The document provides information about the International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC) recent ruling classifying occupational exposure to oxidized asphalt and its emissions during roofing as probably carcinogenic. It clarifies that IARC found a cancer hazard only for workers involved in roofing, not for products. It also notes that the full report with details of IARC's evaluation will be published in late 2012. The document aims to answer frequently asked questions about IARC's announcement and reassure homeowners and others that non-occupational exposures from asphalt roofing products do not pose a cancer risk.
August 2015 ComplianceSigns Connection Workplace Safety NewsletterComplianceSigns, LLC
Top Safety News for August 2015, including:
• OSHA delays Confined Spaces in Construction enforcement to October
• Guidance issued on Hazcom enforcement
• OSHA Fines total $2.9 million in July
• NIOSH offers easy, effective way to reduce silica dust exposure
• Safety Tip: Reduce arc flash hazards
Learn more and download our Whitepaper: https://prker.co/EMEA_ZA_Corrosion_infographic
This infographic shows key corrosion types, causes and best practices for mining, construction and forestry. Corrosion management is key to industrial productivity, safety and profitability.
Learn more and download our white paper: https://prker.co/EMEA_UK_Corrosion_Infographic
Corrosion management is key to industrial productivity, safety and profitability. This infographic shows key corrosion types, causes and best practices.
August 2015 ComplianceSigns Connection Workplace Safety NewsletterComplianceSigns, LLC
Top Safety News for August 2015, including:
• OSHA delays Confined Spaces in Construction enforcement to October
• Guidance issued on Hazcom enforcement
• OSHA Fines total $2.9 million in July
• NIOSH offers easy, effective way to reduce silica dust exposure
• Safety Tip: Reduce arc flash hazards
Learn more and download our Whitepaper: https://prker.co/EMEA_ZA_Corrosion_infographic
This infographic shows key corrosion types, causes and best practices for mining, construction and forestry. Corrosion management is key to industrial productivity, safety and profitability.
Learn more and download our white paper: https://prker.co/EMEA_UK_Corrosion_Infographic
Corrosion management is key to industrial productivity, safety and profitability. This infographic shows key corrosion types, causes and best practices.
Roof mounted photovoltaic panels (PV panels) are becoming
increasingly popular, however, there are fire-related risks associated with these, many of which would relate to most electrical systems.
Combustible Dust Cleaning A Professional ApproachJon Barrett
Combustible Dust, (or Explosive Dust), cleaning, is a required preventative good housekeeping and maintenance program, in manufacturing and production facilities. This minimizes safety hazards, potential flash fires, and catastrophic dust explosions, in addition to maintaining Indoor Air Quality. Combustible dust is fine particulate dust, which is generated from products such as wood, metals, grains, agricultural, chemicals, plastics, paper, and carbonaceous products. The manufacturing and production facilities equipment and machinery, pulverize, mill, grind, crush, macerate, and cut the bulk product. In return, dust is generated, and accumulates on all equipment and facility structure surfaces. The fine powder dust, which is suspended on the higher, inaccessible and unnoticeable surfaces, is the most problematic. Yet the most hazardous, especially when a primary upset or explosion generates a sonic pressure wave that suspends these particles into the path of a flame front (reaction front), which causes a devastating secondary dust explosion.
In addition to the fire and explosion hazards of dust, the industrial hygiene aspect of fine particles can impact and affect, the facility workers health, leading to illnesses, and injuries. "The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 6.1 percent of private-sector employees suffered 5.7 million workplace injuries and illnesses in 2000. Forty-six percent of those injury cases required days away from work for recuperation or restricted work activity.
J. Paul Leigh of the Stanford Medical Center notes that businesses spend $170.9 billion a year on costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses—expenditures that come straight out of company profits. Injuries and illnesses increase workers’ compensation and retraining costs, absenteeism, and production faults. They also decrease productivity, morale, and ultimately, profits.
Fortunately, statistics from injury and illness reports filed with OSHA show that workplaces that establish safety and health management systems reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. "In today’s competitive business environment," says OSHA Administrator John L. Henshaw, "the black-and-blue of workplace injuries can be the difference between operating in the black and running in the red." Reference 1 (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/JSHQ/fall2002html/safety_health.htm)
High ceiling and surface cleaning, Air Conveyance Cleaning, Dust collector cleaning, Conveyor Belt cleaning, Silo tank cleaning, Lab Fume Hood cleaning, and dust control vacuuming, are some of the services, that may be required to clean the combustible dust. These services help prevent airborne dust and particulates, from accumulating, in the manufacturing and production facilities. These services may also help promote equipment longevity, may decrease utility costs for operating equipment, may increase the brightness of lighting, may stabilize insurance rates, and may allow a greater Return On Investment on manufacturing equipment.
