Insulating has always been a dusty business, and yes, there are more pleasant professions.
But there is a reason for dirt bonuses and others.
At least on paper - the fewest prescribed benefits are paid out and credited, because who wants to lose their job because of a few extra percentages? But that, too, is another story....
But what if the dusts are not "just" dust, but carcinogenic and mutagenic heavy metal compounds such as chromium (VI) compounds?
In the meantime, there is the so-called "chromium VI quick test" - safety first?
Theoretically, yes.
AG: Hello?
AN: Hey boss, we have chromium (VI) on the construction site!
AG: Who knows about it?
AN: At the moment only you and me!
AG: Ok.
AN: What now?
AG: We still have two more construction sites, all tightly calculated, we...
AN: so?
AG: ...can't start now with the cavalry and in the space suit....
AN: we also have only two protective suits?!
AG: ..especially there are still three plants that we made last year....
AN: so??
AG: ..that will only cause trouble, be careful and come to the office after the end of the project!
AN: Put the old insulation back on anyway?
AG: Yes, it will look stupid if we ruin everything.
AN: And what can't be used anymore?
AG: They should throw it away themselves, they paid for it.
AN: Ok!
Of course, this is a completely fictitious dialog, something like this only happens in the author's imagination, but of course not in real life on the construction site ;)
On 18.02.2021 I asked once at the State Institute for Work Design of the State of NRW, a very interesting site, you can find at komnet(dot)NRW(dot)de.
Question:
"When dismantling insulating elements on pipelines or motors, the Cr (VI) quick test shows darkest discolorations, which indicates a Cr (VI) content of up to 10 micrograms, and that area-wide on many plants. In spite of the notice, nothing happens on the construction sites/power plants, partly used parts that are possibly contaminated are disposed of "normally", many insulators do not even wear protective equipment? How would one actually have to proceed (GefStoffV/ArSchG/TRGS)"?
For understanding, the following pictures were attached to the question:
The answer came rather quickly and extensively:
In advance:
We consider your inquiry or description to be worrying and ask you, for the protection of the employees on the construction site/power plants, to contact the locally responsible occupational health and safety authority (for the zip code you have specified, the responsibility lies with the Münster district government) and, if necessary, the employers' liability insurance association without delay (anonymously, if necessary), so that a prompt corresponding inspection can take place on site and the necessary measures can be discussed or initiated.
According to the wording of Section 6 (1) of the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV), the employer must determine within the framework of a risk assessment as part of the assessment of working conditions in accordance with Section 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG) whether the employees perform activities involving hazardous substances or whether hazardous substances can be generated or released during activities. If this is the case, he must assess all hazards to the health and safety of the employees arising from this from the following points of view:
Hazardous properties of the substances or preparations, including their physicochemical effects,
information provided by the manufacturer or distributor on health and safety, in particular in the safety data sheet,
the nature and extent of exposure, taking into account all routes of exposure; the results of measurements and investigations in accordance with Section 7 (8) shall be taken into account,
possibilities of substitution,
working conditions and procedures, including work equipment and hazardous substance quantities
occupational exposure limits and biological limits,
effectiveness of the protective measures taken or to be taken,
findings from occupational medical check-ups in accordance with the Ordinance on Occupational Medical Precautions.
In accordance with § 7 of the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances (GefStoffV), the employer may only allow an activity involving hazardous substances to commence after a risk assessment has been carried out in accordance with § 6 and the necessary protective measures have been taken in accordance with Section 4.
In order to ensure the health and safety of employees during all activities involving hazardous substances, the employer must take the necessary measures in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and additionally the measures required by this Ordinance.
In doing so, he shall take into account the rules and findings announced in accordance with Section 20 (4). If these rules and findings are observed, it can generally be assumed that the requirements of this Ordinance are met.
These rules and findings may be deviated from if the protection of the health and safety of the employees is ensured by other measures in at least a comparable manner.
The employer must exclude hazards to the health and safety of employees during activities involving hazardous substances.
If this is not possible, he must reduce them to a minimum.
The employer must take these requirements into account by determining and applying suitable protective measures. In doing so, he must observe the following order of priority:
1. design of suitable processes and technical control equipment of processes, the use of emission-free or low-emission forms of use, and the use of suitable work equipment and materials in accordance with the state of the art,
2. application of collective protective measures of a technical nature at the source of the hazard, such as adequate ventilation, and application of suitable organizational measures,
3. if a hazard cannot be prevented by measures according to numbers 1 and 2, application of individual protective measures, which also include the provision and use of personal protective equipment.
Employees must use the personal protective equipment provided as long as a hazard exists. The use of burdensome personal protective equipment shall not be a permanent measure. It shall be limited to the absolute minimum necessary for each employee.
The employer shall ensure that
1.the personal protective equipment is properly stored in a designated place,
2.personal protective equipment is inspected before use and cleaned after use, and
3.damaged personal protective equipment is repaired or replaced before it is used again.
In addition to the basic obligations of § 7 GefStoffV, the employer must also take into account §§ 8,9 and in particular § 10 GefStoffV.
At this point we would like to draw your attention to the following technical rule for hazardous substances
TRGS 561 "Work with carcinogenic metals and their compounds".
TRGS 910 "Risk-related measures for activities involving carcinogenic hazardous substances
It is interesting to note that anonymous tips are also followed up; it's a scoundrel who thinks evil of it.
Did you know that an American motor manufacturer recommends its users to thoroughly wash the removed insulation clean of calcium chromate during revision work, to repeat this process two to three days, but at the same time points out that the washing process must then be repeated during the next revision?
Stay connected to this site and please stay healthy.
And if you are an insulator, ask your safety officer if he would like to come to the construction site, after all, everything is not so bad ;)
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