Prevention of health impacts from Creosote at line work sites, 2008

Prevention of health impacts from creosote at
line work sites
Final report on the development project
Mauri Mäkelä
Jari Rajala
Tuija Niemelä
Tapani Tuomi
funded by: Finnish Work Environment Fund, Sähköturvallisuuden
edistämiskeskus, Finnish Energy Industries
implemented by: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Background __________________________________________________3
2. Objectives ___________________________________________________3
3. Methods ____________________________________________________4
4. Measurement conditions at work sites _____________________________4
5. Reference values in occupational hygiene___________________________4
6. Results _____________________________________________________5
6.1. Exposure to creosote vapours by inhalation ______________________5
6.2. Exposure to the dust of impregnated wood ______________________5
6.3. Exposure through skin and soiling of gloves and overalls____________6
6.4. Overall exposure to PAHs, biomonitoring results __________________7
7. Conclusions and recommendations ________________________________8
8. Finally _____________________________________________________12
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1. Background
The use of electricity poles impregnated with creosote has increased in Finland after the use of CCA
impregnates (copper, chrome, arsine impregnate) ended within the EU on 1 September 2006. When
working on creosote poles, line installers have symptoms of irritation in their eyes, skin and mucous
membranes. The impregnates make the equipment dirty and have an unpleasant smell; the taste of
vapours may be present long after the end of the working day. Creosote impregnates are also a
cause for concern among workmen because creosote is classified in group 2 of the carcinogen
categories, i.e. as probably carcinogenic to humans. It is also known that exposure increases the
impact of UV radiation from the sun. The most problematic of the substances contained in creosote
impregnates are carcinogenic and genotoxic PAHs, i.e. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may
account for more than 20% of the impregnate.
PAHs have been referred to in the decision by the Finnish Ministry of Labour on factors that cause a
risk of cancer (838/1993) as substances included in group 3; for example, the Government Decree
on the Prevention of Work-Related Cancer Risks (716/2000) must be complied with when using
these substances. Moreover, it is considered in the decision by the Ministry of Labour (838/1993)
that work that exposes to PAHs is a work method that causes a risk of cancer.
Many PAHs are genotoxic carcinogens, and according to current opinion it is not possible to indicate
a threshold dose for these compounds, below which there is no risk of cancer. Therefore it is
important that exposure to PAHs is minimised in the workplace with technical and work hygienic
measures. Pregnant women may not carry out any work that exposes them to these substances. In
Finland, if it is not possible to perform other tasks in the workplace, a pregnant woman may apply
for special maternity leave through the company's occupational health service.
In their work, pole installers are also exposed to wood dust in addition to creosote impregnates. In
addition to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, wood dust is listed in Finnish legislation in the socalled list of examples of the factors causing a special risk of illness (Government Decree
1485/2001). Inhalable, coarse wood dust irritates the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat).
Wood dust may predispose to sinus infections and prolonged respiratory tract infections. Fine wood
dust enters the lower parts of the respiratory tract and may cause changes in lung function. Wood
dust also irritates the conjunctiva of eyes, as well as the skin. In addition to irritation, wood dust is
also an allergen. It may cause allergic rashes, conjunctivitis and asthma. The International Agency
for Research of Cancer (IARC) has classified all wood dusts as carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to
wood dust is connected to an elevated risk of nasal cancer. The cancer risk caused by coniferous
wood dust is smaller than that of hardwood dust. The dust of creosote-impregnated wood also
contains impregnate, which increases the harmfulness of dust.
Companies that build and maintain power lines and their occupational health services require
knowledge and safety guidelines for creosote pole work. In summer 2007, the Finnish Energy
Industries as the interest group representing the electricity and district heating sector launched a
project on the exposure of line installers and the need for protective measures. The project was
funded by Sähköturvallisuuden edistämiskeskus, the Finnish Work Environment Fund and the
Finnish Energy Industries, and it was implemented by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
2. Objectives
The objective of the project was to establish how workmen at line work sites are exposed to
creosote impregnate and other harmful factors and to present recommendations for measures to
reduce the exposure.
