1

Introductionto

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

OTI 501

Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Hazards for General Industry

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Industrial Hygiene

“that science or art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors or stresses, arising in or from the workplace, that may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort and inefficiency among workers”

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History

Circa 400 BC– lead toxicity in mining (Hippocrates)

500 years later– Pliny the Elder, a Roman scholar– zinc and sulfur hazards– protective mask

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History

2nd Century AD– Galen

• copper miners exposure to acid mists

1473– Ulrich Ellenbog

• publication n occupational illness in gold miners

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History

1556– Agricola, German scholar

• diseases of coal miners

• preventive measures

• publication - De Re Metallica

1700’s – Bernardino Ramazzini

• father of industrial hygiene

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OSH Act of 1970

The purpose of the OSH Act is to

“assure so far as possible every working,

man and woman in the nation safe and

healthful working conditions and to

preserve our human resources.”

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Environmental Factors or Stresses

Chemical hazards

– gases, vapors, dusts, fumes, mists, and smoke

Physical hazards

– non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, noise, vibration, extreme temperatures and pressures

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Environmental Factors or Stresses

Ergonomic hazards

– workstation design, repetitive motion, improper lifting/reaching, poor visual conditions

Biological hazards

– insects, mold, yeast, fungi, bacteria, and viruses

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Routes of Entry

Inhalation

– airborne contaminants

Absorption

– penetration through the skin

Ingestion

– eating

– drinking

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OSHA Hierarchy of Control

Engineering controls

Work practice controls

Administrative controls

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

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Types of Exposure

Acute

– Short term period between exposure and onset of symptoms

Chronic

– Long time period between exposure to an agent and the onset of symptoms

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Types of Air Contaminants

Particulates

– dusts, fumes, mists, and fibers

– non respirable particles

• > 10 m in diameter

– respirable particles

• < 10 m in diameter

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Types of Air Contaminants

Fumes– volatilized solids condenses in cool air

• < 1.0 m in diameter

– hot vapor + air (reaction with) = oxide

Mists– suspended solid droplets– generated by a condensation of liquids from a

vapors to a liquid state

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Types of Air Contaminants

Fibers– solid, slender, elongated structures– length several times the diameter

Gases– formless fluids that expand to occupy a space

• arc-welding, internal combustion engine exhaust air

Vapors– liquid changed to vapor

• organic solvents

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Units of Concentration

ppm – parts per million

mg/m3 – milligrams per cubic meter

mppcf– millions or a particle per cubic foot

f/cc– fibers per cubic centimeter

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Exposure LimitsAir Contaminants

OSHA– Occupational Safety and Health Administration

NIOSH– National Institute of Occupational Safety and

Health

ACGIH– American Conference of Governmental

Industrial Hygienists

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Exposure LimitsAir Contaminants

OSHA– PEL

• permissible exposure limit

NIOSH– REL

• recommended exposure level

ACGIH– TLV

• threshold limit value

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Exposure LimitsAir Contaminants

OSHA

– PEL, STEL, Ceiling

NIOSH

– TWA, STEL, Ceiling

ACGIH

– TWA, STEL, Ceiling

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Exposure LimitsAir Contaminants

TWA

– takes into account variable exposure through a full shift, 8 hour work day

STEL

– limit of exposure during a short period, 15 minutes

CEILING

– absolute maximum level of exposure not to be exceeded

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Exposure LimitsAir Contaminants

Legally enforceable

– OSHA PEL

– OSHA AL (action level)

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Air Contaminants

29 CFR 1910.1000– Table Z-1

• Substances with Limits Preceded by “C” - Ceiling Values

– Table Z-2• employee’s exposure to Table Z-1 contaminants shall not

exceed exposure limits listed in Z-2 (TWA and ceiling concentrations)

– Table Z-3• Mineral Dusts

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Hearing Conservation

2.9 million workers experience 8-hours noise exposures > 90 bBA

29 CFR 1910.95

– PEL

• 90 dBA

• 8 hours

• engineering and administrative controls

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Hearing Conservation Program

Mandatory

– at an 8-hour TWA > 85 dBA

Exposure monitoring

Audiometric testing

Hearing protection

Employee training

Recordkeeping

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Hearing Conservation Program

An effective program depends upon

– employers

– supervisors

– employees

– others

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Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne pathogens include

– Hepatitis B

– HIV

– Others

29 CFR 1910.1030

– describes actions employers must take to reduce risk of exposure in the workplace

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Bloodborne Pathogens

29 CFR 1910.1030

– Scope and application

• all employees with occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)

– Exposure control plan (ECP)

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Bloodborne Pathogens

29 CFR 1910.1030 - ECP– engineering and work practice controls– personal protective equipment– training– medical surveillance– Hepatitis B vaccinations– signs and labels– other provisions

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Industrial Hygiene

ANTICIPATION RECOGNITION EVALUTION CONTROL