OIL SPILL

Major Hazards Health and Safety

Symptoms of exposure:

Workers should be encouraged to report all symptoms, near misses, injuries and diseases. These notices must be analyzed to assess trends in real time in order to take measures to prevent similar incidents.

Reported symptoms of overexposure to oil or dispersants usually are:

• Irritation of eyes, nose and throat

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Upset stomach

• Cough or shortness of breath

Heat Stress and Sun Exposure:

Workers involved in the work of spill response Deepwater Horizon are at high risk of getting a disease caused by heat, which:

• can cause heat stroke, heat exhaustion or heat cramps and fainting.

• may increase the risk of injury by having the sweaty palms, fogged safety glasses and dizziness.

• be considered in the selection of protective clothing and other personal protective equipment.

Among workers with increased risk of heat illness include those that:

• 65 years of age or older

• are overweight, heart disease or high blood pressure

• taking medications that may be affected by extreme heat

A program to prevent heat illness must include the following:

• Information for workers about the effects of heat illness and how to recognize symptoms of heat-related illnesses and prevent diseases caused by heat.

• Acclimatization of new workers or workers who return to work after being absent for three or more days.

• Specific procedures to follow in case of emergencies associated with the heat.

• Prepare to administer immediate first aid to workers who have symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

• Plans to contemplate and reduce the demand for physical strain on workers.

• System mapping substitutions or more workers for tasks that require much physical effort.

• Supply of fresh water to the workers avoiding caffeinated drinks, alcohol or large amounts of sugar.

• Special systems of work and rest according to the physical demands and environmental conditions associated with heat.

• Scheduling of work to match the cooler temperatures of the day and night.

• cool and shaded areas for use during breaks.

• System of pairs of colleagues to be aware of the mutual security and be alert to signs of heat illness.

NIOSH Quick Facts: Protect from heat stress

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-114

NIOSH Quick Facts: Protect yourself from sun exposure

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-116

The decision to use respiratory protection should be based on the best available qualitative information and expert opinion on the working methods and the most comprehensive qualitative information is available about the type and level of inhalation exposure to toxic substances and physical elements. The use of effective engineering controls and administrative and other personal protective equipment must be implemented before considering the use of respirators to protect workers.

Training and protection of response personnel

Employers must train staff to respond to oil spills in relation to potential hazards and safe work practices to prevent and control these hazards. Must be provided to all workers tools, machinery, personal protective equipment (PPE) and protective clothing to do their jobs. You must train workers in the care and proper use of this equipment. The personal protective equipment should be chosen based on the identified risks, their protective properties (such as resistance to oil) and their level of fitness for the task. Should be implemented as soon as possible a system of health surveillance and occupational injuries. It is necessary to stress the importance of immediately reporting injuries and illnesses that occur.

Updates oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

Local governments, state and federal are mobilizing their efforts to assist containment and cleanup of oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This website provides information resources on the protection of workers from the risks of the activities of oil spill response. This page will be updated as more information becomes available about the safety and health of workers involved in response activities.

Page last updated: February 18, 2011

Page last reviewed: January 3, 2012

Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Education and Information Division

By Joselyn Solis