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3. Methods
The occupational hygiene studies were carried out at the line work sites of three companies using
creosote poles. Two to three voluntary installers from each site took part in the measurements. The
measurements took one day. Each company received a statement of the occupational hygiene
study, including a risk assessment and recommendations for measures to reduce exposure.
Creosote vapours in the installer’
s breathing zone were measured during the working day as the
men worked on pools. Samples from the air were collected with a portable pump into adsorbent
pipes, either into XAD or Tenax collectors. The dust produced in pole sawing and drilling was
measured by personal sampling and also from fixed measurement points.
The amount of PAH compounds on the hands during the working day was investigated with oil
cleansing samples. Hands were cleaned with sunflower oil before the work shift, when stopping for
a break, and after the work shift. PAH samples were taken from under clothing by attaching a pad
collector equipped with adhesive tape onto the skin of the shoulder.
In addition to occupational hygiene samples, pole installers were requested to provide four urine
samples: before and after the work shift, in the evening, and the following morning. The metabolic
product, 1-hydroxypyrene, of one of the PAH compounds, pyrene, was analysed from the urine
samples. 1-hydroxypyrene is the most commonly used tracer for PAH exposure.
4. Measurement conditions at work sites
The first visit to the work site took place on 30–31 October 2007 at the line work site in Ruokolahti
where installers were furnishing poles that were erected in the previous summer and shortening an
old, erected pole. The day was very overcast and there was some rain from time to time. The
temperature was +9 ºC and wind velocity 3 - 5 m/s. Both of the line installers were wearing Tyvek
overalls and leather gloves all day. Class FFP2 filtering half face masks were also used when sawing
the poles.
Another study was carried out on 13 May 2008 at line work sites in Rantasalmi where the line
installers were installing conductors on four lines. Tuesday, 13 May 2008 was a dry, partly cloudy
day. The temperature was +7 ºC and wind velocity about 6 m/s. Two of the men wore ordinary full
overalls, and one of the men wore DuPont light chemical resistant overalls all day. The installers
themselves wanted this kind of an arrangement in order to establish the protective qualities of the
chemical resistant overalls. The men wore leather gloves at all times.
The third site visit was made on 27 May 2008 to a work site in Klaukkala. It was a dry, partly cloudy
day. The temperature was +10 ºC and wind velocity 7-8 m/s. During the day, the men installed a
separator resting on three creosote-impregnated poles. The men started working on the poles at
about nine in the morning. They carried on until 5 pm, after which the men began to guy the poles
and were no longer in contact with the impregnated poles. The measurement was terminated at this
stage. The men carried out installation work on four days a week. The working days were so long
that it was possible to work Friday's hours within four days. Work is carried out on poles throughout
the year. Both of the men wore ordinary full overalls and leather gloves.
5. Reference values in occupational hygiene
The Finnish Government Decree (715/2001) on protecting employees from any risks and harmful
effects caused by chemical agents present in the workplace requires an assessment of the nature
and amount of exposure so that any safety and health risks can be evaluated and necessary
prevention measures can be carried out.
In risk assessment, the measurement results are compared with concentrations of impurities in
workplace air known to be hazardous (Finnish HTP values; OEL values) confirmed by the decree of
the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (795/2007).
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measured substance
naphthalene
benzo(a)pyrene
wood dust
HTP8h, mg/m3
HTP15min, mg/m3
5
10
remark
0.01
skin
2
the value of 1 mg/m3 is
applied in new and
refurbished production
plants
Table 1. Concentrations of naphthalene, benzo[a]pyrene and wood dust known to be harmful (Ministry of Social
Affairs and Health, OEL values 2007, Guides 2007:4).
6. Results
More detailed results will be published as a scientific article.
