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From: Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Gas Leak Training Input
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2015 08:02:46 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: 151c4a29009-c7f-435a**At_Symbol_Here**webprd-m88.mail.aol.com
In-Reply-To <673A00C44C25834BA3198AADFC1EB7AE297C0E74**At_Symbol_Here**PIT-MAIL01.uswa-us.local>
If you need back up research and anecdotal evidence for the increased precautions, contact me off line and I'll attach some stuff. There also is a NIOSH study of firefighters who used the theatrical fog for training and three ended up ill, one in the hospital for weeks fighting pneumonitis and lipoid pneumonia. I did another suit in which the woman exposed only on a single night developed reactive airway disease (RAD) and is permanently on oxygen.
The public doesn't hear about these cases and for the most part, the millions of audience members are exposed to lower levels than cast and crew, so they are safer---but not safe. The adverse effects at low levers are due to individual risk factors but there are documented problems at higher levels.
And the kicker is most of the fog chemicals have never been studied formally by inhalation and there are no TLVs for them. The theatrical industry standards are based on a very limited study now disavowed for this purpose by the major researcher. When are we going to ask manufacturers to at least test the chemicals to which we are exposed?
Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President: Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
181 Thompson St., #23
New York, NY 10012 212-777-0062
-----Original Message-----
From: Wright, Mike <mwright**At_Symbol_Here**USW.ORG>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Mon, Dec 21, 2015 7:16 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Gas Leak Training Input
Thanks, Monona. These days the steel industry uses it for gas rescue training, when they use it all, and everyone is in a SCBA, for which they've been trained.
And most times we use nothing at all, since the gas we are most worried about is CO. The fog enhances the training by creating an additional visibility challenge. But I appreciate the advice. We worked hard to get a good program in place after a devastating
series of accidents in the 70s. We went from 7 deaths in 1979 and 3 in 1980 to a total of 3 in plants covered by the agreement in the 35 years since. But we always have to go back and check to see that the programs are being followed, evaluated and upgraded.
Michael J. Wright
Director of Health, Safety and Environment
United Steelworkers
412-562-2580 office
412-370-0105 cell
Re Theatrical Fog: Just came home after 5 hours of deposition in a case of an alleged death attributed to theatrical fog. If people are going to breathe this stuff,
there are professional theatrical standards for use that are recommended by the manufacturers. Visit
www.plasa.org and find their standards download feature and look for ANSI E1.5, E1.14, E1.23 and E1.29. E1.5 will provide the TWA and peak (ceiling) limits recommended. I recommend even
less, but then......
You will also need to rent a Thermo MIE PDR-1000AN particle counter and use the calibration factor for the particular machine and type of fog you use.
If you need advice, I'm here.
Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President: Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
New York, NY 10012 212-777-0062
Gas rescue training in the steel industry uses theatrical fog. But you need to train people to a high level before using it, since the visibility problem adds
a whole new dimension. Several years ago one company stupidly decided that everyone who worked in a gas hazard area should be trained in gas rescue. They gave people very limited training in SCBA use - basically how to don it - then threw them into a simulated
rescue with a mannequin in a dark, foggy space. One worker died of a heart attack.
Director of Health, Safety and Environment
Would dry ice in water work?
"Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual."
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I'm trying to put together a gas leak training for our ERT members and I can't quite decide how to set it up. If the gas was visible, that would be nice but I can't think of a good candidate. Have any of you done
anything like this? If so, any ideas or input into how to get this training onto it's feet would be much appreciated.
I already have liquid spill training planned out.
Environmental, Health, and Safety Engineer
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