INDUSTRIAL

HYGIENE
 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
 THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
HAZARDS
Chemical hazards
gases, vapors, dusts, fumes, mists, and smoke
Physical hazards
non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, noise, vibration,
extreme temperatures and pressures
 THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
HAZARDS
Ergonomic hazards
workstation design, repetitive motion, improper
lifting/reaching, poor visual conditions
Biological hazards
insects, mold, yeast, fungi, bacteria, and viruses
 ROUTES OF ENTRY

Inhalation
airborne contaminants
Absorption
penetration through the skin
Ingestion
eating
drinking
 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
 TYPES OF AIR CONTAMINANTS
Particulates
dusts, fumes, mists, and fibers
non respirable particles
> 10 m in diameter
respirable particles
< 10 m in diameter
 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
 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
 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
 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)
 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
 STEPS TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES

Anticipate potential hazards

Recognize potential hazards
Evaluate exposure and risk
Control exposure and risk
(Not just for health hazards)
 HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS

1. Engineering controls: Remove hazard

Process change, Chemical substitution
Ventilation, Shielding, Guarding
Requires little or no employee action
2. Administrative controls: Manage
exposure
Worker rotation, Procedures, Training
Trench shoring, Controlled access areas
Requires employee action
 HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS

3. Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Respirators, Gloves, Boots, Clothing
Fall protection equipment, Hard hats
Requires individual employee action
Last line of defense, behind engineering and administrative
controls
TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS
SUBSTANCES
 HEALTH EFFECTS OF SILICA
Silicosis
Irreversible but
preventable
Most commonly
associated with silica
dust
Other possible effects:
Lung cancer
Some auto-immune
diseases

(Scanning electron micrograph by William Jones, Ph.D., compliments of OSHA)

PROTECTIVE MEASURES
Other Standards and
 BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

Potentially infectious material exposure

Contagious diseases e.g. influenza
Vector-borne diseases e.g. Malaria, Lyme disease
Fungi e.g. mold, spores
Toxins e.g. endotoxin
Allergens / sensitizers e.g. pollen, red cedar
 PHYSICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

Heat or cold
Vibration
Noise
Non-ionizing radiation (electromagnetic, light)
Ionizing radiation