What BBQ Smoke Exposure Tells You About Occupational Chemical Exposures

With summer coming, it’s only a matter of time before the smells and tastes of barbecued foods dominate the neighborhood. But there’s a downside to grilling that can literally get under your skin. In a study appearing in Environmental Science & Technology, scientists report that skin is a more important pathway for uptake of cancer-causing compounds produced during barbecuing than inhalation. They also found that clothing cannot fully protect individuals from this exposure.

In the U.S., 70% of adults own a grill or a smoker, and more than half of them grill at least four times a month, according to the Barbecue Industry Association. But barbecuing produces large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. These carcinogenic compounds can cause respiratory diseases and DNA mutations. Eating grilled foods is the most common source of PAHs arising from barbecuing. However, according to a previous study by Eddy Y. Zeng and colleagues, bystanders near barbecues were likely exposed to considerable amount of PAHs through skin exposure and inhalation, even if they didn’t eat the grilled foods. Building on that study, the team sought to more precisely quantify skin uptake of PAHs from barbecue fumes and particles.

The researchers divided volunteers into groups at an outdoor barbecue to provide them with varying degrees of exposure to the food and the smoke. After analyzing urine samples from the volunteers, the researchers concluded that, as expected, diet accounted for the largest amount of PAH exposure. However, the skin was the second-highest exposure route, followed by inhalation. They say oils in barbecue fumes likely enhance skin uptake of PAHs. The team also found that while clothes may reduce skin exposure to PAHs over the short term, once clothing is saturated with barbecue smoke, the skin can take in considerable amounts of PAHs from them. They suggest washing clothes soon after leaving a grilling area to reduce exposure.

So, what can we learn from BBQ smoke about occupational chemical exposures? It's that workplace exposures might be complex. We might protect workers with respirators, but what about skin exposure? Even if workers wear impervious gloves, fumes and vapors in the air can lead to skin exposures that may have been overlooked. Worker clothing might not be protective and could even exacerbate chemical exposures. Therefore, more research is needed to evaluate chemicals in the workplace to determine if any exposures have been overlooked, and if so, new protections may be needed.

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What’s on OSHA’s Agenda

All federal agencies that publish regulations are required to publish a semiannual regulatory agenda in order to inform the regulated community of pending, as well as recently completed regulatory actions. In the past, OSHA published regulatory agendas spanning dozens of proposed rules. The Agency’s current agenda is much more limited, it includes:

Communication Tower Safety

While the number of employees engaged in the communication tower industry remains small, the fatality rate is very high. Over the past 20 years, this industry has experienced an average fatality rate that greatly exceeds that of the construction industry, for example. Falls are the leading cause of death in tower work and OSHA has evidence that fall protection is used either improperly or inconsistently.

Employees are often hoisted to working levels on small base-mounted drum hoists that have been mounted to a truck chassis, and these may not be rated to hoist personnel. According to OSHA, communication tower construction and maintenance activities are not adequately covered by current OSHA fall protection and personnel hoisting standards, and OSHA plans to use information it will collect from a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel to identify effective work practices and advances in engineering technology that would best address industry safety and health concerns. While this panel will be focused on communication towers, OSHA plans to consider inclusion of structures that have telecommunications equipment on or attached to them (e.g., buildings, rooftops, water towers, billboards, etc.). An estimated date for a proposed rule has not been identified.

Tree Care Standard

Because there is no OSHA standard for tree care operations; the agency currently applies a patchwork of standards to address the serious hazards in this industry. The tree care industry previously petitioned the agency for rulemaking and OSHA issued an ANPRM (September 2008). Tree care continues to be a high-hazard industry and OSHA intends to initiate a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel in April, 2019.

Infectious Diseases

Employees in health care and other high-risk environments face long-standing infectious disease hazards such as tuberculosis, varicella disease (chickenpox, shingles), and measles (rubeola), as well as new and emerging infectious disease threats, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and pandemic influenza.

Health care workers and workers in related occupations, or who are exposed in other high-risk environments, are at increased risk of contracting tuberculosis, SARS, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and other infectious diseases that can be transmitted through a variety of exposure routes. OSHA is examining regulatory alternatives for control measures to protect employees from infectious disease exposures to pathogens that can cause significant disease. Workplaces where such control measures might be necessary include: Health care, emergency response, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, drug treatment programs, and other occupational settings where employees can be at increased risk of exposure to potentially infectious people. A standard could also apply to laboratories, which handle materials that may be a source of pathogens, and to pathologists, coroners' offices, medical examiners, and mortuaries. An estimated date for a proposed rule has not been identified.

