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2. Safety instructions and safety points
For such applications, the HVAC system must be of robust design, manufacture and maintenance. In such
a system, fresh air and cab pressurization requirements are provided by an air supply drawn through a filter
with negligible filter bypass.
Even with an appropriate cab and HVAC system, there are other opportunities for contaminates to enter
the cab. While outside the cab, a person can become contaminated on his/her body or clothing.
Contaminated objects can be brought into the cab. Another potential for cab contamination exists when
doors or windows are open in a contaminated environment.
In any case, whenever the cab interior has been contaminated, the effectiveness of the cab to provide
contamination protection will be diminished. Health and safety for agricultural machine operators as well as
others working in, on or around these machines can only be addressed through a comprehensive program.
Such a program is defined as an Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS). While
cabs may be used as an effective engineering control within an OHSMS, this is not intended to imply that
the cab alone is appropriate for any specific application.
That determination can only be made by those responsible for the OHSMS in a specific application. It is the
responsibility of those charged with managing the use of the vehicle on which the cab is attached to define
and manage an appropriate OHSMS, and ensure that all federal, state and local regulatory requirements
are followed.
Cabs should not be used as a replacement for any other engineering control or PPE that has been
specifically required by federal, state or local regulatory authorities.
Hierarchy of Controls
The Hierarchy of Controls, in their preferred order of action:
1. Elimination
2. Substitution of less hazardous materials, processes, operations or equipment
3. Engineering controls
4. Warnings
5. Administrative controls
6. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Continuous Improvement Cycle
Cabs should only be used to control operator air contaminant exposures within an OHSMS. This
management system must consider occupational safety and health as a continuous improvement cycle
that includes these on-going processes:
1. Management, Leadership and Employee Participation: This step in the cycle involves the formulation of
the management system, the establishment of policy, statements of responsibility and the integration
of the employees into the management system.
2. Planning: This step is based upon initial and going reviews of the management system and numerous
factors affecting occupational safety and health within an organization. Included in these reviews is a
review of the hazard, risks and controls and data collected to evaluate the hazards and the efficacy of
the control measures. In explanatory comments, exposure measurements are included as part of the
assessment processes. The results of audits and measurements are also to be reviewed.
3. Implementation and Operation: This section describes the organization components of a occupational
safety and health program. It describes the hierarchy of controls mentioned above and several broad
classes of management function. Among these requirements are employee training and evaluation of
employee training. Furthermore, this section requires a written, clearly documented occupational safety
and health program.
4. Evaluation and Corrective Actions: The section specifically requires management processes to monitor
and evaluate hazards, risks and their controls. Explanatory comments note that this includes
quantitative measures of worker exposure. Practically, this involves physically testing the efficiency of
the cab being used as an engineering control within an OHSMS.
32
T CVT
ACW2071910
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