Combustible Dust cleaning should be performed by a certified and trained cleaning company. The certified training should be similar to the N.A.D.C.A., I.A.Q.A., O.S.H.A., and I.I.C.R.C. cleaning standards. Additionally, the certified cleaning contractor, should have the proper Industrial and Commercial cleaning equipment. Most importantly is an industrial, explosion-proof, dust collecting H.E.P.A. vacuum, as the main piece of equipment. Broom sweeping and compressed air, is not a viable means of cleaning combustible dust, by the NFPA 654 Combustible Dust Standard. The act of broom sweeping, and compressed air, actually stirs up dust and particulate into the air, which may create more issues with sensitive equipment that provide ignition sources, and possible dust explosions. High reach equipment, such as High reach platforms,
Scissor Lifts, Articulate Booms, Scaffolding, Fiberglas extension ladders, and Fi
Maak Impex Pvt Ltd https://maakimpex.com
The company under reference sells and advocates the use of Biodegradable packaging materials for the industry at large. #maakimpex
Devastating grain dust explosions have been recorded for decades as the risk of flour dust ignition is so high. Without adequate controls and safety measures, grain flour explosions have been known to level entire milling facilities and take lives. While mill owners are making the effort to comply with DSEAR and ATEX regulations to ensure their staffs’ safety, the execution of preventive measures has not always been correct. Many milling facilities share common problems when it comes to the installation of protective equipment. In some cases, they inadvertently exclude “fail-safes” where necessary.
Fire Safety Network for Fertilizers Industries.pdfPremBaboo4
Fire network & Fire prevention device with fire station is essential for all industries. The fire Industries have very dangerous substances and gases that can catch fire at any time. Most of the accidents/injuries are caused by human errors. Industry says, human error accounts for 96% of accidents. The rest takes place due to external conditions and failure factory equipment. In which fertilizers industries account for most of such fatal accidents. Safety is a condition or state of being resulting from the modification of human behavior, and/or designing of the physical environment to reduce the possibility of hazards, thereby reducing accidents. Safety is an ever changing condition in which one attempts to minimize the risk of injury, illness or property damage from the hazards to which one may be exposed. Perfect fire network is must for fertilizers Industries. Life is god's special gift to mankind. It is therefore important to treasure & protect it from all kinds of potential threats. Regardless of the precautions that we take in our day-to-day life, fire accidents are seldom averted. Risky jobs with a potential to put your life at risk can be a cause for concern especially to your family & friends. Moreover,constant exposure to dangerous surroundings increases the chances of enduring major/minor injuries with a likelihood of developing a permanent handicap.
Workplace exposure to UFP, also known as ultra fine particles, takes place in many manufacturing scenarios. UFP can't be seen but can be inhaled. It is measured using the nano scale. Studies shown that UFP can damage the brain, lungs, and alter DNA processes. HEPA filters trap UFP before it can be inhaled. NIOSH says HEPA filtration is "effective in capturing nanoscale particles." Industrial hygienists have the skills necessary to solve the problem of nanoscale particles in the workplace.
The truth about permanent safety warning labeling for lse polyolefin plastic ...Matthew Stevenson
The rise in durable goods products made from low surface energy (LSE) plastics has grown exponentially. Industries such as automotive, power sports, outdoor power equipment need permanent safety/warning labeling but the problem is, the permanent labeling available isn't actually permanent.
The presentation is about hazard identification as against hazard assessment. The need to comply with all standard safety procedures as outlined by OSHA
Hazardous work areas present special challenges for the workers and businesses that must operate within them. These work areas are often confined rooms or containers like fuel tanks where vapors and gases from work activities can become concentrated to dangerous levels. As well as the obvious dangers posed by inhalation of these contaminants are the not so obvious dangers that can have lethal consequences if not properly addressed. Intrinsically safe lights which are defined by Underwriter Laboratories as basically any electronic circuit that is “incapable” of causing ignition, which puts them in an ultra-high classification outside that of explosion proof lights. When working in confined spaces such as but not limited to boilers, pressure vessels, cargo holds, cargo tanks, ballast tanks, double bottoms, double hull spaces, fuel oil, lube oil, sewage-tanks, pump-rooms, compressor rooms, cofferdams, void spaces, duct keels, inter-barrier spaces and engine crankcases, etc. rely on the Intrinsic safety lighting range from Nightstick. PSC are the official distributors of NightStick for Indian Markets.