6.1. Exposure to creosote vapours by inhalation
In samples measured from the breathing zone in a windy and open worksite, the total
concentrations of substances present as vapours were 55 µg/m3 and 89 µg/m3. Although the
measured concentrations were small, there were a number of different compounds present; 14
compounds were identified in one sample and 28 in another. The compound evaporating from the
impregnate contains many substances that irritate the skin and eyes, which explains the symptoms
of irritation in the eyes and mucous membranes and the strange taste in the mouth after the
working day.
Six Tenax samples were collected during conductors' installation. In three samples TVOC was
smaller than 60 µg/m3, in one sample smaller than 60 µg/m3, and in two samples smaller than 40
µg/m3. Samples consisted of 8 - 18 compounds, with the naphtalene concentration being 0.2 - 1.0
µg/m3 and no benzo[a]pyrene detected.
6.2. Exposure to the dust of impregnated wood
Dust from impregnated wood is produced in the sawing and drilling of poles. Although the drilling
mainly chips the wood, some fine wood dust comes out of the drilling hole when the drill head is
pulled out. In the poles, the impregnate does not quite reach the heartwood, and therefore about
two-thirds of the wood dust is impregnated dust.
In undried sawdust, the concentrations of individual PAHs were 80 – 13,000 mg/kg (0.08 - 13
µg/mg) and in dried sawdust 90 – 31,000 mg/kg (0.09 - 31 µg/mg). In a pole treated with
currently
used
impregnate,
the
concentrations
of
poorly
evaporated
PAHs
(e.g.
benzo[b]fluoranthene,
benzo[k]fluoranthene,
benzo[a]pyrene,
dibenz[a,h]anthracene,
benzo[ghi]perylene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) in the sawdust remained below the definition level
of the method of analysis, 1.0 mg/kg. The total concentration of PAH compounds of 200 mg/kg is
usually regarded as the limit of problem waste.
Woodworking stages in line installation usually last a short time and, as a result, respiratory tract
exposure to wood dust during the work shift is not continuous. However, impregnated dust may
remain on the skin and also enter the mouth and nose, in which case the substances contained in
the impregnate will be absorbed into the person’
s system and exposure to the impregnate may also
continue after the end of the work shift. Immediate impacts are felt when impregnated dust gets
onto the skin, especially the face, in which case the substances absorbed from the dust into the skin
will enhance the impact of UV radiation from the sun.
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In connection with the building of the A pole, in the personal samples taken during the sawing of
the pole, the concentration of wood dust was 0.79 mg/m3 and 0.49 mg/m3. If the poles are sawn
for one hour during the working day, the level of exposure is about 5% of the HTP 8h value of wood
dust.
The dust sample collected from the breathing zone during the sawing of the pole, measured in
windy conditions next to an open field, did not contain a weighable amount of dust. The sawer was
working upwind at the time. The sawing stage took only four minutes. The dust concentration
measured below the wind from a fixed measurement point during sawing was 130 mg/m3. If sawing
was to be carried out for one hour in these conditions, the result obtained from a fixed
measurement point would exceed eight-fold the measured HTP 8h value of wood dust.
When drilling the pole, 1.3 mg/m3 of wood dust was measured from the worker’
s breathing zone in
connection with the installation of conductors. If the poles were to be drilled for a total of one hour
during the working day, the exposure would be 8% of the HTP8h value of wood dust. A personal
sample collected in a measurement carried out in windy conditions in a similar situation (35
minutes) did not contain a weighable amount of dust.
6.3. Exposure through skin and soiling of gloves and overalls
PAHs were present on the hands of the installers already before the start of the work shift. If it is
not a question of skin exposure on the previous day, the hands may have become dirty while
handling tools at the store room in the morning before leaving for the field or in the cabin of the
worksite vehicle. Protective gloves that are dirty inside may also be a reason for the hands getting
dirty. At all work sites, the protective gloves used were leather gloves, which were almost always in
use for several days (Figure 1). A surface sample was taken in the laboratory from inside work
gloves used on two sites in order to establish the PAHs. The inner surfaces of the work gloves
contained the same PAHs as those detected on the hands and mainly the same as in the sawdust
produced when working on the pole.
