I did my dissertation for my MS Degree with a research project while
employed with General Dynamics Convair Division in San Diego.  It was
titled, "Foreign Body Eye Injuries on the MD-11 Assembly Line" and it
looked into the high number of foreign body eye injuries we were having.
Four things came out during my research: 1) supervision was not present
due to shift change briefings; 2) compressed air was being used instead
of vacuums and brooms, etc., 3) the workers thought the eye protection
was to be used while working and did not see the hazard with cleaning so
the eye protection was removed before blowing air, and 4) at the end of
the day workers were more concerned with getting home instead of getting
particles out of their eyes.  Most of the severe foreign body eye
injuries were those that came in at start of shift after particles in
the eyes over the off time.

 

By taking control of the first two; supervision and use of air to clean,
the other problems were reduced or eliminated and we experienced a 74%
reduction in FB Eye injuries immediately.  And along the way we reduced
to almost zero the number of particles imbedded in skin and open wounds
by restricting the use of air for cleaning clothes and such.  I do not
have the exact statistics since I did not have a hypothesis for that,
only the FB eye injuries, but unofficially the number was greater than
the 74% reduction for eye injuries.

 

Reduction to the 15psi authorized for industrial air use is still too
much for cleaning clothes, and all the particles now become airborne or
imbedded creating more hazards to everyone.  The practice of using air
to clean off clothing is not a good or safe practice.

 

My, and not the voice of the company's, $0.02 worth.

 

Bruce A. Brown, Ph.D., CSP, OHST
Manager, Safety & Health
Los Angeles, CA