cancer rates

Unknown

Just wanted to say what a great sight this is. Anyway do you guys think that repeated exposure to soot and fuel oil could lead to increased rates of cancer? I would believe that a tech doing vacs on a daily basis would be more likely to develop certain breathing disorders or higher rates of cancer than the general population. Has there ever been any studies done? In this crazy world we live in do you guys think an employer could be held liable if an employee develops breaing problems and a policy of not wearing a breathing apparatus was never enforced or nonexistant. I know you guys might think this is not possible but remember a woman was awarded over a million dollars for spilling hot coffee on herself.

MIKE6

Soot and stuff

Here is what I do know.We had our company send out soot from a gas boiler.oil wasn't tested.The black carbon from a carbonized gas boiler is harmless.Everyone had a hard time believing this but its true.As a matter of fact we had some wimps get a letter from their doctor stating they can't do cleans due to the harmfull effect on their skin or lungs.After the test results all the medicaal excuses were not allowed.
Mike

DanHolohan

I'd say that 75% of the oilheat techs I've met

smoke cigarettes. Lots of cigarettes.

Unknown

Mask

In this day and age, every company should have a policy for people wearing respirtory protection. I wear a mask for doing cleaning boilers and tried to wear gloves for handling fuel oil. But like Dan said, I smoke so I don't think the soot will get me before the cigs.

Unknown

I dont smoke cigarettes

But after ripping out a boiler with an open chamber to clean , it feels like I smoked a carton , even with a mask on . I get a bad case of the black snot flu .

Unknown

Hey Bluenose

Do you cut in a hole for you cigarette through the mask ? I used to work with a guy who did that , was pretty funny .

Alan Muller

Soot is not harmless

Soot is harmful to health in many ways, and there are various studies showing a direct correlation between levels of airborn particulate and death rates. Soot from combustion processes is generally loaded with known carcinogens. I think any responsible company will enforce protection requirements.

JMHO

am

Mad Dog

They used to call me Darth Vader as an apprentice..............

but I always wore a real, certified respirator whenver rippin' boilers or even small amounts of asbestos...those dust masks don't do much....protect yourself Ron Jr...and the boss should pick up the tab..... Mad Dog

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Unknown

Report from OSHA

I was involved in consulting for a company who has their techs represented by a union. The union was refusing to clean carboned up boilers as they stated the soot was harmful to humans (cancer causing) they sighted findings by the United Mine Workers on black lung disease. Now do not misunderstand me it is not wise to work in any foriegn environment without protection. I went to several safety equipment companies for assistance and found they could not guarantee that any plain dust mask could protect you from inhalling soot. They recommended a high level micron filtered respirator just to be safe. Cost $250- $300 depending on the rating. I then called OSHA they advised me that there is no proof that soot is a cancer causing carcinogen. All tests they were aware of stated otherwise. They also advised that the amount of time you are actually cleaning and breathing the stuff in is well below the threshold level for unsafe exposure. They also said it would be wise to use an effective breathing apparatus. A good test I have found to tell if what you are using is effective although not very scientific is to blow your nose after cleaning. If it is not black then what you are using is probably good enough. Interesting you are more likely to get cancer from smoking or breathing second hand smoke than from oil or carbon particulate in the air. I used to worry about asbestoes so I went and was tested no sign of any problem, that is after 9 years in the Navy tearing two ships apart in three different shipyards with the stuff so thick in the air you could not see. And after working on thousands of boilers in particular refurbishing a lot of them. I consider myself lucky because we never wore any protection at all back then. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO WORK SAFE - ALSO STOP SMOKING IT WILL KILL YOU THAT IS A FACT!!!

Unknown

We use the mask

with the 2 filters on the side , but you know how hard it is to breathe through that when working hard. Even with new cartridges. I asked for a powered respirator , but at $300 a pop , its pretty pricey .

Big Ed

I Wonder

Gee just sweeping a basement floor could churn up a homes history of nasty stuff. And what about chemical usage ?