Figure 1. Most commonly used work gloves.
During the day, the concentrations of PAHs on hands increased despite the fact that the hands were
cleaned thoroughly with sunflower oil and hand wipes at the start of a break. The average
concentration of pyrene on hands during the whole shift was 26 ng/cm2 when installers were
furnishing poles, 13 ng/cm2 during installing conductors and 1400 ng/cm2 when the men installed a
separator on poles. In the samples of individual persons, the amount of compounds behaved
logically, being the highest in persons who worked the longest on the poles at certain times. The
longest periods that anyone was working on the poles was during the separator installation, when
the measured PAH concentrations were clearly higher than those measured at two other sites
earlier in the project.
The samples taken with a pad collector attached on the skin of the shoulder under clothing also
contained PAHs. The smallest concentrations under clothing were measured on a person who wore
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light chemical resistant overalls (DuPont) throughout the day, although he worked the longest on
the poles. The other two men wore the usual work overalls. The test arrangement was carried out
at the request of the installers in order to establish the impact of the overalls.
The overalls worn in furbishment work were lit up with UV light in the laboratory in order to detect
areas soiled with PAHs, and photographed (Figure 2). The most soiled areas were in the sleeves and
legs. The upper body was protected by a reflecting vest during work. When working on the pole, the
feet and arms are most in touch with the pole.
Figure 2. Tyvek overalls lit up by UV light.
6.4. Overall exposure to PAHs, biomonitoring results
The biomonitoring results describe so-called overall exposure, i.e. the level of exposure by
inhalation and through skin and mouth. It is not possible to draw conclusions on the way of
exposure from biomonitoring samples. The above-presented occupational hygiene measurements
are required in order to direct protective measures. In the biomonitoring of PAH exposure,
concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene are measured from urine; the indicative limit of the unexposed
is 3 nmol/l. The indicative limit of the unexposed means a concentration that is not usually
exceeded in Finnish persons not exposed to the chemical in question in their work. Therefore, it is
the limit between occupational and other exposure.
So far, no biomonitoring threshold limit value (guideline value) has been presented for 1hydroxypyrene, but it is under preparation at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. The
threshold limit value for biomonitoring is determined in the same way as HTP values; in other
words, it is a guideline indicative limit value, which the employer must take into account when
assessing working conditions.
Dutch Jongeneelen has presented 20 nmol/l (2.3 µmol/mol creatinine) as the threshold limit value
for coking plant work, which also exposes to PAHs.
In work with exposure to PAHs, the concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene is usually at its highest
immediately after the work shift or at night before bedtime. If the principal exposure takes place
through the breathing air, the concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene usually diminishes by the next
morning. Various half-lives have been reported for hydroxypyrene: of these, 16 hours is perhaps
the most common and therefore the most useful when assessing exposure.
In all samples, the concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene exceeded the indicative limit of the unexposed
of 3 nmol/l. The concentration did not fall below the indicative limit of the unexposed by the
following morning, and it was not below this limit before the start of the work shift, either. The
average 1-hydroxypyrene concentration before the work shift was 19 nmol/l, after the shift 15
nmol/l, in the evening 13 nmol/l and next morning 21 nmol/l.
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7. Conclusions and recommendations
Based on the biomonitoring results, in some cases, working on poles significantly exposes to PAHs
that contain impregnates. It is essential that the biomonitoring values do not fall below the
indicative limit of the unexposed within 24 hours.
The most significant routes of PAH exposure in pole work are (not in an order of importance):
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
exposure through hands; e.g. caused by gloves that have become dirty on the inside
inhaling of wood dust produced in drilling and sawing, and the wood dust getting onto the skin
spread of impregnate from hands to mouth
skin exposure through soiled work clothes
inhaling evaporating creosote vapours
For future reference, the most efficient protective measure is to reduce the staining tendency of the
pole, either by developing the impregnate technology and impregnates or ultimately replacing the
creosote-impregnated pole with another alternative that is safe with regard to impregnation against
rot. However, there will be creosote-impregnated poles in the terrain, and therefore the current
protection practices and working methods must be developed.
