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OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENEACUTE – CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTSPresented to SIA Perth Safety ConferenceJune 2014

ACUTE – CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

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Although this presentation is concentrating on the

Maritime, Oil & Gas Industries, however these

situations are also relevant to the Mining,

Construction, Engineering and Commercial

Industries.

SIA Safety Conference – 12 June 2014

Contents

Noise

Asbestos

Diesel Particulate

Welding Fumes

Inhalable/Respirable Dust

Heat Stress

Legionnaires Disease

Vibration

3SIA Safety Conference – 12 June 2014

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In 2010/2011-18,270 of serious claims for diseases

per year and an average of 109, 065 claims for

injuries & musculoskeletal disorders.

The total economic cost for the 2010–11 financial

year was estimated to be $67.5 billion, representing

6.2 per cent of GDP for that financial year


Acute and Chronic Health Effects

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Acute

Acute health effects are characterized by sudden

and severe exposure and rapid absorption of the

substance. Normally, a single large exposure is

involved. Acute health effects are often reversible.

Examples: carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning.


DateA presentation to <insert in footer>

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Often, people are confused about what constitutes an

acute disease. They believe that an acute disease is

always severe. In reality, an acute disease can be

mild, severe or even fatal. The term "acute" does not

indicate the severity of the disease. Instead, it

indicates how long the disease lasts and how quickly

it develops. Examples of acute diseases include

colds, influenza and strep throat.

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Chronic

Chronic health effects are characterized by prolonged or

repeated exposures over many days, months or years.

Symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Chronic

health effects are often irreversible. Examples: lead or

mercury poisoning and cancer.



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A chronic disease is persistent. It lasts for a long

period of time and might recur. Like an acute

disease, a chronic disease can be mild, severe or

fatal. Examples of chronic diseases include cancer,

heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes. Unlike

an acute disease, a chronic disease is likely to

develop over time instead of having a sudden

onset.

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Subacute Diseases

Diseases that fall between what normally are

considered acute diseases and chronic diseases are

sometimes referred to as subacute diseases. A

disease might be considered acute at first, then

subacute after a few days or a few weeks. If the

disease continues for several months, it might then be

called a chronic disease. There are no standard time

periods that are used to determine whether a disease

is acute, subacute or chronic, so their precise

definitions can vary, depending on who is making the

determination.


Sources

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Noise – Machinery, helicopters

Asbestos – Materials such as gaskets, insulation, building products

Diesel Particulate – Main engine/generator, machinery exhausts

Welding Fumes – Maintenance, engineering, pipe laying

Inhalable/Respirable Dust – Dusts, welding, rock crushing/dumping

Heat Stress – Weather, workplaces, radiated heat

Legionnaires Disease – Evaporative condensers, hot water systems,

potable water aerosols (showers)

Vibration - Machinery and processes which permit vibrations through

the vessel decks and bulkheads


Noise/Asbestos

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Agent Sources Health Effects

Noise Noise (sound) generated

by machinery, engines,

generators, vibration

Acute effects: Hypertension, high stress

levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep

disturbances, and other harmful effects.

Chronic effects: Noise-induced hearing

loss/Industrial deafness

2011/2012 - Workcover identified 894

WA workers identified with potential

NIHL claims.

Asbestos Asbestos materials

releasing respirable fibres

by means of deterioration,

cutting, grinding, abrasion

Currently, each year 500

men and 100 women

develop mesothelioma in

Australia, and this is

expected to rise to 900

new cases a year by

2020.(National Health and

Medical Research Council)

A cute effects: Progressive

Pneumoconiosis (dusty lung disease)

caused by inhaled asbestos fibres

Causes extensive scaring of the lung

tissue and decreased lung function

Chronic effects: Asbestosis, Pleural

Plaques, Lung Cancer, and

Mesothelioma.


Inhalable/Respirable Dusts

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Inhalable dust Rock crushing, rock

dumping, sand operations

Dust particles having a

50% cut-point of 100 µm.

These dust particles are

hazardous when deposited

anywhere in the respiratory

tract.

