C11_-_Laundry_Vendor_Q_&_A.pdf

N4523A19Q1302 TRF Bangor Laundry Services

Contractor’s Questions / Government Answers

QUESTION 1) What is the incumbent's yearly contracted price?

Can not disclose.

QUESTION 2 Can you provide additional more information on lead, arsenic, chromium {VI), cadmium and beryllium?

* BERYLLIUM (Be). Elemental beryllium is a steel grey, strong, lightweight yet brittle, alkaline earth metal. Beryllium and its salts are toxic substances and potentially carcinogenic.

Applications. Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in the production of beryllium-copper, containing up to 2.5% beryllium. Beryllium-copper alloys are used in a wide variety of applications because of their combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity, high strength and hardness, nonmagnetic properties, along with good corrosion and fatigue resistance. These applications include the making of spot-welding electrodes, hatch springs, non-sparking tools, and electrical contacts. Beryllium alloys are used as a hardening agent in the aerospace and nuclear industries.

Sources of Exposure. Beryllium dust can be produced when machining beryllium impellers; wire brushing copper beryllium hatch or valve springs; or sharpening beryllium chisels. Welding or grinding on beryllium alloys will generate beryllium fume and grinding dust. Beryllium can be handled safely if certain procedures are Followed. Familiarization with correct handling procedures and dust control is the primary prevention measure. Beryllium and its compounds should be handled with great care and special precautions must be taken when carrying out any activity which could result in the release of beryllium dust.

Health Effects. The adverse health effects of beryllium exposure are caused by the body’s immune system reacting with the metal resulting in an allergic type response. Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) symptoms include an unexplained cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss or loss of appetite, fevers, and/or skin rash. Acute beryllium disease usually has a quick onset and has symptoms that resemble those of pneumonia or bronchitis. The acute form of the disease is believed to occur as a result of exposures well above the current PEL. This form of beryllium disease is now rare. A skin disease, which is characterized by poor wound healing and a rash or wart-like bumps, can occur as a result of the skin being exposed to beryllium dust.

fairly persistent; in such cases, even contact with chromate-dyed textiles or wearing of chromate-tanned leather shoes can cause or worsen contact dermatitis.

CADMIUM (Cd). Cadmium is a relatively rare, soft bluish-white, malleable, lustrous metal or grayish-white powder. Cadmium occurs with zinc ores. Cadmium coatings produce a characteristic yellow-brown oxide fume upon heating, while zinc coatings produce a grey-white oxide fume. Cadmium and several cadmium-containing compounds are known carcinogens and can induce many types of cancer.

Applications. Cadmium is used in batteries (especially nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries), pigments, (surface) coatings and plating, and as stabilizers. Cadmium is an excellent corrosion-resistant coating for metals. It is usually applied by cadmium salt electroplating or molten metal dip. Many kinds of solder contain this metal.

Sources of Exposure. Cadmium is an occupational hazard associated with industrial processes such as metal plating. Operations involving heating of cadmium containing materials, removal of cadmium containing paints by grinding, sanding, blasting, or cutting cadmium containing materials such as bolts may pose a significant hazard. Heating (as during welding operations) is the greater hazard. Silver solder grades IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII contain from 9 to 25 percent cadmium. Grades 0, I, II and III do not contain cadmium (reference (w)). Cadmium can be used in electroplating solutions.

Health Effects. Cadmium is much more dangerous by inhalation than by ingestion. High exposures to cadmium that may be immediately dangerous to life or health occur in jobs where workers are exposed to large quantities of cadmium producing dust or fume; heat cadmium containing compounds or cadmium coated surfaces; or brazing with cadmium solders. If ingested, serious gastrointestinal disturbances may result. Severe exposure may occur before symptoms appear. Early symptoms may include mild irritation of the upper respiratory tract, a sensation of constriction of the throat, a metallic taste or cough or both. A period of one to ten hours may precede the onset of rapidly progressing shortness of breath, chest pains, and flu-like symptoms with weakness, fever, headache, chills, sweating, and muscular pains. Acute pulmonary edema usually develops within 24 hours and reaches a maximum by three days. If death from asphyxia does not occur, symptoms may resolve within a week. Mists of cadmium solutions are similarly dangerous. Repeated or long term (chronic) exposure even at relatively low concentrations, may result in kidney damage an increased risk of cancer of the lung and prostate, the latter indicating a reproductive hazard in men.