Line installers’ exposure to PAHs in creosote impregnates should be monitored with 1hydroxypyrene measured from the urine. The sample is taken after the work shift. The duration of
exposure should also be monitored with a morning sample taken during a predisposing work period.
In the case of PAH exposure, the key task of regular check-ups carried out by the occupational
health service is to monitor exposure and to minimise it by providing information about the adverse
effects of the agents and by advising the employees on safe working methods (Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs). Terveystarkastukset työterveyshuollossa (Health examinations in OHS),
Sininen kirja (Finnish Blue book) p. 273, 2nd edition, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
2006.).
Close contact with the pole can be reduced by using aerial access platforms or buckets.
New employees should undergo thorough induction training. All employees need instructions on
good working methods and the use of personal protective equipment. Repeated training on the use
of protective equipment and the health impacts of substances may promote the learning of good
work practices. Exposure is reduced with good professional skills and careful working methods.
It is important to take care of personal hygiene and the cleanliness of the skin and clothes.
Protective clothing and underwear must be changed sufficiently often.
Working on creosote poles should be limited in the warmest time of the year, whenever possible.
The impregnate may be in the poles in thick layers in places. This kind of a layer is solid in the cool
weather conditions, but will turn into staining jelly in the warm weather.
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Figure 3. Creosote impregnate may be present as a thick layer on the surface of the pole.
Protective gloves, light chemical resistant overalls, class FFP2 or FFA2P2 filtering half face masks
and protective eyewear are necessary when working with creosote poles. The chemical resistant
overalls clearly protect the body from exposure, and therefore it should be used whenever possible,
taking the strenuousness of the work into account.
Figure 4. Personal protection when sawing or drilling poles.
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Figure 5. Building an A pole.
During the sawing and drilling of poles, workers are exposed to the dust of impregnated wood and
to the PAHs present in the dust if appropriate respiratory protective equipment is not used. When
working on an impregnated pole, at least a class FFP2 filtering half mask and protective eyewear
must be used. The hood of the overalls prevents the dust from ending up on the skin and inner
layers of clothing through the neck. When wearing a hood, earplugs may be used as hearing
protectors. The legs of the overalls are pulled over the boots. It is important to carry out wood
drilling and sawing upwind (Figure 6) in which case the produced wood dust flies away from the
installer; based on the measurement results, this has a crucial impact on exposure.
Figure 6. When sawing or drilling wood, it pays to work upwind. Here, a fresh breeze is blowing from the open field
behind the installers. Personal sampling did not obtain a sufficient amount of dust for weighing, but the amount of wood
dust in the fixed measuring point in front of the installer exceeded the Finnish OEL value manifold.
The vapours evaporating from creosote-impregnated poles contain several substances that irritate
the eyes and mucous membranes. In the outdoor air, the vapour concentrations hardly amount to
the levels of HTP8h values, but in spite of this, there are symptoms of irritation and the smell of the
impregnate may be strong. In order to diminish odour nuisance, it is worth trying, for example,
class FFA2 or FFA2P2 filtering half-masks, the latter of which also filters dusts. Filtering half-masks
are usually disposable.
The protective gloves must be used on clean hands, and gloves that have become dirty on the
inside must be replaced with a clean pair immediately. In pole work, leather gloves are more
practical than chemical protective gloves. In some cases, it may also be necessary for the gloves to
protect from mechanical hazards. Pole climbing irons loosen large splinters from some creosoteimpregnated poles and they may pierce through ordinary protective gloves (Figure 7).
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Figure 7. Splinters caused by pole climbing irons on a creosote pole.
