Industrial Hygiene

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE Presented by:

Gerrick A. Villaflor & Riza Pontillas

INDUSTRIAL OR OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE

is generally defined as the art and science dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of environmental stressors in, or arising from, the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well being of workers or members of the community.

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)* define that "occupational hygiene is about the prevention of ill-health from work, through recognizing, evaluating & controlling the risks.”

* BOHS is the only professional society representing qualified occupational hygienists in the UK.

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS)* define that "occupational hygiene is about the prevention of ill-health from work, through recognizing, evaluating & controlling the risks.”

* BOHS is the only professional society representing qualified occupational hygienists in the UK.

The International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA)* refers to occupational hygiene as “the discipline of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating & controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large.” * The IOHA represents the global community of occupational hygienists.

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

is a professional qualified by education, training and experience to anticipate, recognize, evaluate and develop controls for occupational health hazards and environmental issues.

INDUSTRIAL HAZARD vs RISK HAZARD is the potential of a substance to cause damage. RISK is a measure of the probability that harm will occur under defined conditions of exposure to a chemical.

INDUSTRIAL HAZARD vs RISK

Chemicals which pose only a small hazard but to which there is frequent or excessive exposure may pose as much risk as chemicals which have a high degree of hazard but to which only limited exposure occurs. Thus, reducing risk is based on reducing exposure.

“Occupational hygiene” is the term used in the UK and Commonwealth* countries as well as much of Europe. “Industrial hygiene” is the term used in the US, Latin America, and other countries that received initial technical support or training from US sources. * The Commonwealth is an intergovernmental organization of independent member states of the former British Empire.

HISTORY There has been an awareness of industrial hygiene since antiquity.

The environment and its relation to worker health was recognized as early as the 4th century BC.

HISTORY In the first century AD, Pliny the Elder, a Roman scholar, perceived health risks to those working with zinc and sulfur. He devised a face mask made from an animal bladder to protect workers from exposure to dust and lead fumes.

HISTORY

Law Codes of Hammurabi

HISTORY In the second century AD, the Greek physician, Galen of Pergamon, accurately described the pathology of lead poisoning and also recognized the hazardous exposures of copper miners to acid mists.

HISTORY In 1556 the German scholar, Agricola, advanced the science of industrial hygiene even further when, in his book De Re Metallica, he described the diseases of miners and prescribed preventive measures. The book included suggestions for mine ventilation and worker protection, discussed mining accidents, and described diseases associated with mining occupations such as silicosis.

HISTORY Industrial hygiene gained further respectability in 1700 when Bernardo Ramazzini published in Italy the first comprehensive book on industrial medicine, De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (The Diseases of Workmen). He is known as the "father of industrial medicine."

HISTORY

The book contained accurate descriptions of the occupational diseases of most of the workers of his time.

HISTORY Bernardo Ramazzini greatly affected the future of industrial hygiene because he asserted that occupational diseases should be studied in the work environment rather than in hospital wards.

HISTORY In the early 20th century in the US, Dr. Alice Hamilton, led efforts to improve industrial hygiene. She observed industrial conditions first hand and startled mine owners, factory managers, and state officials with evidence that there was a correlation between worker illness and their exposure to toxins. She also presented definitive proposals for eliminating unhealthful working conditions.

HISTORY The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) sets standards for workplace safety in US. It began as the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed into law on December 9, 1970 by Pres. Richard Nixon.

HISTORY Each employer shall furnish to each employee a place of employment which is free of recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious harm to their employees. Each employer shall comply with the occupational safety and heath standards under the Act.

INDUSTRIAL OR OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE

is generally defined as the art and science dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of environmental stressors in, or arising from, the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well being of workers or members of the community.

