Course:SPPH381B/TermProject/Coffee Beans/Green Coffee Dust

Green Coffee Dust

Occupational hazard analysis

Recognize

Green coffee dust has been identified as a causal agent of occupational asthma. This was recognized by investigating worker incidents, measuring levels of green coffee dust for specific jobs, and specialized studies.

Evaluate

Symptoms can include asthma and other respiratory irritation. Green coffee dust acts as a respiratory sensitizer. Reactions from one worker to another can vary significantly. No level of exposure where there is a documented level of no adverse effect has been found.

Other types of dust, such as flour and red cedar wood dust, have occupational exposure limits of 0.5 mg/m^3. Some workers, such as those who move bags of green coffee beans, are exposed to levels of 3.2 mg/m^3.

Since the risk to most workers is relatively small, the recommendation is to reduce exposure to as low as reasonably practical.

Control

It is not practical to substitute the bags used to carry green coffee beans in, especially since most work happens in developing countries where costs must be kept low.

Workers are at the highest risk when cleaning equipment. Air compressors and brooms should be avoided and cleaning using water is recommended.

A worker health program is recommended in order to monitor the respiratory systems of all workers. If a problem with a worker is found, they should be removed from jobs that have risks of dust exposure. It would also be prudent to have pre-employment tests for asthma for workers.