The insurance agent was correct that the seafood was contaminated with the fumes that resulted from the fire. Toxic fumes quickly diffuse through the air. The toxic fumes were absorbed by the polyethylene curtain which covered the food despite it being thick (Brook et al. 2660). Therefore, the seafood needed to be thrown away since it had the toxic fumes.
What chemical(s) may be present causing the symptoms in the workers?
The two employees are affected by the phosphine gas which leaked into the room and made them experience the symptoms such as nausea and headache. The scenario shows that they were the only people who were affected by the toxic fumes. The possible explanation may be that they work at closer range to the crates of the prewrapped see food hence are at higher risk of exposure than the other workers (Lesson and Arthur 1045).
What monitoring device would you use to identify the presence or absence of suspect chemical?
I would use a Multiple Hole Impactor in which massive amounts of air is pumped into it at a higher speed. The Multiple Hole Impactor detects and identifies even the smallest chemical particles in the surrounding air. The device is instrumental in showing and informing on the level of toxic substances and materials in the environment. Therefore, the use of the Multiple Hole Impactor is vital in ensuring that the air is constantly monitored for any chemical and harmful substance anomalies (Leson and Arthur 1045).
What control method would you recommend to minimize the exposure?
I would recommend the use of General exhaust ventilation systems which help to eliminate the toxic gasses as and when they are available in the atmosphere. Additionally, administrative control method is required. Such will include training the workers on how to identify and secure themselves from possible contaminants. Also, supplying the workers with personal protective equipment such as gloves, googles, overalls and gas masks would act as an exposure control method.
The chemical in the case that could be causing the side effects to the workers may include one or all of the chemicals used in the manufacture of fingernails. For cases like dermatitis, the possible chemicals include acetone, toluene, ethyl ether and methacrylic acid. Itching, discomfort and burning of the eyes is caused by ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, methacrylate isobutyl among others depending on the manufacturers trade secrets (Giuliano 5).
What exposure pathways exist for this chemical in the salon setting?
The chemical is exposed to the people by contact, ingestion, through the skin, and inhalation. The chemical can spread more since the product is used a lot by being applied on the nails. This leads to further spread of the chemical to others by contact with the skin. Also, those who do the service of putting the artificial nails are at a risk of ingesting the chemical or inhaling it.
How would you initially determine if the chemical is present? What type(s) of monitoring devices or measurement tools will you use?
I would test for any materials in the compounds used in making the product. The move will allow me to know the contents in the artificial fingernails and identify the possible toxin affecting people. I would use a centrifugal extractor in which I will be able to determine the toxin which has unfavorable characteristics.
What type of controls would you recommend for minimizing potential exposure to the chemical? Be specific.
One of the control strategy is administrative control method. Such will include training the workers on how to identify and secure themselves from possible contaminants. Additionally, substitution of the manufacturing process with totally automatic equipment where the employees do not come into contact with the product before they are finished completely (Leson and Arthur 1045).
What type of air monitoring would you recommend, if any, for monitoring the exposure of the technicians after instituting the controls? What NIOSH or OSHA method is best for the action?
I would recommend further testing of the employees in the next 30 years to determine whether the chemical toxin may have some side effects in the future.
OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records which states that the employee's exposure records should be kept at least 30 years for accessing the patient.
Question
You are the industrial hygienist for accompany that provides artificial fingernails to salons. The nail technicians at one of your company's largest buyer are complaining of dermatitis, inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyes and nose and allergy type symptoms. You are sent to investigate the possible impacts of fingernail products on the technicians. Hopefully, the first question you would ask is "what chemical is contained in artificial nail products that may result in these systems? "Well, what is it?
What is the first question that you should ask?
The question that I should ask is when the victims started experiencing the problems so that I can know the cause of the problem being brought by the compressed air used by the machines.
Monitor the surgical instruments to determine if there is any chemical exposure is occurring in the room? Would you utilize a specific NIOSH or OSHA which one? Be specific?
I would utilize the NIOSH air sampler method since the approach ensures that the air compressors are monitored and the released air continuously checked by the sampler to ensure that is of standard parameters.
Now that you have answered the questions above, what instrument or device might be used to sample is used where the compressed gas in the surgical room will be passed through an absorbing liquid media which will capture any toxic material in the compressed gas. This will help to identify any chemical toxins in the gas used by the machines.
I would then enact a rule where the surgical staff should not be exposed any more to the hazard and should avoid the area until the mistakes are corrected. Also, the employer should also ensure that the operating room is safe both to the patients and also the staff.
Do you have any concerns for other workers, patients or visitors outside the operating room? Why? Why not?
Yes, there should be a concern for the workers and anyone surrounding the affected area. This ensures that the possible chemical material is known whether it has leaked to other parts of the hospital. This will help in determining the level of spread and the exposure to the people which will assist in controlling the situation.
If you have concerns how might the suspect material reach the outside of the operating room?
The suspect material might have passed through the air since if a chemical material is in the form of gaseous state, then there is a possibility of it diffusing to other parts of the hospital. Also, the chemical may be passed through contact with the exposed staff and other patients through the skin.
What type of controls would be best suited for eliminating potential exposure to the chemical material?
The first approach here is to ensure that there is a functioning sampler and if not, then substitution method is directly applicable where I will replace the equipment. Additionally, the equipment, cryosurgical instruments, should be placed at safe distance from the physicians as they work. Local exhaust ventilation should be practiced to remove the toxins from the room. The surgical room will be ventilated, and the toxins eliminated since it is the source of the leak (Brook et al. 2673).
Question
You are the industrial hygienist for St Matt Hospital, and there is a reported problem in the cryosurgical room. The medical staff has said that they are suffering from the following symptoms during surgery. Dizziness, light headaches, and fatigue. The symptoms cease after the surgical team leaves the operating room. You examine the operating room process and discover that cryosurgical instruments utilize compressed gas to maintain low temperatures in the tip of the cryosurgical probe. What is the first question that you should ask?
The exposure to temperatures is different between the three workers. Worker 1 is not intensely exposed to high temperatures. This is because he is usually situated on the walkway which has safety pipe railing which shields him from high temperatures. Worker 2 who does the work of pouring the chemicals into the boiler is at an increased risk of high temperatures because he is usually located at the hottest flame hence has a high exposure effect. Worker 3 is not at a high heat stress because he is usually wearing protective clothing which shields him from high temperatures (Kovats and Shakoor 47).
Works cited
Brook, Robert D., et al. "Air pollution and cardiovascular disease A statement for healthcare professionals from the expert panel on population and prevention science of the American Heart Association." Circulation 109.21 (2004): 2655-2671.
Giuliano, James T. "Artificial nails." U.S. Patent No. 4,596,260. 24 Jun. 1986.
Kovats, R. Sari, and Shakoor Hajat. "Heat stress and public health: a critical review." Annu. Rev. Public Health 29 (2008): 41-55.
Leson, Gero, and Arthur M. Winer. "Biofiltration: an innovative air pollution control technology for VOC emissions." Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 41.8 (1991): 1045-1054.
