Subpart Z
Under 1910.1029AppB personal air samples should be full-shift samples of at least seven hours. Sampling guidance states samples collected should be "full shift (at least 7-hour) samples," so plan sampling to cover the worker's typical work shift when measuring benzene-soluble particulate exposures. See Industrial Hygiene Guidelines in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB you must use a personal sampling pump with a pulsation damper. The guideline specifies use of "a personal sampling pump with pulsation damper" to ensure steady flow and reliable sample collection for benzene-soluble particulates; check the pump and accessories before and during sampling. See Sampling guidance in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB the required flow rate is 2 liters per minute. The guideline specifies sampling "at a flow rate of 2 liters per minute," so calibrate the pump to 2 L/min and verify hourly. See Sampling requirements in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB use a 0.8 micrometer pore size silver membrane filter (37 mm) preceded by a Gelman glass fiber type A-E filter in a three-piece plastic cassette. The guidance says to collect samples on "0.8 micrometer pore size silver membrane filters (37 mm diameter) preceded by Gelman glass fiber type A-E filters encased in three-piece plastic (polystyrene) field monitor cassettes," with the cassette face cap on and the plug removed. See Filter and cassette guidance in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB the rotameter should be checked every hour. The guideline specifies "The rotameter should be checked every hour to ensure that proper flow rates are maintained," so document hourly checks and note any flow deviations. See Sampling procedures in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB a minimum of three full-shift samples should be collected for each job classification on each battery, with at least one sample from each shift. The guidance states "A minimum of three full-shift samples should be collected for each job classification on each battery, at least one from each shift," and instructs repeating sampling if results are disparate. See Sampling frequency in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB sampling results from different shifts for the same job classification should not be averaged. The guideline explains "Sampling results from different shifts for each job classification should not be averaged," because shift-to-shift differences may indicate needed changes to work practices. See Shift sampling guidance in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB it is advisable to sample each shift on more than one day to account for environmental variables. The guidance recommends sampling multiple days because factors like wind and precipitation can affect results and because sampling more than one day can reveal shift-specific exposures that may require corrective action. See Multi-day sampling advice in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB the employer should repeat sampling when disparate results are obtained for a particular job classification. The guideline states "If disparate results are obtained for particular job classification, sampling should be repeated," so plan follow-up sampling focused on the tasks or conditions that produced the outlying values. See Repeat sampling guidance in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB multiple samples collected from the same shift on each battery may be used to calculate an average exposure for that job classification. The guideline says "Multiple samples from same shift on each battery may be used to calculate an average exposure for a particular job classification," so averaging within the same shift is permitted to characterize typical exposure that shift. See Averaging within-shift samples in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB laboratory glassware must be cleaned with dichromic acid solution, rinsed with tap water, then deionized water and acetone, dried completely, and then rinsed with nanograde benzene before use; Teflon cups are cleaned with benzene then acetone. The procedure begins with "All extraction glassware is cleaned with dichromic acid cleaning solution, rinsed with tap water, then deionized water, acetone, and allowed to dry completely. The glassware is rinsed with nanograde benzene before use. The Teflon cups are cleaned with benzene then with acetone." See Analysis steps in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB Teflon cups should be pre-weighed to 0.01 mg on an autobalance AD 2 before analysis. The guidance instructs to "Pre-weigh the 2 ml Teflon cups to one hundredth of a milligram (0.01 mg) on an autobalance AD 2" and notes the tare weight is about 50 mg. See Weighing procedure in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB the filters are placed in a test tube and extracted with 5 ml of benzene in an ultrasonic cleaner for five minutes. The specific steps state: place the silver membrane and glass fiber filter into a 15 ml test tube and "Extract with 5 ml of benzene for five minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner," followed by filtering the extract and rinses through a fritted glass funnel. See Extraction steps in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB filter extracts are filtered, then the test tube and filters are rinsed with two 1.5 ml aliquots of benzene; the combined extract and rinses are collected in a 10 ml evaporative concentrator and evaporated down to 1 ml while rinsing the sides with benzene. The guideline details: "Filter the extract... Rinse test tube and filters with two 1.5 ml aliquots of benzene... Collect the extract and two rinses in a 10 ml ... concentrator. Evaporate down to 1 ml while rinsing the sides with benzene." See Concentration steps in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB 0.5 ml of the concentrated extract is pipetted into the pre-weighed Teflon cup, evaporated to dryness in a vacuum oven at 40 °C for 3 hours, and then reweighed; the weight gain equals the benzene‑soluble residue in half the sample. The guidance specifies: "Pipet 0.5 ml into the Teflon cup and evaporate to dryness in a vacuum oven at 40 °C for 3 hours. Weigh the Teflon cup and the weight gain is due to the benzene soluble residue in half the Sample." See Final analysis steps in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB the procedure uses 0.5 ml of the concentrated 1 ml extract (half the final concentrate), so the measured residue represents half the sample unless adjusted. The guideline instructs evaporation of the extract to 1 ml then pipetting 0.5 ml into the Teflon cup; because only half the concentrate is analyzed, the measured mass corresponds to half the sample and must be multiplied accordingly to report the full-sample benzene-soluble mass. See Analysis procedure in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB it is recommended to sample each shift on more than one day to account for environmental variables like wind and precipitation. The guideline advises that sampling more than one day per shift helps identify true exposure patterns and avoids misinterpreting results caused by transient weather conditions. See Environmental variability guidance in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029(j) the initial medical examination must be provided to all coke oven workers who work at least 30 days in the regulated area. The medical surveillance guidelines specify that "The initial examination is to be provided to all coke oven workers who work at least 30 days in the regulated area," and describe the required tests for baseline comparison. See Medical surveillance requirements in 1910.1029(j).
Under 1910.1029(j) and 1910.1029AppB the initial medical exam must include a standard-size posterior-anterior chest X-ray (14" by 17" or equivalent), pulmonary function tests (FVC and FEV1), weight, urinalysis, skin exam, and urinary cytologic exam. The guideline states these elements are required as a baseline for future comparisons and are the minimum content of the initial exam. See Medical surveillance content in 1910.1029(j) and Guidelines in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029(j) urine cytologic testing is required periodically only for employees who are 45 years or older or who have worked 5 or more years in the regulated area. The guideline specifies the urine cytologic test "is to be performed only on those employees who are 45 years or older or who have worked for 5 or more years in the regulated area." See Urine cytologic testing criteria in 1910.1029(j).
Under 1910.1029AppB pulmonary function tests should be performed with multiple trials to reduce learning effects, using the best of three trials or the average of the last three of five trials, and recording the type of equipment used. The guideline notes learning effects for FEV1 and recommends multiple trials and documenting equipment (manufacturer and model) because reliability varies between devices. See Pulmonary function test guidance in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB you should record the type of pulmonary function equipment used, including manufacturer and model, with the test results. The guideline states "The type of equipment used (manufacturer, model, etc.) should be recorded with the results as reliability and accuracy varies," which helps interpret and compare future tests. See Equipment documentation guidance in 1910.1029AppB.
Under 1910.1029AppB yes; additional exams such as lateral or oblique X-rays or more pulmonary function tests may be performed if deemed necessary. The guideline clarifies that the listed exam contents are minimum requirements and allows supplemental testing when clinically indicated. See Medical surveillance flexibility in 1910.1029AppB and 1910.1029(j) and 1910.1029(j).