It is also possible to try a thinner chemical protective glove inside a leather glove, in which case it is
worth wearing a thin cotton glove next to the skin to keep the skin dry. When wearing only leather
gloves, they must be changed often, at least 1-2 times during a shift, and it is possible that even
then the leather glove will not be enough to protect from exposure.
Cleanliness of tools must also be observed. If the climbing ropes, pole climbing irons, hammers,
drills etc. tools cannot be kept clean, protective gloves must be worn at all times when using them.
Instructions should be drawn up for wearing protective gloves.
Tools, as well as personal protective equipment and protective clothing need their own transport
and storage space (Figure 8). Creosote-impregnated poles should have their own designated tools.
Figure 8. Personal protective equipment and tools should have separate storage facilities, for example, to prevent the
soiling of the cabins of site vehicles with impregnate.
Hand cleaning should be arranged when working in the field. It is also important to wash the face.
If it is not possible to arrange washing facilities, hands can be cleaned with base cream and hand
wipes. However, wet cleaning is the best solution combined with appropriate base cream. Ordinary
soaps damage the skin with frequent use. Soaps often contain sodium lauryl sulphate or sodium
ether sulphate, which diminish the natural chemical resistant layer on the skin.
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8. Finally
Working on creosote-impregnated poles exposes to the impregnate and the PAHs contained in it.
Based on this study, exposure in the above-described conditions takes place mainly through the
skin. In addition to absorption through the skin, the substances may be passed from hand to
mouth. Unlike in the case of exposure by inhalation, skin exposure may often continue even after
the work shift. The composition of current impregnates has changed for the better with respect to
exposures in the sense that so-called heavy PAHs, for example, benzo[a]pyrene, were not detected
in the poles in the measurements.
Exposure to vapours evaporating from the impregnate is small. There is a lot of volatile matter, but
its concentrations are very small: the measured concentration levels are mainly below onethousandth of the Finnish HTP8h values of the substances in question. On warm days when the sun
heats the pole surfaces, evaporation is naturally stronger.
Impregnated wood dust produced in the drilling and sawing of the poles contains PAHs. Although
wood-working stages are short, the dust entering the skin and the respiratory tract will probably
increase and prolong PAH exposure. Wood dust in itself is problematic due to its nasal cancer
impact and sensitisation.
Vapours and wood dust containing impregnate may irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
Some PAHs heighten the effect of UV light on the skin, especially in the spring when solar radiation
reflects back from the snow.
Solutions for reducing exposure are presented in the chapter
recommendations of this report. The key practical measures are:
entitled
Conclusions
and
1) Establishing the extent of exposure in each workplace, e.g. with biomonitoring; risk assessment.
2) Organising training for occupational health services.
3) Organising training for line installers.
4) Reducing the staining tendency of the pole / replacing the pole.
5) Using aerial access platforms or buckets.
6) Personal protective equipment, especially changing the leather gloves sufficiently often.
7) In Finland registering employees with risk of exposure in the ASA register.
The impact and focus of protective measures can be assessed easily with biomonitoring (1hydroxypyrene). In order to establish the duration and way of exposure, a morning sample taken
during the work period subject to exposure will also be needed in addition to the sample taken after
the work shift. If the 1-hydroxypyrene concentration is high also in the morning sample, it is an
indication of exposure through the skin. Providing information on the harmful effects of impregnates
based on the results of biomonitoring, as well as advising on safe working methods are an
important and the principal method with respect to occupational health services to reduce the
adverse health impacts caused by impregnates.
The creosote impregnate is a new exposure to most line installers, supervisors and occupational
health staff. Exposure through the skin deviates from the usual exposure through the respiratory
tract, e.g. because exposure often continues after the work shift, and a passing contact with a dirty
surface may result in long exposure. It is also important to understand that substances end up in
the mouth from dirty hands. Both the occupational health and company employees need training on
this exposure, ways of exposure and the prevention of exposure.
