Biofuels Energy
Occupational Health and Safety
Stephen J. Reynolds, PhD, CIH, Fellow AIHA
Margaret Davidson, PhD
IOM/NAS
The Nexus of Biofuels Energy, Climate Change, and Health
Washington D.C.
January 24, 2013
Introduction
• Energy Summit, Denver Colorado, April 11-13, 2011
• KB. Mulloy, C Rose, SA. Sumner, GA. Conway, SJ. Reynolds, M
Davidson, B Nelson, DS. Heidel, PM. Layde. Renewable
Energy and Occupational Health and Safety Research
Directions: A White Paper from the Energy Summit, Denver
Colorado, April 11-13, 2011. AJIM IN PRESS 2013
• Presentation:
– State of knowledge,
– Gaps
– Needs/Recommendations
Biofuel Production in United States
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Substantial increase in biofuel production and consumption in past decade.
It is estimated that the advanced biofuel industry could employ up to 94,000
people by 2016 [Bio-Economic Research Associates 2009].
Limited data currently available suggests that renewable energy may offer benefits
to workers in the form of reduced occupational injury, illness and death [Sumner
and Layde 2009].
HOWEVER … Very little published on OHS Research or Programs in the U.S.
Source: http://www.afdc.energy.gov/data/tab/all/data_set
Biofuel Production Programs:
What is Missing?
Environmental
Air Quality
Soil Health
Water Quality
Biological Diversity
Land Use
Economic
Efficiency and Productivity
Profitability
Workforce Training & Jobs
Social
Energy diversification &
security
Energy Access
Energy Balance
Rural Development and
Workforce Training
Food Security
Health & Safety Incidents
in U.S. and Abroad
Bioethanol & Biodiesel Production
Feedstocks
Two employees burnt by ethanol
vapors escaping an adsorption
column (U.S.).
Two people were killed when doing work related
storage of wood pellets in silo (Finland).
Two employees burnt when leaking
grain alcohol was ignited during hot
work (U.S.).
Since 2002 there have been at least nine fatalities
in Europe caused by carbon monoxide poisoning
following entry into wood pellet storage areas.
Employee killed when residual
Hospitalization of 2 employees for burn/scalds
glycerin and methanol vapor in a were after grain grinder exploded (U.S.)
ignited during welding in a storage
tank (U.S.).
Employee dies from hypoxia in
confined space (U.S.)
Hospitalization of employee for
burns/scolds sustained during
maintenance in confined space (U.S.)
Biofuel Production
Potential Hazards
Biological
Chemicals
Physical
Organic dusts
Bacteria
Endotoxin
Fungi
Mycotoxins
Cyanobacteria
Viruses
Plant and Microorganism
Enzymes
Animal Proteins
GMOs
Antibiotic residues
Prions
Inorganic dusts
Pesticides/herbicides
Heavy metals
Salts
Soaps
Solvents (methanol)
Defoamers
Catalysts (NaOH, KOH,
nanomaterials)
Byproducts (glycerin)
Asphyxiants
Environmental Exposures
(heat, cold and UV)
Noise
Manual Handling
Slips, trips and falls
Vibration
Confined spaces
Engulfment
Explosions
Electricity
Occupational Diseases Associated with
Organic Materials
Feedstock
Occupational Diseases
Agricultural Crops and
Residues
Switchgrass
Sugarcane
Sorghum
Cotton Gin Trash
Soybean Hulls
Rick Hulls & Residue
Wheat Dust & Chaff
Corn Stover
Orchard Waste
Animal Fats
Animal Manure
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Occupational Asthma
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Aspergillosis
Infectious Diseases
Allergic Alveolitis
Farmer’s Lung
Grass Pollen Allergy
Bagassosis
Byssinosis
Malt Worker’s Lung
Wheat Weevil Lung
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Occupational Diseases Associated with
Organic Materials
Feedstock
Occupational Disease
Forest Biomass
Hardwood
Softwood
Mill Residues
Pulping Liquors
Poplar
Pine
Spruce
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis
Occupational Asthma
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Aspergillosis
Cancers
Allergic Alveolitis
Maple bark strippers disease
Sequoiosis
Suberosis
Woodpulp Worker’s Disease
Municipal Waste
Respiratory and Allergic Disease
Sewage Sludge Disease
Occupational Asthma
Algae
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Occupational Asthma
Case Study 1: Wood Pellet Plant
Swedish: Hagstrom et al. (JOEH 2008)
Facilities
• Four Wood Pellet Processing Plants
• Produce 12,000-120,000 tonnes/year
• 44 participants
• Spruce and Pine Feedstock
Findings:
• 35% of inhalable dust exposures
exceeded Swedish OEL of 2 mg/m3
• Resin acid exposures of up to 74% of
British OEL of 50 µg/m3 (colophony)
• No respirators worn by employees
Source: http://msucares.com/pubs/
publications/e0021.pdf
Case Study 2: Biodiesel Refinery
NIOSH Project: Brandon Law (JOEH
2011)
Facility:
• Produce ~1 million gallons
biodiesel 2008
• 20 Employees
Findings:
• Walkways, catwalks and fixed
ladders were slippery and did not
meet OSHA standards
• Non-compliant storage of drums
containing flammable substances
and evidence of spillage
• Airborne methanol concentrations
exceeded the occupational
exposure limit (OEL)
Source: www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/
15459624.2011.584841
Case Study 3: Biofuel Energy Plants
Danish Study: Madsen et al. (Occ Env
Med 2011)
Study Population:
• 138 woodchip biofuel plant workers
• 94 straw biofuel plant workers
• 107 conventional heating and power
plant workers.
Findings:
• Toxic pneumonitis may be a minor
problem among biofuel energy plant
workers.
