Health Hazard Evaluations of Worker Health Hazard Evaluations of Worker Exposures During Cement Tile Roofing Exposures During Cement Tile Roofing

OperationsOperations

Ronald M. Hall, MS, CIHRonald M. Hall, MS, CIH

National Institute for Occupational Safety National Institute for Occupational Safety and Healthand Health

Division of Applied Research and Division of Applied Research and TechnologyTechnology

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this presentation have not been formally disseminated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy

BackgroundBackground

NIOSH received three union Health Hazard NIOSH received three union Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) requestsEvaluation (HHE) requests

The requests listed dust, silica, and The requests listed dust, silica, and noise as potential hazards during noise as potential hazards during cement tile roofing operationscement tile roofing operations

Cement Tile RoofCement Tile Roof

Cutting of Cement TilesCutting of Cement Tiles

Roofing OperationsRoofing Operations

Worker Cutting TileWorker Cutting Tile

Worker Cutting TileWorker Cutting Tile

Worker Cutting TileWorker Cutting Tile

Sampling StrategySampling Strategy Personal breathing zone (PBZ) samples for Personal breathing zone (PBZ) samples for

respirable and total dust, and respirable silica respirable and total dust, and respirable silica (quartz) were collected during residential roofing (quartz) were collected during residential roofing operationsoperations

– Saw operatorsSaw operators– General working roofersGeneral working roofers

Noise dosimeters were used to collect full-shift Noise dosimeters were used to collect full-shift noise exposure measurementsnoise exposure measurements

Sampled for two or three consecutive daysSampled for two or three consecutive days

Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria NIOSH REL is 0.05 mg/mNIOSH REL is 0.05 mg/m33

ACGIH TLV for Respirable Silica is 0.025 mg/mACGIH TLV for Respirable Silica is 0.025 mg/m33

OSHA General Industry StandardOSHA General Industry Standard PEL = 10 mg/m3PEL = 10 mg/m3 % Silica + 2% Silica + 2

OSHA Construction StandardOSHA Construction Standard PEL =PEL = 250 mppcf250 mppcf

% Silica + 5% Silica + 5

apply a conversion factor of 0.1 mg/mapply a conversion factor of 0.1 mg/m33 per mppcf per mppcf

NoiseNoise– OSHA 90 OSHA 90 dBA for 8 hours per day (5dB exchange rate)dBA for 8 hours per day (5dB exchange rate)– NIOSH and ACGIHNIOSH and ACGIH® 85 dBA for 8 hours per day (3dB exchange rate)® 85 dBA for 8 hours per day (3dB exchange rate)

PBZ Sampling for 1PBZ Sampling for 1stst HHE HHE

2 consecutive days of sampling was conducted

PBZ samples were collected– During roofing activities – At home sites where employees were cutting and laying roof tiles

throughout the day

16 full-shift PBZ air samples were collected for respirable dust and silica

19 full-shift PBZ air samples for total dust were collected over the 2 days

8 full-shift noise exposure measurements were collected on workers

PBZ Sampling for 2PBZ Sampling for 2ndnd HHE HHE

2 consecutive days of sampling was conducted

PBZ samples were collected– During roofing activities – At home sites where employees were cutting and laying roof tiles

throughout the day

10 PBZ air samples were collected for respirable dust and silica

8 PBZ air samples for total dust were collected over the 2 days

5 full-shift noise exposure measurements were collected on workers

PBZ Sampling for 3PBZ Sampling for 3rdrd HHE HHE

3 consecutive days of sampling was conducted

PBZ samples were collected– During roofing activities – At home sites where employees were cutting and laying roof tiles

throughout the day

8 PBZ air samples were collected for respirable dust and silica

9 PBZ air samples for total dust were collected

7 full-shift noise exposure measurements were collected on workers

Results - 1Results - 1stst HHE HHE

Respirable quartzRespirable quartz concentrations concentrations – Ranged from trace levels (between LOD and LOQ) Ranged from trace levels (between LOD and LOQ)

to 0.33 mg/mto 0.33 mg/m33

Respirable dust concentrations Respirable dust concentrations – Ranged from 0.23 mg/mRanged from 0.23 mg/m33 to 2.3 mg/m to 2.3 mg/m33

– Samples containedSamples contained 9.5% to 17.6% Quartz9.5% to 17.6% Quartz

Total dust concentrations Total dust concentrations – Ranged from 0.68 mg/mRanged from 0.68 mg/m33 to 13 mg/m to 13 mg/m33

Summary of Results - 1Summary of Results - 1stst HHE HHE

12 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated 12 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated concentrations exceeding the general industry concentrations exceeding the general industry OSHA PELOSHA PEL

14 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated 14 out of 16 TWA’s for respirable silica indicated concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteriaconcentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteria

5 of 8 TWA’s noise values exceeded the OSHA 5 of 8 TWA’s noise values exceeded the OSHA Action Level (AL), and 3 of 8 exceeded the OSHA Action Level (AL), and 3 of 8 exceeded the OSHA PELPEL

All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL

Results - 2Results - 2ndnd HHE HHE

Respirable quartzRespirable quartz concentrations concentrations – Ranged from 0.03 mg/mRanged from 0.03 mg/m3 3 to 1.1 mg/mto 1.1 mg/m33

