Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Major Topics
Hazards in the workplace OSH Act and industrial hygiene Airborne contaminants Asbestos hazards Sick building syndrome NIOSH and industrial hygiene OSHA confined spaces standard
Industrial Hygiene
Industrial hygiene is a safety and health profession that is concerned with predicting, recognizing, assessing, controlling, and preventing environmental stressors in the workplace that can cause sickness or serious discomfort to workers. Common stressors include gases, fumes, vapors, dusts, mists, noise, and radiation.
Exposure thresholds: time weighted average, short term exposure limit, and exposure ceiling
Threshold Limit Value-Time weighted average (TLV-TWA): The time weighted average for a conventional 8 hour work day and 40 hour work week for a given substance to which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed on a daily basis without suffering ill effects. For example the TLV-TWA for liquefied petroleum gas is 1000 parts per million (ppm). Threshold Limit Value-Short term exposure limit (TLV-STEL): A STEL is defined as a 15 minute TWA exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during the work day period. It should not occur more than 4 times in the day (with at least 60 minutes between exposures). For example the TVL-STEL for isopropyl ether is 310 ppm. Threshold Limit Value-Ceiling (TLV-C): The concentration of a given substance that should not be exceeded at any point during an exposure period.
Toxic Substance
A toxic substance is one that has a negative effect on the health of a person or animal.
Dose-response relationship
A dose of toxic substance can be expressed in a number of different ways depending on the characteristic of the substance: amount per unit of body weight, amount per body surface area, or amount per unit of volume of air breathed. Olishifski expressed the dose response relationship mathematically as : C * T = K where: C = concentration T = duration (time) of exposure K = constant
Carcinogen
A carcinogen is any substance that can cause a malignant tumor or a tissue that may become cancerous.
OSHA chemical process standard, EPA clean air act, and SARA
OSHA chemical process standard: The standard requires chemical producers to analyze their processes to identify potentially hazardous situations and to assess the extent of the hazard. Having done so they must accommodate this knowledge in their emergency response plans and take action to minimize the hazards. Specific additional requirements include: compiling process safety information, maintaining safe operating procedures, training and educating employees, maintaining equipment, conducting incident investigations, developing emergency response plans, and conducting safety compliance audits. EPA clean air act (1990): The law is designed to reduce air pollution in the form of hazardous air pollutants, acid rain, and smog by 56 billion pounds per year. This includes a 75% reduction in air toxics, a 50% cut in acid rain, and a 40% decrease in smog. Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA): This law is designed to allow individuals to obtain information about hazardous chemicals in their communities so that they can protect themselves in case of emergency. It applies to all companies that use, make, transport, or store chemicals.
Summary
Common airborne contaminants are dusts, fumes, smoke, mists, gases, and vapors. Asbestos has been tied to respiratory cancer. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) developed its own national air quality standard (ANSI z9.8). The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It conducts research and education in human tolerance levels to toxic materials. A confined space management policy should include: administration, controls, training, and work team requirements. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are an excellent source of information for safety and health professionals. OSHAs Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires organizations to inform employees and contractors of the presence of hazardous substances in the workplace and provide safe use training.
Home work
Answer questions 4, 9, 11, 16, 17, 26, 29, 30, 31, and 33 on page 477. 4. List 5 OSHA requirements relating to industrial hygiene. 9. Summarize the various elements of ANSI Z9.8 (indoor air quality/HVAC). 11. What type of medical examinations should be required of employees who handle ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials). 16. Explain 5 self protection strategies that employees can use in the workplace. 17. How does NIOSH relate to industrial hygiene? 26. Describe the basic provisions of the following standards: OSHA Chemical Process Standard, EPA Clean Air Act, and SARA. 29. Explain the 3 NIOSH categories of respirators. 30. What is sick building syndrome? 31. Explain the major tenets of the OSHA Confined Space Standard. 33. Summarize the requirements of OSHAs Hazard Communication Standard.