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Showing posts from November, 2010

Facts about Ototoxicity

Do chemicals cause hearing loss? Well, they do. Ototoxicity is the term referring to the propensity of a substance to impair hearing after an exposure. Some types of chemicals have been documented as ototoxicants like solvent, metals, asphyxiants and nitriles. These chemicals are often used in various industries and it is a primary concern in industrial settings where a lot of workers are exposed to high concentration for a long period of time. Aromatic solvents tend to work with a mechanism which implicates both the nervous system and cochlea. The hearing problems caused by aromatic solvents are irreversible. Nitriles are such chemicals which are generally associated with permanent hearing loss and cause severe damage to the cochlea. These chemicals can also affect the vestibular organ in the ear and cause impairment in coordination and in balance. Asphyxiants also affect the cochlea but in a different manner. When hearing impairment is caused by low levels of asphyxiants, it is rever

HAZWOPER & Site Control

The basic purpose of site control is to minimize any contamination or potential contamination of the workers, protect the general public from any site hazards and to prevent in form of vandalism. Especially, in emergency situations, site control is extremely important. There are various components to any site control program that helps in controlling the activities and the movements of people and equipment at any hazardous waste site. Here are a few site control procedures that you can implement in your safety program to reduce worker exposure to chemical, biological, physical and other forms of safety hazards: 1. Make a proper site map. 2. Prepare your site for specific activities. 3. Establish separate work zones. 4. Establish and ensure that your workers strictly adhere to the decontamination procedures. 5. Establish communication networks. 6. Set up site security measures. 7. Enforce work practices that are safe. Site control, essentially depends upon a number of factors including: