elaws - OSHA Hazard Awareness Advisor

A variety of welding processes including "stick" welding, gas metal arc, fluxed core, gas tungsten, and others are included in this category. They involve heating base metal and joining it with filler metal using a consumable electrode or an electrode and filler wire. Related processes are brazing and soldering.

Agriculture includes establishments (e.g. farms, orchards, greenhouses) primarily engaged in crop production or the raising of livestock. It can also include the providers of agricultural services (e.g. soil preparation, crop services, or farm labor)

Arc welding

Alpha, Beta, Gamma or X-Rays

Alpha rays are found in electrostatic dischargers, gauges and warning devices. Beta rays are found in radiography, thickness, density and level gauges. Gamma rays are used in food irrigation or disinfestation. X-rays can be found in weld testing or parcel examination.

Blast Media

Blast media are the grit, shot, slag, shells or other materials used to abrade surfaces for cleaning or preparation for painting.

Brazing

This is a process for joining two metal objects. In brazing, only the filler metal is heated to the melting point. Brazing is generally performed with a gas torch and a consumable wire. Related terms include soldering and oxygen fueled welding or cutting.

Chemical Hazard Identification

All suspected conditions that may pose inhalation or skin absorption hazards or other conditions should be identified and evaluated before selection of PPE.

Ceiling Limit

Substances with limits preceded by "C" - Ceiling Values" on Table Z-1 or as listed in Z-2 must at no time exceed the exposure limit given for that substance.

If instantaneous monitoring is not feasible, then the ceiling must be assessed as a 15-minute time weighted average exposure which must not be exceeded at any time during the working day.

Confined Space

A confined space is any area not designed for regular human occupancy that is large enough for a worker to enter to perform duties and that has restricted means of entry or exit.

This is any space where an occupant must crawl, climb, twist, be constrained in a narrow opening, follow a lengthy path or otherwise exert unusual effort to enter or leave, or where the entrance may become sealed or secured against opening from inside.

Contact Dermatitis

Any redness, itching of skin, or other physical reaction to chemicals is described as contact dermatitis. Some protective measures such as latex gloves may also produce this reaction.

Cotton Fibers or Textiles

Cotton is used in the making of textiles, and can also be found in mattress and futon stuffing.

Construction

This Expert Advisor is intended for General Industry firms.

In order to use this Hazard Awareness Advisor you will have to select from one of these work environments:

"Construction work" means work for construction, alteration, and/or repair, including painting and decorating.

Corrosive Liquid

These materials possess the property of severely damaging living tissues and attacking metals and wood. These include such liquids as: hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and nitric acids, caustic soda or hydrogen peroxide.

D - Walking/working Surfaces

1910.22 General requirements for walking-working surfaces
1910.23 Guarding floor and wall openings and holes
1910.24 Fixed industrial stairs
1910.25 Portable wood ladders
1910.26 Portable metal ladders
1910.27 Fixed ladders
1910.28 Safety requirements for scaffolding
1910.29 Manually propelled mobile ladder stands and scaffolds (towers)
1910.30 Other working surfaces

Dockboards

A dockboard is a small ramp used to bridge the gap between a loading dock and a truck. It can be made of metal or wood. Some dockboards are built-in to the loading dock.

E - Means of Egress (Emergency Exit)

1910.36 General requirements
1910.37 Means of egress, general
1910.38 Employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans

Electrically Powered Equipment

Equipment that uses electric motors for operation or control of its function. Specific regulations apply to the installation, servicing, and maintenance of electrical systems.

Emergency Response Team

Designated responders (i.e., mutual aid groups, local fire departments, etc.) to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a hazardous substance.

Engineering Controls

Engineering controls include general and local exhaust ventilation (LEV), enclosures, control booths, exhaust hoods, noise baffles, and protective screens. These controls prevent worker exposure to fumes, mists, gases or radiation.

Exposure Level

The exposure level is determined by measuring the amount of airborne contaminants that pass through the breathing zone of the worker. Some measurements involve the use of a small pump, attached to the worker's waist, connected to a capture filter attached at the collar. After laboratory analysis the amount of contaminant, in a cubic meter of air, is compared to the OSHA standard or Permissible Exposure Level (PEL).

Exposure Level Determination

The exposure level for regulatory purposes is based on the measurement of exposure, without regard to the use of respirators averaged over an 8-hour period.

The Permissible Exposure Level or PEL is listed for specific chemicals in Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances of the OSHA regulations.

F - Powered Platforms, Manlifts and Vehicle Mounted Work-platforms

1910.66 Powered platforms for building maintenance
1910.67 Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms
1910.68 Manlifts

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate

This group includes firms operating primarily in the fields of finance, insurance, and real estate.

Fit Test

In order to ensure that the correct respirator is used by a worker, it must be fit tested. This involves exposing the worker to a harmless but unpleasant odor while wearing the intended respirator.

