Mirror Lab Essay Example

Mirror Lab Paper Mirror Lab BY viiU523 One air inhalation hazard I observed during the Mirror Lab tour was for rhodite 906. In a large open room and workspace, the mirror lab utilized rhodite frequently to polish large new mirrors. This is concerning because this is a hazardous dust particle with its particle size at about 1. 5 micrometers. The movement of these particles are heighted by water mist placed above the mirror to keep the rhodite from solidifying. The employees also sprayed down the mirror frequently which further caused these particles to move around. When we were walking beneath and to the side of the mirror, orange rhodite compound could be seen on the sides of the mirror as well as the ground. The employers Job was to make sure the mirror was properly and consistently being polished. This definitely can poise a threat and safety risks to the workers. As a risk assessor, it is essential to decrease exposure and limit the spread of rhodite 906. Hazardous chemicals such as rhodite can cause harm when they enter the body in sufficient amounts via inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. The ature of the chemical hazard and the routes by which it enters determine the controls needed. Unfortunately, I did not observe such controls in the workplace. There were no material safety data sheets visible or chemical hazard warnings. The employer simply wore a lab coat while visitors were only asked to wear closed toed shoes. There were no guidelines, PEL, or TLVs given by OSHA. However, the material safety date(which should be posted) explains that it can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. We will write a custom essay sample on Mirror Lab specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Mirror Lab specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Mirror Lab specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Moreover, compounds that it has such as cerium ave low toxicity. People can come into contact most easily by inhalation. In order to quantify the amount of air exposure, I would employ biological monitoring for the employers who monitor the polishing. The levels of chemicals in the body can sometimes be measured in the blood, urine, or exhaled air. The results would provide an estimate of the actual dose absorbed into the body. The MSDS lists ingredients in the rhodite we could monitor such as lanthanum fluoride, cerium fluoride, praseodymium fluoride, and kaolin. As a risk assessor student I would uggest controls such as safety glasses with side-shields used by employers and visitors alike. Engineering controls would include a local exhaust ventilation to control dust exposure without compromising the polishing ability. For skin protection, I would enforce those who have had contact to was their hands afterwards. Systems should also ensure that work wear does not become contaminated with dust, which would be carried away from the work area into mess rooms or other areas. Although the engineering controls may be less feasible, the other controls are a matter of dministrative enforcement and selling the importance of these safety measures to all employees of the mirror lab. One of the physical hazards I observed during the mirror lab tour was with noise levels. Those noise concerns ranged from the air cart, generator, and machine shop. The machine shop in particular concerned me with all the overlapping sounds. Many of the tools utilized such as the machines used to cut the mirrors created active levels of sounds. They had decibals exceeding 100dbl. The workplace was in a some air ventilation and air flow. Ear and eye protection were also provided. This does not bold well when compared to OSHAs permissible exposure limit which is 90 dBA for an 8 hour TWA. Because noise levels can cause hearing loss, OSHA requires employers to have a hearing conservation program in place if workers are exposed to a time-weighted average noise level of 85 dBA or higher over an 8 hour work shift. According to the presentation in class, some machines alone exceed 100 dBA. Using a sound level meter attached to employees, I would monitor the noise levels generated y various pieces of lab equipment to identify equipment that has excessive noise levels to verify these measurements. When equipment exceeds these limits(which according to our presentation, it did), it is important to manipulate engineering controls, posting of warning signs, and hearing protection options. I personally observed several warning signs and MSDS provided by the employer. Moreover, I saw several hearing protection devices available to employees. To improve on the conditions, I would move noise-producing equipment such as freezers into another oom. Moreover, the mirror lab could place compressors for controlled-temperature rooms in a remote location. Finally, I would provide acoustical treatment on ceilings and walls. Because there are equipment that exceed the 85 dBA set by OSHA, it is extremely important for employers to moniter the amount of time a person can be exposed in the machine shop. Although the standard is an 8 hour shift, if employees are always around the sound-exceeding machines, the amount of time a person can be exposed is cut by more than half.

Ornithomimids - The Bird Mimic Dinosaurs

Ornithomimids - The Bird Mimic Dinosaurs As dinosaur families go, ornithomimids (Greek for bird mimics) are a bit misleading: these small-to-medium-sized theropods werent named for their similarity to flying birds like pigeons and sparrows, but too large, flightless birds like ostriches and emus. In fact, the typical ornithomimid body plan looked a lot like that of a modern ostrich: long legs and tail, a thick, rounded trunk, and a small head perched atop a slender neck. Because ornithomimids like Ornithomimus and Struthiomimus bear such a marked resemblance to modern ratites (as ostriches and emus are technically classified), theres a strong temptation to infer similarities in the behavior of these two very different types of animals. Paleontologists believe that ornithomimids were the fastest dinosaurs that ever lived, some long-legged varieties (such as Dromiceiomimus) capable of hitting speeds of 50 miles per hour. Theres also a strong temptation to picture ornithomimids as covered with feathers, though the evidence for this isnt as strong as for other families of theropods, such as raptors and therizinosaurs. Ornithomimid Behavior and Habitats Like a few other dinosaur families that prospered during the Cretaceous periodsuch as raptors, pachycephalosaurs and ceratopsiansornithomimids seem to have been confined mainly to North America and Asia, although some specimens have been dug up in Europe, and one controversial genus (Timimus, which was discovered in Australia) may not have been a true ornithomimid at all. In keeping with the theory that ornithomimids were fast runners, these theropods most likely inhabited ancient plains and lowlands, where their pursuit of prey (or headlong retreat from predators) wouldnt be impeded by thick vegetation. The most unusual characteristic of ornithomimids was their omnivorous diets. These were the only theropods we yet know of, besides therizinosaurs, that evolved the ability to eat vegetation as well as meat, as evidenced by the gastroliths found in the fossilized guts of some specimens. (Gastroliths are small stones that some animals swallow in order to help grind up tough plant matter in their guts.) Since later ornithomimids possessed weak, toothless beaks, its believed that these dinosaurs fed on insects, small lizards, and mammals as well as plants. (Interestingly, the earliest ornithomimidsPelecanimimus and Harpymimusdid have teeth, the former over 200 and the latter a mere dozen.) Despite what youve seen in movies like Jurassic Park, theres no solid evidence that ornithomimids scurried across the North American plains in vast herds (although hundreds of Gallimimus galloping away from a pack of tyrannosaurs at top speed would certainly have been an impressive sight!) As with many types of dinosaurs, though we know frustratingly little about the daily life of ornithomimids, a state of affairs that may well change with further fossil discoveries.