Regulatory requirements for handling and disposal of hazardous chemical z3347081
There are many regulatory requirements for safe handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals. To avoid incurring personal liability, all laboratory users must address and actively support compliance with these laws and regulations.
Roof mounted photovoltaic panels (PV panels) are becoming
increasingly popular, however, there are fire-related risks associated with these, many of which would relate to most electrical systems.
Combustible Dust Cleaning A Professional ApproachJon Barrett
Combustible Dust, (or Explosive Dust), cleaning, is a required preventative good housekeeping and maintenance program, in manufacturing and production facilities. This minimizes safety hazards, potential flash fires, and catastrophic dust explosions, in addition to maintaining Indoor Air Quality. Combustible dust is fine particulate dust, which is generated from products such as wood, metals, grains, agricultural, chemicals, plastics, paper, and carbonaceous products. The manufacturing and production facilities equipment and machinery, pulverize, mill, grind, crush, macerate, and cut the bulk product. In return, dust is generated, and accumulates on all equipment and facility structure surfaces. The fine powder dust, which is suspended on the higher, inaccessible and unnoticeable surfaces, is the most problematic. Yet the most hazardous, especially when a primary upset or explosion generates a sonic pressure wave that suspends these particles into the path of a flame front (reaction front), which causes a devastating secondary dust explosion.
In addition to the fire and explosion hazards of dust, the industrial hygiene aspect of fine particles can impact and affect, the facility workers health, leading to illnesses, and injuries. "The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 6.1 percent of private-sector employees suffered 5.7 million workplace injuries and illnesses in 2000. Forty-six percent of those injury cases required days away from work for recuperation or restricted work activity.
J. Paul Leigh of the Stanford Medical Center notes that businesses spend $170.9 billion a year on costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses—expenditures that come straight out of company profits. Injuries and illnesses increase workers’ compensation and retraining costs, absenteeism, and production faults. They also decrease productivity, morale, and ultimately, profits.
Fortunately, statistics from injury and illness reports filed with OSHA show that workplaces that establish safety and health management systems reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. "In today’s competitive business environment," says OSHA Administrator John L. Henshaw, "the black-and-blue of workplace injuries can be the difference between operating in the black and running in the red." Reference 1 (http://www.osha.gov/Publications/JSHQ/fall2002html/safety_health.htm)
High ceiling and surface cleaning, Air Conveyance Cleaning, Dust collector cleaning, Conveyor Belt cleaning, Silo tank cleaning, Lab Fume Hood cleaning, and dust control vacuuming, are some of the services, that may be required to clean the combustible dust. These services help prevent airborne dust and particulates, from accumulating, in the manufacturing and production facilities. These services may also help promote equipment longevity, may decrease utility costs for operating equipment, may increase the brightness of lighting, may stabilize insurance rates, and may allow a greater Return On Investment on manufacturing equipment.
Combustible Dust cleaning should be performed by a certified and trained cleaning company. The certified training should be similar to the N.A.D.C.A., I.A.Q.A., O.S.H.A., and I.I.C.R.C. cleaning standards. Additionally, the certified cleaning contractor, should have the proper Industrial and Commercial cleaning equipment. Most importantly is an industrial, explosion-proof, dust collecting H.E.P.A. vacuum, as the main piece of equipment. Broom sweeping and compressed air, is not a viable means of cleaning combustible dust, by the NFPA 654 Combustible Dust Standard. The act of broom sweeping, and compressed air, actually stirs up dust and particulate into the air, which may create more issues with sensitive equipment that provide ignition sources, and possible dust explosions. High reach equipment, such as High reach platforms,
Scissor Lifts, Articulate Booms, Scaffolding, Fiberglas extension ladders, and Fi
Maak Impex Pvt Ltd https://maakimpex.com
The company under reference sells and advocates the use of Biodegradable packaging materials for the industry at large. #maakimpex
Devastating grain dust explosions have been recorded for decades as the risk of flour dust ignition is so high. Without adequate controls and safety measures, grain flour explosions have been known to level entire milling facilities and take lives. While mill owners are making the effort to comply with DSEAR and ATEX regulations to ensure their staffs’ safety, the execution of preventive measures has not always been correct. Many milling facilities share common problems when it comes to the installation of protective equipment. In some cases, they inadvertently exclude “fail-safes” where necessary.
