Informal OSHA complaint letter response

OSHA Welding Operations

Part 1.

Date: 19th June 2016.

To

Mr X,

The studies of epidemiology have unconfirmed views regarding welding fumes exposure leads to pulmonary illness. There is little knowledge of any major or minor causality due to welding fume inhalation. Hardly any confirmed scientific proof is available concerning reproductive, neurological, or dermal effect on exposure to welding fume exposure. Also, short and long-term carcinogenicity toxicology results of such fumes on animals are not established yet. Hence, before making any formal accusations Therefore, before any complaint from your current employee is filed, we must establish the truth and find out whether exposure to welding fumes is so critically harmful. An authentic and genuine research should be conducted to assess the facts and if so, we must commence and develop prevention strategies so that the impact will not be on workers’ health.

Moreover, three systems of exhaust ventilation were proposed to avoid fumes accumulation in the area and to avoid workers’ exposure to fumes. Proper design guidance on systematic Industrial Ventilation was offered along with an Instruction booklet of proposed practices. The employees should operate, control, and implement this process, while the employers have a limited influence on the installation of the system.

Regards

Part 2.

Sol. Although harmful neurological health hazards are well established among exposures in mining, ore-processing of high Mn – Manganese and the production of Ferroalloys, the welding workers hardly face problems due to fumes exposure, and the theory is not well understood. (Bowler, 2007).

• Where does this type of complaint fit on OSHA’s Priority criteria?

Sol. The exact risks amongst welding workers due to exposure of harmful and hazardous welding fumes is not fully understood nor proved yet. (Bowler, 2007).

• What factors could have made this complaint non-formal rather than formal?

2.3 What steps could you take as the employer to identify the employee who filed the complaint?

All welding Worker’s came up with neurological or pulmonary complaints, a systematic occupational history should be established. Moreover, a strong prevention and deterrence strategy need to be formed for those welding workers facing Mn exposure because of welding fume inhalation. (Antonini, 2008).

Sol. The hazardous prevalence of welding fumes effect due to respiration among welders is not yet fully understood and proved. Hence, it was concluded that workers in welding sections normally do not face an extensive danger of emergent respiratory symptoms. A formal complaint regarding this issue cannot be accepted as an unproved theory. (Ozdemir, et.al., 2016).

• What factors could result in this complaint being reclassified as a formal complaint?

References

Antonini, 2008, Critical Reviews in Toxicology, Volume 33, Issue 1, pages 61-103, 2003 Health Effects of Welding, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/713611032

Bowler, 2007, Occup Environ Med 2007;64:167-177, doi:10.1136/oem.2006.028761, Volume 64, Issue 3, http://oem.bmj.com/content/64/3/167.short

Ozdemir, et.al., 2016, Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1995;52:800-803, Chronic effects of welding exposure, http://oem.bmj.com/content/52/12/800.long