Bioenvironmental surveys promote workplace safety, health Published April 8, 2011 By Faye Banks-Anderson 78th ABW/PA ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Members of the 78th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight want one thing for their customers - to go home healthy every day. The team blends engineering and preventive medicine to identify and evaluate environments, and design measures to help prevent illnesses and injuries. While its expertise has been more visible since the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center was cited by OSHA for a number of safety violations, Toni Hurley, industrial hygienist, says the flight has always concentrated on hazard risk management. One area which is now more visible to employees is dust containment, she said. "We evaluate and document airborne and contact hazards closely," Hurley said. "But I want to assure the workforce that just because there's dust in an area does not necessarily mean it's hazardous." One tool which can help employees understand risks better is the bio survey, which the flight conducts about 150 of each year. In the surveys, which encompass thousands of processes in Center shops, a summary table lists the established processes for a shop and various controls to minimize risks, such as engineering, administrative and Personal Protective Equipment controls. Recently, as part of a bio survey, an air sampling in Bldg. 169 identified cadmium levels greater than the Permissible Exposure Level. While employees were not overexposed - they were following correct procedures and appropriately wearing PPE - the survey highlighted an issue which needed to be solved in the C-5 pylon sanding booth area. When they took a closer look, supervisors, employees and members of the bio-environmental team discovered while a cadmium coating was being applied during sanding/grinding to the upper mount of C-5A pylons, Sermetal - which does not contain any hazardous ingredients - was being applied to lower pylon mounts. It's now using the latter coating on all the mounts. The team is continually working to improve the bio survey process. Previously, the surveys were briefed to supervisors. The team is now inviting engineers and personnel from safety, quality control and the union to participate in the process. "Each group brings its own expertise for evaluating hazards. Their input gives us a broader perspective," said Hurley. While the bio surveys are an important tool, Hurley emphasized the team is available to look at noise and ergonomics, and make other evaluations, particularly when process changes occur. "Our primary concern is to make sure our workforce is safe and healthy," said Hurley. "It is an ongoing process."