Boosting Employee Protection from Cobalt Exposure with Medical Surveillance Services
Industrial sectors employing cobalt, a dense metal, should understand how occupational health providers can help reinforce their use of engineering control systems. These help protect workers from potential harmful exposures through medical surveillance services. This involves a series of health check-ups and testings planned to monitor and detect adverse health effects linked to hazardous exposures, facilitating early diagnosis and treatments. Regarding cobalt poisoning, swift recognition and treatment is crucial as a delay could lead to poor recovery and serious illnesses such as respiratory, hematologic, thyroid, and skin disease.
The Increasing Demand for Cobalt in Modern Industries
Cobalt, known for its high-temperature stability, corrosion resistance, and magnetic properties, is essential in many industries. These include aerospace, machinery production, electronics, chemicals, and ceramics. The radioactive isotope of cobalt, Cobalt-60, plays a significant role in medical radiological examinations and therapies.
Cobalt is used in the manufacturing of airbags, steel-belted radial tires, superalloys for jet engines, and carbides for industrial cutting tools. It is also beneficial in dental surgeries and hip implants, petroleum industry, paint driers, and as a component in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries found in electric cars and electronic devices.
Limitations on Occupational Exposure to Cobalt
Exposure to cobalt in the form of metal dust or fumes beyond the permissible exposure level (PEL) as established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) can be detrimental to health. Cobalt, however, plays a valuable part in health when present in trace amounts in vitamin B12, supporting red blood cell production and metabolism.
OSHA’s PEL for cobalt exposure is an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 0.1 milligrams per cubic meter (0.020 milligrams per cubic meter in California). In cases of acute exposure in emergencies, the PEL stands at 20 milligrams per cubic meter.
Health Risks of Cobalt Toxicity
Exposure to cobalt beyond OSHA’s PEL can cause harm to the lungs, skin, thyroid, and blood. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies cobalt and cobalt compounds as “potentially carcinogenic to humans,”, backed by sufficient evidence revealing that they cause cancer in animals, although evidence related to humans remains inadequate.
Cobalt Safety: Engineering Controls and Practice Measures
Exposure to cobalt can occur through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. If there is no feasible, less-toxic substitute for cobalt, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) suggests using engineering controls to mitigate hazardous exposures. These controls include employing local exhaust ventilation and enclosing operations.
Moreover, maintaining excellent work practices is essential. Employees should always wash their hands and face after handling cobalt products. Additionally, employers should prohibit smoking, food handling, and food storage in work areas to avoid possible cobalt contamination.
Role of Medical Surveillance in Cobalt Exposures
Medical surveillance plays a crucial role in settings where employees are exposed to hazardous chemical or physical exposures. With medical surveillance support, employers can ascertain if engineering controls require installation or upgrading for enhanced employee protection.
OSHA mandates medical surveillance for any employee exposed at or exceeding the OSHA PEL on ten or more days per year and anyone exposed to cobalt in an emergency situation at or beyond 20 milligrams per cubic meter.