Not logged inAmerican Welding Society Forum
Forum AWS Website Help Search Login
Up Topic Welding Industry / Welding Safety / Oshcon
- - By jrw159 (*****) Date 09-09-2008 20:28
Has anybody ever used this service?

http://www.oshcon.com/index.aspx

It is free and confidential, and they do not report to OSHA.

jrw159
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 09-23-2008 23:33
UPDATE:

Ladies and Gentlemen,
  We utilized the services of these people and it was well worth the cost. What as the cost, you may ask? Only the time of our people to walk through with the inspector. Thei services were free. This was a real eye opener. There were several issues that we were not aware of. They are specialists that know the ins and outs of OSHA regulations. We found that there are a lot of things we are doing rigth and several things that need addressed. The issues that need dealt with are for the greatest part, easily and quickly solved, while a very small number will require a little time, effort, and money, but all will be well and justly spent.

I in particular, was very happy with it because they validated much of the things I have implimented into the safety program, as well as a few, that up until this point, I was receiving a lot of resistance to.

Here is the thing I like, and appears to be factual so far, they do not report their findings to OSHA, so one needs not fear an OSHA inspection as a result of using these people.

Anyways, I would deffinatly recommend this company to anyone in need of an honest, well educated, well informed,third party opinion on OSHA regulated issues.

jrw159
Parent - - By aevald (*****) Date 09-24-2008 00:01
Hello John, in your case did they happen to mention anything with regards to hexavalent chromium issues? I know that Henry and Lawrence were both trying to find information on this topic and some of the possible requirements/issues that would need to be addressed by shops or possibly on jobsites. Thanks and best regards, Allan
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 09-24-2008 00:33
Allan,
  Air quality tests and results are pending. They did not mention hex/chrom specifically but there was an immediate recommendation for the air quality test and I beleive this is covered. I will verify and check, as I have now been tasked with the compliance on this issue.

John
Parent - - By aevald (*****) Date 09-24-2008 00:47
Hello John, thanks for the speedy reply. I know that this will be a big issue here in the very near future. A number of months ago the Washington Welding Instructors Association had a conference where this was a fairly lengthy topic and we had some presentations and comments from a number of the safety gear manufacturers from our state. At that time, I thought that I would be seeing a much harder push to implement standards and requirements, that didn't quite materialize, yet I do know that it will be coming. As I mentioned I know that Henry and Lawrence are also trying to find out a lot of the ins and outs of what this will mean. I am sure that they would appreciate any information along with a lot of others who will be dealing with meeting requirements. Thanks again, John! Regards, Allan
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 10-27-2008 23:36
Ladies and Gentlemen,
  I am sorry for the delay but I have no control and very little notice concerning the schedule. We did the sampling today. We will not have the air sample results for two to three weeks, but the noise/sound sample was immediate.

It was as we expected and have been geared for. Above the allowable limits. We average a 92 DBI off of five monitors attached to the grinding personnel. The only thing that we will need to do differant is a training session on the proper usage of ear protection in general and offer options for ear plugs. Right now, the training is on the package and we provide one style of plugs. We do require the use of hearing protection in all areas of the shop and we do annual hearing test's.

I can understand both of these concerns. I can not and will not regularly wear expanding ear plugs. I have for years worn custom molded ear plugs utilized in the working and shooting feilds. The expanding plugs give me a headache and I feel they push more stuff into your ear than is goood for you. JMHO and just my preferance.

I think we will be pretty clean on the air samples, we do not weld SS and what is galvanized coated is not hot dipped and small sized round tube ranging from 3" to 5".

I will post when the air results come in.

jrw159
Parent - - By aevald (*****) Date 10-28-2008 03:15
Hello John, thanks for the update, will be looking forward to hearing of your air sampling results and any suggested changes or recommendations with regard to the results. Best regards, Allan
Parent - By jrw159 (*****) Date 10-28-2008 13:41
Will do Allan. Thanks

jrw159
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 11-24-2008 15:00
Hello Everyone,
  I received the results from our air quality sampling, and we are under the allowable limits for exposure. The highest was iron content and it is still below the limits. Also due to the configuration of our shop and the need for access of forklifts the environment does not change much in the winter months.

