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· OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS
Ø
Design
· SMOKING
Occupational exposure limits are specified in Table 2 of the regulation. Exposure limits for selected contaminants are shown below.
|
Chemical name |
8-hour exposure limit |
15-minute exposure limit |
Ceiling |
|
Acetic acid |
10 ppm |
15 ppm |
-- |
|
Acetone |
1,000 ppm |
1,250 ppm |
-- |
|
Ammonia |
25 ppm |
35 ppm |
-- |
|
Carbon black |
3.5 mg/m3 |
7 mg/m3 |
-- |
|
Carbon dioxide |
5,000 ppm |
15,000 ppm |
-- |
|
Carbon monoxide |
50 ppm |
400 ppm |
-- |
|
Ethyl acetate |
400 ppm |
500 ppm |
-- |
|
Formaldehyde |
-- |
-- |
2 |
|
Hydrogen sulfide |
10 |
15 |
-- |
|
Hydroquinone |
2 |
4 |
-- |
|
Isopropyl alcohol |
400 ppm |
500 ppm |
-- |
|
Sulfur dioxide |
2 ppm |
5 ppm |
-- |
(General Safety
Regulations 1990, Schedule A Table 2)
Where at a work site, work processes produce or are likely to produce a health hazard to workers from the production or dissemination of contaminants or from oxygen deficiency in the air, the employer must ensure the work site is ventilated sufficiently to maintain an oxygen content of at least 18% and to prevent the accumulation of contaminants.
Where it is not reasonably practicable for the employer to comply with the ventilation requirement or where a situation arises for which the ventilation system is not adequate, the employer must ensure the workers wear respiratory protective. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 52)
The following factors must be taken into consideration in determining whether a ventilation system provides adequate protection to workers:
· The occupational exposure limits
· The physical, chemical and toxicological properties of the contaminants
· The flammability and explosivity of the contaminants
· The sources and concentration of the contaminants
· The location of workers relative to the sources of contamination
· The oxygen content of the air
· The duration of the exposure of workers.
The employer must ensure that a ventilation system is designed, constructed and installed to take into account all relevant factors to provide adequate protection to workers. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 53)
The employer must ensure that where a recirculating air system is used to control contaminants, the ventilation system is maintained in good working order. The concentration of any gas, fumes, smoke, vapour, dust or other substance in the air discharged from the recirculating system into a work site must not exceed 10% of its occupational exposure limits, and does not increase the concentration of the gas, fumes, smoke, vapour, dust or other substance within the work site by more than 10% of the concentration normally prevailing when the system is not in use and the gas, fumes, smoke, vapour, dust or other substance is not being produced. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 54)
Check local bylaws to determine whether there are any municipal smoking regulations.
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