By Steven Cumper, Medshop
Marine construction workers face a number of health hazards, including respiratory health hazards caused by exposure to smoke, fumes, and heavy metals.
This guide discusses the importance of respiratory health for workers in the marine construction business, as well as best practices for respiratory protection.
The Impact of Poor Air Quality on Marine Construction Workers
When marine construction workers are consistently exposed to poor air quality, they face a risk of severe respiratory health issues, including the following:
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): COPD is a group of lung diseases, such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, that can cause breathing difficulties.
- silicosis: Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. It’s characterized by lung tissue inflammation and scarring.
- asthma: Marine construction workers who are exposed to dust and chemicals often are at an increased risk of developing asthma or exacerbating existing asthma symptoms.
Poor air quality can also contribute to other health issues, including cardiovascular conditions and neurological conditions.
Regulatory Standards for Respiratory Health in Marine Construction
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific standards in place to help protect marine construction workers from respiratory damage and health conditions. Many of these standards have to do with the use of respirators to protect employees from breathing in harmful chemicals, fumes, etc.
A respirator is a personal protective device that covers the nose and mouth. They come in many different types and styles, and employers must choose and make available the appropriate respirator for their employees and the unique hazards they face.
Here are some additional regulatory standards marine construction workers and employers must abide by:
- Employers must use medical evaluations to determine whether or not employees are medically fit to wear respirators;
- Employers must have employees fit-tested to ensure the respirator fits and functions correctly;
- Employees must not remove their respirators in hazardous conditions;
- Respirators must be cleaned, disinfected, repaired, and stored correctly;
- Employers must provide training at least once per year and include information for employees who voluntarily wear respirators;
- Employers must document and keep records regarding medical evaluations, fit tests, etc.
Common Respiratory Hazards Faced by Marine Construction Workers
Marine workers, including construction workers, face a variety of respiratory hazards on the job, including exposure to the following chemicals, carcinogens, and pollutants:
- crystalline silica
- asbestos
- sulfur
- benzene
- benzidines
- exhaust fumes
- beryllium
- fumigants
- cadmium
- lead
- microfine metal particles
- black carbon
- oil mist
- paint with epoxides
Exposure to these compounds, especially over extended periods, can increase marine construction workers’ risk of developing lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses (especially if they are not wearing the proper protective equipment).
Best Practices for Respiratory Protection in Marine Construction
The proper use of respirators is one of the most important elements of respiratory protection in the marine construction industry. Listed below are some best practices all employers, managers, and other leaders should keep in mind to protect themselves and their staff:
▪ Control harmful exposure.
The first step is to control and minimize exposure to harmful chemicals as much as possible. For example, employers can isolate the use of certain chemicals in specific areas to reduce the number of people exposed to them. They can also substitute less harmful materials when possible after identifying the most hazardous chemicals on a particular job site.
▪ Choose the right respirator type.
Respirators can either be air-purifying or atmosphere-supplying.
Air-purifying respirators remove gas, vapors, or particulate contaminants from the air with a cartridge, canister, or filter. Atmosphere-supplying respirators use clean breathing air supplied via a compressor or compressed air cylinder.
Air-purifying respirators are generally less cumbersome than atmosphere-supplying respirators, making them more prevalent among those on construction sites.
▪ Establish a written program.
All workplaces, particularly those in which employees are regularly exposed to harmful chemicals, should have carefully written safety plans that outline the protocols all workers must follow. These plans should be displayed prominently and shared in multiple languages to ensure all team members know what is expected of them.
▪ Provide sufficient training.
Employees should also receive regular training – at least once per year – on proper respirator fit, correct respirator use, and who needs to wear a respirator as part of their job.
In addition to annual training, OSHA recommends providing training whenever the type of respirator provided changes and when situations arise that indicate retraining is needed (for example, an employee’s respirator use suggests they need a refresher).
▪ Practice proper respirator maintenance.
For respirators to be effective, they must be appropriately cared for. Examples of proper respirator maintenance include regular cleaning and disinfecting, as well as regular inspections to ensure the respirators function correctly. If an employee notices an issue with a respirator, they should report it to a superior, who should arrange to have it repaired by a qualified professional as soon as possible.
Other Essential Respiratory Protective Equipment for Onsite Safety
Besides respirators, employers may want to keep other types of equipment onsite to provide sufficient respiratory protection for employees who struggle with asthma and other chronic respiratory conditions. Nebulizers and inhalers service different purposes but are both common choices to keep on hand.
A nebulizer is a machine that administers medication in a fine mist. An inhaler is a portable device that delivers a puff of medication into the lungs. Inhalers are often preferred because they are smaller and more versatile than nebulizers, but both can be life-saving to people with poor respiratory health.
Future Directions in Protecting Workers’ Respiratory Health
As more research becomes available on the harmful effects of chemical exposure, particularly among marine construction workers and others in related industries, employers will be expected to take additional steps to protect their teams and provide them with sufficient protective materials. The information shared in this guide can help employers understand what’s expected of them and give them the tools they need to reduce the risk of respiratory damage caused by air pollution and chemical inhalation.
Steven John Cumper, B.App.Sc. (Osteo.), M.Ost., is a businessman with a background in biomedical science and osteopathic medicine. He founded Medshop while studying at RMIT University in Australia and expanded its reach to markets in Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Malaysia.
In September 2021, the Bunzl Group acquired a majority stake in Medshop. Cumper remains involved as the Managing Director (Medshop Group). For more information, visit https://medshop.com.au.
Reprinted from Marine Construction Magazine Issue VI, 2023.
