Which duty applies to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Niosh )?

Abstract

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. On 29 December 1970, President Richard M. Nixon signed and created the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 CFR § 671), which led to the creation of NIOSH and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). NIOSH provides national and world leadership to prevent work-related illness, injury, disability, and death by gathering information, conducting scientific research, and translating the knowledge gained into products and services, including training videos and recommendations for improving safety and health in the workplace. The headquarters of NIOSH is in Washington, DC, with several sister research laboratories and offices located throughout the United States (Cincinnati, Ohio; Morgantown, West Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Denver, Colorado; Anchorage, Alaska; Spokane, Washington; and Atlanta, Georgia).

3.2 Provisions Requiring Duty Holders to Seek Expert Assistance in OHS

Occupational health services can play an important role in supporting employers and improving their understanding of OHS matters. The EC Framework Directive (1989) requires employers to enlist ‘competent services or persons’ to assist in the implementation of the OHS duties in the Directive and ‘to organize protective and preventive measures.’ For example, consistent with provisions in other continental European nations, the Swedish Work Environment Act requires employers to provide an occupational health service. Most large companies have their own occupational health services, while joint occupational health service centers provide services to small- and medium-sized organizations. This continental tradition is not followed elsewhere, although UK regulations and some Australian and Canadian statutes require the appointment of ‘competent persons’ or workplace health and safety officers to assist employers to implement their OHS obligations.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, www.cdc.gov/niosh

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related disease and injury. The Institute is part of the CDC. NIOSH is responsible for conducting research on the full scope of occupational disease and injury ranging from lung disease in miners to carpal tunnel syndrome in computer users. In addition to conducting research, NIOSH investigates potentially hazardous working conditions when requested by employers or employees; makes recommendations and disseminates information on preventing workplace disease, injury, and disability; and provides training to occupational safety and health professionals. Headquartered in Washington D.C., NIOSH has offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and research divisions in Cincinnati, Ohio; Morgantown, West Virginia; Bruceton, Pennsylvania; and Spokane, Washington.

Exposure Standards and Guidelines

NIOSH recommends a 10 h workplace standard of 375 mg m−3 (100 ppm) for toluene, and a short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 560 mg m−3 (150 ppm). The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists suggests an 8 h workplace environmental standard of 75.4 mg m−3 (20 ppm). Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends an 8 h Permissible Exposure Limit of 200 ppm (754 mg m−3), a ceiling of 300 ppm (1130 mg m−3), and a STEL of 565 mg m−3 (150 ppm). Chemical exposure kits are available for individual monitoring (e.g., wearing chemical detection badges) of toluene in the workplace.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This agency is responsible for conducting research and providing recommendations for the prevention of workplace injury and disease (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh). NIOSH uses a three-pronged approach to accomplish its mission:

Investigate potentially hazardous working conditions and environments at the request of employers or employees

Provide recommendations and distribute information designed to prevent or obviate workplace disease, injury, and disability

Provide training to occupational safety and health professionals

NIOSH complements the efforts of DHHS and CDC and participated with 500 organizations in the nation's first national research agenda to identify 21 research priorities. This initiative is known as NORA, or National Occupational Research Agenda.

NIOSH operates programs in all 50 states and has regional offices in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington State. Like OSHA, it was created in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. NIOSH, however, is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, whereas OSHA is embedded in the Federal Department of Labor, or DOL. NIOSH efforts have contributed to a reduction in workplace fatalities by 78% between 1970 and 1995, and to a 25% decline in occupational injury and illness between 1973 and 1994.

Exposure and Exposure Monitoring

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has statistically estimated that 38 473 workers (29 146 of these are female) are potentially exposed to nitroglycerin in the United States Occupational exposure to nitroglycerin may occur through dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where nitroglycerin is produced or used. The general population is not expected to be exposed to nitroglycerin except for persons who may need to use this compound to treat and prevent chest pain from angina pectoris or other heart-related conditions.