In Finland key prevention measures to reduce exposure are presented in the Government Decree on
the Prevention of Work-Related Cancer Risks, 716/2000. The best alternative in this case, too, is to
develop an impregnate method, impregnate or pole to be less staining or, ultimately, to aim to
replace a creosote-impregnated pole with an alternative that is less exposing and safe with respect
to impregnation against rot. Finnish Energy Industries and VTT have already launched development
actions related to protection against rot in poles. In the early stages, impregnation companies had
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difficulties to deliver sufficiently dry poles to work sites due to high demand. The situation has now
improved, and line constructors can also return wet poles to the impregnation company.
The use of aerial access platforms or buckets reduces contact with the pole during work. The
research results clearly indicate that the closer the contact with the pole, the higher the exposure to
impregnate.
The installers used leather gloves in their work. As a rule, the same gloves had been worn for
several days. Two pairs of gloves were examined in the laboratory, and PAHs were found on the
inside of both pairs. Due to their mechanical properties, leather gloves are excellent in pole work,
and when changed frequently enough, they probably protect the skin from dry impregnate.
Personal protective equipment: protective gloves, light chemical resistant overalls and respiratory
masks reduce exposure. Regular training motivates all employees to use personal protective
equipment conscientiously and correctly. Calm and professional way of working and good hygiene
are an essential part of occupational health and safety. Working on creosote poles should be
included in the induction training of new employees. It is also advisable to draw up written
instructions on working and the use and maintenance of protective equipment.
In Finland employees exposed to PAHs are registered in the Finnish ASA register. The employer
must keep a list of employees exposed to carcinogens. The information is delivered each year to the
appropriate office of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspectorate. This information forms an
ASA file on employees exposed to carcinogenic agents and working methods in their occupation.
The file is maintained by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
APPENDIX 1
Recommendations for measures to reduce creosote exposure in line installers
When working on creosote-impregnated poles, exposure takes place mainly through the skin. In
addition to absorption of the PAHs contained in the creosote through the skin, the substances may be
passed from hand to mouth. Unlike in the case of exposure by inhalation, skin exposure may often
continue even after the work shift. Impregnated wood dust produced in the drilling and sawing of the
poles also contains PAHs. Although wood-working stages are short, the dust entering the skin and the
respiratory tract will probably increase and prolong PAH exposure. A number of substances evaporate
from impregnates, but their concentrations in the air are usually small. Vapours and wood dust
containing impregnate may irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. On hot days, impregnate
vapours evaporate from the poles more than usual, and during the time of crusty snow in the spring,
impregnate that has ended up on the skin will enhance the impact of UV light from the sun.
Occupational health services
1) Biomonitoring of exposure, 1-hydroxypyrene determined from urine
- a sample given after a work shift with exposure or during the same evening
- a sample given the next morning: duration of exposure.
2) Telling the installers about the health impacts of the impregnate and advising them on safe working
methods.
Employer
1) Charting the levels of exposure among employees with the occupational health service, and risk
assessment
2) Only dry poles are accepted for work sites
3) Using aerial access platforms or buckets
4) Training for employees:
- working methods
- use and maintenance of protective equipment
5) Personal protective equipment for employees
- suitable work gloves
- when using leather gloves, they have to be changed sufficiently often/daily
- light chemical resistant overalls (also drilling and sawing)
- class FFP2 filtering respiratory masks (drilling and sawing)
- class FFA2 mask (FFS2P2) may reduce odour nuisance
- protective eyewear
6) Work clothes are washed sufficiently often (at least once a week)
7) Facilities for washing the hands and face
8) Taking care of the cleanliness of tools and worksite vehicles
9) Registering installers with a risk of exposure in the ASA register (in Finland)
Line installers
1) Good level of hygiene: washing and clothes, changing gloves with clean ones, when necessary
2) Careful working methods
3) Using protective equipment (described above, section 5)
Further information available from
Mauri Mäkelä
[email protected]
+358 (0)46 851 2519
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Oulu regional office
Aapistie 1
90220 Oulu