An Occupational Hygiene Sampling Protocol for Motor Mechanic Workshop - Term Paper Example

Running head: An occupational hygiene sampling protocol for motor mechanic workshop Business Name Institute Date Abstract Workers in motor mechanic workshop are highly exposed to various hazards and consequently impacts on their health. Despite the rising number of motor mechanic workshop, very little is known about these hazards and health effects. This paper was aimed at formulating an occupational hygiene sampling protocol for motor mechanic workshop after a through assessment of possible activities and associated hazards. A comprehensive literature review was done and thereafter sampling methods were suggested. This paper observed that due to the nature of the work, employees are generally exposed to both physical and chemical hazards which included noise, benzene, Toluene, asbestos fibers, carbon monoxide among other petroleum based products. Manual handling was also noted to be a major hazard. Some of the associated health effects from physical hazards included hearing impairment, back pains from excessive manual handling, musculoskeletal injuries but on the other hand, examples of chemical induced health effects included vascular diseases, cancer, death among others. This paper suggests adoption of air sampling for benzene and asbestos however, biological test is more ideal for testing benzene. The paper concludes by suggesting the need for prevention of some accidents and health impacts which could be avoided by precautionary measures. An occupational hygiene sampling protocol for motor mechanic workshop Introduction A garage is one of the dangerous places to be since chances of slipping and falling, stepping on something sharp, or being hit on the head by a falling box is much higher than compared to other places. The most common types of accidents in a motor vehicle workshop or garage range from manual handling like lifting of heavy parts and others associated injuries’ from prolonged working in uncomfortable postures. In addition, staff may be exposed to chemicals, noise among others. All these pose great risk to the general health of workers. A typical motor or automobile workshop is associated with activities such as brakes repair, removing gear boxes transmission, rear axle, truck wheel, checking of oil status, applying grease in various moving parts, tightening of bolts, removing and working on engines , changing or replacing car parts, changing of tyres among others. Figure 1 below gives a summary illustration of typical activities in a motor workshop. Figure 1: flow chart illustration of possible stages of mechanical or motor troubleshooting. Adopted and modified Troubleshooting Car Problems with Diagnostic Flowcharts by Morris Rosenthal. As indicated earlier, the most common Hazards in motor related activities include but not limited to noise, benzene, Toluene, asbestos fibers, carbon monoxide among other petroleum based products, heat as well as manual handling. The most common noise pollution is engraining noise perceived through hearing. In addition, noise may be as a result of tyres or wheel explosion due to defective tubes and ripper failures. Sometimes noise can be a consequence of valve blockages which may occur when one is deflating resulting in high velocity fragments of tyre/wheel. Other sources of noise include falling objects, engine noise, and noise from nearby traffic among others. Noise is particularly harmful in an eight hours exposure standard 84 db (A). On the other hand, the most common source of asbestos is dust which may result or occur while working on brakes, clutches and unlike, noise, the exposure standards TWA (mg/m3) 2.5 – TWA (ppm) 0.1 f/mL (P). Benzene can be found in car exhaust and petrol and is characterized by exposure standards TWA (mg/m3) 3.2-5 ppm. According to the Australian Public Health sheet (2008), large quantities of benzene exposure, about 5 to 10 minutes cause death while the inhalation minimal risk level is 0.05ppm. Nevertheless, small quantities may cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion and unconsciousness. Other hazardous gases associated with exhaust and diesel engines of vehicles include but not limited to Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. Romeu, et al, (1990) assert that diesel fuel contains volatile aromatic concentrations approximately two orders of magnitude lower than gasoline (benzene < 125, toluene 359, ethylbenzene 312, m-xylene 669 and o- and p-xylenes 638). The individual hydrocarbons present in petroleum products are as follows: gasoline, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil and lubricating oils. The minimal exposure standard for gas is TWA (mg/m3) 900. Lastly, another typical activity in a garage is manual handling which entails all or any engagement in work which requires, the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry or otherwise move, hold or restrain any object. In motor workshop, this can occur when one is changing or removing the car engine. It may be associated with extended work in awkward positions. Last but not least, heat is yet another hazard and in most cases, may be produced from car or vehicle engines. Literature review Industrial / Occupational hygiene NEVADA mining Association (2008) defines industrial or occupation Hygiene as “that science and art geared towards the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace and home place which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or among the citizens of the community” . Ideally, occupational hygiene hazards can be understood as health associated risks employees are often exposed to at their work place. These risks vary depending on they type, duration of exposure and route through which they can enter the body of the victim. The effects can be categorized into two; physical hazards and chemical as discussed below: Physical hazards Noise, heat, vibration and manual handling are some of the major occupational hazards which can be associated with motor mechanic workshop. Noise defined as any unnecessary sound that may negatively affect the health or well-being of individuals or populations at large can be experienced during engine