Acute effects: Irritation - Eyes, nose,

throat, skin and lungs; usually no

permanent damage unless repeated

Swelling of bronchioles - Causes

reduced airflow to lungs

Chronic effects: Pneumoconioses,

Bronchitis or Asthma

Respirable

Dust

Rock crushing, rock

dumping, sand operations

Dust particles having a

50% cut-point of 4 µm.

These dust particles are

hazardous when deposited

anywhere in the gas-

exchange regions.

Acute effects: Scaring of lung, reduced

capacity

Chronic effects: Pneumoconioses,

Silicosis, Lung Cancer or Tuberculosis

Usually high exposure or exposure over

many years


Diesel Particulate

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Diesel

Particulate

Diesel exhaust fumes from

engines, generators,

machinery

Respirable Particulate Dust

Scaring of lung, reduced capacity

Chronic effects: Pneumoconioses, Lung

Cancer or Tuberculosis

Elemental Carbon

Non malignant respiratory effects –

exacerbation of diseases like asthma,

Irritant (eyes, nasal & bronchial)

Chronic effects: Cancer

The recent 2012 IARC classification of

Elemental Carbon DPM as a Group 1

carcinogen.


Welding Fumes

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Chromium

Oxides

Stainless Steel (SS), SS MIG

wire, SS stick electrodes,

metal plating’s, chromate

treatment and coatings

Acute effects: eye nose and throat (ENT)

and skin irritation (“Chrome Itch”), Chrome

skin ulcers, respiratory tract irritation

Chronic effects: bronchial cancer (from

hexavalent Chromium or CrIV) and kidney

and liver damage

Copper Oxides Welding rod and wire

coating, air arc gouging

electrodes, nonferrous alloys

Acute Effects: Metal Fume Fever, ENT

irritation

Iron Oxides All steel welding, cutting and

grinding processes

Acute effects: respiratory system irritation

Chronic effects: Siderosis, a usually benign

pneumoconiosis resulting from pulmonary

deposition of Iron Oxide fume

Magnesium

Oxide

Magnesium and alloys

containing Magnesium

Acute effects: Metal Fume Fever, ENT

irritation

Manganese

Oxides

Most welding processes, an

alloying agent in most high-

tensile steels

Acute effects: pulmonary irritation and Acute

Pneumonitis

Chronic effects: nervous system disorders;

implicated in development of Parkinson’s

Disease


Welding Fumes

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Nickel Oxides Stainless steel, nickel-clad

steel, plating

Acute effects: Dermatitis (“Nickel Itch”), ENT

and respiratory irritation, occupational

asthma;

Chronic effects: Cancer (nose, larynx and

lung), kidney dysfunction

Welding Fume

(NOC)

Average or “Not Otherwise

Classified” Fumes from Mild

Steel Welding

Acute effects: ENT and respiratory irritation

Chronic effects: Siderosis, asthma

Zinc Oxide Galvanized, plated and Zn

painted metals

Acute effects: Metal Fume Fever, Ear, nose

& throat irritation

Fluoride Fumes Stick electrode coatings, flux

core wire, flux material used

in Submerged Arc Welding

Acute effects: nose and throat irritation,

gastro-intestinal effects

Chronic effects: Bone and joint problems,

fluid in the lungs, kidney dysfunction


Welding Fumes

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Carbon

Di-oxide

Carbon Dioxide is primarily

released in exhaled breath

and in the combustion of

carbon-based fuels.

At levels of ~5000ppm CO2 becomes toxic and can cause fatigue, headaches and laboured breathing.

Carbon

Monoxide

Produced from shielding gas

mixtures Carbon Dioxide

(CO2) in MIG and TIG

welding, and as

decomposition products of

some welding rod coatings

Headache, dizziness, decreased vigilance,

decreased hand-eye coordination,

weakness, confusion, disorientation,

lethargy, chest pain (in cardiac patients),

nausea, and visual disturbances.

Greater or prolonged exposure can cause

chronic effects: cardiovascular system,

unconsciousness and death

Nitrogen Oxides Formed from Nitrogen (N2)

and Oxygen (O2) by the

welding arc UV light and heat

Acute effects: Pneumonitis (lung

inflammation), Pulmonary Oedema (fluid in

the lungs from high exposures

Chronic effects: bronchitis, occupational

asthma, emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis

Ozone Formed from Oxygen (O2) in

air by the welding arc UV light

Acute effects: Pulmonary oedema (fluid in

the lungs) from high exposures

Chronic effects: reduced lung function,

occupational asthma and emphysema


Welding Fumes

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Legionnaires

Disease

Legionnaires' disease is

transmitted by inhalation of

aerosolised water and/or soil

contaminated with the

bacteria.

