Work Practices

1. Work Practices/Engineering Controls, EM 385-1-1 06 J Heat Stress 11 C. D. Temp Wiring and Grounding 12 Lock Out/Tag Out 13 Hand and Power Tools 16 M. Drilling The purpose of this slide is to point out some of the elements in EM 385-1-1 that are common to HTRW site activities. It is likely that many of our people working at or visiting HTRW sites will encounter many of these issues, it is important that they know where to look in EM 385-1-1 to assure that the APP/SSHP they are following adequately covers the topic for their protection. It is always good to have a resource where you can double check to see that your safety is being adequately considered. There are good notes for these safety issues on the pictures later in this section. The purpose of this slide is to point out some of the elements in EM 385-1-1 that are common to HTRW site activities. It is likely that many of our people working at or visiting HTRW sites will encounter many of these issues, it is important that they know where to look in EM 385-1-1 to assure that the APP/SSHP they are following adequately covers the topic for their protection. It is always good to have a resource where you can double check to see that your safety is being adequately considered. There are good notes for these safety issues on the pictures later in this section.

2. Work Practices/Engineering Controls, EM 385-1-1 21D. Ladders 22 K. Elevating Work Platforms 25 D. Trenching Appendix C Silica The purpose of this slide is to point out some of the elements in EM 385-1-1 that are common to HTRW site activities. It is likely that many of our people working at or visiting HTRW sites will encounter many of these issues, it is important that they know where to look in EM 385-1-1 to assure that the APP/SSHP they are following adequately covers the topic for their protection. It is always good to have a resource where you can double check to see that your safety is being adequately considered. There are good notes for these safety issues on the pictures later in this section. The purpose of this slide is to point out some of the elements in EM 385-1-1 that are common to HTRW site activities. It is likely that many of our people working at or visiting HTRW sites will encounter many of these issues, it is important that they know where to look in EM 385-1-1 to assure that the APP/SSHP they are following adequately covers the topic for their protection. It is always good to have a resource where you can double check to see that your safety is being adequately considered. There are good notes for these safety issues on the pictures later in this section.

3. Work Practices/Engineering Controls, not in EM 385-1-1 On-site Laboratory Safety VOC control Dust control Temporary Structures Exposure Time Limitation The purpose of this slide was to illustrate some of the work practices and engineering controls commonly used on HTRW sites that are not well covered in EM 385-1-1. There are good notes for the work practices on the photographs later in this section. The purpose of this slide was to illustrate some of the work practices and engineering controls commonly used on HTRW sites that are not well covered in EM 385-1-1. There are good notes for the work practices on the photographs later in this section.

4. Heat Stress -Monitor heart rate and body temperature with using in impermeable clothing -Sustained heart rate (180 beats per minute � individual�s age) is the upper limit. -Recovery heart rate after 1 minute in excess of 110 beats per minute -Body temperature greater than 101.3 degrees F for acclimatized workers or 100.4 degrees F for unacclimatized workers is the upper limit -Sudden and severe fatigue, nausea, dizziness are sure signs of heat stress Control heat stress by: -Make drinking water available -Allow more time to cool off (recover) during breaks and shorten work times -Work during the cooler times of the day -Be reasonable. Impermeable PPE severely limit the body�s ability to cool. -Monitor heart rate and body temperature with using in impermeable clothing -Sustained heart rate (180 beats per minute � individual�s age) is the upper limit. -Recovery heart rate after 1 minute in excess of 110 beats per minute -Body temperature greater than 101.3 degrees F for acclimatized workers or 100.4 degrees F for unacclimatized workers is the upper limit -Sudden and severe fatigue, nausea, dizziness are sure signs of heat stress Control heat stress by: -Make drinking water available -Allow more time to cool off (recover) during breaks and shorten work times -Work during the cooler times of the day -Be reasonable. Impermeable PPE severely limit the body�s ability to cool.

