Topic: “Interesting Cases in IH Sampling”
For our first dinner meeting we decided it would be nice to share some of the more interesting and unexpected experiences some of our members have had over the years. We have selected four cases that we think you will enjoy.
Case No. 1: The Case of the Backwards Fan
Two employees working the same position indicated drastically different results. The break area ended up being an issue that under further investigation found an exhaust fan installed backwards on a foundry cooling line.
Presented by: Brian Harms, PE, CIH, Project Manager, TRC Solutions (RMT)
Case No. 2: The Fatal Case of the Noisy Truck vs. the Train Horn
A fatality occurred when the noise level in the cab of a truck exceeded the calculated sound level of the horn of an oncoming train up to the moment the drivers of the train had to hit the deck and take their hand off the horn.
Presented by: Susen Trail, CIH, Industrial Hygienist, State of Wisconsin, Division of Safety and Buildings, Department of Safety and Professional Services
Case No. 3: The Case of Phthalate Off-Gassing Carpeting
Employees located in a recently remodeled building’s library complained of sore throats, watery eyes, coughing and general malaise. A novel technique found that carpeting located in this space revealed higher concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) as compared to carpeting from other locations within the building. Samples of the carpeting from the library were submitted to an analytical laboratory. The carpet installed in the library revealed a higher concentration of phthalates than the carpeting located throughout the remainder of the office.
Presented by: Michael McCoy, CIH, CHMM, Project Manager, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc
Case No. 4: The Case of the I-35 Bridge Collapse and Superfund Site Impacts
Everyone knows the I-35 bridge collapsed but very few know about the environmental and hazardous waste problems that the collapse created nor even about the hazardous sites that existed under and near the bridge. This will be a very brief over view of the environmental activity including the IH/medical events that occurred from the collapse until the road eventually re-opened.
Presented by: Norman Arendt, CHS-III, CFEII, PhD, Safety Director / Homeland Security
SEH
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 20, 2011
4:00 to 5:30 Board Meeting
5:00 to 6:00 Social Hour/ Networking (meet at basement bar)
6:00 to 7:00 Dinner
7:00 to 8:30 Meeting, Program
Location: Delafield Brewhaus
3832 Hillside Drive
Delafield, WI 53018
Phone: 262-646-7821
Directions: Take I-94 and exit on Hwy. 83S (Exit 287) in Delafield. Go 2 blocks and turn left on Hillside Drive. Follow Hillside for 1 mile, going past the theater and Home Depot. Brewhaus is at the top of the hill on the right.
Cost: $30.00 (includes dinner buffet, tax and gratuity)
Reservations: Please register online using the online registration form with your credit card or complete the attached reservation slip and send it with a check payable to WI Section-AIHA. Payment must be received no later than the end of business on Tuesday September, 13 2011. If you need to cancel your reservation, please contact Steve Strebel at 608-224-6216 by September 16th or your check will not be returned.