Respirable dust concentrations Respirable dust concentrations – Ranged from 0.53 mg/mRanged from 0.53 mg/m33 to 7.1 mg/m to 7.1 mg/m33

– Samples contained 11.5% to 18.5% quartzSamples contained 11.5% to 18.5% quartz

Total dust concentrations Total dust concentrations – ranged from 1.3 mg/mranged from 1.3 mg/m33 to 22 mg/m to 22 mg/m33

Summary of Results – 2Summary of Results – 2ndnd HHE HHE

1 TWA exceeded the OSHA PEL for total dust1 TWA exceeded the OSHA PEL for total dust

4 out of 7 TWAs exceeded the general industry 4 out of 7 TWAs exceeded the general industry OSHA PEL and 3 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL and 3 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL for respirable silicaOSHA PEL for respirable silica

6 out of 7 TWAs for respirable silica also indicated 6 out of 7 TWAs for respirable silica also indicated concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteriaconcentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH criteria

3 out of 5 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA AL 3 out of 5 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA AL

All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL

Results - 3Results - 3rdrd HHE HHE

Respirable quartzRespirable quartz concentrations concentrations – Ranged from 0.06 to 0.27 mg/mRanged from 0.06 to 0.27 mg/m33

Respirable dust exposures Respirable dust exposures – Ranged from 0.32 mg/mRanged from 0.32 mg/m33 to 1.8 mg/m to 1.8 mg/m33

– Samples contained 12.9% to 21.7% quartzSamples contained 12.9% to 21.7% quartz

Total dust concentrationsTotal dust concentrations– Ranged from 1.8 mg/mRanged from 1.8 mg/m33 to 12 mg/m to 12 mg/m33

Summary of Results – 3Summary of Results – 3rdrd HHE HHE

7 of 8 TWAs for respirable dust exceeded the general 7 of 8 TWAs for respirable dust exceeded the general industry OSHA PEL and 2 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL and 2 exceeded the construction industry OSHA PEL for respirable silicaindustry OSHA PEL for respirable silica

7 of 8 TWAs for respirable silica indicated 7 of 8 TWAs for respirable silica indicated concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH concentrations exceeding NIOSH and ACGIH occupational criteriaoccupational criteria

2 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA PEL and all 2 TWA noise values exceeded the OSHA PEL and all 7 exceeded the OSHA action limit (AL)7 exceeded the OSHA action limit (AL)

All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL All TWA noise values exceeded the NIOSH REL

Overall Summary for the 3 HHE’sOverall Summary for the 3 HHE’s

General OSHA Standard for Respirable SilicaGeneral OSHA Standard for Respirable Silica– Data indicates 74% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard Data indicates 74% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard

Construction OSHA Standard for Respirable SilicaConstruction OSHA Standard for Respirable Silica– Data indicates 33% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard Data indicates 33% of the TWA’s exceeded this standard

NIOSH and ACGIHNIOSH and ACGIH®® Criteria Criteria– Data indicates 87% of the respirable silica TWA’s were exceeding Data indicates 87% of the respirable silica TWA’s were exceeding

this criteriathis criteria

NoiseNoise– 25% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA PEL25% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA PEL– 75% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA AL75% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the OSHA AL– 100% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the NIOSH REL 100% of the full-shift measurements exceeded the NIOSH REL

Conclusion & RecommendationsConclusion & Recommendations Workers were overexposed to respirable silica and noise Workers were overexposed to respirable silica and noise

Provide trainingProvide training– workplace hazardsworkplace hazards– respiratorsrespirators– hearing protectionhearing protection– dust control measuresdust control measures

Implement a respirator protection programImplement a respirator protection program

Develop and enforce a hearing conservation programDevelop and enforce a hearing conservation program

Implement a medical screening programImplement a medical screening program

Investigate the use of engineering controls to reduce or eliminate Investigate the use of engineering controls to reduce or eliminate dust exposuredust exposure

Ensure compliance with fall protection standardsEnsure compliance with fall protection standards

Respiratory Protection ProgramRespiratory Protection Program

Written program following OSHA 1910.134 respiratory Written program following OSHA 1910.134 respiratory protection standardprotection standard

Fit testing quantitatively or qualitatively at least annuallyFit testing quantitatively or qualitatively at least annually

Medical screens or exams at least annuallyMedical screens or exams at least annually

Training on workplace hazards and use of respirators Training on workplace hazards and use of respirators (donning, doffing, cleaning, storage, etc.) at least annually (donning, doffing, cleaning, storage, etc.) at least annually

Must be mandatory until engineering controls are in place and Must be mandatory until engineering controls are in place and proven effectiveproven effective

Engineering ControlsEngineering Controls

Controls need to address both silica and noise hazardsControls need to address both silica and noise hazards

Commercially available LEV systemsCommercially available LEV systems

Wet cuttingWet cutting

Cutting using water mist systemCutting using water mist system

Other optionsOther options

– Cutting on ground with stationary sawCutting on ground with stationary saw– Substitute use of crystalline silica tilesSubstitute use of crystalline silica tiles– Use of a manual tile cutter to replace the sawUse of a manual tile cutter to replace the saw