How to Monitor the Exxon Oil Spill Workers' Health

Exxon oil spill workers could be exposed to chemicals such as hydrocarbons, physical hazards such as UV radiation, biological hazards such as microorganisms and psychosocial hazards such as stress, giving rise to chronic health risks. Systematic monitoring of Exxon oil spill workers' exposures is necessary to determine health risks, and serves to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Monitoring includes identification of hazards associated with oil spill work, assessment of health risks and timely intervention.

Things You'll Need

• Multi-gas monitors (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and flammable gases)
• Photo ionization detector
• Sampling equipment and accessories
• Sampling media
• UV radiation meter

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Instructions

• 1

  Conduct a qualitative assessment to identify hazards associated with oil spill work. Review the characteristics of the spilled oil; equipment, tools and chemicals used to clean up the oil spill; environmental conditions; and the working conditions. Use monitoring equipment such as photoionization detectors (PID), multi-gas monitors (carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and flammable gases) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation monitors for the assessment. Characterize risks in terms of severity, which is based on the probability of occurrence and the effect. For example, prolonged exposure to polycyclic hydrocarbons gives rise to the risk of cancer.

• 2

  Develop similar exposure groups (SEGs) for oil spill workers with similar characteristics such as temporary workers, workers with similar duration of work and/or location. Categorize workers with similar exposures in SEGs.

• 3

  Conduct exposure assessment for hazards with the highest levels of risk and estimate SEG exposures in terms of eight-hour time-weighted averages (TWA). Follow OSHA sampling guidelines for specific hazards. Use long-term sampling equipment and appropriate sampling media. Collect sufficient samples for the sampling to be statistically valid. Ensure adherence to sampling protocol and send samples to accredited laboratories for analysis.

• 4

  Compare estimated TWAs with OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit values (TLVs) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limits (RELs). Comparison with several standards gives greater confidence in the assessment results.

• 5

  Conduct medical surveillance for workers in SEGs with TWA levels above OSHA PELs. Conduct physical examination for individuals with exposure levels above the PELs. The diagnosis must include exposure history, palliative and provocative factors. Comply with OSHA's standards for high-risk exposures such as benzene, and focus on the target organs of the exposure. Confirm the assessment by appropriate clinical and laboratory tests. Include workers at risk of developing a disease in a medical surveillance program, which has control measures to reduce exposure levels and periodic monitoring. Make the monitoring records a part of the worker's exposure history.