Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
(GI).tract.following.ingestion.is.highly.dependent.upon.the.presence.of.and.levels.of.
calcium,.iron,.fats,.and.proteins.
The.precautions.for.working.with.or.around.lead.are.very.similar.to.the.require-
ments.for.asbestos..Although.asbestos.is.more.of.a.respiratory.hazard.while.lead.is.
more.of.a.digestive.hazard,.once.lead.enters.the.bloodstream,.it.can.cause.kidney.and.
neurological.problems..Lead.contained.in.the.bones.remains.there.for.nearly.the.life.
of.the.individual..OSHA.has.a.PEL.of.50.g/m
3
.during.an.8-hour.period.or.when.a.
level.of.50.g/dl.of.blood.is.detected..Once.workers.are.leaded.to.this.level,.they.must.
be.removed.from.work.until.the.blood.lead.level.decreases.to.40.g/dl.of.blood..There.
are.many.other.requirements.regarding.lead.exposure.found.in.29.CFR.1910.1025.
Lead.contamination.is.easily.spread..Thus,.precautions.must.be.taken.to.decon-
taminate. anything. leaving. the. regulated. area,. including. work. clothing. and. shoes..
Workers.should.wear.respirators.in.areas.where.dust.or.vapors.can.become.airborne.
and.disposable.outer.garments.to.prevent.the.spread.of.lead.to.other.areas,.including.
their.own.homes..Lead.easily.enters.the.digestive.track..This.reinforces.the.need.for.
washing.hands.prior.to.eating.or.smoking..Eating.or.smoking.should.never.occur.in.
a.regulated.area..Lead.exposure.can.lead.to.serious.illness.or.even.death.
noIse-Induced heArIng loss
Occupational. exposure. to. noise. levels. in. excess. of. the. current. OSHA. standards.
places. hundreds. of. thousands. of. workers. at. risk. for. developing. material. hearing.
impairment,.hypertension,.and.elevated.hormone.levels..Workers.in.some.industries.
(i.e.,.construction,.oil.and.gas.well.drilling.and.servicing).are.not.fully.covered.by.
the.current.OSHA.standards.and.lack.the.protection.of.an.adequate.hearing.conser-
vation.program..Occupationally.induced.hearing.loss.continues.to.be.one.of.the.lead-
ing.occupational.illnesses.in.the.United.States.and.is.often.called.a.“silent.epidemic.”.
OSHA.has.designated.this.issue.as.a.priority.for.rulemaking.action.to.extend.hearing.
conservation.protection,.provided.in.the.general.industry.standard,.to.the.construc-
tion.industry.and.other.uncovered.industries.
According. to. the. U.S.. Bureau. of. the. Census,. Statistical. Abstract. of. the. United.
States,.there.are.more.than.7.2.million.workers.employed.in.the.construction.industry.
(6. percent. of. all. employment).. The. National. Institute. for. Occupational. Safety. and.
Health's.(NIOSH).National.Occupational.Exposure.Survey.(NOES).estimates.that.
421,000.construction.workers.are.exposed.to.noise.above.85.dBA..NIOSH.estimates.
that.15.percent.of.workers.exposed.to.noise.levels.of.85.dBA.or.higher.will.develop.
permanent.hearing.impairment.
Research. demonstrates. that. construction. workers. are. regularly. overexposed. to.
noise.. The. extent. of. daily. exposure. to. noise. in. the. construction. industry. depends.
on.the.nature.and.duration.of.the.work..For.example,.rock.drilling—up.to.115.dBA,.
chain. saw—up. to. 125. dBA,. abrasive. blasting—105. to. 112. dBA,. heavy. equipment.
operation—95. to. 110. dBA,. demolition—up. to. 117. dBA,. and. needle. guns—up. to.
112 dBA.. Exposure. to. 115. dBA. is. permitted. for. a. maximum. of. 15. minutes. for. an.
8-hour. workday.. No. exposure. above. 115. dBA. is. permitted.. Traditional. dosimetric.
measurements.may.substantially.underestimate.noise.exposure.levels.for.construction.