Cadmium may also cause anemia, teeth discoloration, and loss of smell.

ARSENIC (As). Arsenic is not truly a heavy metal, but is often categorized as one. Arsenic is a naturally occurring element widely distributed in the earth's crust. It occurs in several forms, often in compounds with other chemical elements. Arsenic and all of its compounds are poisonous but the toxicity varies. For example, inorganic arsenic - arsenic combined with oxygen, chlorine or sulfur - is thought to be the most toxic, while most organic forms of arsenic are relatively less toxic. In its solid state arsenic appears as a silver-gray, brittle semi-metal that tarnishes in the air. Arsenic and its compounds are used as various alloys. Arsenic is used in small quantities in semi-conductor manufacturing. It is also used as a preservative. Arsenic is in our environment as a byproduct of copper smelting - arsenic occurs naturally in copper ores. Arsenic has been found in mastics and adhesives applied to the hull, in blasting media, and in very low levels in paint.

Sources of Exposure. Arsenic is found in other elements (e.g., copper and lead) and can be inhaled or ingested into the body during dust producing operations (e.g., blasting and grit recovery). Arsenic can be found in non-silica abrasives depending on the type of raw material sources and/or the manufacturing processes used to make the abrasives.

Health Effects. Arsenic is a poison. You should wash your hands thoroughly before eating or smoking after handling arsenic containing materials. Arsenic can be a skin irritant. Breathing high levels of inorganic arsenic can give you a sore throat or irritated lungs. Acute exposure can produce pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Chronic exposure leading to arsenic poisoning can produce characteristic skin lesions, abnormal heart function/rhythm, damage to liver, kidneys, and blood vessels, and create a sensation of "pins and needles" in hands and feet. Arsenic is a known human carcinogen, increasing the risk of cancer to the liver, bladder, kidney and lungs.

Reproductive Effects. Arsenic can also harm a developing fetus. A very high exposure to inorganic arsenic can cause infertility and miscarriages with women.

THE ADDITIONAL FOLLOWING METALS ARE NOT REGULATED BY OSHA UNDER A SUBSTNCE

SPECIFIC STANDARD. However, they are regulated by OSHA as air contaminants.

BERYLLIUM (Be). Elemental beryllium is a steel grey, strong, lightweight yet brittle, alkaline earth metal. Beryllium and its salts are toxic substances and potentially carcinogenic. Applications.

Beryllium is used as an alloying agent in the production of beryllium-copper, containing up to 2.5% beryllium. Beryllium-copper alloys are used in a wide variety of applications because of their combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity, high strength and hardness, nonmagnetic properties, along with good corrosion and fatigue resistance. These applications include the making of spot-welding electrodes, hatch springs, non-sparking tools, and electrical contacts. Beryllium alloys are used as a hardening agent in the aerospace and nuclear industries.

Sources of Exposure. Beryllium dust can be produced when machining beryllium impellers; wire brushing copper beryllium hatch or valve springs; or sharpening beryllium chisels. Welding or grinding on beryllium alloys will generate beryllium fume and grinding dust. Beryllium can be handled safely if certain procedures are followed.

Familiarization with correct handling procedures and dust control is the primary prevention measure. Beryllium and its compounds should be handled with great care and special precautions must be taken when carrying out any activity which could result in the release of beryllium dust.

Health Effects. The adverse health effects of beryllium exposure are caused by the body’s immune system reacting with the metal resulting in an allergic type response. Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) symptoms include an unexplained cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss or loss of appetite, fevers, and/or skin rash. Acute beryllium disease usually has a quick onset and has symptoms that resemble those of pneumonia or bronchitis. The acute form of the disease is believed to occur as a result of exposures well above the current PEL. This form of beryllium disease is now rare. A skin disease, which is characterized by poor wound healing and a rash or wart-like bumps, can occur as a result of the skin being exposed to beryllium dust.

