Page 92 - Occupational Health & Safety, September 2019

RESPIRATORY
Updating Hexavalent Chromium Detection Capabilities
The industry needs rapid detection to truly improve the safety of at-risk personnel.
BY ALEX MAZZOTTA
Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a toxic ma- terial typically produced in industrial pro- cesses like welding of stainless steel or other alloys containing chromium, abrasive blast-
ing of equipment to strip chromate paint or primer, smelting processes of ferro-chromate alloys, and chrome electroplating that uses a solution of chromic acid.1 Cr(VI) is most commonly exposed to person- nel via respirable fumes and dust but can also cause allergic skin reactions in some cases. Inhalation of Cr(VI) can significantly increase risk of lung cancer, so OSHA has mandated that a permissible exposure limit (PEL) eight-hour time-weighted average to be 5 micrograms or less per cubic meter of air. OSHA also recommends periodic monitoring every six months only if initial monitoring shows exposure over the ac- tion level of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
Considering that Cr(VI) exposure at the PEL is approximately seven times more likely to result in death from lung cancer than asbestos, this frequency of workplace safety evaluation may not be sufficient.2 This is especially true in facilities where the layout of equipment and processes that produce Cr(VI) change often, which is the case in many industrial environ- ments like aerospace maintenance, repair, and over- haul (MRO) facilities. Testing methods need to adapt to ever-changing industrial environments to provide shorter time-sample results, like five- or ten-minute increments, and with accuracy near laboratory test-
ing. Such capability will significantly enhance visibil- ity on exposure, but what’s even more impactful is the ability to determine potentially unknown sources of dust or fumes that expose unprotected personnel.
In the United States Air Force depot at Hill Air Force Base, there was an issue just like this. Within a large building where abrasive blasting takes place in a large walk-in blast booth, OSHA found Cr(VI) expo- sure to be far in excess of mandated PELs. This shed light on a series of unidentified sources in the building that were generating Cr(VI) fumes and dust.
In another corner of that building, the welding cell was welding stainless steel and thus exposing many personnel to Cr(VI) without any personal pro- tective equipment (PPE). Here, a rapid detection sys- tem would be immensely useful. Spending time work- ing on one problem only to find out later that it wasn’t the problem after all is frustrating and costly. It would also help map out various sources in a large industrial building where many processes occur simultaneously and provide better ventilation as needed.
Much of these challenges that the Air Force expe- riences are the same as facilities in commercial aero- space (and other industrial fabrication and mainte- nance industries) where welding, thermal spray, paint application, and paint stripping all produce hexavalent chromium fumes. As technology advances in so many industries, it seems unfortunate that advancement in safety technologies is driven by reaction rather than proactive action. In many cases, the core technology necessary to improve safety is available, but unless there is a push, as there was in the Air Force, the time and money needed to develop those advancements falls to the back burner.
Modern industry needs to push both with spend- ing and priority to get ahead of occupational health issues before they become widespread. This will yield a reduction in operating costs in the long run by re- ducing worker compensation and costs incurred from OSHA violations, but also from an ethical standpoint it will protect workers from short- and long-term health complications that can reduce quality of life.
Advanced Technological Solution
In an age where various technologies are intelligently integrated, industry needs ventilation capabilities that can use energy efficiently while maintaining safe working environments. A rapid chromium detection system integrated with a ventilation control system would enable automated ventilation systems to en-
88 Occupational Health & Safety | SEPTEMBER 2019
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