DEEPWATER HORIZON RESPONSE

Summary of Potential Hazards to Deepwater Horizon Response Workers

NOTE: This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being maintained or updated.

Potential Hazard	Risk Assessment	Evaluation Criteria	Recommendation
Cardiovascular Disease	Pre-placement physical: BMI*, BP, pulse	Physician's evaluation	For excess risk, assign to light duty, low demands, air conditioned environment
Heat Stress	Temperature, humidity, work load	Health surveillance	Training program, acclimatization, monitored hydration, work-rest regimen
Traumatic Incident Stress	Mental and emotional health	Physical complaints, thinking problems, changes in behavior, mood, irritability	Maintain adequate nutrition, hydration, rest; work in pairs to look out for buddy
Fatigue	Work hours and schedules	Management of hours worked	Shifts < 10 hours; 2 rest days after 3 12-hour shifts or 4 10-hour shifts or 5 8-hour shifts; frequent rest breaks
Chemicals	Air sampling, monitoring symptoms	OELs, reported symptoms, irritation	Organic vapor cartridge respirators, protective clothing, protective eyewear
Particulate	Air sampling, monitoring symptoms	OELs, visual observation, reported symptoms	P100 air-purifying respirators, protective eyewear
Odor	Sense of smell	Workers bothered by odors	Voluntary use of carbon-impregnated P95 filtering facepiece respirator

* Abbreviations: BMI = body mass index; BP = blood pressure; OELs = occupational exposure limits; P95 = NIOSH-approved particulate filtering respirator that is strongly resistant to oil and filters at least 95% of airborne particles; P100 = NIOSH-approved particulate filtering respirator that is strongly resistant to oil and filters at least 99.97% of airborne particles.