Process Safety Management (PSM) and Prevention

In accordance with the Executive Order 13650, Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security, OSHA issued a Request for Information (RFI) on December 9, 2013 (78 FR 73756). The RFI identified issues related to modernization of the Process Safety Management standard and related standards necessary to meet the goal of preventing major chemical accidents. Although potential changes in the PSM standard has been on OSHA’s agenda for several years, significant movement on any changes has not occurred and an estimated date for a proposed rule has not been identified.

Contractor Cited for Fall and Other Safety Hazards

OSHA has cited Appleton, WI roofing contractor Hector Hernandez again after OSHA inspectors observed employees exposed to falls and other safety hazards at two Wisconsin job sites. OSHA proposed penalties of $120,320.

Hernandez, who operates Town City Construction, was cited for one repeated and two willful violations for failing to provide fall protection, train workers on fall hazards, properly install an extension ladder for safe egress, and provide required ladder jack scaffold components.

Hernandez has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Healthcare Challenges After Radiological Incidents

Many resources are available for healthcare, public health, and emergency management professionals planning for a potential large-scale radiological release or nuclear detonation incident, but planning is difficult, and few jurisdictions have detailed plans. The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) will host a webinar with panelists to discuss the impact and potential solutions of different event types and provide guidance and lessons learned related to casualties of radiological and nuclear emergencies. The webinar will take place July 11, 2018 from 2:00-3:15 p.m. ET.

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The post What BBQ Smoke Exposure Tells You About Occupational Chemical Exposures appeared first on Environmental Resource Center.

Certain Provisions of the Beryllium Standard in Effect

OSHA confirmed in a memorandum that certain requirements of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general industry, construction, and shipyards went into effect on May 11, 2018. Those requirements included the permissible exposure limits in the general industry, construction, and shipyard standards; and the exposure assessment, respiratory protection, medical surveillance, and medical removal provisions in the general industry standard.

Aside from these requirements, other ancillary provisions included in the beryllium standard for general industry will not be enforced until June 25, 2018. However, under the terms of settlement agreements with petitioners who challenged the rule, the Agency plans to issue a proposal to further extend this compliance date for the ancillary provisions to December 12, 2018.

OSHA previously proposed to remove the ancillary requirements from the beryllium standards for the construction and maritime industries. In accordance with that proposal, OSHA will enforce the permissible exposure limits, but will not enforce any other provisions for beryllium exposure in those standards unless it provides notice.

Certain compliance dates outlined in the rule remain unchanged. Enforcement of the general industry requirements for change rooms and showers will begin March 11, 2019; and requirements for engineering controls will begin March 10, 2020.

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$222,152 in Penalties Proposed for Repeat Offender

OSHA has again cited Hua Da Construction in Philadelphia for exposing employees to dangerous workplace safety hazards. OSHA proposed penalties of $222,152.

In October 2017, OSHA responded to a complaint of imminent danger at a company work site. OSHA cited the employer for exposing workers to electrical shock, trip, fall, struck-by, and impalement hazards; obstructed egress routes; unsafe use of ladders and compressed gas cylinders; and lack of fall protection. The Agency cited the company for similar violations in 2016.

“Employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace,” said Theresa Downs, OSHA Philadelphia Area Office Director. “This employer continued to disregard OSHA standards, and put workers at risk for injury from multiple safety hazards.”

Two Colorado Companies Cited for Workplace Safety Failures After Fatal Fire

DCP Midstream LP and Complete Energy Services, Inc. were cited by OSHA after two employees suffered fatal burns from a fire at a gas pipeline in Weld County.

Two employees of Complete Energy and one employee of DCP Midstream were clearing a blockage in a gas pipeline operated by DCP Midstream when the fire occurred. OSHA investigators determined that flammable vapors or gases from a vacuum truck leaked, igniting the pipeline. OSHA cited both companies for failing to control potential ignition sources in a work area; isolate hazardous energy sources using lockout procedures; and train employees on detecting flammable hydrocarbons in the workplace. The two companies face $79,004 in proposed penalties.

