Recent achievements in the control of PAH exposure on coke oven ...

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Figure1: Hierarchy <strong>of</strong> <strong>control</strong> as advocated by EU and local legislationElim<strong>in</strong>ationSubstitutionProcess Design/SelectionEnclosurePreventionEng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>gLocal ExtractionGeneral VentilationSegregationSafe Work<strong>in</strong>g ProceduresReduction <strong>in</strong> <strong>exposure</strong> timePPE/RPEProceduralWorker BasedExternal Influenc<strong>in</strong>g FactorsS<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> start <strong>of</strong> this project, to ensure ongo<strong>in</strong>g compliance with legislation and moralresponsibility, a number <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r external factors have provided fur<strong>the</strong>r drivers for ensur<strong>in</strong>gdevelopment <strong>of</strong> adequate <strong>control</strong>. These <strong>in</strong>clude:1. Potential prescription <strong>of</strong> lung cancer as an occupational disease for coke ovenworkers.The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) has advised <strong>the</strong> UK government that <strong>the</strong>re is adoubl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g lung cancer for personnel work<strong>in</strong>g on a coke oven battery topunder <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g conditions [3]:The prescription is valid for any worker employed <strong>in</strong> activities full time on <strong>the</strong> battery top formore than 5 years, or battery sides for more than 15 years or <strong>in</strong> a comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> top ovenand o<strong>the</strong>r oven duties, such that each year <strong>in</strong> top oven work be treated as equivalent to 3years work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r oven duties, <strong>the</strong> aggregated sum amount<strong>in</strong>g to 15 years <strong>in</strong> total. Thisis irrespective <strong>of</strong> smok<strong>in</strong>g, date <strong>of</strong> employment, etc.It is likely that prescription <strong>of</strong> lung cancer, as an occupational disease associated withoccupational <strong>exposure</strong> to hazardous substances at coke ovens, will be confirmed with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>above limits.2. National Smokeless Fuels (NSF), Phurnacite legal proceed<strong>in</strong>gs.Hundreds <strong>of</strong> ex-workers, and <strong>the</strong> families <strong>of</strong> ex-workers, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> NSF Phurnacite Plant <strong>in</strong>Abercwmboi, South Wales have brought a group action claim <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> High Court aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>
Department <strong>of</strong> Energy and Climate Change for alleged occupational <strong>exposure</strong> to coke ovenemissions result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> respiratory disease and cancer claims from <strong>the</strong> former employees [4].The claimants allege that work<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> Phurnacite Plant caused <strong>the</strong>m to suffer lung, sk<strong>in</strong>and bladder cancer as well as respiratory disease. The group action is based around analleged failure to provide <strong>the</strong> necessary protection for <strong>the</strong> workers from <strong>the</strong> potentiallyserious health risks from be<strong>in</strong>g exposed to <strong>the</strong> fumes at <strong>the</strong> plant, which would <strong>in</strong>clude<strong>PAH</strong>s.The trial concluded on <strong>the</strong> 21 December 2011 and judgment is expected <strong>in</strong> 2012.3. Epidemiological studies with <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Occupational Medic<strong>in</strong>e (IOM)The IOM is currently review<strong>in</strong>g data relat<strong>in</strong>g to lung cancer mortality <strong>in</strong> British coke ovenworkers and assess<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> powered respirators. The results <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>sestudies, which were commissioned by TSE, are expected to be published <strong>in</strong> 2012.4. Penalties for failures to comply with legislation.A number <strong>of</strong> coke ovens worldwide, <strong>the</strong> majority be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> USA, have received largepenalties for fail<strong>in</strong>g to protect coke oven workers and communities from coke ovenemissions. The most recent violations <strong>in</strong> 2010 were cited aga<strong>in</strong>st Tonawanda coke ovens,N.Y., USA with <strong>the</strong> company be<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>in</strong>ed $48,500 for 14 alleged serious violations <strong>of</strong>workplace health and safety standards. The citations address deficiencies <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>plant's respiratory protection programme, <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> personal protective equipment, <strong>in</strong>dustrialhygiene and coke oven operations. Specifically, <strong>the</strong> plant failed to adequately tra<strong>in</strong> workerson respirator selection, use, and to provide adequate storage and ma<strong>in</strong>tenance; ensure <strong>the</strong>use <strong>of</strong> protective cloth<strong>in</strong>g by employees; and to implement work-specific procedures <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>plant's respiratory protection programme.In addition:• The plant did not conduct all required monitor<strong>in</strong>g and perform all required medicalevaluations for workers exposed to coke oven emissions.• Coke spillage was allowed to be shovelled <strong>in</strong>to a heated oven.• There was no provision <strong>of</strong> positive-pressure filtered air to all work cabs.• There was a failure to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> mach<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> good work<strong>in</strong>g order.• Conta<strong>in</strong>ers conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g coke-contam<strong>in</strong>ated cloth<strong>in</strong>g were not correctly labelled.• Food and beverages were allowed to be consumed <strong>in</strong> an area with visibleaccumulations <strong>of</strong> coke oven emissions [5].As regulations are similar to EU general and local regulations, <strong>the</strong>se actions aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong>company highlight <strong>the</strong> need to comply with legislation and adopt a proactive stance.Tata Steel Europe (TSE) H&S Exposure Reduction ProjectA project to <strong>in</strong>vestigate and <strong>control</strong> <strong>exposure</strong>s to <strong>PAH</strong>s on TSE coke oven batteries has been<strong>in</strong> progress s<strong>in</strong>ce 2009. A number <strong>of</strong> elements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> programme have been completed asdetailed below: Implementation <strong>of</strong> respiratory protective equipment (RPE) / personal protectiveequipment (PPE) regimes Awareness tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and behavioural <strong>in</strong>vestigations <strong>of</strong> operatives Biological monitor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> workers, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g assessment <strong>of</strong> external laboratories Production and implementation <strong>of</strong> a company wide Code <strong>of</strong> Practice Determ<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong> safe refuges
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