Joe,
Plutonium is a genuine serious toxic and radiological exposure risk, it is not some Covid 19 (Flu).
I would suggest a Certified Health Physicist (CHP) as the person to develop and implement a respiratory program for plutonium exposure control.
Regulations that apply here are USNRC 10 CFR 20 for radiation protection. This far more strict than just a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.
In your case there were also DOE requirements that are basically the same as 10CFR20.
By the way, These Corona virus paper and cloth handkerchiefs are in no way shape or form respirators. They are placebo for the general public. These handkerchiefs will probably exacerbate the risk of contracting the virus through inhalation. Moreover, the Covid 10 organisms are so small in relation to the weave of these face masks that they will pass through. Then almost all of the air exhaled will take the path of least resistance (differential pressure) and be forced through the gap between the face and mask and into the eyes.
These typical medical paper masks are worn to prevent water droplets containing the virus or bacteria from reaching a patient when a doctor or nurse coughs or sneezes when close to that patient. They are not designed to protector the doctor.
The handling of this "pandemic" should have been handled by high risk people (very old and already severely compromised persons taking responsibility and quarantining themselves. While those not at serious risk move on and continue to work, get this flu, get over it and allow "Herd" immunity to solve the problem as is the case with seasonal flu problems.
If that were the policy from the beginning we would be past this "crisis" by now.
What we have done is extend the crisis by our state policies.
Jim Keating
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Roger McClellan
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2020 8:02 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?
I am uncertain of the basis for rules that curtail important services at a time when they are most needed.
Decades ago I was faced with a ridiculous situation that pushed me to take drastic action for a research laboratory, the Lovelace Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute in Albuquerque, NM. ITRI had 225 to 250 employees including about 40 doctoral staff and was funded by the US Department of Energy My solution was to replace our RN with a Nurse Practitioner and conduct all medical exams in an on site clinic. Previously, the medical exams had been conducted off site by an MD at our health care providers clinic. The on site exams included spirometric assessments on all employees irrespective of whether their work involved masks or more elaborate protective gear. As an aside , we worked with Plutonium and other nasty materials as aerosols . (As an aside, an aerosol is a relatively stable suspension of particles and/or droplets in a gaseous media, a definition lost in the current Covid-19 crisis.)
The spirometry results helped convince a lot of individuals to quit smoking. Employees really liked the NP and I still cross paths with former employees who relate that medical conditions, not work related, but identified in the on site clinic had huge impact on their health. I had a highly qualified Occupational MD provide oversight for a few hours a month. The on site NP worked closely with our Health and Environmental Safety Unit staffed with two professionals (with lots of training and credientals) and three technicians. The Head of our Health and Safety unit had authority that included lock down of any laboratory or operation irrespective of the rank of the staff responsible for the lab. Technicians were eager to get on the Institute's Health And Safety Committee and be part of the Institute's overall health and safety efforts.
I am disappointed when I learn the limited authority many CHAS members have in their academic positions.
Look more closely at the OSHA regulation on this. Most people can be adequately assessed by using a questionnaire, a clunky example of which is in that regulatory appendix, if I recall correctly.
Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY
PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com
-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of DCHAS Membership Chair
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2020 4:55 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Respirator physicals?
From: Joseph Peters <joseph.peters**At_Symbol_Here**technipfmc.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2020 20:06:57 +0000
Re: Respirator physicals?
We are currently trying to qualify two of our employees for respirator use.
All of our employees who are required to use respirators have had physicals (including spirometry) to ensure that they are physically able to use an Air Purifying Respirator (APR) and SCBA. Once they pass the physical, they are fit tested and trained on the proper use and care of the respiratory equipment.
We scheduled appoints with our occupational safety and health provider and were told that they are not allowed to conduct spirometry evaluations at this time due to COVID restrictions.
Have any members of the group experienced this and if so, how were they able to certify employees for respirator use in the absence of spirometry?
BTW, we are located in Massachusetts.
Joe
Joseph C. Peters, PE
Senior Director - Process Technology | Technip Energies P +1 781 340 2901 | M +1 617 620 7120 Joseph.peters**At_Symbol_Here**technipfmc.com
TechnipFMC
56 Woodrock Road | E. Weymouth, MA | 02189 TechnipFMC.com
This email has been sent by or on behalf of TechnipFMC plc, a company registered in England and Wales with registered no. 09909709, and with its registered office address at One St. Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AP, or one of its subsidiaries.
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