Abatement of Marine Coatings Containing Heavy Metals

In early 1993, the Navy conducted testing at Norfolk Naval Shipyard to determine if personnel working with marine coatings containing lead, cadmium or chromium or other heavy metals were exposed to concentrations above the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) established permissible exposure limit (PEL). Based on these tests the Navy concluded that minute amounts of the heavy metals could result in exposures above the PEL. Additionally, the Navy concluded it could not predict exposure based on the concentration of the metal in The coating. In September 1993, four San Diego Master Ship Repair contractors commenced research, testing, and analysis to develop a Technical Document that outlines cost effective procedures to reduce exposure to lead, cadmium, chromium and other heavy metals while remaining compliant with OSHA and EPA Regulations. This project provides a comprehensive technical document the inexperienced and experienced contractor may use in the abatement of heavy metal containing marine coatings. Funding for this project was provided as a cooperative effort by The National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) and by Continental Maritime of San Diego, Inc., National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, Pacific Ship Repair and Fabrication, Inc., and Southwest Marine, Inc. NSRP and these shipyards saw the need for shipyards to be proactive in the area of heavy metal coating systems abatement as current regulations were not "user friendly" in shipboard applications.

Prepared in cooperation with Continental Maritime of San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CA, Pacific Ship Repair and Fabrication, Inc., Southwest Marine, Inc., Supervisor of Shipbuilding, San Diego, CA, and United States Testing Company, Inc.