When  the  Occupational  Safety  and  Health Ad 

environmental management tool that is applicable

ministration (OSHA) proposed a 200 fold reduction

to not only the shipbuilding industry, but also other

in  permissible  exposure  levels  for  Hex Chrome

manufacturing enterprises.  In order to develop an

(Cr)(VI)  among  industrial  workers,  considerable

effective Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

problems were posed for the nation s Navy and ship 

for any industry, a clear understanding of several

building facilities.  The University of New Orleans,

factors is required.  Some of those factors include

College of Engineering (UNO COE), under the di 

processes; materials used in products; multimedia

rection of the Navy/Industry Task Group, set out to

wastes  generated;  emissions  pathways  (land,  air,

measure Cr(VI) exposure levels under actual field

and water); impact on the environment and health;

conditions.  Measurements were collected for actual

environmental regulations; best management prac 

Navy  work  performed  by  Avondale.    Processes

tices and controls; control over compliance, costs,

evaluated included:

image, and feedback; and continuous improvement.

  Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) on AH36

In developing the EMP for the shipyards, all of

Base Metal

the typical major shipyard processes were identi 

  Shielded  Metal  Arc  Welding  (SMAW)  on

fied  (e.g.,  surface  preparation,  surface  finishing,

AH36 and Stainless Steel

painting, coating, welding, cutting, etc.) and then

flow charted to identify the possible sources of en 

  Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) on Stain 

vironmental concerns and the environmental out 

less Steel

fall flow.  After the processes were identified and

  Gas  Tungsten  Arc  Welding  (GTAW)  on

flow  charted,  the  process  flow  verified,  and  envi 

Stainless Steel and Nickel Copper

ronmental concerns identified, UNO COE research 

The data also provided the opportunity to evalu 

ers developed a comprehensive series of reports and

ate  Nederman  Filterbox  and  Binzel  Gun  control

resource books detailing the process followed for the

equipment under actual field conditions.  Data was

development of an effective program.  These reports

collected for both open areas (e.g., open shop areas

and resource books also provide guidance on regu 

and outdoor locations) and confined/semi enclosed

latory  requirements,  waste  minimization  equip 

areas  (e.g.,  tanks,  modular  units,  and  exhaust

ment, waste sampling and analytical methods, em 

stacks).   While  the  actual  data  provided  limited

ployee  training,  best  management  practices,  and

samples and confidence in open areas, model equa 

focus areas to reduce multimedia emissions.

tions were developed to replicate the concentrations

(total fumes, Cr(VI), Cr) measured against arc time.

Effectiveness of the Nederman Filterbox and the

OSHA Compliance Management System

Binzel Gun was also documented for these areas.  As

a consequence of these efforts, the Navy, the shipbuild 

The University of New Orleans, College of Engi 

ing industry, and OSHA have a much better basis for

neering began development of a personal computer 

proceeding to establish rational permissible levels for

based  system  to  track  and  monitor  Occupational

Cr(VI) exposures among industrial workers.

Safety  and  Health  Administration  exposure  and

hazards in the shipbuilding industry.

Production

Facilities  faced  with  monitoring  and  reporting

compliance with Occupational Safety and Health

Integrated Environmental Management

Administration (OSHA) exposure and hazards may

Plan

discover that the collection, analysis, and reporting

effort are quite considerable.  The University of New

Orleans, College of Engineering (UNO COE) com 

The Environmental Management Plan developed

menced development of a personal computer based

by University of New Orleans, College of Engineer 

system to track and manage that effort from one

ing  researchers is an effective tool that can be used

point.    The  compliance  management  system  will

by U.S. industry for managing  environmental pro 

contain  data  on  worker  exposure,  health,  safety,

cesses, concerns, and regulatory compliances.

training, and related activities.  It will be developed

to calculate occupational safety and health param 

The University of New Orleans, College of Engi 

eters  to  support  decisions  on  regulatory  analysis

neering  (UNO  COE)  developed  a  comprehensive

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