So no respirators and fit tests will be required in our shop. :-)

jrw159
Parent - - By jwright650 (*****) Date 12-01-2008 16:16
Now...aren't you glad that you went ahead with the testing just so that you know for sure :-) ...eases the mind "just knowing" you are well under the PELs. I had a feeling that you would be OK, as long as the shop has enough ventilation and isn't closed up too tight.
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 12-01-2008 16:21
John,
  Yes it is a very good feeling. :-) Now there is no doubt in anyones mind and we are all at ease. I feel very good about it, and the best part is it was FREE!!!! LOL

jrw159
Parent - By jwright650 (*****) Date 12-01-2008 16:37
I had to beg our people to do this testing...but afterwards they were glad that we did have it done. I always hated the part of not knowing and then when the guys would question me about the air quality, I couldn't give them a good answer...now they know....Everybody is happier....LOL
Parent - - By jwright650 (*****) Date 10-28-2008 13:01
Hi John, have you looked at any possible way to reduce the noise below 90 dB for your average 8 hour day, so that you don't end up with a mandatory requirement?
I'm just asking, because if you look around, i bet there are a few ideas that might spring to mind.

Our shop is noisy also, but I stay on the guys about not making any more noise than is neccessary....several guys hate ear plugs, so they work with me so that I don't make it mandatory...just a thought.

Grinding on light weight materials(a c-clamp just holding the piece down makes a huge difference in the sound), and gouging are our heaviest hitters in the noise department...we have to perform these duties, no way around it, but all the hammer banging or use of pnuematic chippers can be cut down to a bare minimum and makes a huge difference in the 8 hour weighted average. Something as simple as fine tuning the wire feeder so that the slag falls off rather than having to beat it off, makes a difference. It's the little things that add up over an 8 hour day that can sneak up on you.
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 10-28-2008 13:40
John,
  I have and am currently looking into ways to reduce it, but I really don't see anything we could feasibly do to reduce it. Any suggestions from anyone that might help are welcome. :-) The only thing we do is grind with 4 and 7 inch grinders and die grinders.

I do not want to sound closed minded, but I am thinking that other than the radio's, it is what it is. Sound dampering material will not be effective due to the size and configuration of the area. I am sure they make it in a fire resistant form, but fire hazard was a question as well.

Thanks for the input.

jrw159
Parent - - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 10-29-2008 03:18
   Some air die grinders make a lot more noise than others, electric die grinders make a whole lot less noise, but You might not be able to use them in Your aplication.

   Additionally, electric grinders of any type use 1/5 or less the ammount of electricity to do the same work as an air tool running from an electricly driven compressor.
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 10-29-2008 03:49
Dave,
  We use a combination of pnuematic and electric grinders. IMHO it is more of a contact/abrasive noise than the actual mechanical operation of the tool.

But I am deaf in one ear and cant hear out of the other one. LOL :-)

jrw159
Parent - - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 10-29-2008 05:21 Edited 10-29-2008 05:27
But to Your credit, You DO listen. :-)

As John mentioned, support of the work can sometimes make a difference. The magnets from old speakers tend to dampen the ring of an anvil due to aditional mass changing the resonance, might be worth a try on some of Your parts.
Parent - - By jrw159 (*****) Date 10-29-2008 13:42
Dave,
  I have never heard that and I will sure give it a try. Would an old magnet from a mag-drill produce the same effect?

jrw159
Parent - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 10-30-2008 01:02
I think it is worth a try, but it is the sort of thing that might work on some parts and not on others. Clamping a heavy cunk of metal to the part, or clamping the part to the table may help too. The noise from the actual grinding won't change much, but the vibrations of the workpice can often be rduced.
Parent - By jwright650 (*****) Date 12-01-2008 16:25 Edited 12-01-2008 16:39
We use large squeeze clamps for a quick solution on really light weight beams(W8's, W10's, and W12's)...just slide open the clamp and squeeze the beam down to the work horses and the noise drops instantly while grinding.

Hang on...I'll post a pic of the clamp that I'm speaking of....

edit:
one type of squeeze clamp:


and another:



Up Topic Welding Industry / Welding Safety / Oshcon

Powered by mwForum 2.29.2 © 1999-2013 Markus Wichitill