Fishes were exposed to the nitroglycerin in ethanol at nominal concentrations and all fish exposed to 6.25 mg l−1 died within 24 h and all fish exposed to 3.89 mg l−1 died within 72 h. Mortality rates at 96 h were 90 and 10% for the 2.47 and 1.46 mg l−1 concentrations, respectively. No mortality was noted at 0.91 mg l−1 or in the control groups.

Exposure Standards and Guidelines

NIOSH considers ethylene dichloride; hexachloroethane; 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane; and 1,1,2-trichloroethane to be potential occupational carcinogens. Additionally, NIOSH recommends that the other five chloroethane compounds 1,1-dichloroethane; ethyl chloride; methyl chloroform; pentachloroethane; and 1,1,1,2-tetrachloroethane be treated in the workplace with caution because of their structural similarity to the four chloroethanes shown to be carcinogenic in animals.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) reportable quantities state that persons in charge of vessels or facilities are required to notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately, when there is a release of this designated hazardous substance, in an amount equal to or greater than its reportable quantity of 10 lb or 4.54 kg.

Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requirements are that all persons who manufacture (including import or manufacture as a by-product) or process or intend to manufacture or process one or more of this substance other than as an impurity, after 29 July 1988, to the end of the reimbursement period shall submit letters of intent to conduct testing, submit study plans, conduct tests, and submit data or submit exemption applications for those substances they manufacture or process, or intend to manufacture or process. The required testing is hydrolysis.

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements (U184); as stipulated in 40 CFR 261.33, when pentachloroethane, as a commercial chemical product or manufacturing chemical intermediate becomes a waste, it must be managed according to federal and/or state hazardous waste regulations. Also defined as a hazardous waste is any residue, contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into water or on dry land, of this waste. Generators of small quantities of this waste may qualify for partial exclusion from hazardous waste regulations (40 CFR 261.5).

Exposure and Exposure Monitoring

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has statistically estimated that >1600 workers are potentially exposed to n-decane in the USA. Occupational exposure to n-decane may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where n-decane is used. Monitoring data indicate that the general population may be exposed to very low levels of n-decane via inhalation of ambient air, ingestion of food and drinking water, and dermal contact with consumer products containing n-decane.

Because n-decane can exist as a liquid and a vapor at normal temperature and pressure, exposure could occur either by dermal contact or by inhalation, and oral exposure would most likely be either incidental or accidental. n-Decane can be measured in air down to levels as low as 0.1 ppb. It has been measured and detected in both indoor air (2–800 μg m−3) and outdoor air (0.6–10 μg m−3) with the latter typically a result of automobile emissions. A review of indoor air concentrations of volatile organic compounds in North America found 0.44 ppb (2.56 μg m−3) in ‘existing’ residences and 3 ppb (17.5 μg m−3) in ‘new’ homes.

Exposure Standards and Guidelines

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit for an 8- or 10-h time-weighted average (TWA) exposure and/or ceiling. TWA: 0.1 ppm (0.25 mg m−3).

NIOSH short-term exposure limit (STEL): recommended exposure limit for a 15-min period. STEL: 0.3 ppm (0.8 mg m−3).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's permissible exposure limit expressed as a TWA; the concentration of a substance to which most workers can be exposed without adverse effect averaged over a normal 8-h workday or a 40-h workweek. TWA: 0.1 ppm (0.25 mg m−3)

Probable Routes of Human Exposure

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (National Occupational Exposure Survey (NOES), 1981–83) has statistically estimated that 182 873 workers (22 083 of these are female) are potentially exposed to chlorine in the United States. Individuals may be exposed to chlorine when mixing a cleaning product that contains an acid with a solution containing sodium hypochlorite (bleach). The misuse of swimming pool chemicals may also potentially expose the general population to chlorine.

Exposures most commonly result from either storage or transportation accidents involving the pressurized liquid form. Other poisonings occur in industrial accidents, school chemistry experiments, accidental release of chlorine from swimming pool operations, and mixing of cleaning agents (adding acidic cleaning agents to hypochlorite bleach releases chlorine gases).