NICKEL (Ni). Nickel is a hard, silvery metal that takes on a high polish and resists corrosion even at high temperatures. If exposed to air, it gradually becomes dull gray in color, especially in air containing sulfur compounds. It is hard, malleable, ductile, somewhat ferromagnetic, and a fair conductor of heat and electricity. Application. Nickel is used in many industrial and consumer products, including stainless steel, corrosion-resistant alloys, and in nickel-plating. Nickel is pre-eminently an alloy metal, and its chief use is in the nickel steels and nickel cast irons, of which there are many varieties. It is also widely used for many other alloys, such as nickel brasses and bronzes, and alloys with copper, chromium, aluminum, lead, cobalt, silver, and gold. These alloys are used to make items such as valves and heat exchangers. Most nickel is used to make stainless steel. It is also used in nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries as a catalyst.

Sources of Exposure. Nickel exposure may occur in nickel refining, and electroplating. Nickel dust can be produced during dust producing operations, such as grinding or sanding. There is also concern about exposure to nickel when welding stainless steel causing lung cancer, although it is difficult to separate the effects from those of chromium also present in stainless steel.

Health Effects. Routes of exposure to nickel include inhalation; ingestion; and absorption through skin and/or eye contact. The target organs in the human body for nickel are the nasal cavities, lungs, and skin. Two principal adverse health effects associated with nickel exposure are skin allergies and lung or nasal cancer. Skin allergies to nickel occur when there has been both direct and prolonged skin contact with nickel metal that can dissolve in sweat and penetrate the skin. By contrast, many nickel alloys, including stainless steel, do not react with sweat. In general, a nickel allergy is recognized as an irritating skin rash seen when nickel contacts the body. The most common form of occupational nickel allergy is hand eczema.

COPPER (Cu). Copper (in the form of dust and mist) is a reddish, lustrous, malleable odorless solid. It is noncombustible in its solid bulk form, but in its powdered form may ignite. Copper is used to make many different kinds of products like wire, plumbing pipes, and sheet metal.

Copper is also combined with other metals to make brass and bronze pipes and faucets. All copper compounds, unless otherwise known, should be treated as if they were toxic. Symptoms of copper poisoning are very similar to those produced by arsenic. Application. It is used extensively, in electronics such as copper wire, electromagnets, printed circuit boards, electrical machines, electrical relays, busbars, and switches. It is also used as copper plumbing fittings and compression tubes, and copper water heater cylinders. Copper is used to line parts of ships to act as an anti-fouling agent and protect against barnacles and mussels. Copper-nickel alloys are widely used for marine applications due to their excellent resistance to seawater corrosion, high inherent resistance to biofouling and good fabricability.

Sources of Exposure. Exposure routes for copper dust and mist include inhalation, ingestion, and absorption (skin/eye contact). Copper dust and fumes are generated when grinding or welding on metals containing copper, such as bronze, or by mechanical removal of anti-fouling paints.

Copper fume appears as a finely divided black particulate dispersed in air. Exposure to fume may occur in copper and brass plants, brazing and during the welding of copper alloys (such as when repairing props or carbon arcing). Copper can be used in electroplating processes.

Health Effects. Target organs include the respiratory system, eyes, skin, kidneys, and liver.

Symptoms of exposure for dust and mist are irritation of the eyes and respiratory system;

cough; breathing difficulty; and wheezing. Symptoms of exposure to copper fume are eye and upper respiratory irritation, dry throat, cough, weakness, exhaustion, metallic or sweet taste in the mouth, discoloration of skin and hair, and metal fume fever. Symptoms of metal fume fever include chills, muscle ache, nausea, and fever. Fatal cases generally end in convulsions, palsy, and insensibility.

