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Abrasive Blasting Work Instruction

Scope

This work instruction establishes the requirements to be followed to ensure all abrasive blasting activities are conducted in a safe manner and the risk to injury or
illness to personnel is minimized. Abrasive blasting is considered a high-risk operation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. DEFINITIONS .......................................................................................................................... 2

2. RESPONSIBILITIES .................................................................................................................... 2

3. PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................................ 3
3.1 General Requirements ................................................................................................................ 3
3.2 Personal Protective Measures and Equipment ........................................................................... 4
3.3 Housekeeping .............................................................................................................................. 4
3.4 Blasting Enclosures ...................................................................................................................... 4
3.5 Shutdown .................................................................................................................................... 4

4. TRAINING ................................................................................................................................ 4

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1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 Abrasive Blasting – Operation of cleaning or preparing a surface by forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material against it.
1.2 Affected Employee – Employee who will engage in high risk operation and must be specifically trained and/or experienced to perform a specific
high-risk operation.
1.3 Supplied Air Respirator (SRA) or Airline Respirator – Supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not designed to be carried by the
user.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES

2.1 Site Manager/Project Manager or designee

2.1.1 Work with the EHS Manager / Specialist to ensure use of least harmful blasting agent.
2.1.2
2.1.3 Ensure that the precautions in this work instruction are followed.

2.2. Line Manager / Supervisor shall:

2.2.1 Ensure that abrasive blasting personnel are trained in the hazards associated with the materials to be used and the materials to be
removed.
2.2.2 Ensure that all personnel that may be affected by abrasive blasting operation are training in the hazards associated with abrasive
blasting or are removed from hazard area.
2.2.3 Ensure that Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for blasting agents are available.
2.2.4 Ensure the supply and quality of compressed breathing air for supplied-air abrasive blasting respirator meets regulatory requirements.
2.2.5 Ensure that employees have sufficient personal protective equipment, including respiratory protective, full head, hand and foot
protection.
2.2.6 Be aware of potential for heat stress. Provide adequate drinking water and all sufficient time for work/rest recovery periods for workers
performing abrasive blasting.
2.2.7 Ensure that when blasting material contains silica, air monitoring is being performed to provide basis for engineering controls and to
establish potential worker exposure.
2.2.8 Ensure medical surveillance is provided for all workers that may be exposed to crystalline silica dust or other toxic particulates in
concentrations greater than half of the recommended exposure limit during abrasive blasting. Medical surveillance should occur before
job placement and at least every three (3) years thereafter.

2.3 EHS Manager/Specialist

2.3.1 Provide safety training on the operation of abrasive blasting equipment and respiratory protective equipment.
2.3.2 Ensure the safety of the supplied compressed breathing air.
2.3.3 Ensure that the blasting nozzle is equipped with a “dead-man” cutoff.
2.3.4 Ensure the availability of appropriate personal protective equipment such as hearing, respiratory, head, face, foot and hand

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protection.
2.3.5 Post warning signs and limit access to areas where abrasive blasting is staged.
2.3.6 Ensure that all medical surveillance is properly documented and complete any regulatory reporting requirements as required by
any local, state, federal of other regulatory agency.
2.3.7 Ensure that industrial hygiene monitoring has been conducted and documented for all abrasive blasting operations.

2.4 Sourcing
a) Working with EHS Manager / Specialist, locate the least harmful abrasive blasting agent available in the area using the following information:
• Silica sand is to be sued only if no other abrasives are available.
• Check non-organic abrasives (such as slag) for toxic metal content.
• Organic abrasives are preferred if they are capable of performed the tasks.
b) Working with EHS Manager / Specialist, ensure that the following tasks are completed:
• Locate acceptable compressed breathing air supplies for the use of the abrasive blaster.
• Locate acceptable dust filters (ones rated for use against lead dust) for use by the pot tender.
• Obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for material to be used and provide these to EHS Manager / Specialist.

2.5 Employees
2.5.1 Use all required safety equipment.
2.5.2 Use an approved abrasive blasting respirator, with intrinsic face shield, safety glasses, hard hats, safety boots, gloves, and hearing
protection during blasting.
2.5.3 When not using an abrasive blasting respirator, use the highest grade of particulate respirator available and a face shield.
2.5.4 Inspect blasting equipment and systems before starting blasting.
2.5.5 Confirm operation of safety interlocks and “dead-man” switches prior to starting blasting. Do not perform abrasive blasting if the
“dead-man” switch is inoperative.
2.5.6 Remove defective abrasive blasting equipment from service, identify it, and do not use it until repaired.
2.5.7 Do not start abrasive blasting work until a pot tender or teammate is in the area.

3. PROCEDURE
3.1 General Requirements
3.1.1 A Safe Work Permit is required for abrasive blasting.
3.1.2 If possible, install a water spray to wet the dust at the point of generation.
3.1.3 Where possible, conduct abrasive blasting operations in a blasting enclosure.
3.1.4 Do not conduct any abrasive blasting operation in the vicinity of cargo handling operations.
3.1.5 Ensure that equipment is grounded to discharge static electricity (e.g. from blasting nozzles).
3.1.6 Ensure that whenever hazardous substances such as dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases exist or are produced in the course of work,
their concentrations shall not exceed the regulatory limits.

