Question

Employees in the paint department of an automotive parts production facility use styrene to clean residue off the parts as they come off the paint line. The OSHA PEL for styrene is 100 ppm as an 8-hour TWA exposure. Personal air samples show that during peak production times, exposures range from 150 ppm to 200 ppm for an 8-hour shift. The parts cleaning is performed in a small room with one door.

Using OSHA's Hierarchy of Controls, write one paragraph for the hazard scenario above that summarizes your approach to reducing the risks associated with the hazard. Indicate which type of hazard control you will use, and describe exactly how it will be used to control the hazard.

Your response must be at least 200 words in length.

Answer 1

The best approach to reducing the risks associated with the hazard of high exposure to styrene in the paint department is to implement engineering controls, such as improving the ventilation system and installing local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the hazard scenario provided, the best approach to reducing the risks associated with the hazard of high exposure to styrene in the paint department of an automotive parts production facility is to use the hierarchy of controls outlined by OSHA. The hierarchy of controls consists of five levels: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE). In this case, the most effective control measure would be to implement engineering controls by improving the ventilation system in the small room where the parts cleaning is performed.

This can be achieved by installing local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems to remove the contaminated air and bring in fresh air from outside, thereby reducing the concentration of styrene in the air. Additionally, ensuring that the room has proper sealing and insulation can prevent the ingress of outside air that may contain styrene.