“The employer could have prevented this tragedy by taking appropriate precautions to prevent contact between flammable materials and potential ignition sources,” said OSHA Denver Area Office Director Herb Gibson.

36 Safety and Health Violations Discovered at Oldcastle Lawn and Garden Inc. 

OSHA cited Oldcastle Lawn & Garden, Inc., after a workplace safety inspection found 36 violations that put employees at risk. The Shady Dale, Georgia, manufacturer of mulch and other products faces proposed penalties of $251,108.

Inspectors cited the company for safety and health violations, including amputation, struck-by, caught-in, electrical, and fall hazards; fire hazards from accumulated combustible dust; and exposure to excessive noise levels, and hazardous energy during machine servicing and maintenance. The inspection was part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program on Amputations.

"Employers are required to assess their workplace for potential hazards," said William Fulcher, OSHA Atlanta-East Area Office Director. "Unfortunately, this employer failed to correct a wide-range of safety deficiencies and needlessly put their employees at risk of serious injury."

Safer Electronic Cigarettes

UL, a leading global safety science organization, recently announced the publication of the ANSI/CAN/UL 8139, Standard for Electrical Systems of Electronic Cigarettes, which is recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC). UL aims to help manufacturers address lithium battery hazards for electronic cigarettes and vaping devices, also known as ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems) through evaluation, testing, and certification.

According to the Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions in the United States (2009-2016) report by the U.S. Fire Administration, there has been an increase in e-cigarette fires and explosions resulting in personal injury and/or property damage. Poor quality and misused lithium batteries are the primary causes of e-cigarette fires and explosions.

“UL strives to help manufacturers develop and bring safer products to market and empowering consumer trust,” said Ghislain Devouge, vice president and general manager for UL’s Consumer Technology division, “UL 8139 is a collaborative effort with government agencies and standards bodies to further enhance consumer safety.”

UL 8139 covers the electrical system including batteries, chargers, as well as protection circuits and controls for battery safety, electric shock and fire hazards.

UL 8139 does not apply to the e-cigarette consumables, such as e-liquids, other aerosol substances, wicks, and other particulate matter, and also does not consider the physiological and psychological effects of any consumables used as part of the product. UL does not test e-cigarettes with removable batteries.

Tips to Prevent Tick- And Mosquito-Borne Illnesses 

As the weather warms up, ticks and mosquitoes are back. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding people about simple precautions they can take to avoid bites.

"Ticks can carry diseases like Lyme disease, spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis, while mosquitoes can carry West Nile virus," said Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D., J.D.  "These diseases can cause anywhere from mild to severe illness, and even death in some cases.  To protect yourself from both, use insect repellent that contains DEET and follow some simple precautions."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, disease cases from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the U.S. during the 13 years from 2004 through 2016.  Reported cases from mosquito and tick bites in Illinois have increased by more than half (58%) from 2005 to 2016.

Many tick-borne diseases have similar symptoms.  The most common symptoms can include fever, chills, aches and pains, and rash.  Within two weeks following a tick bite, if you experience a rash that looks like a bull's-eye or a rash anywhere on your body, or an unexplained illness accompanied by fever, contact your doctor. Early recognition and treatment of the infection decreases the risk of serious complications.  Tell your health care provider the geographic area in which you were bitten or traveled to help identify the disease based on ticks in that region.

A fairly new virus called Bourbon virus has been associated with tick bites and has been found in a limited number of cases in the Midwest and southern U.S. People diagnosed with Bourbon virus disease have symptoms including fever, fatigue, rash, headache, other body aches, nausea, and vomiting. They also had low blood counts for cells that fight infection and help prevent bleeding. Some people who were infected later died.

Ticks are commonly found on the tips of grasses and shrubs. Ticks crawl―they cannot fly or jump. The tick will wait in the grass or shrub for a person or animal to walk by and then quickly climb aboard.  Some ticks will attach quickly and others will wander, looking for places like the ear, or other areas where the skin is thinner.

Read more on Certain Provisions of the Beryllium Standard in Effect.

Stronger OSHA and Increased Penalties Proposed

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation targeting unsafe working conditions to enhance workplace protections for employees. The Protecting America’s Workers Act would increase penalties for high gravity violations in the workplace and provides rights for workers and their family members.