Fire Brigade

A fire brigade is the term used to describe an in-house fire department composed of employees of the firm. As a practical matter many volunteer and municipal departments who are not formally subject to OSHA regulations adapt them for their own use.

Fire Watch

A fire watch consists of one or more individuals who are on duty to observe a work area where welding or other "hot work" is being performed in order to spot smoldering fires, and to sound the alarm.

Flammable Liquids

Flammable liquid" means any liquid having a flashpoint below 100 deg. F. (37.8 deg. C.), except any mixture having components with flashpoints of 100 deg. F. (37.8 deg. C.) or higher, the total of which make up 99 percent or more of the total volume of the mixture. Flammable liquids are known as Class I liquids.

G - Occupational Health and Environmental Control

1910.94 Ventilation
1910.95 Occupational noise exposure
1910.96 Ionizing radiation
1910.97 Nonionizing radiation

Give me a contact for the OSHA Consultation Service

The button "Give Me A Contact for the OSHA Consultation Service" will provide information on the consultation service and then link you to the OSHA Consultation web site where you can review and download contact information for your state.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

Ground fault circuit interrupters are electronic devices that provide protection against the failure of electric grounding in building wiring. They are often built into switches or outlets.

H - Hazardous Materials

1910.101 Compressed gases (general requirements)
1910.102 Acetylene
1910.103 Hydrogen
1910.104 Oxygen
1910.105 Nitrous oxide
1910.106 Flammable and combustible liquids
1910.107 Spray finishing using flammable and combustible materials
1910.109 Explosives and blasting agents
1910.110 Storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gases
1910.111 Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia
1910.119 Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals
1910.120 Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
1910.122-.126 Dipping and Coating Operations

Hazardous Waste Cleanup

Hazardous waste problems can occur in all types of businesses, from giant chemical companies to corner candy stores. The waste could be created by an industrial accident or by a spilling of fuel oil. It is likely that a specialist firm would be called in to remedy the problem.

HYPERTEXT

This is a sample hypertext link. You can also get information from the list of keywords.

I - Personal Protective Equipment

1910.132 General requirements
1910.133 Eye and face protection
1910.134 Respiratory protection
1910.135 Head protection
1910.136 Foot protection
1910.137 Electrical protective equipment
1910.138 Hand protection

Industrial Hygienist

An industrial hygienist is a professional trained in the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of environmental factors arising in or from the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well-being of workers and members of the community.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association can assist you in locating a certified professional in your community. The phone number is (703) 849-8888.

Industry Group

This system is intended for General Industry use. While many of the issues are applicable to firms in construction, agriculture or maritime industries, some specific topics may vary.

Your firm is generally classified in one of these groups based on the predominant activity:

Manufacturing
Services
Transportation, communication, and utilities
Public Administration
Wholesale trade
Construction
Retail trade
Agriculture
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Maritime

You will be able to select a new industry group if the specific SIC choices on the subsequent screen do not seem to match your business.

J - General Environmental Controls

1910.141 Sanitation
1910.142 Temporary labor camps
1910.144 Safety color code for marking physical hazards
1910.145 Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags
1910.146 Permit-required confined spaces
1910.147 The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)

K - Medical and First Aid

1910.151 Medical Services and First Aid

L - Fire Protection

1910.156 Fire brigades
1910.157 Portable fire extinguishers
1910.158 Standpipe and hose systems
1910.159 Automatic sprinkler systems
1910.160 Fixed extinguishing systems, general
1910.161 Fixed extinguishing systems, dry chemical
1910.162 Fixed extinguishing systems, gaseous agent
1910.163 Fixed extinguishing systems, water spray and foam
1910.164 Fire detection systems
1910.165 Employee alarm systems

Laboratory

Laboratory means a facility where the "laboratory use of hazardous chemicals" occurs. It is a workplace where relatively small quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on a non-production basis.

LEV

LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION (LEV)

Removes air contaminants close to the point of origination of the fume, dust, or mist. This is one of many types of engineering controls.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

"Liquefied petroleum gas", "LPG" and "LP-Gas" - Any material which is composed predominantly of any of the following hydrocarbons, or mixtures of them; propane, propylene, butanes (normal butane or iso-butane), and butylenes.

M - Compressed Gas and Compressed Air Equipment

1910.169 Air Receivers

Machine Guards

Machine guards prevent workers from coming into contact with sharp or rotating parts, or from being crushed by stamping presses or forges.

Makeup Air

A ventilation system that supplies fresh or filtered air to the facility. This is one of many types of engineering controls.

Manlift

A small vertical conveyor belt with handholds and foot rests used for transporting workers to other levels of a facility. Often found in older valet parking garages.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry group includes establishments engaged in the mechanical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products. These establishments are usually described as plants, factories, or mills.

Maritime

This Expert Advisor is intended for General Industry firms.

In order to use this Hazard Awareness Advisor you will have to select from one of these work environments:

Mechanical Materials Handling Equipment

Maritime includes longshoring and Marine Terminal Operations.