5. Elevating Work Platforms The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain the major safety issues associated with using elevating work platforms. Reference section 22 K. in EM 385-1-1. For this slide point out the following: 1. All machinery and mechanical equipment has to be inspected daily or between shifts to assure that it is working properly. 2. Personnel operating the work platform have to be trained and be comfortable with operating the equipments. 3. The platform has to be equipped with an alarm to indicate when the base of the machine becomes more than 5 degrees out of level. 4. Make sure the platform is operated on firm level ground. Survey the area and assure that the platform does not have to pass through soft spots or uneven terrain. 5. Make sure the wheels are locked or chocked when in position. Of course there are more precautions specified in 22 K. and students should become thoroughly familiar with them if they are using an elevated work platform. These are just the highlights.The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain the major safety issues associated with using elevating work platforms. Reference section 22 K. in EM 385-1-1. For this slide point out the following: 1. All machinery and mechanical equipment has to be inspected daily or between shifts to assure that it is working properly. 2. Personnel operating the work platform have to be trained and be comfortable with operating the equipments. 3. The platform has to be equipped with an alarm to indicate when the base of the machine becomes more than 5 degrees out of level. 4. Make sure the platform is operated on firm level ground. Survey the area and assure that the platform does not have to pass through soft spots or uneven terrain. 5. Make sure the wheels are locked or chocked when in position. Of course there are more precautions specified in 22 K. and students should become thoroughly familiar with them if they are using an elevated work platform. These are just the highlights.

6. Drilling The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain the major safety issues associated with operating drilling equipment. Reference section 16 M. of EM 385-1-1. For this picture point out the following: 1. Inspect the drill rig to assure that it will work properly. Make repairs when needed. 2. Before drilling, always make sure you will not drill into something you don�t want to (I.e. Electrical lines, fuel tanks, water lines). 3. Keep away from overhead power lines. If you have to be close then comply with distance requirements in section 11E in EM 385-1-1. 4. Train everybody on the drill crew on the use of the drill rig. 5. Assure there are two functioning emergency shut down switches. One at the operator position and the other at the helper position. 6. Channel drilling fluids (and dust from air rotary rigs) away from the drill crew, especially when drilling on hazardous waste sites. Of course there are more precautions specified in section 16 M. and students should become thoroughly familiar with section 16 M. if they are to be involved with drilling operations. These are just the highlights. The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain the major safety issues associated with operating drilling equipment. Reference section 16 M. of EM 385-1-1. For this picture point out the following: 1. Inspect the drill rig to assure that it will work properly. Make repairs when needed. 2. Before drilling, always make sure you will not drill into something you don�t want to (I.e. Electrical lines, fuel tanks, water lines). 3. Keep away from overhead power lines. If you have to be close then comply with distance requirements in section 11E in EM 385-1-1. 4. Train everybody on the drill crew on the use of the drill rig. 5. Assure there are two functioning emergency shut down switches. One at the operator position and the other at the helper position. 6. Channel drilling fluids (and dust from air rotary rigs) away from the drill crew, especially when drilling on hazardous waste sites. Of course there are more precautions specified in section 16 M. and students should become thoroughly familiar with section 16 M. if they are to be involved with drilling operations. These are just the highlights.

7. Trenching The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain the major safety issues associated with trenching. Reference section 25, especially 25 D. of EM 385-1-1. For this picture point out the following: 1. Inspect the area to make sure you do not trench through underground utilities and that adjacent structures (if there are any) will remain stable when excavating the trench. 2. Never enter trenches unless the trench is properly shored up or sloped back. 3. Place excavated material far enough away from the trench to assure that it will not cause the trench to collapse. 4. Put up barricades 5. Treat the trench as a confined space with a potentially hazardous atmosphere if it has to be entered. Students should become thoroughly familiar with section 25 if their HTRW work will involve trenching. I have only covered the highlights of section 25. There are many more important details in section 25. The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain the major safety issues associated with trenching. Reference section 25, especially 25 D. of EM 385-1-1. For this picture point out the following: 1. Inspect the area to make sure you do not trench through underground utilities and that adjacent structures (if there are any) will remain stable when excavating the trench. 2. Never enter trenches unless the trench is properly shored up or sloped back. 3. Place excavated material far enough away from the trench to assure that it will not cause the trench to collapse. 4. Put up barricades 5. Treat the trench as a confined space with a potentially hazardous atmosphere if it has to be entered. Students should become thoroughly familiar with section 25 if their HTRW work will involve trenching. I have only covered the highlights of section 25. There are many more important details in section 25.

