Introduction to INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

What is Industrial Hygiene? The science of Anticipating, Identifying, Evaluating, and Controlling Environment Hazards in the Workplace. The science of protecting the worker through the control of the work environment.

Things to Consider Health issues rather than just Safety. Industrial Hygienists look at; Health issues rather than just Safety. Illnesses rather than Injuries.

COST What is the cost of illnesses to Industry? In 1990 the average cost of an Illness was $27,386. Skin Disorders, averaged $3,368. Pneumoconiosis, averaged $77,467.

HAZARDS In Industrial Hygiene we want to be concerned with 4 Types of Hazards. What are they?

CHEMICAL The FIRST group and the one that comes to mind for most people is Chemical Hazards. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: Paints/Solvents Welding Fumes Wood Dust Carbon Monoxide Exhaust Fumes

Chemical Effects Local Systemic Damage to the part of the body that comes in contact with the substance. Systemic Chemical is absorbed by the body and attacks a target organ. Instructor: again, a good slide to ask the audience to list an example of each. Examples of local effects- burns, poison ivy rash Examples of systemic effects - lead poisoning - lead absorbed by the bones and effects the central nervous system. Many solvents such as trichloroethylene effect the central nervous system.

PHYSICAL The SECOND group is Physical Hazards. Examples Include: Noise Extreme Heat Extreme Cold Light

BIOLOGICAL The THIRD group is Biological Hazards. Examples Include: Infectious Blood/Body Fluids Bird Droppings Mold & Mildew Tuberculosis/Hepatitis Hypersensitivity Pnuemonitis

RADIATION The FOURTH group is Radiation Hazards. Examples Include: Ultra-Violet (UV) Light Infra-Red (IR) Radiation Microwaves Radar Lasers X-Rays

ROUTES of ENTRY Inhalation Ingestion Skin Absorption Injection

Acute vs. Chronic Many illnesses are not obvious because they take so long to Develop (latency period). DISEASE YEAR TO DIAGNOSIS Asbestosis Usually 10-20 Years Silicosis Usually After 10-20 Years of exposure Black Lung Usually after 10 Years

PLAN of ACTION What do you want to do as far as dealing with these hazards? The first thing is to Develop a Plan. Recognize the Hazard Evaluate the Hazard Control the Hazard

How can you find the Potential Health Hazards in your Facility? RECOGNITION How can you find the Potential Health Hazards in your Facility? * Walk-Through Survey * Ask Employees * Check The Inventory * Inquire With Assoc. * Inquire with Unions * NIOSH * OSHA * Safety & Health Organizations Many Organizations Publish valuable information like trade assoc., unions, NIOSH, OSHA and others.

EVALUATION Once you have identified the hazards, how do you evaluate them? Is the exposure necessary? If not, eliminate it. If the exposure can’t be avoided, measure it for comparison with published standards or background levels.

Evaluating Risk Factors Frequency (how often) Intensity (how much) Duration (how long) Individual Sensitivity Toxicity of the Chemical

Keep in Mind…... “What is it that is not poison? All things are poison and nothing is without poison. It is the dose only that makes a thing not a poison.”

Funny cartoon which illustrates an acute exposure to alcohol - a large quantity in a short period of time. Remember from our last slide that alcohol consumption can also result in a chronic exposure.

To Evaluate, We Must Measure Units of Measurement Parts per Million (ppm) Milligrams per Cubic Meter (mg/M3) Fibers per Cubic Centimeter (f/cc)

Organizations OSHA NIOSH ACGIH AIHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists AIHA American Industrial Hygiene Association

Exposure Limits OSHA - Permissible Exposure Limit ACGIH - Threshold Limit Value NIOSH - Recommended Exposure Limit AIHA - Workplace Environmental Exposure Limit

Threshold Limit Value TLV - Airborne concentrations to which nearly all workers may be routinely exposed without adverse health effects. TWA - Time Weighted Average. Based on an 8 hour exposure and assumes a 40 hour work week. STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit (4/15/60) C - Ceiling Limit (should never be exceeded) IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health Skin - Capable of cutaneous skin absorption

CONTROLLING HAZARDS The final step is controlling the potentially hazardous exposure. Engineering Controls Administrative Controls Personal Protective Equipment