testing. A noise health effect is determined by total energy of the sound, frequency distribution, duration of exposure and impulsive noise. For instance, exposure to excessive noise (> 90 dBA), is considered health risk. Hearing acuity is generally affected first with a loss or dip at 4000 Hz followed by losses in the frequency range from 2000 to 6000 Hz. Other effects include acute effects like communication problems, decreased concentration, and a reduced efficiency in job performance. Exposure to high levels of noise (usually above 85 dBA) or impulsive noise (about 140 dBC) over a significant period of time may cause both temporary and chronic hearing loss. Permanent hearing loss is the most common occupational disease in compensation claims. It has also been linked to hypertension and heart diseases for instance in 1999, the World Health organization confirmed from available evidence suggesting association between long-term exposure above 67-70dB (A) and hypertension (Vermeer, W & Passchier W.F, 2000). Apart from these, Kryter and Karl D (1994) have added tinnitus and vasoconstriction to the list. Elsewhere, two different studies revealed that noise level of 50dB (A) at night amplified the risk of myocardial infarction by chronically elevating cortical production (Maschke C, 2003; Franssen et al., 2004). Elsewhere, Edmund and his colleques asserted that elevated noise caused stress, aggression and other anti-social behaviors (Edmund et al, 2007). A work place may also expose the worker as a result of direct heat or sometimes heavy physical work. Ordinary, the human body is required to maintain some critical or core temperatures failure to which one may be at risks of various health effects (Coles, Di Croletto et al. 2002) Changes in temperature as a result of exposure to excessive heat or cold can occur when one is working in an open garage or as a result of the use of improvised heating or during roadwork which sometimes may cause fire and Carbon monoxide poisoning. Some of associated health problems include heat rash, heat crams, heat oedema, fainting, and heat exhaustion and so on. According to Coles and his collogues, susceptibility to these health vary with age, general health, weight, physical fitness, state of acclimatization, state of hydration, drugs among others. Closely linked to heat and noise is vibration which is also a significant health hazard in a garage. Just like noise, health effects of vibration depend on frequency, amplitude and exposure duration. Its effects can also be determined by whether it is continuous or intermittent. Exposure to hand-arm vibration from power-driven hand tools can result in vibration-induced white fingers. In addition, it is believed to interfere with the peripheral nervous system and the muscular-skeletal system with reduced grip strength, low back pain and degenerative back disorders. The last physical hazard in manual handling induced health effects. Manual handling comprise of any transporting or supporting of a load by one or more worker(s) including lifting, holding, putting down, pushing, carrying or moving load. All these can result in fatigues, back pain, neck as well as cuts, bruises, fractures due to sudden accidents. Agency report (2000) has linked manual handling with acute musculoskeletal injuries (intervertebral disk rupture, hernia etc.) due to overexertion while lifting or otherwise handling heavy vehicle parts, and many more as a result of awkward work postures for instance when one is working underneath vehicle. Other effects include Cumulative trauma disorders, like carpal tunnel syndrome, caused by long-time repetitive work. Chemical hazards This is the second category of hazard common in a motor garage. Workers are generally exposed to a wide variety of industrial chemicals contained in brake fluids, car engines among others which according to Donoghue, (2004) may result in a range of chronic poisoning. These chemicals may have their way in the victim’s body principally through inhalation, skin absorption or ingestion. The toxic effect might be acute, chronic or both. Benzene is one of these chemicals which can affect the worker. It is a petrochemical, as it is a refined product of oil. In the context of this paper, one of the sources of benzene is car exhaust. It gets into the body majorly through inhaling. In fact, according to Duarte-Davidson R, et al. (2001), approximately 95% of exposure to benzene is through inhalation. Health effects associated with benzene also depends on duration of exposure, concentration of the chemical in the air, health status of the victims as well as his or her age. Long exposure to benzene can lead to death however; limited exposure to human body can be manifested by drowsiness, dizziness, increased heart rate, headache, confusion. Studies have also indicated that people who have exhaled this chemical for quite some times (months and years) may experience tissues problems or born marrow. In addition, this may result in disruptions of normal blood production leading to anemia, excessive bleeding and the like. Davies (2002) argues that benzene has hematological effect and is EPA group A (Human carcinogen). Toluene is yet another health hazard, found in gasoline and other Petroleum products commonly used in motor mechanic workshop. Inhalation of toluene vapour can affect the central nervous system. Other associated health effects include drowsiness, headache Irritation of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. In addition, higher concentrations may bring about fatigue and dizziness. (Lori Zaikowski ,2008; Lynge et al, .1997; Jij et al, .2005). There are various ways in which employees can be exposed to the aforementioned hazards in petroleum products. Ott, R.,(2005) has described these occasions to include: accidental ingestion of petroleum products, touching of petroleum products, using fuel oils to wash paints of grease from skin or equipment, cleaning up of fuel spills without protective clothes or use of cloves. Common air pollutants may also have an affect serious health problems particularly on blood and others organs of human body. For example, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin two hundred times more avidly