ZINC (Zn). Zinc is a bluish-white, lustrous metal. It is brittle at ambient temperatures, but is malleable at 100 to 150oC. It burns in air at high, red heat creating white clouds of zinc oxide.

Zinc is abundant in the earth’s crust. It is the fourth most common metal in use, trailing only iron, aluminum, and copper in annual production. Metallic zinc is not considered to be toxic, but free zinc ions in solution (like copper or iron ions) are highly toxic.

Applications. Zinc is used to galvanize steel to prevent corrosion, and to parkerize steel, a method used to prevent rust and corrosion and increase resistance to wear. Zinc is used in alloys such as brass, and various soldering formulas. The most widespread such use is as the anode in alkaline batteries. Zinc is used as a sacrificial anode on boats and ships that use cathode protection to prevent corrosion of metals that are exposed to seawater. Zinc oxide is used as a white pigment in paints, and as activator in the rubber industry.

Sources of Exposure. Exposure routes for zinc dust and fumes include inhalation and ingestion.

Zinc dust is generated from grinding or sanding operations and fumes from welding operations.

Zinc can be used in electroplating processes.

Health effects. Zinc, in the form of zinc oxide powder, is primarily a nuisance dust, but exposure to high concentrations can impact the respiratory system. Acute exposure to zinc oxide dust or fume can result in coughing, breastbone pain, upper respiratory tract irritation, a rattling in the throat, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Chronic exposure to zinc oxide dust by skin contact may result in skin eruptions under the arm, inner thigh, inner arm, scrotum and pubic areas.

Inhaling large amounts of zinc (as zinc dust or fumes from smelting or welding) can cause a specific short-term disease called metal fume fever. There is also a condition called zinc shakes or zinc chills (see metal fume fever) that can be induced by the inhalation of freshly formed zinc oxide formed during the welding of galvanized materials. Zinc oxide fume has a sweet metallic taste. Symptoms of metal fume fever include dry throat, coughing, chills, fever, tight chest, shortness of breath, a rattling in the throat, reduced pulmonary functioning, headaches, blurred vision, muscle cramps, low back pain, vomiting and fatigue. Nickel is a hard, silvery metal that takes on a high polish and resists corrosion even at high temperatures. If exposed to air, it gradually becomes dull gray in color, especially in air containing sulfur compounds. It is hard, malleable, ductile, somewhat ferromagnetic, and a fair conductor of heat and electricity.

Application. Nickel is used in many industrial and consumer products, including stainless steel, corrosion-resistant alloys, and in nickel-plating. Nickel is pre-eminently an alloy metal, and its chief use is in the nickel steels and nickel cast irons, of which there are many varieties. It is also widely used for many other alloys, such as nickel brasses and bronzes, and alloys with copper, chromium, aluminum, lead, cobalt, silver, and gold. These alloys are used to make items such as valves and heat exchangers. Most nickel is used to make stainless steel. It is also used in nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries as a catalyst.

Sources of Exposure. Nickel exposure may occur in nickel refining, and electroplating. Nickel dust can be produced during dust producing operations, such as grinding or sanding. There is also concern about exposure to nickel when welding stainless steel causing lung cancer, although it is difficult to separate the effects from those of chromium also present in stainless steel.

Health Effects. Routes of exposure to nickel include inhalation; ingestion; and absorption through skin and/or eye contact. The target organs in the human body for nickel are the nasal cavities, lungs, and skin. Two principal adverse health effects associated with nickel exposure are skin allergies and lung or nasal cancer. Skin allergies to nickel occur when there has been both direct and prolonged skin contact with nickel metal that can dissolve in sweat and penetrate the skin. By contrast, many nickel alloys, including stainless steel, do not react with sweat. In general, a nickel allergy is recognized as an irritating skin rash seen when nickel contacts the body. The most common form of occupational nickel allergy is hand eczema.

to act as an anti-fouling agent and protect against barnacles and mussels. Copper-nickel alloys are widely used for marine applications due to their excellent resistance to seawater corrosion, high inherent resistance to biofouling and good fabricability.

