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Posted By pete griffin
To all readers of the Forun - Help
I have just taken up a post with a plastics company and have been told to sort out the health checks for the lads. I have been told that I have to find out about biological monitoring.
Does anyone have any suggestions please?
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Posted By David Bannister
Hi Pete, what has been previously done?
Failing that, HSE website has (from memory as I can't get it to load, again) sections on your industry and also info on biological monitoring.
Are you making the plastics or merely using them. If the former you may be better advised to speak to an Occupational Hygienist or Occ Health Pro who will be able to offer specific assistance in what you should be doing. For use, the health risks are likely to be less of an issue although heating some to decomposition will produce some nasties!
Sorry I can't be more specific but a 1 to 1 with a hygienist should yield better results.
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Posted By Chris Packham
Pete
I may be able to help. If you would like to call me (01386 832 311) we can talk it through and I should be able to point you in the right direction.
Chris
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Posted By pete griffin
Thanks lads
The employees work with isocyanates - any clues?
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Posted By David Bannister
Pete, if your people are exposed to isocyanates they stand a reasonable chance of respiratory sensitisation, after which they suffer serious asthma attacks on subsequent exposures. There have been (rare) fatalities.
Usual hierarchy applies: eliminate, substitute, reduce etc. All isocyanates are given short term WELs that are quite low (0.07mg.m-3). Compare that to hydrogen chloride (11mg.m-3) and sodium hydroxide (2) and you see how potent they are.
Biological monitoring Guidance Value for isocyanates is 1µmol urinary diamine/mol creatinine in urine Post task.
My advice to seek competent assistance still stands. Try BOHS or a Full Member of that organisation. Or speak to Chris.
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Posted By Chris Packham
If your workers are working with isocyanates then the HSE view will be that they should be subjected to biological monitoring. There are companies who will do this for you, but I have sent several of my clients to the Health and Safety Laboratory in Buxton who have provided an excellent service.
Chris
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Posted By Lawrence Waterman
Isocyanates if airborne (for example, spray painting twin-pack paint, certain heating/curing processes when manufacturing polyurethane foam) are very reactive molecules that on inhalation are quite potent sensitisers / asthmagens.
In addition to operating appropriate controls, including enclosed systems, ventilation, PPE etc., where airborne isocyanates are present/possible, it is appropriate to conduct routine health surveillance of the exposed workforce. This is because the early signs of sensitisation, before frank asthma has developed, may be detected through lung function testing, enabling action to be taken to prevent real harm arising.
If you are working with isocyanates, a partnership with occupational hygiene and occupational health practitioners is essential.
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Posted By Chris Packham
If you consult COSHH and specifically also MS24 (Medical aspects of occupational skin disease) I am sure you will come to the conclusion that you will also need to do skin health surveillance. Not only are isocyanates respiratory sensitiser but also skin sensitisers and there is also evidence that respiratory reactions can be triggered by skin exposure.
I addition, due to almost certainly the wearing of occlusive gloves and from the other chemicals you will be using in your type of operation there will be other sensitisers and certainly a number of irritant chemicals present, so regular skin condition checks will be needed.
Chris
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Posted By pete parker
I guess you would need an OH Company who can sort out the lung tests, skin tests and do the biological monitoring (wee test)for you. We use a company who does all of this and comes onsite as well. Do you want there contact details? They operate nationwide, don't know where you are based.
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Posted By Darren (Daz) Fraser
Contact your local NHS Occu Health Unit if you are UK based, they should be able to provide advice, or even services at a cost.
Advantage of using them is that if referral to hospital consultant is required, it is more direct as they all know each other.
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Posted By pete parker
Sorry Daz but don't agree. Someone I know tried NHS route. The OH nurses didn't come out to site, had to send employees to them. Employees gone for hours and the company wasted lots of down time. - some employees saw it as a bit of a skive and were away from work for hours. Take my advice get someone in - but make sure they know what they are doing first. Ask lots of questions before using the OH company. Get recommendations from others
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Posted By pete griffin
Thanks for the response.
not keen on lads being away from work for hours. Could you let me have the name of the company you would recommend ?
Would they have to have blood tests?
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Posted By David Black
Hello Pete
I run a small occupational health organisation called industrial health solutions - I provide specialist occupational health advice regarding health surveillance, sickness absence etc. I am a registered specialist occupational health advisor.
I will be happy to guide you through exactly what you need to do in relation to respiratory surveillance. I am also a memeber of IOSH as well as an osteopath so I wear a few hats.
My telephone numbers:
M: 07971660480
W:0191 3873186
Regards
Dave Black
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