Potential sources of

contaminated water include

cooling towers, large central

air conditioning systems,

evaporative coolers,

nebulizers, humidifiers,

whirlpool spas, hot water

systems, showers, misting

equipment, and similar

disseminators that draw upon

a public water supply.

Acute effects: Include fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, loss of coordination (ataxia), and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting.

Chronic Effect: Fatal form of pneumonia

Although not all cases of Legionnaires' disease are severe, up to ten per cent of cases can be fatal.

.


Welding Fumes

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Heat Stress •hot climatic conditions;

•heavy work in moderately

hot conditions;

•hot work processes (such

as welding);

•radiant heat from the

surroundings;

•work where heavy protective

clothing must be worn; or

•any combination of these

factors.

Acute Effects: Include fainting, heat

exhaustion, heat cramps, rashes (also called

‘prickly heat’); and heat fatigue.

Signs of heat illness include feeling

sick, nauseous, dizzy or weak.

Clumsiness, collapse and convulsions can

also be the result of heat illness and workers

with these signs need to seek

immediate medical attention.

Chronic Effects: Heat stroke – a life threatening condition that requires immediate first aid and medical attention.


Welding Fumes

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Whole Body

Vibration

It is mainly associated with

machinery and processes

which permit vibrations through

the vessel decks and

bulkheads, and any supporting

structures. In the case of

maritime vessels, WBV can

impact on personnel within

their living spaces/quarters

where they may recumbent

(sleeping) for at least eight

hours per day.

Muscular fatigue and stiffness, which affects

vision, posture and co-ordination.


Whole Body Vibration (WBV)

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WBV can be transmitted to the entire body through a supporting

structure in the following situations including:

•Standing – feet on the deck floor, such as an operator at a control

console;

•Seated – buttocks and feet, such as in a control room; or

•Recumbent – pelvis, back and head, such as in vessel living

quarters.

Major effects of prolonged Whole Body Vibration occur over a low

frequency range from below 1 Hz up to 80 Hz.


Whole Body Vibration (WBV)

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< 0.5 Hz Nausea/motion sickness.

4 Hz – 5 Hz Gastro-intestinal complaints

6 Hz – 12 Hz Spinal column disorders and lower back complaints

12Hz - 20 Hz

Cardiovascular effects, including hyperventilation, increased

heart and respiratory rates


Recommendations

• Be proactive and not reactive

• Review workplaces to conduct hazard

identification

• Ensure control measures are relevant

• Ensure employees are protecting themselves

• Ensure Material Safety Data Sheets are

available, read, understood and reviewed


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Recommendations

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Noise – Survey – Incorporate control measures – Training/education

Asbestos – Survey – Risk Assessment – Removal if practicable

Diesel Particulate – Monitoring to obtain data – Risk Assessments - Control

Welding Fumes – Monitoring to obtain data - Risk Assessments - Control

Inhalable/Respirable Dust – Monitoring to obtain data - Risk Assessments –

Control measures

Heat Stress – Monitoring to obtain data - Incorporate control measures

Legionnaires Disease – Sampling and analysis - Incorporate control measures

Vibration - Monitoring to obtain data - Incorporate control measures


PPE

PPE – Although it is the last Hierarchy of Control measure to be

taken it is very important in relation to exposure to hazards.

Noise - Hearing Protection

Dust/Fibres/Fumes – Correct class of respiratory protection

Heat Stress - Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as

reflective aprons and face shields can reduce exposure to radiant heat.

Ice vests and liquid and air circulating systems can be worn under PPE

where appropriate. Outdoor workers should be provided with

protection against ultraviolet exposure, such as a

wide brim hat, loose fitting, long sleeved collared shirt and long pants,

sunglasses and sunscreen.

24SIA Safety Conference – 12 June 2014

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QUESTIONS?


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