Nellie J. Brown, MS., C.I.H.

Conducting a Safety Walk-through on a Farm: Hazards of the Manure Handling System, Anaerobic Digester, and Biogas Handling System (A Self-Assessment Guideline for Farmers)

Nellie J. Brown — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:38:11 PDT

[Excerpt] This self-assessment document is intended to be used by farm owners and managers or farm staff who are responsible for the operations and/or maintenance of anaerobic digesters and their related processes. It provides guidance for process and job evaluation with suggestions based upon typical potential hazards for farm digester systems and their associated preventive measures.

Health Hazard Manual for Firefighters

Nellie J. Brown — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:41:59 PDT

[Excerpt] Firefighters, as well as victims, can be exposed to a variety of toxic substances during a fire. Some of these toxicants are particularly insidious because they are produced by thermal decomposition before smoke makes a fire evident.

Accommodating the Allergic Employee in the Workplace

Nellie J. Brown — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:38:18 PDT

Once an employer learns an applicant or employee is allergic, and in need of an accommodation, the employer may be required by the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide the needed accommodation. The allergic worker may be able to respond to low levels of exposure, levels which may be lower than the relevant occupational exposure limits set by OSHA or recommended by agencies such as NIOSH or organizations such as the ACGIH. Accommodating the allergic employee would therefore generally involve reducing exposure further by providing specific protection for the sensitive individual, such as additional protective equipment which the average (nonallergic) worker probably wouldn't need. Protective equipment could involve the use of respirators for respiratory protection or protective clothing (such as gloves) or barrier creams for skin protection. The use of respirators would involve employer compliance with OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) including the use of a physical to determine whether a worker could wear a respirator. Battery-powered respirators may enable those with pulmonary or cardiovascular problems to still use a respirator. Respirators made of silicone may enable someone to wear a respirator who has a rubber allergy (such as an allergy to mercaptobenzothiazole).

Generic Protocol: Conducting a Safety Walk-Through on a Farm: Hazards of the Manure Handling System, Anaerobic Digester, and Biogas Handling System

Nellie J. Brown — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:28:35 PDT

[Excerpt] This protocol is intended to be used by health and safety experts and those with expertise in anaerobic digesters/systems. It was adapted from basic elements of both traditional job hazard analysis and process hazards analysis (particularly hazard and operability analysis) techniques, and is intended to overcome some of the limitations of both methods for someone conducting a site walk-through consisting of less than one day of available time.

Health and Safety Guidance for Composting in the School Setting

Nellie J. Brown — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:28:31 PDT

[Excerpt] A composting project in a school, either in the classroom or on the school property, can be a terrific opportunity for students to gain direct knowledge and experience with natural processes and a method of reducing and recycling biodegradable wastes. Although composting utilizes natural decay processes, these processes are occurring in a relatively small, concentrated area of a pile or bin. There is a potential for human exposure to the organisms involved and the products they produce.

Health Hazard Manual For Cutting Oils, Coolants, and Metalworking Fluids

Nellie J. Brown — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:28:25 PDT

[Excerpt] The metalworker can be exposed to cutting oils during application by two basic routes of entry: skin contact and inhalation. The higher risk jobs tend to be those with high cutting speeds, heavy oil flow, and continuous contact, which may result in the worker being splashed with oil on the skin or clothing. The oil may remain on the skin for some time and oil-soaked clothing may be worn all shift.

Cutting oils may be applied manually, by an air-carried mist, or by a continuous flood. When flooding is used, the oil is delivered by a pump, piping, and nozzle to the cutting zone. With this method the tool, work, and chip are flooded. (Used fluid is then collected in the chip pan and returned by gravity to the pump sump.)

Inhalation of cutting oil mists may occur because of the nature of coolant delivery or because of the high temperatures and speeds generated at the cutting tool's working edge. When the mist stream method of coolant delivery is used, much of it evaporates on contact with the hot tool, workpiece or chip. In addition to the intentional production of oil mists, vaporized oil can also be generated by the forces of the rapidly spinning workpiece or tool, or by the vaporization of the fluid from the heat of the cutting process.

Occupational Chemical Exposure and Reproductive Health/Fetal Development: Biological, Legal, and Labor Relations Issues

Nellie J. Brown — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:06:17 PST

Health Hazard Manual for Firefighters: Exposure to Chemicals and Toxic Gases

Nellie J. Brown — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:47:01 PST

Health Hazard Manual for Cosmetologists, Hairdressers, Beauticians and Barbers

Nellie J. Brown — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:46:59 PST

[Excerpt] We will look at the principal occupational health hazards and exposures themselves and some of the related issues. We will look closely at the chemical composition of hairdressing products to see what components appear to be particularly hazardous, how you are exposed to them, and what you can do to minimize exposure.

Accommodating the Allergic Employee in the Workplace

Nellie J. Brown et al. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:46:57 PST

This brochure on allergic employee in the workplace is one of a series on human resources practices and workplace accommodations for persons with disabilities edited by Susanne M. Bruyère, Ph.D., CRC, SPHR, Director, Program on Employment and Disability, School of Industrial and Labor Relations – Extension Division, Cornell University.

Cornell University was funded in the early 1990’s by the U.S. Department of Education National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research as a National Materials Development Project on the employment provisions (Title I) of the ADA (Grant #H133D10155). These updates, and the development of new brochures, have been funded by Cornell’s Program on Employment and Disability, the Pacific Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center, and other supporters.

Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality and What You Can Do About It

Nellie J. Brown et al. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:46:49 PST

This brochure on causes of poor indoor air quality is one of a series on human resources practices and workplace accommodations for persons with disabilities edited by Susanne M. Bruyère, Ph.D., CRC, SPHR, Director, Program on Employment and Disability, School of Industrial and Labor Relations – Extension Division, Cornell University.

Implementation of the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard for Small Business

Nellie J. Brown et al. — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:46:47 PST

[Excerpt] The small business utilizes as single owner/operator or a small number of supervisors with multiple responsibilities. Small workforces, limited resources, limited time, and limited technical expertise can make implementation of a Hazard Communication Program difficult. The Hazard Communication standard involves the use of technical and scientific information, and the small business can rarely justify full or part-time technical staff to implement the provisions of this regulation. This manual is organized in steps reflecting the sequence of tasks to be accomplished in order to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard.

Health Hazard Manual: Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sewer Workers

Nellie J. Brown — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:46:38 PST

[Excerpt] This manual examines how exposure occurs during the treatment processes; ways to reduce exposure by engineering controls, administrative controls, process control strategies, and protective equipment; and some suggested medical surveillance.

Health Hazards Manual for Custodians, Janitors and Housekeepers

Nellie J. Brown — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:46:34 PST

[Excerpt] We will look at the principal occupational health hazards and exposures themselves and some of the related issues. We will look closely at the chemical composition of cleaning products to see what components appear to be particularly hazardous, how you are exposed to them, and what you can do to minimize exposure.

Health Hazards Manual for Autobody Shop Workers

Nellie J. Brown — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:46:32 PST

[Excerpt] We will look at the principal occupational health hazards and exposures themselves and some of the related issues. We will look closely at the chemical composition of autobody shop products to see what components appear to be particularly hazardous, how you are exposed to them, and what you can do to minimize exposure. The health effects discussed for these products are based upon the exposure of the professional, not the consumer. This manual deals with chemical exposure only; other issues of interest to the autobody shop worker may include occupational exposure to noise and neuromuscular problems such as Raynaud’s phenomenon (possibly from pneumatic hand tools).