ASTM_E_1717_-_95e1.pdf

Designation:E 1717 95e1Standard Guide forPersonnel Training for Health and Safety Aspects ofWorking in Environments Containing Respirable SiliconCarbide Whiskers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1717;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.e1NOTETitle was changed editorially October 1995.1.Scope1.1 This guide presents guidance on training and informa-tion that should be transmitted to employees that work with,ormay be exposed to,airborne respirable silicon carbide whiskersin the course of their job assignments.1.2 Transfer of workplace health and safety information isreferred to as hazard communications and there are specificOSHA regulations that govern some aspects of the activity.This guide is intended to present information that relates tosilicon carbide whiskers.It does not address nor take the placeof regulatory requirements such as the OSHA Hazard Commu-nication Standard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:E 1437 Practice for Handling Silicon Carbide Whiskers2E 1451 Guide for Disposal of Wastes Containing SiliconCarbide Whiskers and Fibers2E 1716 Guide for Selection and Use of Personal ProtectiveEquipment for Humans Working with Respirable SiliconCarbide Whiskers22.2OSHA Standard:Title 29 CFR 1910.1200 Hazard Communication33.Terminology3.1 Definition:3.1.1 respirable silicon carbide whiskers and fibersacrystalline silicon carbide material,approximately cylindricalin shape,with an aspect ratio equal to or greater than 5,and adiameter less than 3.0 m with the potential to becomeairborne.4.General Considerations for Health and SafetyTraining for Silicon Carbide Whiskers4.1 All individuals with significant potential for exposure toairborne silicon carbide whiskers and individuals that routinelywork with silicon carbide whiskers should be provided withinformation and training needed to perform their work safelyand to understand the nature of the specific hazards of siliconcarbide whiskers.It is recommended that Practice E 1437,Guides E 1451 and E 1716,and the OSHAStandard for HazardCommunication be reviewed with employees as part of thetraining program.4.2 Training should be provided prior to initial assignment.4.3 It is recommended that training efforts be documented.This may be accomplished by retaining training outlines androsters as records of training.4.4 Training should be interactive to the extent necessary toensure that those being trained understand the informationprovided.4.5 Akey source for current safety information on materialsis the manufacturers material safety data sheets(MSDS).5.Health and Safety Training Program Content5.1 Employees should be instructed in the methods forrecognition of silicon carbide whiskers in their work areas.5.2 Employees should be given current information on thepotential health effects from exposure to silicon carbide whis-kers as follows:5.2.1 The current status of whiskers as a suspect carcinogen,this being based primarily on animal studies and no humandata.The monograph on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks tohumans should be reviewed.45.2.2 The similarity of potential health effects to thoseresulting from exposure to asbestos.5.2.3 The possibility that smoking may increase the risk of1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E-34 on OccupationalHealth and Safety and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E34.70 on SingleCrystal Ceramic Whiskers.Current edition approved Aug.15,1995.Published October 1995.2Annual Book of ASTM Standards,Vol 11.03.3Available from the Superintendent of Documents,U.S.Government PrintingOffice,Washington,DC 20402.4“Man-made Mineral Fibers and Radon,”Monograph on the Evaluation ofCarcinogenic Risks to Humans,International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC),Lyon,France,Vol 43,1988.1Copyright ASTM,100 Barr Harbor Drive,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.lung cancer to those exposed to whiskers.5.2.4 The current exposure limits being used for whiskers.5.2.5 General information about employee medical moni-toring.5.3 Employees should be provided information related tosafe handling of whiskers in their specific work areas asfollows:5.3.1 A description of operations that may result in expo-sures to whiskers.5.3.2 The results of any specific workplace air monitoring.5.3.3 Types of engineering controls being used and how torecognize if they are not properly functioning.An example ofthis could be accomplished by attaching a simple flow indicatorto ventilation ho