than oxygen and distorts the release to the tissues of any remaining oxygen. Thus, one can suffocate as a result of carbon monoxide. This gas can also exacerbate cardiovascular disease in humans. Some airborne chemicals stimulate the immune system to activate leukocytes and macrophages that can produce tissue damage, especially to the cells that line human blood vessels. The combined effect of these events is to accelerate the changes that eventually lead to hypertension and ischemic heart diseases. Aerosols are also common hazards in a garage. Aerosol inhalation can be toxic and when exposed to heat or fire, their particles can become explosive. They should therefore be kept in cool areas in a garage and next to windows and disposal of expired aerosols to prevent accidental leakage may be necessary. Sampling methods Air sampling Air sampling could be used to determine employee exposure to benzene in the workshop. In particular, one could adopt passive sampling method in carrying out both personal and area air sampling, by use of a air sampling pump containing a charcoal vapour trap, portable reading instrument mounted on the breathing zone of each employee (within a 30 cm radius of the head) or at the suspected source of benzene, and here sample should be taken as near as possible to the source respectively. The instrument used should be able to meet the standard accuracy of 95 percent confidence level of not less than plus or minus 25 percent for concentrations of benzene greater than or equal to 0.5 ppm. Size of sample A sample size of 10 liters can be considered as recommended by OSHA method 12(2003) with a flow rate of approximately 0.2 liters per minute using a calibrated pump or measuring instrument with subsequent analysis in the laboratory using Gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. The flow rate should be known with an accuracy of at least (+ or -) 5 percent. The best approximate for this size of sample is eight hours TWA exposure from a single sample or two, four hours samples. Procedures Before sample collection and analysis, all equipment needs to be clean thoroughly to avoid any undue interference with the results. In addition, the pumps to be used should be well calibrated. Flow rates for the sampling system should be determined and documented prior to and after completion of the test. Again, the end of measuring tubes should be broken to provide an opening at least one-half the internal diameter of the tube (2 mm). The smaller section of the charcoal should also be used as the backup and this should be placed nearest the sampling pump in a vertical position during sampling to minimize channeling through the charcoal. Caution should be taken so that the air being sampled should not be passed through any hose or tubing before entering the charcoal tube. After getting an appropriate sample quantity, the charcoal tubes should be capped with the supplied plastic caps immediately after sampling. Lastly, sample collection is followed by analysis in line with the sample size as indicated by use of heat desorption into a gas chromatograph while maintaining occupational standard value for benzene to be 8h TWA or 16mgm-3 Biological method of determining benzene in workers using urine This can be achieved by testing the urine of employees where the presence of benzene would be manifested by the reaction of phenol and its conjugates (sulfate and glucuronide). Urine samples are treated with pechloric acid at 95c to hydrolyze the phenol conjugates to from either phenyl sulfate or phenyl gluconide as a result of benzene absorption. Further analysis can be achieved by the use of gas chromatography. This method is very useful especially for personal data. Sample size Spot urine specimen of sample of about 100ml is required in this method which should b e done at the end of the working period. This can be stored for further analysis. Again, this should be in line with the precision quantity of 95% critical value. Procedures For analysis, about 5ml of urine is required. This is pipette into a 10ml glass-stopped volumetric flask then perchloric acid is added into the flask and put in a water bath at 95c and removed after two hours after which an extraction of phenol is done by 1ml of disopropyl ether. Further analysis is carried out by the use of gas chromatography Sampling to determine asbestos Another way of determining hazard is during a specific work procedure. For asbestos, it is more appropriate to be carried out during exhaust work. Area Air sample can be collected particularly at the breathing zone height (5 ft) at four different locations approximately 4 ft from the vehicle again at a standard airflow rate of 2 LPM. Collection can be done by the use of filters, cellulose ester (MCE) filter membranes (25 mm, 0.45 m pore size,) and the use of calibrated sampling pumps. In addition, one needs to take or note the temperatures in side the motor mechanic workshop during the collection. Procedures are consistent with air sampling method for determining benzene. Conclusion As indicated, workers in a motor mechanic workshop are highly exposed to various hazards that can impact negatively on their general health. There is need to identify these hazards in good time so that appropriate measures can be taken to prevent further damage on the health status of not only the employees nut he general public. Various sampling methods are available in determining these hazards in any motor mechanic workshop. This can be either used individually or collectively depending on the nature of sample. References A.A. Romeu, C. King, D.J. Blevins, N.J. Soutor,(1990) Mobilization of volatile toxic components from petroleum product-contaminated soils by TCLP, ASTM Special Technical Publication no. 1062, 2 (1990) 228-243. Agency report, (2000) Work-related neck and upper limb musculoskeletal disorders Osha.Europa. Publications Coles, G., R. Di Corletto, et al. (2002). Documentation of the Heat Stress Standard Developed for Use in the Australian Environment. Davies B. (2002) William P Yant Award Lecture: Diesel particulate control strategies at some Australian underground coal mines. AIHA J 2002; 63:554–558. 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