ANTICIPATION

RECOGNITION

EVALUATION

CONTROL

SCOPE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ANTICIPATION

RECOGNITION

EVALUATION

ANTICIPATION Expectation of hazard existence Design of processes  Design of equipments  Future legislations/regulations  Research 

CONTROL

SCOPE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ANTICIPATION

RECOGNITION

EVALUATION

ANTICIPATION 

Obtain the process flow chart or description  Obtain ingredient and product information  Read the equipment descriptions  Study the building and process design plans  Identify exposures to toxic agents  Anticipate exposure hazards during normal conditions and process upsets  Consider the potential health effects

CONTROL

SCOPE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ANTICIPATION

RECOGNITION

EVALUATION

CONTROL

RECOGNITION

Presence of workplace exposure Processes and operations  Records of accidents and diseases  Walkaround – senses, talk to workers, etc.  Grab samples 

SCOPE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ANTICIPATION

RECOGNITION

EVALUATION

CONTROL

RECOGNITION 

Identify the hazard sources  Place the sources on the plan  Place the receivers on the plan  Show the pathways between them  Consider the potential health effects

SCOPE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ANTICIPATION

RECOGNITION

EVALUATION

CONTROL

EVALUATION Magnitude of exposure

Purpose  Sampling technique and strategy  Instrumentation (real time & non-real time)  Standards, regulations, etc. 

SCOPE OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ANTICIPATION

RECOGNITION

EVALUATION

CONTROL

Reduction to acceptable levels Principle of control measure  Hierarchy of control measure 

CONTROL

Industrial or occupational hygiene is generally defined as the art and science dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, communication and control of environmental stressors in, or arising from, the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well being of workers or members of the community.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OR STRESSORS

STRESSORS is any chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, an external stimulus or an event that causes stress to an person. Chemical Biological Physical Ergonomic Psychosocial

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OR STRESSORS CHEMICAL

BIOLOGICAL

PHYSICAL

ERGONOMIC

PSYCHOSOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OR STRESSORS CHEMICAL

BIOLOGICAL

PHYSICAL

CHEMICAL 

Gases



Fumes



Vapors



Mists



Dusts



Smokes

ERGONOMIC

PSYCHOSOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OR STRESSORS CHEMICAL

BIOLOGICAL

PHYSICAL

ERGONOMIC

BIOLOGICAL Bacteria, fungi and viruses  Bugs, insects, snakes, etc.  Allergens 

Molds  Yeast 

PSYCHOSOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OR STRESSORS CHEMICAL

BIOLOGICAL

PHYSICAL

ERGONOMIC

PHYSICAL Non-ionizing and ionizing radiation  Noise  Vibration  Extreme temperatures  Extreme pressures 

PSYCHOSOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OR STRESSORS CHEMICAL

BIOLOGICAL

PHYSICAL

ERGONOMIC

PSYCHOSOCIAL

ERGONOMIC* These include improperly designed tools, work areas, or work procedures that can result in accidents or illnesses in the occupational environment.  Poor workstation design  Repeated motions in awkward conditions  Improper lifting/reaching  Poor visual conditions * Ergonomics is the science of designing user interaction with equipment and workplaces to fit the user.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OR STRESSORS CHEMICAL

BIOLOGICAL

PHYSICAL

ERGONOMIC

PSYCHOSOCIAL

PSYCHOSOCIAL For a concept to be psychosocial means it relates to one's psychological development in, and interaction with, a social environment.

OBJECTIVES OF IH PROGRAM To create awareness among employers and workers on the importance of IH practices in industry to preserve and protect the health of workers from being affected by hazards in the working environment.

To investigate the effect of specific hazard on the health of workers so that the short and long term measures can be taken to control the hazard.

ACTIVITIES OF IH PROGRAM Recognition of health hazards 2. Evaluation of health hazards 3. Control of health hazards 4. Recordkeeping 5. Employee training 6. Periodic program review 1.

BENEFITS OF IH PROGRAM Improve health and hygiene Reduce compensation Improve job satisfaction Improve productivity Improve workers’ attitude towards management

LIFE CYCLE SYSTEM ACCIDENT Requires study of CHEMISTRY OPERATING CONDITIONS

OPERATING PROCEDURES

POTENTIAL HAZARDS • liquids • vapors • dusts • noise • radiation • temperature • mechanical

Operating instructions Safety reviews Equipment description Chemicals description

HAZARD DATA • physical state/vapor pressure • TLV’s • temperature sensitivity • rate and heat of reaction • by-products • reactivity with other chemicals • explosion limits

RISK ASSESSMENT: potential for hazard to result in an accident

WORKPLACE EXPOSURE ACTIVITIES DESIGN OF SAMPLING SYSTEMS 

Air Systems ○ Chemical vapors

○ Particulate dust & aerosols ○ Biologicals

  