8. Lock Out/Tag Out The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain why lock out/tag out is important when working with highly mechanical or electrical equipment and to illustrate procedures for locking/tagging out equipment. Reference section 12. Of EM 385-1-1. Maintenance procedures on mechanical and electrical systems is dangerous for technicians because equipment is started up or energized while technicians are working on it. It is important to have a working lock out/tag out program to help prevent these kind of accidents. This happens to be a drilling operation but the advice applies just as well to incinerators, pump and treat systems or any other treatment process that requires mechanical and electrical maintenance. Point out the following: 1. Train maintenance employees to understand and implement lock out/tag out procedures. Equipment operators or other incidental employees not performing maintenance should be trained to understand the intent of lock out/tag out procedures and how to recognize with a piece of equipment has been isolated. 2. Equipment used to isolate lock out or tag out equipment shall be securely attached to the isolating device and prevent equipment start up. 3. Isolating devices can only be removed by the person that put it on. Students need to thoroughly review section 12. The details are important.The point of this picture is to illustrate and explain why lock out/tag out is important when working with highly mechanical or electrical equipment and to illustrate procedures for locking/tagging out equipment. Reference section 12. Of EM 385-1-1. Maintenance procedures on mechanical and electrical systems is dangerous for technicians because equipment is started up or energized while technicians are working on it. It is important to have a working lock out/tag out program to help prevent these kind of accidents. This happens to be a drilling operation but the advice applies just as well to incinerators, pump and treat systems or any other treatment process that requires mechanical and electrical maintenance. Point out the following: 1. Train maintenance employees to understand and implement lock out/tag out procedures. Equipment operators or other incidental employees not performing maintenance should be trained to understand the intent of lock out/tag out procedures and how to recognize with a piece of equipment has been isolated. 2. Equipment used to isolate lock out or tag out equipment shall be securely attached to the isolating device and prevent equipment start up. 3. Isolating devices can only be removed by the person that put it on. Students need to thoroughly review section 12. The details are important.

9. Temp. Electrical, Power Tools Working in the field almost always requires the use of portable power tools and temporary electrical wiring. Hazardous waste site field work is typically much different than this photo. If nothing else it is a good illustration of what not to do. Reference section 11. In EM 385-1-1. The following recommendations apply to portable power tools and temporary wiring when working in the field. Cords have to be in good condition and shall not be stapled or hung from nails to get them up out of the way. The temporary electrical system has to be grounded Receptacle outlets shall provide ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection. Power tools have to be grounded or double insulated. Of course there are many more details in section 11 and, students should become very familiar with section 11 if their work requires use of portable power tools and electrical cords.Working in the field almost always requires the use of portable power tools and temporary electrical wiring. Hazardous waste site field work is typically much different than this photo. If nothing else it is a good illustration of what not to do. Reference section 11. In EM 385-1-1. The following recommendations apply to portable power tools and temporary wiring when working in the field. Cords have to be in good condition and shall not be stapled or hung from nails to get them up out of the way. The temporary electrical system has to be grounded Receptacle outlets shall provide ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protection. Power tools have to be grounded or double insulated. Of course there are many more details in section 11 and, students should become very familiar with section 11 if their work requires use of portable power tools and electrical cords.

