Industrial Hygiene Approach to EHS Issues in Schools: Assessment, Controls, Design, and Prevention Lorraine M. Conroy, ScD, CIH Associate Professor University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health April 6, 2002

Prevention What are we preventing?

Prevention What are we preventing? –Injuries and Illnesses –Exposure

Prevention How are we preventing injuries and Illnesses? –Early Identification and Treatment (medical) –Exposure Elimination or Reduction (industrial hygiene)

Industrial Hygiene What is Industrial Hygiene?

Industrial Hygiene What is Industrial Hygiene? –Anticipation, Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of hazardous substances or agents

Industrial Hygiene Anticipation –what are potential hazards that may be introduced with processes or products? Recognition –what are potential hazards in the workplace? Evaluation –how severe are the potential hazards? Are the potential hazards truly hazardous? Control –how can potential health hazards be eliminated or minimized?

Hazard 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

Hazard Recognition Sketch the floor plan 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

Workplace Characterization What is the process? Activities? Raw materials? Products? By-products? Waste products? Processing aids?

Workforce Characterization job title / job description task analysis exposure duration –shift length; continuous number of workers / community members / family members other considerations –children

Characterization of Agents Form of agent –chemical –physical –biological Health effects –toxicology –epidemiology Exposure Limits –occupational –environmental –children

Characterization of Agents Health Effects –Sources of Information Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Toxicology Literature Epidemiology Literature Internet

Hazard Evaluation Qualitative Exposure Assessment Quantitative Exposure Assessment Is the exposure acceptable?

Exposure Limits Regulatory –Occupational Safety and Health Administration –Environmental Protection Agency –Nuclear Regulatory Commission –State and Local Health Departments Non-regulatory

Hazard Control Hierarchy of Controls

Source Controls Substitution Process Change Process Enclosure Process Isolation Wet Methods Local Exhaust Ventilation Adequate Maintenance Program

Pathway Controls Housekeeping General Exhaust Ventilation Dilution Ventilation Distance Continuous Area Monitoring Adequate Maintenance Program

Receiver (Worker) Controls Training & Education Rotation Enclosure of Worker Personal Monitoring Devices Personal Protective Devices Adequate Maintenance Program

Hazard Control Advantages –Source –Pathway –Receiver Limitations –Source –Pathway –Receiver