I wonder about them OSHA tests. About fifteen or twenty years ago this subjuct came up and OSHA performed a test in our shop . They strapped on us potable air pumps that collected air partical samples and sent us on our daily way . Well being a skeptical shop as it was we made sure them air sniffers seen the worst of the field . I mean when those machines were returned in at the end of the day , they barely ran ,one were plugged solid and one was partly melted . Back pressure I claimed! Gee to this day nobody believes me . ............ Any way after about a year or so( why so long) the test results came back . Everything was with in safe standards ????????? (What!) except one... "Recommend staying away from sugar" To this day we are not sure if it was a added joke or one of them sniffers got too close to a doughnut I wonder?

Mark Eatherton1

Soot is...

still lethally explosive at certain levels of contamination in the air. Extremely volatile. Whether it is a carcinogen is mute. It will kill you and any others around you if it ignites. Treat it with respect.

100% of the people exposed to carbon will die. Fact."Course, 100 % of the people exposed to oxygen die too, so does oxygen kill??? Of course it does, it oxidizes EVERYTHING.

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Jim_47

Black Snot

If you are wearing a "Mask" are you wearing the right one? In my town we have 5 major supply houses, NONE of them carry the proper protective apparel for the stuff we run into. I have contacted the people at LAB SAFETY co. (they are on the web) and let them help choose and recommend the proper mask. None of the disposable masks will do. You or you company must spend a couple of dollars to protect you. Its just my son and I and between resperators, gloves and eye protection we spend about 500/year. Be safe

BillW@honeywell

Soot and respirators

Soot is a particulate. The cleaning action gets it airborne and you can breathe it in. Soot particles vary greatly in size, the largest may be caught by the disposable "paper" respirators, but smaller ones go right through. To get the most protection from any size particle, use a disposable cartridge respirator(the kind with the rubber face mask) equipped with a purple (hepa) cartridge. These also protect from welding fumes, and most other particle-type contaminants. They must fit your face properly. Put it on, tighten the straps to a comfortable fit. Put your hands over both cartridges and inhale. The mask should collapse against your face. If not, reposition until it does. Replace the cartridgers when breathing become difficult, or if you begin to smell or taste the contamimant. Do that in a safe area. Beards, mustaches, scars and moles may prevent a good fit, be careful. Remember this type of respirator only filters out particles. It does not supply oxygen, and offers no protection against gases or vapors. Combination cartridges are available...purple/yellow for particles and organic vapors/acid gases, purple/black for particles and organic vapors only, purple/green for particulate and ammonia.

Unknown

Our company

Is very big on safety . We all have the masks with the 2 filters on the side. They do filter very well , but when you start working and breathing hard , you cant pull air in easy enough . So we pull off the mask . Not the greatest idea , but it beats passing out .

Unknown

Bill

Do you know of a good powered respirator that wont break the bank ? The cheapest one I saw was over $300 , and the battery only lasted 60 minutes .

Dana Zaichkin

Required Protection

Occupationally acquired respiratory diseases is becomming a big deal in Washington State - and probably nationwide. Particularly occupationally-acquired asthma. From what has been described in the posts, I would bet that if you had a visit from a compliance inspector from your state OSHA agency, you would be considered out of compliance not providing employee respiratory protection. Again in Washington, employers have to provide the RIGHT type of protection for the exposure and have a fit-testing process for any situation requiring a N95 or above.

All it takes is a complaint from an employee about an unsafe working condition to have a visit from a compliance inspector - these are not fun. The inspector then has the authority to review ALL aspects of your operation.

In my primary field, I've had the "opportunity" to experience compliance issues related to formaldehyde products, Tuberculosis and "sick buildings".

On the positive side, many state OSHA agencies offer a "consultation" side of their agency that is separate from the "compliance" side - they can be very helpful in determining your compliance requirements and, sometimes, offering assistance on how to achieve it.

Best Regards

Dana