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3.1.7 Vehicles are not to park in or around area which may be affected by abrasive blasting operations.
3.2 Personal Protective Measures and Equipment
3.2.1 Do not direct the blast nozzle toward any person.
3.2.2 Comply with additional safety precautions, such as confined space entry.
3.2.3 Blasting operators shall wear approved abrasive blasting respirators.
3.2.4 Pot tenders, and others involved in operations where respirators may be required, must use an air purifying respirator approved for
protection against crystalline silica or other toxic dust. Do not eat, drink, use tobacco products, or apply cosmetics in areas where
abrasive blasting operations are being conducted.
3.2.5 Wash your hands and face after leaving an abrasive blasting work area and before eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics.
3.2.6 Whenever possible, wear washable or disposable protective clothes at the worksite; shower and change into clean clothes before
leaving the worksite to prevent contamination of cars, homes, and other work areas.
3.3 Housekeeping
3.3.1 Keep dust off the floor and surfaces outside an abrasive blasting enclosure. Clean up abrasive agent spills promptly.
3.3.2 Keep aisles and walkways clear of steel shot or abrasives that may create a slipping hazard.
3.3.3 Compressed air shall not be used for cleaning purposes except where reduced to less than 30 psi and then only when effective chip
guarding is present and personal protective equipment is worn.
3.4 Blasting Enclosures
3.4.1 When possible, conduct abrasive blasting within designed, specially-designed enclosures.
3.4.2 Keep abrasive blasting enclosures under negative pressure to ensure a continuous inward flow of air at all openings in the enclosure.
3.4.3 Avoid cleaning enclosure areas by blowing with compressed air or dry sweeping. Use a vacuum or wet method for cleaning up.
3.4.4 Ensure all doors are closed to prevent dust from escaping to unventilated areas.

3.5 Shutdown of Abrasive Blasting Equipment

3.5.1 Shut down and secure the air compressor.
3.5.2 Release and bleed residual pressure from the system.
3.5.3 Disconnect the power.
3.5.4 Do not work on abrasive blasting equipment until all sources of energy (pressure, electricity, etc.) have been controlled.

4. TRAINING
4.1 Affected employees will be trained in the environmental, health and safety aspects of abrasive blasting and respiratory protection. If blasting
material contains silica, information on the symptoms and types of silicosis will be provided.
4.2 Affected employees will undertake the medical surveillance required to determine if they are qualified to wear a respirator.
4.3 Training will be tracked via Training Tracker.

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Hierarchy of controls
JOB SPECIFIC HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND ADDITIONAL PPE REQUIREMENTS SHEET for: A - Elimination
B - Substitution
C - Engineering
Abrasive Cleaning and Grit Blasting D - Administrative
E - PPE

Risk before control

R Risk Evaluation R
measures
Risk

Hazard Control measures

L/M/H

L/M/H
(P X S)

(P X S)
(P)

(P)
(S)

(S)
1. Ensure that both a method statement and risk assessment are available prior
1. Falls from a
starting the task.
height.
2. Carry out a task briefing prior to starting the work.
2. Electric shock
3. ‘Mandatory’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a legal requirement, and
from the
the ADDITIONAL PPE listed above is required as a further control method.
malfunction of
4. Work is to be carried out by a specialist contractor, who is to provide a full
electrically
method statement for the work prior to commencing including any work at
powered plant
Abrasive Cleaning and Grit Blasting

height.
or contact with
5. The agreed procedures, controls and co-ordination arrangements are to be
in-situ electrical
recorded in the specialist contractor’s method statement and, where
services.
necessary, the Company Project Manager to assess the influence of these on
3. Operating
2 3 6 H third parties. 1 2 2 L
compressed-air
6. A full PPE schedule to be incorporated into the method statement; together
plant.
with back-up and reserve arrangements.
4. Noise levels.
7. Two-way communication to be established between the Company Site
5. Contact with
Manager and the specialist contractor.
discharged
8. All operators are to be competent in the use of the equipment.
particulate or
9. No cleaning operation to be allowed on equipment/materials containing
water.
Asbestos.
6. Particles of
10. Noise levels are to be restricted - as far as is practicable.
dust.
11. Drains to be covered and windows, doors, etc. sealed with tape to minimize
7. Heat Stress.
the ingress of dust.
12. Work areas are to be segregated and relevant signage posted.

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Hierarchy of controls
JOB SPECIFIC HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND ADDITIONAL PPE REQUIREMENTS SHEET for: A - Elimination
B - Substitution
Abrasive Cleaning and Grit Blasting C - Engineering
D - Administrative
E - PPE

Risk Evaluation
This is calculated by multiplying the likelihood against the consequence e.g. taking a likelihood of 1, which is classified as Unlikely and multiplying this against a Potential Consequence
of 2, which is classified as Significant Injury, would give you and overall Risk Rating of 2, which would result in an overall evaluation as a low risk.
Potential Severity (S) 1 to 2 = Low risk
Low risks are largely acceptable, monitor periodically to determine situation changes which may affect
Risk matrix 1 – Minor 2 – Significant 3 – Major Injury / the risk, or after significant changes.
3 to 4 = Medium risk
Injury Injury Death Medium risks at the upper end of this band should only be tolerated for the short-term and then only
whilst further control measures to mitigate the risk are being planned and introduced, within a defined
1 – Unlikely 1 2 3 time period. Risks on the lower end should be reduced.
6 = High risk
High risks activities should cease immediately until further control measures to mitigate the risk are
Probability
(P)
2 – Possible 2 4 6 introduced. The continued effectiveness of control measures must be monitored.
9 = Extreme Risk
Work should not be started or continued until the risk has been mitigated. Immediate action is required
3 – Probable 3 6 9 to reduce exposure. A detailed mitigation plan must be developed, implemented and monitored by
senior management to reduce the risk before work is allowed to commence.

Communication - This ‘job-specific’ Risk Assessment has been communicated to each one of the individuals listed below and all relevant
guidelines and control measures have been implemented.
Name (CAPITALS) Trade Company Signature Remarks

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