In 1994, NIOSH studied several of these sanding systems at the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades (IBPAT) Apprenticeship Training Facility in Seattle, Washington. These systems use portable vacuums to capture and remove the dust before the worker is exposed to it. Several light-weight sanding systems are now sold to control drywall workers sanding exposures (see Figure 1). When respiratory protection is worn, it is often used incorrectly with little thought to training, proper selection, or fit. Wet sanding is used to protect equipment or furnishings rather than to reduce work exposures. Wet sanding is generally avoided because of concerns about drying time and finish texture. However, these guidelines are seldom followed in actual work practice. Four of the MSDSs told construction workers to use wet sanding whenever possible, and the fifth said to cut dust exposures by ventilation. NIOSH studied five manufacturers material safety data sheets (MSDSs) that warned workers to avoid generating dust and to use respiratory protection when dry sanding. The OSHA PEL for respirable dust (5 mg/m3), the very small particles that can go deep into the lungs, was also exceeded.Ärywall joint compound manufacturers recognize that workers might be exposed to too much dust during drywall sanding. ControlsĪ recent NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) found that drywall sanders were exposed to as much as 10 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 mg/m3 for total dust set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). When silica is present, workers may also face an increased risk of silicosis and lung cancer. Smokers or workers with sinus or respiratory conditions may risk even worse health problems. Over time, breathing the dust from drywall joint compounds may cause persistent throat and airway irritation, coughing, phlegm production, and breathing difficulties similar to asthma. Some of these have been associated with varying degrees of eye, nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation. Drywall joint compounds are made from many ingredients (i.e., talc, calcite, mica, gypsum, silica). Construction workers who sand drywall joint compound are often exposed to high concentrations of dusts and, in some cases, respirable silica.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |