Foreign object debris (F.O.D.) is any object, material or substance in a place that it is not supposed to be creating a condition that can cause damage to individuals or equipment.  Foreign Object Damage (also FOD) is the damage caused by Foreign Object Debris.  While the term ‘FOD’ is most closely associated with the Aerospace industry, it also is present in construction, electronics, environmental, manufacturing and transportation.  From the FAA “As defined in AC 150/5210-24, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Management, FOD is any object, live or not, located in an inappropriate location in the airport environment that has the capacity to injure airport or air carrier personnel and damage aircraft.”

Types of FOD

We’ve all seen litter on the freeway.  Whether a bag, piece of tire or bottle, it all can cause damage or accidents and it all is FOD.  If you have watched a NASCAR race, you’ve seen the tremendous effort by the cleanup crews to remove both debris and liquids from the track.  That FOD can cause even more accidents. In defining FOD the National Traffic Safety Board includes tools, rags, gloves, parts, pieces of broken equipment, paint chips, metal shavings, birds, and consumer products.  Whether it is being ingested in to an engine, cutting a fuel tank, or blowing out a tire, items out of place can create a serious and potentially deadly situation.

The sources of FOD include personnel, the environment, airport infrastructure, support equipment, airplane parts, and other debris.

Effects of FOD

A tragic incident is the case of Air France 4590.  While departing Charles de Gaulle International Airport the Concorde ran over a piece of titanium debris from a recently departed Continental DC-10, shredding a tire and slamming rubber debris into the plane’s fuel tank. The subsequent leak and fire caused the plane to crash, killing 109 people in the plane and four people on the ground. Beyond the rare tragic incidents, the effects on airline industry are huge.  The FAA requires the absence of FOD within contained spaces in the fuselage.  Inadvertent depositing of materials can cause expensive rework to equipment, slowing down construction and the production lines of manufacturers.  In active duty aircraft FOD causes accidents and damage resulting in significant rework or replacement.  Whether it is items ingested in to engines or broken equipment that damages tires, these pose potential safety issues and are scrupulously monitored by airlines.

Costs of FOD

The replacement cost of a single 737 engine is in the $6-7 million range. Most of the damage occurs on runways, taxiways and aprons.  Lighter damage can lead to flight delays.  More serious issues will keep planes out of service and in need of more expensive repair and rework.  A plane out of service has large downstream effects including lost productivity from flight delays, missed connections and canceled flights.  The FAA estimates that the total costs of FOD to the airline industry exceed $4 billion annually.

Solutions

On aircraft carriers, prior to beginning flight operations, crews regularly do a shoulder to shoulder sweep of the flight deck to remove all debris.  With safety and reliability at a premium, they ensure that FOD is eliminated.  Military and civilian ground crews regularly check and remove FOD from runways, taxiways and aprons. There are measures that can be taken to reduce if not eliminate FOD. Training should engrain in workers awareness and attention to FOD.  When working in an area keep track of tools, parts, PPE and waste materials.  Tethering gear and equipment helps to keep it organized and prevent FOD.  Create checklists of items and verify that all items are accounted for.  Signage should be prominently placed in critical areas so that the awareness is reinforced.  See an issue, correct and/or report it.  

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is a progressive, debilitating and preventable condition.  While every effort to protect yourself can be made, here are some common hearing protection mistakes.

Ignoring the problem

How many times have we seen children covering their ears around loud sounds, while adults blissfully absorb the full impact?  Might that be a clue?  Children’s higher sensitivity (and better hearing) are a clear indication of the short term pain/damage and the long term impact of exposure to loud noises.  And yet, we all ignore the problem.  Whether it is a night out at a loud concert or sporting event, or a half hour mowing the lawn, people ignore the problem.  NIHL damage is cumulative and the short bursts from power saws, pneumatic tools and chain saws over time can lead to hearing problems.  Of all of the possible hearing protection mistakes, ignoring the situation is the worst.

Ignorance

Hand in hand with ignoring the problem is ignorance. One of the biggest problems for individuals and companies is not knowing the level of exposure. Following are some charts that indicate the level of noise for various tools and activities:

 

Almost all common power tools produce higher than safe noise levels.  A decibel meter will reveal how loud a sound is.  A dosimeter gives a measure of how much exposure an individual is receiving.  There are now free Android and Iphone apps that can be downloaded.  (While these are not calibrated, they do provide a good estimate of the level of noise.)

In an industrial environment, proper calibration and analysis is critical to determining the actual exposure for employees.  That entails both using the correct measuring device and understanding the actual exposure while using equipment.  (As an example, a measurement next to a diesel engine is much different than the sound inside the operator’s cab).

One thing to remember is that according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) the safe exposure threshold for sound is 85 db for 8 hours.  Each 3 db increase above that, halves the daily exposure limits.  The NIOSH daily limits at various volumes are outlined in the chart below:

 

As is illustrated at some sound levels, no exposure is safe.

Drowning out loud sounds with louder sounds

Using loud music to cover up loud sounds is not a solution.  It’s an even bigger problem.  Headphones or earbuds have the potential to deliver damaging sounds to your ears.  Limiting the usage and turning down the volume are two ways to address this issue.  If other people can hear your music, you are probably at risk of causing long term damage.  If you are around loud noises, use hearing protection, not noise to protect yourself.

Correct level of protection

Being aware of the noise environment, it is important to use the correct level of protection.  Zero protection should not be your first choice.  Thinking that in the short term when mowing the lawn or using a power tool, protection is not important, ignores the real risks.  Other than a real emergency, this should never be a fallback solution.

Secondly some sounds require dual protection.  If you are in an extremely loud environment, it might be important to use both plugs and earmuffs.  If dual protection is needed to reach the correct level of protection, then use it.

Third don’t overprotect.  If you need to take off your safety equipment to hear other employees, then you are probably using too much protection.   Realize, should you need to take off your equipment to hear, you are also less likely to hear safety warnings, or other dangers in your environment.

Proper us and fit

One of the biggest mistakes is improper use or fit.  The proper use of earplugs requires that they be securely fit in the ear canal.  If the plugs are not properly seated, they may provide almost no protection.  When muffs are used, you need to make sure that there is a tight seal as well around the ear.  Glasses and other equipment can cause leaks in the seal.  Again, without a proper fit the hearing protection is significantly compromised.

Replacing worn out equipment

If the muffler on your mower or chainsaw is broken, the level of noise is significantly higher.  The mufflers are designed for both proper operation and noise control of this equipment.  Replace them when they no longer function properly.  Similarly, when your hearing protection is worn out, it is time to replace it with new equipment.  Worn out plugs or muffs no longer provide the level or protection you need to safely operate in a loud environment.

Not realizing it is cumulative

When thinking about hearing protection it is important to remember that the damage is cumulative.  Each damaging exposure slowly reduces the quality of hearing.  While hearing aids allow for communication, they do not the entire range of sounds you once heard.  It is important to protect your hearing and avoid these common hearing protection mistakes.  Start today.

When thinking about noisy work environments, it is common to automatically think of occupations like road work, construction sites, or factories. Although, in reality these noisy work environments can be anywhere. According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in the matter of just one year, 22 million employees have been exposed to high and dangerous volumes of noise. After this statistic became clear, it was obvious something needed to be done about it. They have since been penalizing companies where hearing safety was not being considered and about $1.5 million in fines overall have been issued.

Signs That the Noise May be at Dangerous Levels

Warnings of high noise volumes may not be noticeable until after you exit the area and usually the signs of the area being too loud will show up later on in the day. Some signs may include ringing, humming, or pain in the ears which is one of the most common signs that you are in an area where ear protection is most definitely needed.

Sometimes even temporary hearing loss, where everything goes completely silent for a short amount of time can happen. Another sign could include having to speak at high volumes just so the person next to you can hear what is trying to be said, when they might only be a few feet away from you. If you have to speak loudly in order for someone to hear you when there is barely any distance in between, that is a clear sign that something is not right with the noise levels in the area.

