EI Health and Safety Plan

Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt Exposure Investigation

Newton County Mine Tailings

Appendix G: Health and Safety Plan

Health and Safety Plan

Oronogo-Duenweg Mining Belt and Newton County Mine Tailings

ATSDR Exposure Investigation

Jasper and Newton Counties, MO

Principal Investigator

Erin Evans, MPH, REHS/RS

Commander, United States Public Health Service

Office of Community Health and Hazard Assessment (OCHHA)

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Atlanta, GA

Introduction

This Site Health and Safety Plan (SHSP) defines applicability and responsibility regarding compliance with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Health and Safety Program for Hazardous Substances Field Activities.

This SHSP defines site requirements and protocols that are applicable during all activities. It extends to all ATSDR employees, ATSDR contractors, and site visitors invited by ATSDR.

Site emergency response procedures and any potential fire, explosion, health, or safety hazards of the operation must be communicated to all personnel. Noncompliance with site safety procedures will not be tolerated. Personnel not observing safety procedures could be suspended from participation in site activities.

Development of this plan included consideration of current safety standards and recommendations as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), health effects and standards for known contaminants, and procedures designed to account for potential exposure to unknown substances.

Personnel Training Requirements

All site personnel will be trained in accordance with the requirements contained in the CDC/ATSDR Mandatory Training Requirements. At a minimum, all personnel will be trained to recognize on-site hazards, the provisions of this SHSP, and identification of responsible personnel.

All personnel are required to complete the following training courses:

• Blood Borne Pathogen Training

• Safety Survival Skills Part 1 – General Responsibilities

• HAZWOPER (current 8-hour refresher)

• Human Research Protections Training

• First aid/CPR/Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Training

If you need one or more of these trainings, please visit:

http://intranet.cdc.gov/od/hcrmo/CDCU/mandatorytraining.shtml

Personal Protective Equipment

Anyone working in the area must be fully aware of and protected against potential hazards. The purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) is to shield or isolate individuals from chemical, physical, and biological hazards that could be encountered at the site.

Personnel working with blood are required to wear Level D PPE to include closed toed shoes, long pants, and gloves. Eye protection and respirators are not required. Gloves should be changed in between handling each participant’s sample. Blood collection materials should be placed in appropriate biohazard containers.

Emergency Procedures

On-site personnel will use the following standard emergency procedures. Notify the principal investigator of any on-site emergencies. The principal investigator is responsible for ensuring that appropriate emergency procedures are followed.

In the event that participants feel lightheaded or faint during the blood draw, ATSDR’s on-site Medical Officer (Dr. Michelle Zeager) and the phlebotomist are trained to provide assistance and will ensure the participant has recovered prior to leaving the blood collection location.

Personal Injury

When an injury occurs, the principal investigator will assess its nature. A qualified first aid provider should initiate appropriate first aid and continue appropriate emergency medical services. If necessary, injured personnel will be transported to the hospital listed below.

Jasper County

Mercy Hospital

100 Mercy Way

Joplin, MO 64804

(417) 781-2727

Newton County

Freeman Neosho Hospital

113 West Hickory Street

Neosho, MO 64850

(417) 451-1234

Fire or Explosion

If a fire or explosion occurs on site, the emergency will be announced, and all personnel will leave the area through emergency exits (unless directed otherwise). The fire department shall be contacted (911), and all personnel shall be moved a safe distance from the involved area. If it is safe to do so, site personnel can take the following actions:

1. Use on-site firefighting equipment to control or extinguish the fire; and

2. Remove or isolate flammable or other hazardous materials that could contribute to the fire.

Natural Hazards

The principal investigator has responsibility for safety of ATSDR personnel if natural hazards (e.g., thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.) occur. The principal investigator will inform personnel of current and impending weather conditions.

Equipment Failure

If any site worker experiences a protective equipment failure or alteration that affects the protection factor, that person shall immediately wash hands as needed and replace the failed equipment.

If any other on-site equipment fails to operate properly, the principal investigator shall be notified and will then determine the effect of this failure on continuing operations at the site.

COVID-19

ATSDR will follow the most up-to-date CDC COVID-19 health and safety guidelines and recommendations.

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