Page 29 - Occupational Health & Safety, November 2018

Businesses with welding operations and welding contractors need to assess their controls and respiratory programs, increase their awareness of the hazards, and inform safety officers and workers of the appropriate measures for better respiratory prevention.
Rick Marquez is Vice President of Sales at CleanSpace Technology. CleanSpace manufactures innovative PAPR systems that are newly launched in the United States and the Americas. He has more than 25 years of experience in the safety and respiratory marketplace managing sales and business development throughout the United States, Canada, and the world for many large brands.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/nengapdxe.html
and solvents that can cause cancer. Welding fumes, produced when metals heated above their melting point vaporize and condense to fine particles, can be not only hazardous, but cancer causing. In May 2017, the World Health Organization and IARC reclassified welding fumes to a Group 1 known carcin- ogen. Businesses with welding operations and welding contractors need to assess their controls and respiratory programs, increase their awareness of the hazards, and inform safety officers and workers of the appropriate measures for better respiratory prevention. Most likely, OSHA and CDC/ NIOSH will take action on this, as well.
Crystalline silica can cause incurable lung disease leading to death. OSHA estimates that more than 840,000 workers are exposed to silica levels that exceed the new PEL.
Likewise, the recent OSHA crystalline silica standard impacts construction work- ers by reducing the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight-hour shift. About 2 million construction workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in more than 600,000 workplaces. Crystalline silica can cause incurable lung disease leading to death. OSHA estimates that more than 840,000 of these workers are exposed to silica levels that exceed the new PEL.
Making the Comparison
As safety managers implement programs to increase worker safety and meet new respiratory protection requirements, they’ll likely thoroughly evaluate the PPE market- place and quickly find the choice between the same old respirators and some true in- novation. As choices continue to improve, not surprisingly, employers and employees will begin to better identify with PPE that is similar to their consumer devices they use in everyday life.
As our PPE options continue to be technologically advanced, slim, light, easy to use, and cost effective, workers and com- panies will follow. Staying ahead of trends is an easy and valuable way for employers to remain aware and deliver business im- provements while keeping their staff safe and their companies in compliance.
www.ohsonline.com
ANY RESPIRATOR,
ONE FIT TESTER
The new PortaCount® Respirator Fit Tester simplifies fit testing by providing one consistent and objective testing experience across all respirator types, including any N95 filtering facepiece.
Circle 29 on card. 25