Sources of Exposure. Exposure routes for copper dust and mist include inhalation, ingestion, and absorption (skin/eye contact). Copper dust and fumes are generated when grinding or welding on metals containing copper, such as bronze, or by mechanical removal of anti-fouling paints.

Copper fume appears as a finely divided black particulate dispersed in air. Exposure to fume may occur in copper and brass plants, brazing and during the welding of copper alloys (such as when repairing props or carbon arcing). Copper can be used in electroplating processes.

Health Effects. Target organs include the respiratory system, eyes, skin, kidneys, and liver.

Symptoms of exposure for dust and mist are irritation of the eyes and respiratory system;

cough; breathing difficulty; and wheezing. Symptoms of exposure to copper fume are eye and upper respiratory irritation, dry throat, cough, weakness, exhaustion, metallic or sweet taste in the mouth, discoloration of skin and hair, and metal fume fever. Symptoms of metal fume fever include chills, muscle ache, nausea, and fever. Fatal cases generally end in convulsions, palsy, and insensibility.

CHROMIUM AND CHROMIUM (VI) (Cr and Cr VI). Chromium is a hard metal used in metal alloys and is not originally chromium (VI). This instruction applies to Chromium (VI) compounds.

Chromium (VI) is also referred to as: hexavalent chromium, chrome (VI), Cr+6, Cr6, chromium, and chromate.

Applications. The major uses of Chromium (VI) are as a structural and anti-corrosive element in the production of stainless steel, ferrochromium, iron and steel, electroplating, welding, wood preservative and paint. Chromates are often used as pigments for dyes, paints (often yellow), inks, and plastics. Chromium (VI) is found primarily in zinc chromate primer and other paints.

Sources of Exposure. Chromium (VI) dust is produced when paint containing chromate is removed by mechanical means (e.g., sanding or grinding). Chromium (VI) is an oxidation state of chromium; chromium in CRES/stainless steel is converted to chromium (VI) when it is heated to 1200oF or higher during welding and thermal processes on base metals with high chromium content or welding with filler material with high chromium. Certain “hot” work processes, such as Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) or plasma cutting on CRES/stainless steel, produce a significant amount of Chromium (VI) fumes and work controls are required. Chromium can be used in electroplating solutions.

Health Effects. Chromium (VI) is considered toxic and is determined to be a human carcinogen with the potential to cause lung cancer. The major illnesses associated with exposure to chromium (VI) are lung cancer and dermatitis. Chromium (VI) is recognized as a human carcinogen via inhalation. Breathing high levels of chromium (VI) can also cause irritation to the nose, such as runny nose, nosebleeds, ulcers and holes in the nasal septum. Ingesting large amounts of chromium (VI) can cause stomach upsets and ulcers, convulsions, kidney and liver damage, and even death.

Chronic Exposure to Chromium (VI) compounds may result in permanent eye damage, skin sensitization and dermatitis leading to ‘chrome sores’. Chromium (VI) in contact with skin acts as both sensitizer and irritant. Some people are extremely sensitive to chromium (VI). Allergic reactions consisting of severe redness and swelling of the skin have been noted. Once developed, chrome sensitivity becomes fairly persistent; in such cases, even contact with chromate-dyed textiles or wearing of chromate-tanned leather shoes can cause or worsen contact dermatitis.

QUESTION 3) Are the “Paint” Coveralls a poly/cotton and what color?

They are white and they are 100% cotton

QUESTION 4) What are blast coveralls?

They are a thick padded one-piece coverall to protect against sandblast ricochet.

QUESTION 5) Will the government group be furnishing the paint/blast hoods, shoe covers, drop clothes, foul weather gear, floatation coats, gloves and Cintas just launders? This is titled NOG (Not our Garments)

Yes. the Sandblast and Paint shop purchases their own paint/blast hoods, shoe covers, drop clothes, foul weather gear, floatation coats, gloves.

QUESTION 6) Under Tool Shop Laundry - are the coverall there poly/cotton or cotton (usually if it is a shop it will be poly/cotton)

They are 100% cotton.