Another concern besides oil and chemicals for cleanup workers
June 21, 2010 by Fred HosierPosted in: BP, Chemical safety, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, OSHA news, PPE (protective equipment), Worker health, working in heat or cold
PDF OSHA has placed 20 to 25 of its inspectors at the staging areas for cleanup of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While early concerns centered around exposure to oil and fumes, OSHA officials are finding another problem:
The heat.
Workers are required to wear boots, gloves and Tyvek coveralls — a thick suit that protects them from chemicals and oil.
But all that protective gear increases the chances for heat stroke.
High temperatures in the last ten days in the cleanup area have ranged from 91 to 94 degrees. One night the low only dropped to 80. The heat index has risen as high as 110.
Dozens of workers have already been treated for heat stroke, which, if not caught early enough, can lead to death.
Some people are working 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week in the cleanup effort.
BP has set up guidelines for cleanup workers to prevent heat stroke:
- Work begins early in the day to take advantage of cooler temperatures.
- Shaded rest areas are provided at all work areas.
- Workers are required to drink liquids and take rest breaks.
- Workers have received training about the hazards of working in the high heat.
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Tags: BP, Gulf of Mexico, heat stroke, OSHA
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June 22nd, 2010 at 9:46 am
Boy I called this one! I am in AZ and have worked in other locations with high heat + high humidity. Even here we are having issues due to our elevation (High Desert, not Tucson/ Phoenix) has more humidity than normal for this time of year. My coworker and I were discussing the clean up, since I am HAZMAT 40 certified and have experience at this type of work, about going down and making some money. I told him that all the money in the world would not make up for the heat stroke that is going to get a lot of the workers in the initial stage. Since I had a close brush with heat exhaustion in 03 I know how long it takes to recover and be able to acclimate yourself. Sometimes you can see the writing on the wall IN BIG BOLD PRINT but it’s not until there are injuries that someone starts to mitigate the hazard. Did they really think wrapping people in plastic and exposing them to the heat of the Delta in the summer was not going to have ill effects? I would ask who is running this 3 ring circus, but sadly it is people who sit behind air conditioned desks and they have no idea what they are exposing people to.
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Amer, CDR - been in the oil and gas bidness for decades in the Gulf and the ME - those a/c office dwellers and a/c ‘brains’ are going to cause more deaths and significant health problems as time goes on. As Napoleon said about invading Russia: “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:56 am
Yes I question the requiring that rubber boots and tyveks be worn when handling the oil clean up.
Unless they are soaking in the oil they should not getting much oil on them. I hear of respirators too being used? Is this oil loaded with sulfur and H2S being released? Afterall the clean up is done outside. If they are on boats or barges, or lack of air movement, the use of fans can be used to move the air away from workers. This would prevent much of the heat related problems.
Yes I wonder who is really managing this 3 ring circus!
July 13th, 2010 at 9:51 am
I’m sorry, but this article is bull. Our company is involved in the cleanup, and I’m the Corporate Safety Manager for our company. I’ve been onsite, and been through the training provided. First, there have NOT been “dozens of workers treated for heat stroke”: that is absolute hogwash. There have been dozens of workers treated for heat exposure, a few to the extent of Heat Exhaustion: to my knowledge (admittedly limited) there has not been a single case of Heat Stroke. There are clear and effective measures in place to protect employees and prevent heat casualties, when they are followed. Most workers are NOT wearing Tyvek, or respirators, or even rubber boots (though many need the rubber boots for either oil or water exposure). Unless exposure potential demands it workers are not being required to wear either Tyvek or respirators: the greater risk of heat exposure is recognized and only where a clear exposure demands it are these measures required. Someone needs to get their facts straight.
July 20th, 2010 at 10:40 am
So, if Hank is correct, I would like to know who is checking the facts here. This is a very violatile subject already, and more concerning and upsetting to a wider variety of people than is commonly realized. So I think we need the real facts.
Are dozens of cases of heatstroke documented?
July 21st, 2010 at 9:38 pm
I contemplate when they will come to their senses and quit using the oil. Alternate technologies is already there to replace it!
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:51 pm
First the first Gulf oil spill, now we see that the second one has blown up in Louisiana. I sure hope that this doesn’t mean more environmental damage. On the other hand, this country needs this homegrown energy. This such a complex problem to figure out. I’m not sure what the answer is.