Air Contaminants


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Air Contaminants

Subtopics:

Air Contaminants—General
Permissible Exposure Limits
Ventilation

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OSHSB takes action on diesel filters
February 2012
The California Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) has unanimously approved changes to several safety orders to help ensure that workers aren't run over by off-road diesel vehicles re . . . more »

AOEC releases video on dangers of silica dust
December 2011
The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) has developed a video designed to increase awareness of silica dust issues and controls. With funding from the National Institute of O . . . more »

Indoor Air Quality: Federal Agencies Publish Guidance on Improving Air Quality; Tips for Breathing Easier in the Workplace
September 2011
In some workplaces, workers expect to take precautions against hazardous chemicals. For example, in factories, agricultural operations, and automobile repair shops, employees accept precautions against chemical hazards as part of their jobs. But workers in office and commercial buildings may be surprised to discover that the air they're breathing can cause them problems. . . . more »

Agriculture: NIOSH Study Raises Concerns About Pesticide Drift; Risk Factors and Control Strategies for Preventing Worker Exposures
August 2011
With nine of the nation's 10 top-producing agricultural counties, and nearly half of the nation's homegrown fruits, nuts, and vegetables produced here, California is an agricultural powerhouse. . . . more »

Hazard Identification: Federal OSHA National Emphasis Program to Address Hazards of Primary Metals Manufacturing
August 2011
In a recent review of workplace injury and fatality statistics, one industry leaped out at federal OSHA: the primary metals industry, a group of manufacturing facilities in SIC group 33 that perform metal smelting and refining. Of the 20 industries reporting the highest numbers of nonfatal injuries and illnesses, five were in the primary metals group, and more than one-quarter of all cases of elevated blood lead levels occurred in this industry segment. . . . more »

Hazardous Chemicals: Titanium Dioxide Prevents Skin Cancer but May Cause Lung Cancer; Recommended Exposure Limit Can Protect Workers
August 2011
If your workers are exposed to the sun regularly, titanium dioxide (TiO2) might seem like fantastic stuff. Unlike some of the other active ingredients used in sunscreens, titanium dioxide won't cause skin irritation and blocks both UVA and UVB rays, protecting workers from the full spectrum of harmful light. It also has safe and beneficial uses in many other commercial products, including paint, cosmetics, plastics, paper, and food. . . . more »

Featured Resource: Protecting Workers from Formaldehyde Exposures
June 2011
Federal OSHA and Cal/OSHA have been working for more than a year on identifying and correcting a problem with hair smoothing products that contain formaldehyde--but that were incorrectly labeled as formaldehyde-free. Formaldehyde can irritate the eyes and nose; cause allergic reactions of the skin, eyes, and lungs; and has been linked to nose and lung cancer. . . . more »

Hazardous Chemicals: NIOSH Finds No Safe Exposure Levels Exist for Beryllium; Tips for Controlling Exposures
May 2011
Beryllium, a toxic metal, is used extensively in aerospace and mater-ials research as well as nuclear weapons development and testing. So it wasn't really a surprise when routine beryllium tests in July 2007 showed dangerously high levels in a machine shop at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory during a seismic retrofit. As many as 178 contract workers in this nuclear weapons research facility may have been exposed to the chemical, which is known to cause cancer in humans. . . . more »

Trainer's Handbook: Stripping Away the Hazards of Methylene Chloride
March 2011
Workers at David Peyser Sportswear in Bayshore, New York, were using a methylene chloride and perchloroethylene solution to strip paint from the floors in the screen-printing facility in March 2000 when they were overcome by fumes. . . . more »

Hazardous Chemicals: Diesel Fume Exposure Causes Lung Cancer; Are Your Workers at Risk?
February 2011
When it comes to lung cancer, most Americans have some idea of the sorts of exposures that can put them at risk, such as cigarettes, radon, and asbestos. But there's a newly identified risk factor in town, one that workers and their employers may not know about--diesel fumes. . . . more »

New diacetyl standard takes effect
January 2011
In the December issue of i . . . more »

Hazardous Chemicals: Isocyanates Pose Skin and Respiratory Hazards; Five Tips to Prevent Exposures and Protect Workers
November 2010
More than 300,000 California workers suffer from occupational asthma, and more than 350 chemicals known to trigger asthma are used in California workplaces. . . . more »

Trainer's Handbook: It's a Gas! Protect Workers from Fumigation Hazards
September 2010
Fumigation is a method of controlling pests by using airborne pesticides. The pests can include insects on crops, termites and bedbugs inside buildings, and pests in other enclosed spaces such as ships and railcars. . . . more »

Air Contaminants: Controlling Crystalline Silica Hazards in Mining; How to Reduce the Risk of Incurable Lung Disease
September 2010
The total amount of mineral aggregates--sand, gravel, and crushed stone--used in the state each year works out to as much as seven tons for every Californian, according to the California Construction and Industrial Minerals Association. . . . more »

Hazardous Chemicals: Cal/OSHA Updates Permissible Exposure Limits; Part II: Previously Unregulated Chemicals
September 2010
In December, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board completed the most recent update of Cal/OSHA's permissible exposure limits (PELs)--something it does approximately once every three years (the last revision took effect in 2006). In last month's issue of COCA, we covered the eight revised PELs that went into effect on Aug. 3, 2010. . . . more »

Hazardous Chemicals: Cal/OSHA Updates Permissible Exposure Limits; Part I: Revised Limits
August 2010
In December, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board completed the most recent update of Cal/OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs), something it does approximately once every three years (the last revision took effect in 2006). New or revised PELs for 13 chemicals go into effect on Aug. 3, 2010. . . . more »

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