• Straw plants had higher bioaerosol
exposures than woodchip or
conventional plants
Source: http://oem.bmj.com/content/
68/7/467.full.pdf+html
Health & Safety: NIOSH
Focus:
• Making green jobs safe and healthy for workers
• Use of biofuels in mining industry
• Use of biofuels transportation industry
Research:
• Brandon Law researching health and safety in biodiesel
production facilities. Journal article published 2011, final
report due in 2012?. report number: 927ZGFN
Health & Safety: OSHA
Focus:
• Identification of biofuel production a green job hazard
• 2011 Grain Storage Initiative – includes Biomass
Outreach:
• Guidance notes on hazards relating to fire and explosion,
toxicity and chemical reactivity in production.
Regulation:
• Enforcement – routine inspections and complaint investigation
• 32 activity logs for biofuel production facilities since 2008
Consultation:
• Stakeholder education and assistance in setting up safety
programs
Health & Safety: Other U.S. Initiatives
Renewable Fuels Association:
• 2012 Drought Conditions: Mycotoxin impacts on Ethanol Co-Products
Virginia Cooperative Extension:
• Guideline on biomethane technologies applied on U.S. livestock farms –
includes hazard information on methane and confined spaces
• Education on OSHA compliance
Colorado State University Extension:
• Safety in small scale biodiesel production guideline (2012)
Dakota Center for Technology:
• Biofuels and North American Agriculture – Implications for Health and
safety of North American Producers (Dr Paul Gunderson, 2008)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory:
• Biodiesel handling and use guide (4th ed)
Biodiesel Basics (Publisher)
Building a Successful Biodiesel Business, Van Gerpen 2006 (2nd Ed)
International OH&S Initiatives for
Biofuel & Alternative Energy Production
Program/Country
Document(s)
Addresses
World Health
Organization
Health in the Green
Economy – 2012
“goal is to remove impediments to the
dissemination and adoption of green
technologies and to reduce avoidable
risks for workers”
Documents hazards associated with
production of various biofuels and other
alternative energies.
U.K. Health & Safety Biofuel production as an
Executive
emerging occupational
health and safety issue 2006
Inspection program for biodiesel
refineries (2011-2014)
Enforcement of OH&S legislation
Publications on OH&S in small scale
biofuel production, biodiesel and REACH,
asphyxiation warning for wood pellet
storage in confined spaces.
International OH&S Focus on
Biofuel & Alternative Energy Production
Program/Country
Document(s)
Addresses
Sweden Stockholm
Environment
Institute
Bioenergy Projects and
Sustainable Development
– 2011
Evaluation of potential sustainable
development benefits of 77 bioenergy
projects from India, Brazil and Africa.
Do projects contribute to health and
safety standards?
E.U. European
Agency for Safety &
Health at Work
Foresight of New and
Emerging Risks
to Occupational Safety
and Health Associated
with New Technologies
in Green Jobs by 2020 2011
Identification of key new technologies
that could contribute to creating new
and emerging risks in green jobs.
Hazard and risk variation between small
and large scale biofuel production
facilities.
Denmark National
Institute of
Occupational
Health
Various Biofuel Research
Projects – 2000 to present
Dustiness of biofuels (2004)
Bioaerosol levels in Biofuel Plants (2009)
Worker respiratory health in biofuel and
conventional energy plants (2011)
Conclusions
• Biofuels operations are very diverse ranging from large,
industrial bioethanol plants to small fermentation devices on
family farms. They include a number of technologies, at
different stages of development and implementation.
• Unlike solar and wind, biomass requires production of the
“fuel”, generally by production agriculture or forestry, one of
the most hazardous occupations in industrialized countries.
• To date U.S. initiatives could be considered “ad hoc” and
resources including NIOSH and OSHA have not been
systematically engaged.
Recommendations
• The Occupational Health and Safety community including
NIOSH and OSHA should be engaged in U.S. programs (e.g.
U.S. Biomass Program) to develop biofuels.
• The NIOSH AgFF Centers are an important resource that can
be tapped for their technical expertise and practical
connections to industries throughout the U.S.
• There are a number of significant initiatives outside the U.S.
that can help share lessons learned and offer opportunities
for collaboration going forward.
Recommendations
• Basic research on the health effects of emerging hazards
including bioaerosols, genetically modified microorganisms,
and nanotechnology.
• Prospective cohort studies of workers in the field including
monitoring of exposure levels and long-term follow-up of
exposed individuals.
• Systematic surveillance or evaluation of fatalities, injuries and
illnesses.
Recommendations
• Partnering with industry is needed to develop and promote
design and best practice for biofuel production, storage, and
transportation from “farm gate” to end user
• Because so little is known of the hazards in production of
biomass and generating energy from it, prudent exposure
controls will be needed for the foreseeable future.
“Green Jobs” are not automatically or necessarily decent, safe or
healthy unless clear policies, programs and actions support
social sustainability in a given workplace, enterprise, and sector.
World Health Organization 2012
In the worldview of economists, both occupational and
environmental hazards are externalities of energy production,
hidden costs not fully included or internalized in the market
price of fuel, thus distorting true costs …. opportunities to
anticipate and prevent future exposure risks in the renewable
energy industry should not be squandered. Mulloy et al AJIM 2013
A successful risk management strategy should systematically
address worker health and safety as an integral component of
production, quality, environment, and security.
Resources
OSHA
www.osha.gov
NIOSH
www.cdc.gov/niosh/
Health and Safety Executive
www.hse.co.uk
US Department of Agriculture
www.usda.gov/documents/USDA_Biofuels_Report_6232010.pdf
US Department of Energy Biomass Program
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/library/default.aspx?page=1