Acoustic Sampling Lighting Radiation Ergonomics & Human Factors ○ Stress measurement ○ Process evaluation

WORKPLACE EXPOSURE ACTIVITIES 

Design of Control Methods ○ Heating, ventilating & air conditioning (HVAC) system ○ ○ ○

○



designs Air treatment – filtration, humidification, scrubbing, adsorption Noise suppression Lighting system Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE)

Design of Monitoring Systems ○ To confirm the control systems are working

○ To optimize the condition

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) MAKING WORKERS AWARE OF RISKS  General information – such as how to read labels  Hazards related to a specific job – such as coordination to other workers for maintenance operations

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) PROVIDING EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING  CHEMICAL RELEASES ○ Personnel protection ○ First aid for injuries  FIRES ○ Initial response and reporting ○ How to work with emergency personnel  CIVIL EMERGENCIES ○ How to safely shut down the facilities ○ Where to go and who to contact for information

LIFE CYCLE SYSTEM ACCIDENT

5 STEPS TO RISK ASSESSMENT:

Identify the hazards 2. Decide who might be harmed and how 3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution 4. Record your findings and implement them 5. Review your assessment and update if necessary 1.

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS Some methods in assessing the workplace or environment for exposure to a known or suspected hazard: Walk-through Survey  Electronic Hazard Survey Equipment  Dust Sampling  Chemical Sampling 

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS WALK-THROUGH SURVEY

A traditional method applied by occupational hygienists to initially survey a workplace or environment to determine both the types and possible exposures from hazards (e.g. noise, chemicals, radiation). 

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS WALK-THROUGH SURVEY

A full walk-through survey is frequently used to provide information on establishing a framework for future investigations, prioritizing hazards, determining the requirements for measurement and establishing some immediate control of potential exposures. 

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS ELECTRONIC HAZARD SURVEY EQUIPMENT The use one or a number of commercially available electronic measuring devices to measure noise, vibration, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, dust, solvents, gases, etc.  Each device is often specifically designed to measure a specific or particular type of contaminant. 

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS DUST SAMPLING  Nuisance dust is considered to be the total dust in air including inhalable and respirable fractions. 1. Inhalable Dust

2. Thoracic Dust 3. Respirable Dust

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS DUST SAMPLING • Inhalable Dust - This is the fraction of airborne particles which enters the nose and mouth during normal breathing. It is made up of particles of 100 microns diameter and less. • Thoracic Dust - This is the fraction approximately 10 microns diameter and less. This fraction will pass through the nose and throat, and reach into the lungs. • Respirable Dust - This fraction is the particles approximately 5 microns and less. It certainly penetrates into the gas exchange region of the lungs, and is therefore the most hazardous particulate size.

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS DUST SAMPLING DUST IN THE WORKPLACE: For many nuisance type dusts the occupational limits are around 10mg/m3 for total dusts and 5 mg/m3 for respirable dusts. These are normally measured with small air sampling pumps running for a number of hours, or a quick measure of relative dust levels can be obtained by using a light scattering dust meter.

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS DUST SAMPLING DUST IN THE ENVIRONMENT (or AMBIENT DUST): In outside areas the levels are usually much lower than in enclosed working areas, but the acceptable levels of dust before they become a nuisance are also set at lower levels than for workplace areas. PERMITTED DUST LEVELS vary in different jurisdictions, and will be lower for hazardous materials.

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS CHEMICAL SAMPLING  The sampling method results are expressed in milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) or parts per million (PPM) and compared to the relevant occupational exposure limits.  An occupational exposure limit is an upper limit on the acceptable concentration of a hazardous substance in workplace air for a particular material or class of materials. It can be a tool in risk assessment and in the management of activities involving handling of dangerous substances.