“We need to provide greater protections for workers and their families, so no one gets hurt. Everyone should be able to go to work knowing they will come home at the end of the day in the same condition and without experiencing any threat to their health and safety,” said Senator Baldwin. “It is unacceptable that workers face unsafe working conditions or risk losing their job if they file a complaint. This legislation will improve the rights of employees, foster the safety of their workplaces and hold accountable the bad actors who break the law and do harm to American workers.”

As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in December 2017, OSHA reported two violations at Mid-America Steel Drum, an oil refurbishing plant owned by Greif, Inc. in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The same company’s Milwaukee facility was cited with 15 serious violations in April 2017 for exposing workers to hazardous materials.

Under current law, an employer may be charged with a misdemeanor —at most—when a willful violation of OSHA leads to a worker’s death. The Protecting America’s Workers Act would authorize felony penalties against employers who knowingly commit OSHA violations that result in death or serious bodily injury and extend such penalties to corporate officers and directors.

According to the senate proponents of the bill, too many workers are being injured and even killed on the job. In 2016 alone, 5,190 workers were killed on the job, with Wisconsin witnessing 105 of those fatal work injuries and about 3.7 million worker injuries and illnesses being reported throughout the nation. The Protecting America’s Workers Act would improve reporting, inspection and enforcement of hazardous work conditions. This legislation also updates current OSHA civil penalties – which have remained too low to deter bad actors and sets a minimum penalty of $50,000 for a worker’s death caused by willful violation.

In addition, the legislation would enhance protections for whistleblowers like Will Kramer, who witnessed safety and environmental violations while an employee at Greif. Under the Protecting America’s Workers Act, workers like Kramer would have more rights in filing claims through expanding protections to public employees including contract workers and first responders. The legislation creates stronger penalties to deter repeated violations by providing authority for increased civil monetary penalties for willful and serious violations resulting in death or serious bodily injury. It also requires employers to correct serious, willful and repeat violations while they are contesting citations for OSHA violations. This aims to protect workers from potential hazards as soon as they are reported, rather than having to wait for OSHA and the cited workplace to settle a case and leave workers exposed to dangerous work environments for a longer period of time.

For over a year, Senator Baldwin has been working to hold Mid-America Steel Drum accountable, protect worker safety and keep neighborhoods safe. In February 2017, Senator Baldwin requested that Attorney General Jeff Sessions provide an update on the status of the Department’s investigation of whistleblower reports and urged swift movement on appropriate actions. She also called for investigations by OSHA, the EPA, DOT, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

As a result of Senator Baldwin’s efforts, investigations have been opened by OSHA, EPA and DOT at each of the three Mid-America Steel Drum facilities in Wisconsin (St. Francis, Oak Creek and Milwaukee). In addition, the DOT has expanded its investigation to Greif facilities across the country and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating as well.

The Protecting America’s Workers Act is cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Patty Murray (D-WA). More information on the Protecting America’s Workers Act is available here.

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OSHA is Focusing on Trench Safety

OSHA has announced that one of its priority goals for 2018 is to reduce trenching and excavation accidents. In 2011, OSHA said that two workers a month were killed in trench collapses, and the picture has not improved. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, excavation- and trench-related fatalities in 2016 were nearly double the average of the previous 5 years. OSHA’s general goal is to increase awareness of trenching hazards in construction, educate employers and workers on safe cave-in prevention solutions, and decrease the number of trench collapses.

In attempting to explain the upswing in fatalities, one construction professional points to “ignorance to safety rules, lack of supervision, pressures of time and money, and sometimes, outright laziness.” To that list, some employee safety groups add insufficient inspection and enforcement by federal and state safety agencies.

OSHA defines an “excavation” as any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in the earth's surface formed by earth removal. A “trench” is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide and no wider than 15 feet. Working in either trenches or excavations carries risks, but because the space provided is more confined and trench walls are generally steeper, the hazards are higher in trenches. Cave-ins or collapses are the single greatest hazard; 1 cubic yard of soil may not sound like a lot, but it can weigh as much as 3,000 lb. Other risks include falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and encounters with mobile equipment.

“An unprotected trench is an early grave,” says OSHA. “Do not enter an unprotected trench.”


Read more on Stronger OSHA and Increased Penalties Proposed.