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Industrial Health in Mining for the Non-Industrial Hygienist. Health Problems often over-shadowed by Safety Problems. “Cumulative Trauma” injuries are very common. Historically, management has not felt the need to do monitoring. Health Monitoring. A Preventative Action
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Industrial Health in Mining for the Non-Industrial Hygienist • Health Problems often over-shadowed by Safety Problems. • “Cumulative Trauma” injuries are very common. • Historically, management has not felt the need to do monitoring.
Health Monitoring • A Preventative Action • Can Prevent Injuries and Save $$$$$$$ • A Health Management Plan: • Recognize and Understand the Problem. • Follow Federal Guidelines. • Medical Testing. • Health Monitoring.
Recognize and Understand the Problem. • Noise and Dust have always been a problem. • The health problems created by noise and dust have sneaked up on us. Lung disease and Hearing loss are “chronic” problems. • Miners realize the problems when they retire.
Follow Federal Guidelines • Noise Standard • Dust Controls • The newcomer-Crystalline Silica
Medical Testing • Pre-employment medical screens. • Regular medical screens-especially hearing and lung function. • Post-employment.
Health Monitoring • Noise Monitoring- both area and personal. • Dust Monitoring-both area and personal. • Silica Monitoring
Noise • So What’s the Problem? • What is noise? • Sources • dB’s • What is hearing loss?
The OSHA/MSHA Noise Standard • Proposed December 17, 1996. • An OSHA clone-final by year end. • 30 CFR Parts 56 & 57, 62, 70 and 71. • Sections 56.5050 & 57.5050 removed. • A new Part 62 added on October 1, 1999- ”Occupational Noise Exposure”.
Two Major Differences between MSHA & OSHA Noise Standards • In MSHA’s a miner cannot be exposedto noise at 115 dB or above. • In MSHA’s hearing protection cannot be used to reduce dB levels.
MSHA Noise Standard, Cont. • .120 Limitations on Noise. • .125 Hearing Protection. • .130 Training. • .140, .150, .160, .170, .180 and .190 Audiometric Testing Program. • .200 Access to Records. • .210 Transfer of Records.
Area Sampling vs Personnel Sampling • Area Sampling- Sampling media is placed in an area for a specified period of time. • Personnel Sampling- Sampling media is attached to a person and moves from area to area with that person. • Use both.
Instruments and Calibration • Noise: • Sound level meter- for area sampling. “A snapshot in time”. • Dosimeter- measures sound levels over a specified period of time. Can be used for both area and personnel sampling. • Calibrator- Must be sent in to manufacturer annually to ensure that it meets or exceeds ANSI standards. (S1.40-1984)
Recordkeeping and Calibration • Chain of custody. • Pertinent data at collection site. • Use of AIHA approved labs. • Results of sampling and communication. • Records kept- employment plus 30 years.
The Hierarchy of Controls • Engineering Controls. • Administrative Controls. • Personal Protective Equipment.
DUST • Nuisance: • Sources-Tires, loading, crushing, transfer. • Little effect on lungs because it is normally caught and expelled. • > PM 10
DUST • Respirable: • Sources- Exist with same sources. Are invisible to the eye. • Dangerous because of small size, < PM 10, are inhaled into thoracic and gas-exchange areas of the lungs. • May lead to pneumoconiosis.
CRYSTALLINE SILICA • The latest MSHA “hot button” in the industrial hygiene area. • On October 22, 1996 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified crystalline silica as a class 1 carcinogen. • Proposed MSHA AND OSHA PEL went from 10 mg/m³ to 0.1 mg/m³.
CRYSTALLINE SILICA • MSHA STUDY • Cause of Silicosis • Emphasizes the need for dust control and industrial hygiene monitoring.
Instruments and Calibration • As with noise, instruments which help monitor potential dust exposures are only as good as the calibration. • Chain of Custody. • See Handout.
Getting Outside Help • Pros: • Consultants have the equipment and are usually qualified. • Third party reliability. • Time and guarantee. Cons: • Lack of knowledge in mining and of your facility.
SUMMARY • Health problems among miners are fast becoming high priority items. • Cumulative trauma type injuries are hard to determine until it is too late. • IH Monitoring and a solid Medical Screening program are a must. • If you can’t do it, then find someone who can----It’s That Important!
