More Information on OSHA Regulations of Coke Oven Facilities
Coke oven facilities are regulated under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act of 1970 (“OSHA”). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is located within the federal Department of Labor. It regulates the health and safety of workers, as opposed to the ambient air quality of the community.
OSHA regulations for coke ovens set forth clear requirements for permissible exposure limits, exposure monitoring and measurement, engineering controls for charging and coking, work practice controls for charging, coking, pushing, and maintenance and repair, respiratory protection, protective clothing and equipment, hygiene facilities and practices, medical surveillance, employee information and training, and communication of hazards, recordkeeping, observation of monitoring.
Appendix A contains a Coke Oven Emissions Substance Information Sheet which summarizes many of these requirements. Appendix B contains Industrial Hygiene and Medical Surveillance Guidelines.
These requirements are important because there are a number of different aspects to the problem of protecting worker health and safety in coke manufacturing facilities. It is important for workers to understand these requirements, so that they may protect themselves and others.
Job classifications at the plant that are exposed to coke oven emissions: lidman, tar chaser, larry car operator, luterman, machine operator (coke side), benchman (coke side), benchman (pusher side), heater, quenching car operator, pusher machine operator, screening station operator, wharfman, oven patcher, oven repairman, spellman, and maintenance personnel.
The following materials discuss important regulations and scientific documents from OSHA.
1. Fact Sheet on Summary of OSHA Regulations for Coke Oven Facilities:
This fact sheet summarizes important features of federal OSHA regulations for coke ovens:
2. OSHA Standard Coke Oven Emissions:
The following links contain the actual OSHA regulations for coke ovens:
U.S. Government Publishing Office version:
OSHA version on website:
3. Public Health Basis for OSHA Regulation of Coke Oven Emissions.
The OSHA standard was originally adopted in the 1970s, based on scientific and medical studies demonstrating the link between coke oven emissions and morbidity (human disease) and mortality (human death).
These studies are summarized in the following document published in 1973:
Source: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Coke Oven Emissions (1973).