10. Ladders There is more than meets the eye to safely using ladders. This and the next picture are good examples of what not to do. Reference section 21 D. in EM 385-1-1 for proper use of portable ladders. Point out the following about the use of portable ladders: 1. They are not allowed to be over 20 feet long and shall meet all other construction details specified in section 21 D. 2. They have to extend 3 feet past the landing or, there shall be a grab rail provided to aid in getting on and off the ladder. 3. They shall be secured at the top, bottom (and at an intermediate location if necessary) and shall be held rigidly in place with under load. 4. The top rung of the ladder shall not be used as a step. 5. To aid inspection, portable wood ladders shall not be painted. There is a lot more to section 21 D that students should become familiar with if their work requires use of portable ladders. These are just some of the highlights.There is more than meets the eye to safely using ladders. This and the next picture are good examples of what not to do. Reference section 21 D. in EM 385-1-1 for proper use of portable ladders. Point out the following about the use of portable ladders: 1. They are not allowed to be over 20 feet long and shall meet all other construction details specified in section 21 D. 2. They have to extend 3 feet past the landing or, there shall be a grab rail provided to aid in getting on and off the ladder. 3. They shall be secured at the top, bottom (and at an intermediate location if necessary) and shall be held rigidly in place with under load. 4. The top rung of the ladder shall not be used as a step. 5. To aid inspection, portable wood ladders shall not be painted. There is a lot more to section 21 D that students should become familiar with if their work requires use of portable ladders. These are just some of the highlights.

11. Silica This is a pile of thermally treated soil. The haze you see is partly steam but it is also dust. The soils at this site were quartz rich. Take a look at the paper at the end of this section. Respirable quartz can become an occupational exposure issue on projects where contaminated soil is thermally treated. The following respirable quartz exposure issues are worth nothing for soil treatment processes. 1. When dry, preparation of contaminated soil can generate unacceptable levels of respirable quartz if the soil is rich in quartz. 2. All stages in the treatment process have the potential to generate worker exposure in excess of occupational exposure limits.This is a pile of thermally treated soil. The haze you see is partly steam but it is also dust. The soils at this site were quartz rich. Take a look at the paper at the end of this section. Respirable quartz can become an occupational exposure issue on projects where contaminated soil is thermally treated. The following respirable quartz exposure issues are worth nothing for soil treatment processes. 1. When dry, preparation of contaminated soil can generate unacceptable levels of respirable quartz if the soil is rich in quartz. 2. All stages in the treatment process have the potential to generate worker exposure in excess of occupational exposure limits.

12. Temporary Structures Winfield Lock and Dam, West VA Temporary storage structure for contaminated excavated materials in preparation to construction of new lock at site, and until the material could be classified for permanent disposal. Temporary structures are a great way of keeping excavated materials dry and ready for processing and, they help keep contaminated material from running off-site. That�s the good news The bad news is that they usually create a more hazardous environment for the people working in them. The roof and sides tend to concentrate vapors and, heavy equipment might even generate carbon monoxide problems. What used to dilute out is now trapped in with the workers. Work inside the structures requires vigilant IH support to assure that workers are not overexposed to contaminants, engine exhaust or noise. Winfield Lock and Dam, West VA Temporary storage structure for contaminated excavated materials in preparation to construction of new lock at site, and until the material could be classified for permanent disposal. Temporary structures are a great way of keeping excavated materials dry and ready for processing and, they help keep contaminated material from running off-site. That�s the good news The bad news is that they usually create a more hazardous environment for the people working in them. The roof and sides tend to concentrate vapors and, heavy equipment might even generate carbon monoxide problems. What used to dilute out is now trapped in with the workers. Work inside the structures requires vigilant IH support to assure that workers are not overexposed to contaminants, engine exhaust or noise.

13. Dust Control Semivolatile organic contaminants and metals become part of the dust generated by general construction activities. Worker exposure to these type contaminants can be nicely controlled by simply keeping the dust down. Semivolatile organic contaminants and metals become part of the dust generated by general construction activities. Worker exposure to these type contaminants can be nicely controlled by simply keeping the dust down.

