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AdditionalAdditional HHE HHE repor reportsts are are ava availilabablele at at h htttptp:/://ww/wwww.c.cddcc.gov.gov/n/nioiosshh/hhe/hhe/repor/reportsts ThisThis HealHealtthh HaHazzardard EEvvaluaaluattionion ((HHHHEE)) reportreport andand anyany rreeccoommmmendendaattiionsons mmadeade hereinherein areare fforor tthehe ssppeecciifficic ffaacciliilittyy eevvaluaaluatteded andand maymay notnot bbee ununiiververssaallllyy appappapplililicccababablle.e.le. A AAnynyny re rerecccooommmmmmendaendaendattitiooionnnsss m mmadeadeade are areare n nnooott t t totoo be bebe c cconsonsonsiideredderedidered as asas f fifinalnalinal s ssttataatteteemmmeeennnttstss of ofof N NNIIOIOOSSSHHH po popolliilccicyyy or oror of ofof any anyany agen agenagencccyyy or oror i indndindiivviviiddiduuualalal i invonvoinvollvvlved.ed.ed. AdditionalAdditional HHEHHE reporreporttss areare avaavaililabablele atat hhtttpp::///wwwwww..ccddcc..govgov//nnioiosshh//hhehhe//reporreporttss This Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) report and any recommendations made herein are for the specific facility evaluated and may not be universally applicable. Any recommendations made are not to be considered as final statements of NIOSH policy or of any agency or individual involved. Additional HHE reports are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports NIOSH HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION REPORT: HETA #2001-0073-2869 City of Cincinnati Sewers, Water Works & Public Services Cincinnati, Ohio February 2002 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health PREFACE The Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch (HETAB) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts field investigations of possible health hazards in the workplace. These investigations are conducted under the authority of Section 20(a)(6) of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Act of 1970, 29 U.S.C. 669(a)(6) which authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services, following a written request from any employer or authorized representative of employees, to determine whether any substance normally found in the place of employment has potentially toxic effects in such concentrations as used or found. HETAB also provides, upon request, technical and consultative assistance to Federal, State, and local agencies; labor; industry; and other groups or individuals to control occupational health hazards and to prevent related trauma and disease. Mention of company names or products does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND AVAILABILITY OF REPORT This report was prepared by Ren G. Dong and Thomas McDowell of the Engineering & Control Technology Branch (ECTB), Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD). Field assistance was provided by Dan Welcome, ECTB, and Randy L. Tubbs, HETAB. Desktop publishing was performed by David Butler, HETAB. Review and preparation for printing were performed by Penny Arthur. Copies of this report have been sent to employee and management representatives at the City of Cincinnati Sewers, Water Works, and Public Services. This report is not copyrighted and may be freely reproduced. Single copies of this report will be available for a period of three years from the date of this report. To expedite your request, include a self-addressed mailing label along with your written request to: NIOSH Publications Office 4676 Columbia Parkway Cincinnati, Ohio 45226 800-356-4674 After this time, copies may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at 5825 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161. Information regarding the NTIS stock number may be obtained from the NIOSH Publications Office at the Cincinnati address. For the purpose of informing affected employees, copies of this report shall be posted by the employer in a prominent place accessible to the employees for a period of 30 calendar days. ii Highlights of the NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation Evaluation of pneumatic tools and their vibration levels The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was asked by the City of Cincinnati to measure the vibration levels on the tools used by work crews to repair and maintain the water, sewer, and street systems. # Medically examine an individual for What NIOSH Did potential risk before he/she uses the vibrating tools. A # We gathered vibration measurements from # Maintain sharp cutting edges on chisels and blades. the tools used by the city workers. A A # The measurements were made at several # Regularly inquire about the health effects of work sites and at the city garage. vibration among the workers who use vibrating A tools extensively. # We watched workers at the job site and timed their use with the tools. What the City of Cincinnati Sewers, Water Works & Public Services Employees What NIOSH Found Can Do # We found that the paving breakers and # Wear clothing and gloves to keep warm and jackhammers are the tools used most often. dry while using vibrating tools. A A # We measured vibration levels high enough # Let the tool do the work. Grip the tool as to limit the daily use of these tools. A lightly as possible, provided that this is # We discovered that older tools produced consistent with safe work practice and tool more vibration than newer models. control. A # Avoid or minimize smoking before and What City of Cincinnati Sewers, Water during work. Works & Public Services Managers A Can Do # Rotate tool use between the members of the work crew to reduce total exposure duration. # Limit the use of tools that generate high A levels of vibration. # Avoid continuous long-period use of A vibrating tools. # Replace older model tools with newer ones A designed to produce less vibration. # Use sharp chisels and blades. A A # Purchase suitable gloves; inform workers # Stop using a tool that shows abnormal that some gloves cannot provide sufficient vibration and return it to supply shed. vibration protection. A # Report attacks of white or blue fingers or long periods of finger tingling and/or numbness. Seek medical advice. iii What To Do For More Information: We encourage you to read the full report. If you would like a copy, either ask your health and safety representative to make you a copy or call 1-513- 841-4252 and ask for HETA Report #2001-0073-2869 Highlights of the HHE Report iv Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2001-0073-2869 City of Cincinnati Sewers, Water Works & Public Services Cincinnati, Ohio February 2002 Ren G. Dong Dan Welcome Thomas McDowell Ron Schopper Randy L. Tubbs SUMMARY On November 17, 2000, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a management request from City of Cincinnati Sewers, Water Works & Public Services (CSWP) to evaluate vibration exposure of employees on various pieces of equipment, review work procedures and practices, and offer suggestions for reducing risk from vibration exposure. In response to the request, NIOSH investigators conducted field vibration exposure measurements on the power hand tools used by CSWP employees. Measurements of employees’ vibration exposure were obtained while work crews affected repairs or during simulations at the city’s storage garage. Unweighted acceleration data in a tri-axial configuration were collected from a representative sample of tools that are used by the city’s crews. These data were analyzed and compared to evaluation criteria used in the United States to quantify the levels of vibration exposure for CSWP employees. Many of the evaluated tools generate high levels of vibration that would require limits on the amount of time workers can safely use them. Some of the most severe levels of vibration were measured on jackhammers, paving breakers, and chipping hammers, tools that are used most often by the workers. Recommendations to reduce the vibration exposures are presented in the report. Keywords: SIC 4941 (Water Supply), SIC 4952 (Sewerage Systems), pneumatic tools, hand-arm vibration, vibration white finger, VWF, ergonomics. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface ......................................................................ii Acknowledgments and Availability of Report ............................................ii Highlights of the HHE Report ......................................................iii Summary ................................................................... iv Introduction ..................................................................1 Background ..................................................................1 Methods .....................................................................1 Evaluation Criteria ..............................................................2 Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) and Risk Assessment Standards ..............................2 Hand-Arm Vibration .......................................................2 Health Effects of Hand-Arm Vibration ..........................................3 Standards and

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