SUBJECT: OIL SPILL
ORIGIN: Moldex® Technical Services Department
REVIEWED/UPDATED: August 2024
Review
Oil spill can result in environmental disaster that U.S. citizens may have to deal with for years to come. Cleanup efforts create a unique need for suitable and dependable personal protective equipment including but not limited to gloves, eye protection, impermeable suits or coveralls, boots, as well as respiratory and hearing protection.
Crude oil is mixture of various types of light, medium and heavy hydrocarbons. They contain organic compounds called alkanes, cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, other organic compounds containing nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, as well as trace amounts of metals. The lighter parts of the crude oil may contain organic compounds such as benzene, xylene, toluene and ethyl benzene. Although when found in high concentrations all these substances can cause serious side effects such as eye and skin irritation, dizziness, cancer and other effects, they generally will evaporate relatively quickly and often before cleanup crews work around them. Often, what will be left will be a thick and heavy residual that may sink to the ocean floor or may be washed onto shores and marshlands.
Aside from the chemical exposures from the crude oil itself, there are many other hazards including chemical dispersants and other chemicals that may be used and a multitude of heavy equipment such as boats, drills, bull dozers and pumps which can create physical hazards including noise.
Moldex® Respiratory Solution
Moldex offers a complete line of NIOSH certified disposable and half-mask respirators. For direct handling of the crude oil N series respirators may not be sufficient as they are not resistant to oils. The use of R or P series filters, which may be used against non-water based substances such as oils, may be appropriate. Additionally, a carbon layer (for nuisance level odors) might be helpful for protection from some of the gases and vapors created during the spill cleanup, or Organic Vapor cartridges when they exceed the PELs. Moldex offers many options of both disposable and reusable respirators that may be appropriate for these environments. To view the Moldex full line catalog click here. If you need assistance in selecting a respirator please email Moldex by clicking here.
It is up to the response command and the health and safety professionals to decide what type of respiratory protection is appropriate.
Moldex® Hearing Solution
Moldex has a full complement of hearing protection devices for most noise environments. Earplugs, both disposable foam and reusable TPE can be comfortably worn all day and provide a very high level of protection. To view the Moldex full line catalog click here. If you need assistance in selecting hearing protection please email Moldex by clicking here.
The Moldex hearing protection line also includes products that are ideally suited for more frequent removal and replacement such as hearing bands and earmuffs. It is up to the response command and the health and safety professionals to decide what type of hearing protection is appropriate.
References and Other Sources of Information for Oil Spill cleanups
https://www.osha.gov/publications/bytopic/oil-spill
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1989-0200-2111.pdf
https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/wetp/index.cfm?id=2495
WARNING: The information contained in this Tech Brief is dated and was accurate to the best of Moldex’s knowledge, on the date above. It is not meant to be comprehensive, nor is it intended to be used in place of the warning/use instructions that accompany Moldex respirators. Outside of the USA, check with all applicable and local government regulations.
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