Can this be Reversed After the Damage is Done?

NIHL, which stands for (noise induced hearing loss) can happen at any age from children to the elderly. The average spent on hearing loss disabilities yearly is estimated to be $242 million, which is an astronomical number when it could have been resolved with protection for the ears. Unfortunately, these signs can either take place immediately or in the future. Sometimes even surgery and/or hearing aids can’t fix or improve this type of hearing loss so it is extremely important to stay on top of the game and fix the issue before it’s too late.

Effects on a Person’s Mental and Physical Health

Can exposure to high level noise environments affect someone’s mental health? The answer to this is yes. Noise can cause numerous problems for your mental health. Some illnesses from high volumes of sound would include Hypersensitivity, insomnia, and even Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) which occurs in the major blood vessels of the heart and is not curable. A past study had actually shown that people who live or work in noisy environments are more likely to be admitted to a hospital for things like a stroke, cardiovascular disorders, and more because of the high noise volumes and the stress it causes on the body.

 

References:

Husten, Larry. “People Who Live Near Airports at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 8 Oct. 2013, www.forbes.com/sites/larryhusten/2013/10/08/people-who-live-near-airports-at-increased-risk-for-cardiovascular-disease/#46049bac4141.

Lisa, Packer. “Advocating for Hearing Health in a Noisy Work Environment.” Healthy Hearing, Advocating for Hearing Health in a Noisy Work Environment, 23 June 2016, www.healthyhearing.com/report/52661-Advocating-for-hearing-health-in-a-noisy-work-environment.

 “UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, United States Department of Labor, www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/.

Accidents caused by DIY or hobbyist work lead to thousands of people ending up in the ER every single year. With the sharp increase in DIYers and hobbyists out there, it is very important to keep safety at the top of your priority list. So, before you power up the table saw or scurry up your aluminum ladder to fix the gutters, here are some DIY and Hobbyist safety tips that could help you prevent a serious accident or injury.

Have a Clean Work Area For Improved Safety

This one is simple and should be the easiest thing in the world for any DIYer to implement. If you keep your work area clean and clear of clutter, you will be less likely to have an accident. Whether you are working in the shop or doing yard work, clean up the area before you start working. Besides the safety benefit, it is also much more enjoyable to work in a clean space!

The 4 to 1 Rule For Safe Ladder Placement

 

It’s simple. For every 4 feet of ladder height, move the base of the ladder an additional 1 foot from the wall it is resting on. Never use a ladder without reading all warnings and instructions that it came with. Also, make sure that the ladder you are using is the best ladder for the job. The last thing you want to do is put yourself high above the ground only to have to stretch even higher to reach the work area. If the ladder isn’t tall enough, skip the project until you have the proper equipment!

Avoid Unnecessary Fashion Accessories

Things like watches, rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc can be a real hazard when operating machinery or power tools. We hear a lot of talk about wearing baggy or loose clothes when operating power tools, but we rarely hear about accessories. If it dangles away from your body, take it off before working.

Include a First Aid Kit in Your Inventory of Tools

 

No workshop should ever be without a proper first aid kit. Make sure it is stocked with bandages, anti-bacterial ointment, gauze, and other important items. Keep it easy to access as well. Wouldn’t be much good buried beneath a mountain of other stuff, would it?

For Style AND Safety, Incorporate Better Looking Safety Gear

I know this one seems silly, but there are some very fashionable Safety Glasses out there that you will be more likely to actually use because you don’t feel like a doofus wearing them. The worst safety accessory you could possibly have is the one you won’t use.

DIY and hobbyist safety precautions shouldn’t be any different from general safety precautions. Common sense goes a long way. A great rule to follow is that if something feels in any way unsafe with something you’re working on, stop and reassess the situation. Figure out a safer way of doing the job. With proper safety precautions, we urge everyone to continue tackling jobs around the house and yard!