466A: INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE / OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
Industrial hygiene and occupational safety encompass many areas of the workplace with particular emphasis on identifying and controlling occupational hazards. In this sense, the framework is an art and a science. Industrial hygiene deals with hazards in the industrial setting that are anticipated, recognized, controlled and, if needed, corrected. Occupational or health hazards are defined as environmental factors or stresses that can lead to an illness, injury, or death to an employee and which are preventable. Health and safety is an aspect of industrial hygiene that is equally important as the production of the workplace. In order for health and safety to be in compliance and have high priority, a health and safety program must in place. An efficient health and safety program consists of a safety team that includes senior management, line management, industrial hygienist, safety professional, occupational health nurse, occupational physician and employee.
The OSHAct, which sets out guidelines and regulations in creating a safe working environment for American workers, came into existence on December 29, 1970. As a result, employers are to furnish safe and healthful working conditions and comply with the OSHAct while employees comply with rules and regulations. The OSHAct provided for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). OSHA promulgates standards residing within the Department of Labor and NIOSH issues technical advice within the Centers for Disease Control. NIOSH identifies hazards to make recommendations for regulations known as Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs). OSHA considers these findings when creating guidelines and standards.
Occupational hazards are classified into different categories that include chemical, physical, ergonomic and biological. Chemical hazards are dangerous materials that are explosive, corrosive, flammable, or toxic. Whenever chemicals are present in the workplace, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is required. An MSDS provides information about the chemical in use or storage and what needs to be done in case of an emergency.
Physical hazards are hazards that deal with noise, temperature, and radiation. If
noise levels in the workplace are uncontrollable or exceed the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), a hazard exists. The Hearing Conservation Amendment, 29 CFR 1910.95, states that if noise exceeds 85 dBA on an 8-hour Time Weighed Average (TWA), an effective hearing conservation program must be in effect.
Temperature is another physical hazard that exists in the workplace. High temperature is a more prominent problem than cold temperature. These extreme temperatures are known as thermal stress. The human body cannot function properly within a 5-degree range of the normal body temperature, which is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Two degrees below or 3 degrees above normal body temperature is a health risk that cannot be tolerated. An example of heat stress is heat stroke that occurs when the body is exposed to an environment in which the body is unable to cool itself.
Radiation is also a concern in the workplace. Radioactive materials emit energy that is harmful to the human body and result in permanent damage. The different types of radioactivity are alpha, beta, x-ray, gamma, and neutron. Radiation safety in the workplace is important because it may cause internal or external hazards to an employee.
Ergonomics can be a workplace hazard that involves the design of the workstation. The work area must be adaptable to the employee as to not to cause any injuries or strains. Workplace design takes into account many factors such as physical characteristics, capabilities of worker, design of equipment and layout of workplace.
Ergonomics major concern is with how the body responds to stimuli and consequently the reaction. The human body must be in a well physical and emotional state to be capable of performing a productive and efficient job.
According to Title 8, Subchapter 7, Group 15, Article 106, Section 5110 of the California Code of Regulations, Ergonomics training must be a workplace program. An employee must now be trained in exposures to Repetitive Motion Injuries (RMI) that is defined as illnesses associated with repetitive motion, report all injuries concerning repetitive motion and know how to minimize injuries.
An example of an RMI is unsafe lifting and lowering of objects. NIOSH has developed an equation for a Recommended Weight Limit (RWL). The RWL is the maximum weight limit for the average person in the workplace to lift or lower an object. The equation is as follows:
RWL=(LC)(HM)(VM)(DM)(AM)(FM)(CM). The variables equal:
LC= load constant (51lbs.)
HM= horizontal multiplier (10 in.)
VM= vertical multiplier [1-(0.0075/V-30/)]
DM= distance multiplier [0.82+ (1.8/D]
AM= asymmetry multiplier [1- (0.0032A)]
FM= frequency multiplier
CM= coupling multiplier
This equation works under the assumption that the conditions around the worker are perfect and no other factors interfere with lifting and lowering.
Summary Questions
THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN BODY
Exposures to occupational hazards in the workplace are in conjunction with the makeup of the human body. The structure and function of the body must be well understood in order to know how hazardous exposures can be avoided or what steps need to be taken if a worker is exposed. Any hazardous environment can cause numerous types of illnesses or even death.
The major parts of the body affected by hazardous conditions are the respiratory system, skin, ears and eyes. The respiratory system is composed of many parts, which can be easily affected by airborne contaminants. The parts include the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, and alveoli.
Harmful agents enter one’s body through inhalation, absorption, and ingestion. Airborne contaminants are easily confused but their compositions are distinct. Such contaminants are fumes, smoke, aerosols, mists, gases and vapors. For example, fumes are solids that condense in cool air, while vapors are liquids that evaporate into the surrounding air. The similarities in these two contaminants are they mix into the atmosphere. A respiratory hazard exists when a worker is not properly protected for a certain type of contaminant. Threshold Limit Values (TLV) are guidelines used in order to determine the levels of exposure to contaminants and the intensity of the hazards. TLVs also include TLV-Short Term Exposure Limit and TLV-Ceiling. These are guidelines of airborne contaminant exposure according to time limits.
The workplace can also expose the employee to many skin disorders. Being exposed to skin disorders can be avoided if precautions are in place. These precautions are engineering controls, proper ventilation, personal protective equipment, and administrative controls. Of all these precautions, personal protective equipment should be the final option. The skin is an organ that is susceptible to absorbing or coming into contact with many contaminants if careless. A chemical burn can cause a skin disorder known as dermatosis that causes the skin to have an abnormal appearance and cause damage to the layers of skin. Dermatosis can have irreversible effects on the skin.
The ears are another part of the human body that have irreversible effects if a hazard is exposed. The ear is divided into external, middle and inner. Since the ear has a complex structure, hazards can easily affect this area. The most common hazard in the workplace for the ears is unwanted sound also known as noise. The results of noise at unacceptable levels contribute to hearing loss, which can be slowed if ramifications are taken.
The eyes are the most vulnerable to hazardous situations at the workplace. When an occupational hazard exists and the eye is harmed, recovery is usually slow and the most difficult to correct. Hazards that greatly affect the eye are amplification of light, burns of any type, airborne particles, and irritating airborne contaminants. The most effective and least expensive form of protection is safety goggles. Depending on the work performed, safety goggles can be worn at all times or intermittently. Yet, standards do exist for safety goggles that must be approved by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) and have issued the standard Z87.1-1989 as requirements.
Summary Questions