Volume 14, Number 3, Fall 2007

A newsletter published by Bay West, Inc. as a service to our customers and supporting public agencies.

I-35W Bridge Tragedy: Bay West would like to remember the vicims and their families of the I-35W bridge collapse. The magnitude of the devastation cannot simply be described or put into words, only after seeing the destruction firsthand can one appreciate the terror those who were on the bridge must have felt. Bay West will continue to provide support operations including air monitoring, and boom deployment/maintenance to the Incident Commander and handle the site with the utmost dignity and respect.

Thermal Stress in the Workplace
By Dan Hannan, CSP, Safety & Health Manager

From searing heat to frigged cold, Bay West operational staff can expect and have experienced it all. Responding to a pipeline break in the middle of winter in northern Wisconsin produced temperatures of -30 oF. The other end of the spectrum, severe heat, has been experienced by staff working on clearing unexploded ordinances at a former air force bombing range in a desert environment in Nevada—producing air temperatures of 115 oF or more. It’s not just outside—such extreme temperatures can be experienced indoors especially around refrigeration and boiler systems. Such physical hazards in the workplace must be accounted for by the employer and without proper planning and precautions, medical emergencies can arise—some life threatening.

Currently there are no specific Federal OSHA rules regarding heat/cold stress workplace hazards. Such hazards are expected to be addressed under the general provisions of providing for a safe workplace. As such, an employer should evaluate and if necessary develop a thermal stress policy identifying such hazards and recommended control measures. OSHA does offer a technical manual that goes into great detail on heat stress evaluation. A link to that manual, and other heat/cold information, can be found at the end of this article.

The ability of a person to dissipate or retain heat and moisture are responsible for stresses placed on the body. Stress is further increased or decreased as a result of one or more of the following:

  • Acclimatization—the physiological adjustments the body makes when going from hot to cold or cold to hot environments. This can take days or several weeks depending upon the individual.
  • Clothing ensemble—light or dark clothing, one or multiple layers, protective, breathable vs. encapsulating, etc. are all responsible for retaining heat and moisture.
  • Work load/rate—how much work is being performed and how physically hard is the work?
  • Work/rest periods—the frequency of rest and the ability to replenish fluids.
  • Engineering controls—shade, air conditioning, heated rooms, ventilation, etc. all need to be considered in lessening the stress placed on a worker.
  • Age, weight and physical fitness
  • Medications - prescribed medications to control heart ailments or high blood pressure can make a person more susceptible to thermal stresses.
    WGTM

The OSHA technical manual does recommend environmental sampling to assist with heat stress evaluation (as adopted from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, ACGIH). Devices, such as a wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) meter, calculate a temperature value based upon air temperature, radiant heat and relative humidity. That value is then adjusted based upon work load (light, moderate or heavy) and clothing ensemble to develop a recommended work-rest regime.

The following sources provide additional information on thermal stresses. If you have policy or operating procedure questions, feel free to contact Dan Hannan, Bay West, at 651/291-3417.

OSRO Update
Bay West maintains a Level B Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO, pronounced ‘Ahzrow’) classification for lakes and rivers, offering our on-water customers a cost-effective way to comply with OPA 90 regulations and access to spill response experts & equipment. This section provides information on current OSRO regulations, Bay West’s OSRO service, and other information that our customers need to maintain OPA 90 compliance.

Bay West Supports Wakota CAER Boom School Refresher Training

A perfect summer day on the Mississippi provided the setting for two 1-day inland waterways spill responder training or “boom school.” Offered by Wakota CAER and supported by Bay West, the 1-day courses covered classroom and hands-on techniques for responding to petroleum spills on moving water. Unlike previous courses, the 1-day sessions were designed as a refresher for responders that have already attended a 2-day course. The course ensured that personnel can respond to oil spill incidences confidently and proficiently.

Bay West provided a boat, a boat captain and an instructor for the crew from Flint Hills Resources. After a classroom session in the morning, the crews and boats moved to the river. Information covered during class included boom design and construction, river boom deployment techniques, and of course safety instructions. One participant commented, “This exercise reminds me why we come to this training, you forget all the steps needed to deploy boom.” Many agreed the course was a success.

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Annual OSRO Drill Exercise Planned for October

Bay West’s annual OSRO deployment exercise is coming up quickly. Information regarding the deployment exercise will be sent soon. Tentatively scheduled for mid-October the deployment exercise will fulfill the requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA90). The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires owners of facilities to develop response plans. These plans are intended to prepare the owner of a facility to respond to oil or hazardous substance discharges. Bay West provides assistance to companies in meeting their regulatory responsibilities to develop training programs for their personnel, and provides the necessary equipment, personnel and knowledge to successfully mitigate oil spills.

The Bay West Responder is intended to share information with Bay West’s customers and supporting public agencies. Its purpose is to communicate current information about Bay West, its Emergency Response and OSRO programs, and other services. If you have general questions, comments, or article ideas, please contact:

Lori Hintz, Newsletter Editor * ph: 651/291-3436
lorih@baywest.com • www.baywest.com

For information on the services referenced in this issue, contact:

Patrick Martin, ER Services ph: 651/291-3412 * patm@baywest.com
Dan Hannan, CSP, Health & Safety ph: 651/291-3417 * danh@baywest.com