Fire Safety Network for Fertilizers Industries.pdfPremBaboo4
Fire network & Fire prevention device with fire station is essential for all industries. The fire Industries have very dangerous substances and gases that can catch fire at any time. Most of the accidents/injuries are caused by human errors. Industry says, human error accounts for 96% of accidents. The rest takes place due to external conditions and failure factory equipment. In which fertilizers industries account for most of such fatal accidents. Safety is a condition or state of being resulting from the modification of human behavior, and/or designing of the physical environment to reduce the possibility of hazards, thereby reducing accidents. Safety is an ever changing condition in which one attempts to minimize the risk of injury, illness or property damage from the hazards to which one may be exposed. Perfect fire network is must for fertilizers Industries. Life is god's special gift to mankind. It is therefore important to treasure & protect it from all kinds of potential threats. Regardless of the precautions that we take in our day-to-day life, fire accidents are seldom averted. Risky jobs with a potential to put your life at risk can be a cause for concern especially to your family & friends. Moreover,constant exposure to dangerous surroundings increases the chances of enduring major/minor injuries with a likelihood of developing a permanent handicap.
Workplace exposure to UFP, also known as ultra fine particles, takes place in many manufacturing scenarios. UFP can't be seen but can be inhaled. It is measured using the nano scale. Studies shown that UFP can damage the brain, lungs, and alter DNA processes. HEPA filters trap UFP before it can be inhaled. NIOSH says HEPA filtration is "effective in capturing nanoscale particles." Industrial hygienists have the skills necessary to solve the problem of nanoscale particles in the workplace.
The truth about permanent safety warning labeling for lse polyolefin plastic ...Matthew Stevenson
The rise in durable goods products made from low surface energy (LSE) plastics has grown exponentially. Industries such as automotive, power sports, outdoor power equipment need permanent safety/warning labeling but the problem is, the permanent labeling available isn't actually permanent.
The presentation is about hazard identification as against hazard assessment. The need to comply with all standard safety procedures as outlined by OSHA
Hazardous work areas present special challenges for the workers and businesses that must operate within them. These work areas are often confined rooms or containers like fuel tanks where vapors and gases from work activities can become concentrated to dangerous levels. As well as the obvious dangers posed by inhalation of these contaminants are the not so obvious dangers that can have lethal consequences if not properly addressed. Intrinsically safe lights which are defined by Underwriter Laboratories as basically any electronic circuit that is “incapable” of causing ignition, which puts them in an ultra-high classification outside that of explosion proof lights. When working in confined spaces such as but not limited to boilers, pressure vessels, cargo holds, cargo tanks, ballast tanks, double bottoms, double hull spaces, fuel oil, lube oil, sewage-tanks, pump-rooms, compressor rooms, cofferdams, void spaces, duct keels, inter-barrier spaces and engine crankcases, etc. rely on the Intrinsic safety lighting range from Nightstick. PSC are the official distributors of NightStick for Indian Markets.
Regulatory requirements for handling and disposal of hazardous chemical z3347081
There are many regulatory requirements for safe handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals. To avoid incurring personal liability, all laboratory users must address and actively support compliance with these laws and regulations.
1. FAST FACTS
Recent IARC Ruling
on Occupational
Exposure to Asphalt
and its Emissions
during Roofing
Asphalt Roofing
Manufacturers Association
2. Did You Know?
What information is available about the recent IARC review of asphalt?
• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is an arm of the UN’s World Health
Organization, headquartered in Lyon, France. One of IARC’s missions is to develop detailed
scientific reviews (called “Monographs”) of the potential carcinogenicity of substances.
• Asphalt was reviewed during a meeting that IARC held in Lyon in October 2011.
• To date, IARC has released two short summaries of the meeting:
a 1-page statement posted on its web site after the meeting concluded, and
a 2-page article in the December 2011 edition of the journal Lancet Oncology.
• According to these announcements, one of IARC’s primary findings was that:
occupational exposures to oxidized bitumens [asphalt] and their emissions during roofing
are probably carcinogenic.
• The meaning and basis for this determination will not be fully understood until IARC publishes
the Monograph. IARC has indicated that the Monograph should be published within about a
year of the meetings in Lyon – or by late 2012.
• It is understandable that, during this period of uncertainty, the brief IARC releases may cause
confusion and undue worry among workers, homeowners and others who use or come in
contact with asphalt roofing. This document is intended to provide answers to the most
frequently asked questions about the IARC announcements to date.
PAGE
2
3. Did You Know?
What types of exposures are covered by the IARC finding?
• Even though we have, at the moment, only a glimpse of the scientific evaluation IARC will make in
the forthcoming Monograph, the two statements IARC has released to date do provide some useful
indications about the meaning and scope of the IARC finding.