WORKPLACE ASSESSMENT METHODS CHEMICAL SAMPLING

ROUTES OF ENTRY INTO THE BODY Route of exposure describes the way the chemical enters the body. Chemicals may have serious effects by one route, and minimal effects by another. Hazardous chemicals may enter the body by: 

INHALATION



ABSORPTION



INGESTION



INJECTION

ROUTES OF ENTRY INTO THE BODY INHALATION  through the respiratory tract  occurs in atmospheres contaminated with hazardous

chemical vapor or dust

ABSORPTION  penetration through the skin via dermal contact

INGESTION  through eating, drinking or smoking with contaminated hands

or in contaminated work areas

INJECTION  introducing the material directly into the bloodstream & may

occur through mechanical injury from "sharps"

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL The Hierarchy of Control is a list of control measures, in priority order, that can be used to eliminate or minimize exposure to the hazard. LEVEL 1 1st Priority

Elimination

LEVEL 2 2nd Priority 3rd Priority 4th Priority Last Priority

Substitution Engineering Administration PPE

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL Many employers start from the bottom of the list when considering options.

Some think that it is cheaper and/or simpler to change worker behavior or give them some protection against the hazard than to fix the cause of the problem. In the long run this approach costs more in time and money and is less effective.

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL 1. ELIMINATION  Options which get rid of the hazard altogether.  The best way to eliminate the risk is to completely

remove the hazard.

For example:  the need for excessive photocopying and collation can be eliminated if material is circulated by electronic mail  repair damaged equipment promptly  move a noisy machine from a quiet area

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL 2. SUBSTITUTION  Replacing a hazardous substance or work practice

with a less hazardous one. For example:  a telephone hand set can be replaced with a head set where there is constant use of the telephone  substituting a smaller package or container to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries such as back strain  substituting a hazardous chemical with a less dangerous one

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL 3. ENGINEERING CONTROLS  The provision of mechanical aids, barriers, machine

guarding, ventilation or insulation to isolate a hazard from employees.

For example:  electrical cut out switches  mechanical screens to separate workers from violent or physically aggressive clients  using anti-glare screens on computer VDUs  using trolleys or mechanical lifting aids  changing bench heights to reduce bending

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL 4. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL  Establishing policies, procedures and work

practices designed to reduce a worker’s exposure to a risk. It can also include the provision of specific training and supervision. For example:  providing alternative tasks for workers so as to prevent continuous keyboard work for long periods  increasing job variety and introducing job rotation  redesigning jobs  training and education

THE HIERARCHY OF CONTROL 5. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)  Covering and protecting a worker’s body from hazards.  It can be used as a short-term control measure until a

“higher order” control has been provided or supplemented it.  PPE is the last resort!  PPE must be provided and maintained by the employer.

 The employer would also have to provide training for

workers required to use it, and the employee would have a responsibility to use it properly.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury by blunt impacts, electrical hazards, heat, chemicals, and infection, for job-related occupational safety and health purposes.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

TOXICITY TOXICITY is the ability of a material to do harm when it reaches a certain concentration. TOXICOLOGY deals with the biological effects of chemicals. TOXIC CHEMICALS are gases, liquids, or solids that, through their chemical properties, can produce injurious or lethal effects on contact with body cells. “All substances are poisons: there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.” - Paracelsus (1493-1541)

TOXICITY WHAT ARE TYPICAL TOXICS? Air Pollutants Cyanide Rat Poison, Pesticides, Herbicides, Insecticides & Nematicides Drugs Cleaning Products

TOXICITY COMMON TOXICS 

Oxygen is necessarily for life. Too high concentration can burn up your lungs, so divers use mixtures of other gases.



Nitrogen and CO2 are all around us, but if they displace oxygen, the result can be suffocation.



Salt is also necessary for life, but if taken to excess (>12400 mg/kg/23 days) it can lead to toxic responses (primarily dehydration related).

TOXICITY Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 1994  to ensure that people supplied with chemicals receive the information they need to protect themselves, others and the environment.  obliges suppliers to identify the hazards and pass on this information with advice on safe use. This is usually done by means of package labels and safety data sheets.

TOXICITY

HEALTH EFFECTS 

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS - short term period between exposure and onset of symptoms - characterized by sudden and severe exposure and rapid absorption of the substance - effects are often reversible

Examples: carbon monoxide or cyanide poisoning

HEALTH EFFECTS 

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS - long time period between exposure to an agent and the onset of symptoms - characterized by prolonged or repeated exposures over many days, months or years - symptoms may not be immediately apparent - effects are often irreversible

Examples: lead or mercury poisoning, cancer

END.

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