14. VOC Control These are piles of soil contaminated with chlorinated benzene compounds. The soils are being stored here for treatment later. Chlorinated benzene compounds have a relatively low vapor pressure so, they tend to volatilize when exposed to the open air. In the background you can see soil piles that are covered with sheets of plastic to limit volatilization. Following are things to remember about controlling VOCs on hazardous waste sites: 1. Worker exposure to VOCs is a primarily a function of volatilization. 2. Volatilization at hazardous waste site cleanup projects is primarily a function of exposed surface area. Volatilization can be controlled by limiting the exposed surface area by covering or just keeping exposed surface areas to a minimum.These are piles of soil contaminated with chlorinated benzene compounds. The soils are being stored here for treatment later. Chlorinated benzene compounds have a relatively low vapor pressure so, they tend to volatilize when exposed to the open air. In the background you can see soil piles that are covered with sheets of plastic to limit volatilization. Following are things to remember about controlling VOCs on hazardous waste sites: 1. Worker exposure to VOCs is a primarily a function of volatilization. 2. Volatilization at hazardous waste site cleanup projects is primarily a function of exposed surface area. Volatilization can be controlled by limiting the exposed surface area by covering or just keeping exposed surface areas to a minimum.

15. Laboratory Safety Need Picture On-site mobile laboratories do not always have the amenities available in permanent labs. As a result, sometimes safety and health procedures have to be creatively applied to the laboratory. Reference the Greenwood Chemical Laboratory fire learned and the Mobile Laboratory Safety and Health Checklist at the end of this section of slides. Look for the following when there is a mobile laboratory on projects. There are more details in 29 CFR 1910.1450 and the standard should be studied thoroughly if there is mobile lab on the project. Following are some highlight issues to look for. 1. Is there a written chemical hygiene plan, do the laboratory workers know where it is and, are they following it. 2. Is there a designated chemical hygiene officer assigned to the laboratory. 3. Are laboratory chemicals properly stored. See 1910.1450 and the Mobile Laboratory Safety and Health Check List at the back of this section. 4. Are there chemical waste storage and disposal procedures? If so, do the procedures account for appropriately separating wastes? See 1910.1450 and the Mobile Laboratory Safety and Health Check List at the back of this section. On-site mobile laboratories do not always have the amenities available in permanent labs. As a result, sometimes safety and health procedures have to be creatively applied to the laboratory. Reference the Greenwood Chemical Laboratory fire learned and the Mobile Laboratory Safety and Health Checklist at the end of this section of slides. Look for the following when there is a mobile laboratory on projects. There are more details in 29 CFR 1910.1450 and the standard should be studied thoroughly if there is mobile lab on the project. Following are some highlight issues to look for. 1. Is there a written chemical hygiene plan, do the laboratory workers know where it is and, are they following it. 2. Is there a designated chemical hygiene officer assigned to the laboratory. 3. Are laboratory chemicals properly stored. See 1910.1450 and the Mobile Laboratory Safety and Health Check List at the back of this section. 4. Are there chemical waste storage and disposal procedures? If so, do the procedures account for appropriately separating wastes? See 1910.1450 and the Mobile Laboratory Safety and Health Check List at the back of this section.

16. Exposure Time Limitations At this site the ionizing radiation fields were so strong that the only practical way to control exposure to ionizing radiation was to limit the time workers spent in the exclusion zone. Following are the points to make about exposure time limitation strategies. 1. Apply when engineering controls cannot be practically applied. 2. Apply when PPE is not adequate to reduce exposure below occupational exposure limits. At this site the ionizing radiation fields were so strong that the only practical way to control exposure to ionizing radiation was to limit the time workers spent in the exclusion zone. Following are the points to make about exposure time limitation strategies. 1. Apply when engineering controls cannot be practically applied. 2. Apply when PPE is not adequate to reduce exposure below occupational exposure limits.