• First, the IARC finding by its terms relates only to worker exposures during roofing. That is:
IARC has not classified any
asphalt roofing product as
a cancer hazard
• Equally important, IARC’s finding does not apply to homeowners, other building owners/managers,
building occupants, consumers or the general public who may have contact with or exposure to
asphalt roofing products, including:
Contact with roofing materials in-place on roofs
Contact with manufactured roofing products, such as those in supplier inventories or
retail outlets
Unpleasant odors experienced by building occupants or others in the vicinity of a roofing job
Contact with rain water run-off from roofs
Exposure to air emissions from roofing plants
Roofing recycling or waste disposal operations
PAGE
3
4. Did You Know?
Putting Things In Perspective
• IARC Monographs address “hazard,” not “risk.”
A “hazard” is something that is capable of causing harm under certain circumstances.
“Risk,” in contrast, is the chance (high or low) that the hazard will actually cause harm.
• A good example is electricity. Electricity is a hazard because exposure can result in burns
or electrocution. In contrast, in many settings (e.g., the routine use of electricity in today’s
homes), the risk is minimal.
• The distinction between hazard and risk matters because IARC findings are typically based
on studies – often studies in laboratory animals – involving prolonged exposure to levels far
greater than are seen in real-world settings. As IARC puts it, “Monographs identify cancer
hazards even when risks are very low at current exposure levels.”
• IARC has classified a number of things we encounter daily but generally at levels far below
those often involved in the studies IARC reviews. Some examples of everyday exposures IARC
has found to be possible, probable or known carcinogens:
Coffee Exhaust from gas and diesel engines
Alcohol Caffeic acid, a compound present naturally
Gasoline in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Cell phones High-temperature frying
Wood dust
PAGE
4
5. Did You Know?
What are the risks to roofers working with oxidized asphalt?
• Again, IARC evaluates hazards, not risks. Although we must wait for the publication of the
Monograph, there is every reason to expect that, even in settings where IARC finds a cancer
hazard for roofing with oxidized asphalt products, the risks to workers will be negligible or
insignificant.
According to industry estimates, 94% of asphalt roofing production today is applied
“cold” (i.e., at ambient temperatures, without heating), or is “soft-applied” using
torches or hot air welders to heat the material sufficiently to ensure good adhesion to
the substrate.
The brief announcements IARC has made thus far, and the scientific data we expect to
be reviewed in the Monograph yet to come, do not suggest that roofers working with
these products are exposed to significant cancer risks.
• For hot-applied roofing jobs representing just 6% of production, the weight of the available
scientific evidence does not indicate that asphalt fumes pose a significant cancer risk to
exposed workers. Nevertheless, ARMA has long embraced a prudent approach to product
stewardship that supports practicable exposure control while scientific research seeks to fill
critical data gaps. This approach has yielded a series of National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) publications, developed in cooperation with industry and labor, that
identify work practices, engineering controls, and low-fuming products which, when used, can
significantly reduce fume exposures during hot-applied roofing, thus reducing potential cancer
risks to roofers. These publications can be viewed here, here, and here.
PAGE
5
6. Did You Know?
Recap – How does the IARC announcement affect me?
• IARC’s cancer hazard finding – for occupational exposures to oxidized asphalt and its
emissions during roofing – applies to roofers, particularly those who do hot asphalt work with
oxidized asphalt.
• But for all others, whose contact with asphalt roofing products is briefer and at far lower (or
negligible) exposure levels, IARC did not announce a cancer hazard. You are not affected by
IARC’s hazard determination if you:
Are a homeowner
Are a do-it-yourselfer
Are a retailer or distributor, or work for one
Are a roofing recycler or waste processor, or work for one
Have potential contact with rainwater run-off from roofs
Have contact with roofing in retail outlets or inventories
Are a building occupant or in the vicinity of a hot asphalt roofing job in progress
Live near an asphalt roofing plant
PAGE
6
7. Did You Know?
The Bottom Line – Will having asphalt roofing products on my home or
building pose a health hazard?
• No. Non-occupational exposures to asphalt roofing products have not been identified by IARC to
cause cancer.
If you are a building occupant and find the smell of asphalt unpleasant, click here for more
information and to read about precautions your contactor can take to minimize odors.
• You should feel comfortable when choosing asphalt roofing products for your home or business
Always review carefully the warnings and precautionary statements on labels, MSDSs and
other hazard information provided by the manufacturer of the roofing product in use.
For more information, contact ARMA by clicking here or calling (202) 591-2450.
PAGE
7