls account for many industry accidents. Slips, trips, and falls are responsible for 10 percent of all accidental deaths. They are also the fourth leading cause, following motor vehicles, homicides, and being struck by objects or equipment, as a cause of fatalities.

In an attempt to remove potential hazards from the workplace, OSHA developed 1910, Subpart D—Walking—Working Surfaces. Subpart D.

Hazards involved with using walking-working surfaces

The main hazard involved with walking and working surfaces include slips, trips, and falls. Stairways are also taken for granted, and so become a source for accidents in the workplace.

What must my employer do?

Your employer is responsible for providing a safe working environment. That includes reducing or eliminating hazards in walking and working areas by:

·         Keeping all employment, passageway, storerooms, and service rooms clean, orderly, and sanitary.

·         Maintain floors in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition. If wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained. Gratings, mats, or raised platforms must be provided.

·         Floors, working places, and passageways are to be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, or loose boards. ·         Keeping aisles and passageways clear and in good repair with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create hazards. ·         Appropriately marking permanent aisles and passageways.

·                   Maintaining proper aisle width so as to not limit passage or egress.

·                   Providing covers and/or guardrails to protect open pits, vats, tanks, ditches, and other hazards.

·                   Following load rating limits for all floors or roofs.

·                   Maintain adequate lighting in areas to illuminate walking surfaces.

·                   Providing handrails as required. 

 

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

Welding and Cutting

 

 Always check carefully for fire hazards before you start to weld or cut. Wood, paper, or other flammable materials should be removed from the area. Do not start welding or cutting where there are flammable liquids without checking with your supervisor first.

If you must weld or cut near combustible materials, a fire extinguisher, pail of water, fire hose or a pail of sand should be at hand. It may be necessary to have a worker stand by with a fire extinguisher to put out sparks.

If you have to weld or cut any tank or drum which has contained flammable liquids or gas, don’t start your operation until an approved test shows that there is no dangerous vapor present. Don’t be satisfied with somebody’s say-so that the tank or drum was tested previously. Insist on a test before you start your work.

Good ventilation is a must for all welding and cutting operations. Many of these operations produce fumes that are harmful in heavy concentrations, and good ventilation is the one best method of protecting yourself against this hazard. If you have any doubt about the adequacy of the ventilation on a job, ask your supervisor for his opinion. Do not weld or cut in a small room or tank or other closed place.

Eye protection is a must on all welding and cutting jobs. And full face protection is needed on many such jobs. The type of protection to wear will depend on your task.

Eye protection is designed to protect you against sparks, slag and molten metal, and against the flash burns caused by radiation from the welding equipment. If you follow the rules for protective face and eye covering, you will not have any face and eye injuries from your welding and cutting work.

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