Forklifts, conveyors, trolleys, and other equipment used to move raw materials, semi-finished and finished goods within an establishment.

Mechanical Power Transmission

Gears, sprockets, axles, springs, belts, transmissions and other machinery pieces can be dangerous objects for the unwary worker. All moving machinery must be guarded to protect workers.

Mechanical Ventilation

Ventilation provided by fans or blowers. It can be exhaust or supply. Other terms include Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) and makeup air.

Mechanically Powered Equipment

Equipment that is powered by hydraulics, springs, pneumatics and other systems.

Microwave Emitters

Microwave emitters are principally found in telecommunications equipment although some manufacturing processes rely on the heat-generating effects of microwaves.

OSHA is not specifically concerned with microwave ovens in the company lunchroom, although a poorly maintained machine potentially could leak radiation.

MSDS

MSDS is a Material Safety Data Sheet. Manufacturers and distributors of products that contain regulated chemicals must provide them to purchasers. The sheet will contain information on the hazardous chemicals and measures to protect the workers using the product.

N - Materials Handling and Storage

1910.176 Handling materials--general
1910.177 Servicing multi-piece and single piece rim wheels
1910.178 Powered industrial trucks
1910.179 Overhead and gantry cranes
1910.180 Crawler locomotive and truck cranes
1910.181 Derricks
1910.183 Helicopters
1910.184 Slings

O - Machinery and Machine Guarding

1910.212 General requirements for all machines
1910.213 Woodworking machinery requirements
1910.215 Abrasive wheel machinery
1910.216 Mills and calendars in the rubber and plastics industries
1910.217 Mechanical power presses
1910.218 Forging machines
1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus

OSHA Consultation Service

The OSHA Consultation Service helps employers find out about potential hazards and how to improve their occupational safety and health management. An OSHA consultation visit is always at the employer's request. The service offers workplace safety and health training and technical assistance. Consultation is a free service, largely funded by Federal OSHA and operated by state government agencies using well-trained safety and health staff. This service is completely separate from OSHA's inspection effort; no citations are issued or penalties proposed. Preference is given to firms in high-hazard industries. More details are available at http://www.osha.gov/oshprogs/consult.html.

Overcurrent Protection Devices

Overcurrent protection devices for conductors and equipment open the circuit if the current reaches a value that will cause an excessive or dangerous temperature in conductors or conductor insulation.

Oxygen Fueled Welding or Cutting

Oxygen, together with a fuel such as acetylene, is used to heat the metal. A filler rod can be used to join the two metal objects. Cutting can be performed by using a stream of oxygen to oxidize and then blow away the metal which creates the cut. Related terms include arc welding, and soldering.

P - Hand and Portable Powered Tools

1910.242 Hand and portable powered tools and equipment, general
1910.243 Guarding of portable powered tools
1910.244 Other portable tools and equipment

PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit)

The 8-hour Time Weighted Average exposure to a substance during any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week.

Permanent Place of Employment

A permanent place of employment describes most facilities where workers are employed. Those whose principal activity involves going to other sites to perform services such as plumbers and computer repair workers are considered to have a permanent place of employment at the location where they meet with managers, gather supplies, or return the company vehicles.

Physical Contact

Physical contact with chemicals in any form (liquid, solid, aerosol, vapor, etc.) can cause problems for worker health. If your workers have contact then you should review information on protective measures.

Physical Problems

Sprains, strains, over-exertion, headaches, eye strain, and pain in fingers, wrist or arms.

Please show me the OSHA regulated chemicals

The "Please show me the OSHA regulated chemicals" button will allow you to see the chemicals that OSHA regulates in its 'Z-Tables' and the requirements of the individually regulated "6b Chemicals"

Later, you will be able to append these files to your report. You also can find the text files in the C:OSHAHAZ directory.

Point of Operation

This is the area in a machine where such devices as rotating drills or cutters, press patterns or other machinery come into contact with the materials (wood, metal, stone) that are to be altered or shaped.

Powered industrial trucks

Contains requirements relating to training of operators, and the design, maintenance, and use of powered industrial trucks.

Powered Platforms

Powered platforms are often referred to as scissor lifts or lift platforms. They are frequently used in maintenance tasks such as window cleaning, light bulb changing and access to areas that can not be conveniently reached by ladders.

Power Generation, Transmission, or Distribution

Electrical power is generated at a power plant or co-generation facility, it is transmitted over high power lines frequently strung from towers to a distribution network that begins at a substation and ends at a user's home or business.

PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes hard hats, gloves, respirators, ear plugs, and other items intended for use by a specific individual in situations where engineering controls cannot provide sufficient protection.

Process Equipment

Process equipment refers to a series of machines, tanks, furnaces or other equipment which transform a raw material. The conversion of trees to paper, or iron ore to steel is done using 'process equipment' .

Public Administration (Government)

This Expert Advisor is intended for General Industry firms.

In order to use this Hazard Awareness Advisor you will have to select from one of these work environments: