OSHE 141 Industrial Hygiene & Toxicology

Dr. Ephraim Massawe

Introduction to Industrial Hygiene and ToxicologyLecture # 1: Introduction

Framework of the IH Professional and Functions

Industrial Hygiene

• Industrial Hygiene is partly science and partly an art

• Science – Because it applies scientific principles to prevent occupational and non-occupational diseases or injuries

– Requires knowledge of Chemistry; Physics; Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Mathematics etc.

• An art - because IH professionals have to make judgments, that are sometimes not related to scientific principles

• IH is the science of keeping people safe and healthy at work and in their communities.

– Dedicated to the health and well-being of workers.– Originally, they worked in factories and other industrial settings – Today they are in almost every type of work setting

• IH is synonymous to OEHS or occupational and environmental H&S – in reference to the work they do

Industrial Hygiene (IH) as a Branch Science

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Industrial Hygiene – Universal Definition

• “.. science or art devoted to the anticipation and identification, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors or stresses (Hazards), arising in or from the workplace, that may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort and inefficiency among workers” - plog 745

Knowledge Required for Successful Work of an IH

Disciplines Involved Applications in IH

Physics, math, anatomy, physiology – plog 743

Hazard evaluations of noise, illumination, lasers, radiation, and ergonomics

Chemistry, anatomy, physiology, toxicology

Toxic chemical exposure evaluations of carcinogen hazard assessment and reproductive hazard assessments

Physics, chemistry, statistics - plog 743

Measuring exposures to chemical and physical agents, interpreting lab analytical reports. Use of direct reading instruments.

Statistics, epidemiology, physics, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, toxicology, language skills

Interpreting study and lab results, critical review of research, performing research

Business management, english, (language skills), psychology, etc.

Management, rate of return on investments (RoI), equipment purchases, winning clientele; writing reports and papers; design of programs communicate and counseling aggrieved parties

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Key words from the definition

• The four-five key words in the IH definition are: plog 745

– (1) Anticipation/and identification of ……scott pg 5– (2) Recognition of…– (3) Evaluation of….– (4) Control of…– (5)Confirm that the controls are indeed effective)

– These five words form what is known as the FRAMEWORK of carrying out industrial hygienist functions i.e. occupational (and environmental or non-occupational) hazards – ARECC!!

Who is an Industrial Hygienist?

• An Industrial Hygienist is a person who may have any of the following college degrees

– engineering, chemistry, physics, medicine, or related physical and biological sciences…etc….and,

– who has/may have gone for a specialized training in the identification, recognition, evaluation, and control (and confirm) of occupational/workplace stressors or hazards and therefore, achieved competence in the industrial hygiene (IH).

What do Industrial Hygienists Do?

• IHs work to prevent illness/ injury from hazards in industrial settings and may also:-– work to prevent ergonomic injuries in the office;– measure noise levels at an airport; – supervise safe removal of lead, mold or asbestos; etc– sample air, soil or water for harmful substances T– fit test respirators to ensure worker breath cleaner air.– save life, improve quality of life, increase productivity.

• Safe, healthy workers are more efficient. – Injuries can lead to many days or weeks out of work,– permanent disability, economic hardship to workers

Who is an Industrial Hygienist?

• The specialized studies and training must be so sufficient that the individual is able to:

• 1) anticipate and recognize environmental factors and understand their effects on people and their well-being;

• 2) evaluate, on the basis of experience and with the aid of quantitative measurement techniques, the magnitude of these stresses in terms of the stressor’s ability to impair human health and well-being; and

• 3) prescribe methods to eliminate, control, or reduce such stresses when necessary to diminish their effects.

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Framework of the IH Professional Work

The framework is governed by the following 4 key words

• Anticipation/Identification of hazards• Recognition of hazards• Evaluation of hazards • Control or prevention of hazards • (CONFIRM that controls are working properly)

• plog 745

How do IH Professionals Anticipate and Recognize Occupational and Non-Occupational Hazards?

• Anticipate and Recognize Hazards:

– Use experience– Use historical data– Use other information sources if available (interview employees;

walk-through surveys?; use NIOSH/OSHA inf. Resources)

• See or skim through chapter 24 (page 745) of Fundamentals of IH by Plog and Quintal

How do IH Professionals IdentifyOccupational and Non-Occupational Hazards?

• Identify Occupational and Non-Occupational Hazards

– Use existing systems, facilities, processes and procedures to identify what typical hazards may exist

• See or skim through chapter 24 (page 745) of Fundamentals of IH by Plog and Quintal

How do IH Professionals EvaluateOccupational and Non-Occupational Hazards?

• Evaluate of Occupational/Non-Occupational Hazards

– Use different methods available to evaluate the severity and probability or chance (simply the risks) of significant impacts on human health and safety – e.g. fatalities, illnesses (both chronic and acute) that may occur or results from potential hazards

• Go through chapter 24 (page 745) of Fund of IH by Plog

How do IH Professionals ControlOccupational and Non-Occupational Hazards?

• Control of Occupational and Non-Occupational Hazards

– Substitution - (pg # 6 Scott/pg 29 Plog)– Engineering Controls (pg # 6 Scott/pg 29 Plog)– Administrative Controls (pg # 6 Scott/pg 29 Plog)– PPE (pg # 6 Scott/pg 29 Plog)

• See chapt 24 (pg 745) Fund. of IH by Plog/ Quintal

So what is an occupational or non-occupational hazard?

• A hazard is a condition or situation in an environment (work or non-work related) that can pose risks to human health and safety

– Such condition may cause acute or chronic injuries and illnesses

• Risk: a probability or chance that an existing condition or situation i.e. a hazard would cause injuries or illnesses

– Risk can vary from 0 (highly unlikely) – 1 (highly likely)

Broad Categories of Occupational and Non-Occupational Hazards

• Chemical Hazards --- plog 7-11 - Specific……hazards?

• Physical Hazards - plog 11/61 - Specific……hazards?

• Biological Hazards -- plog 16/19 - Specific……hazards?

• Mechanical Hazards - plog 61 - Specific……hazards?

• Ergonomic Hazards - plog 17 - - Specific……hazards?

• Psychosocial Hazards?? - Specific……hazards?

(1) Chemical Hazards

Specific examples of chemical hazards include, but not limited to, ______:

• Paints/Solvents• Welding Fumes• Wood Dust contaminated with preservatives • Carbon Monoxide• Exhaust Fumes• Oxygen deficiency • Others…class to discuss

(1) Chemical Hazards

• Health hazards of chemicals increase with the potential for inhalation in the form of aerosols – to become airborne contaminants – pg 21 by Plog

– Chemicals can be aerosolized to become dusts, mists, fumes, vapors, gases and smoke

– Thus dusts, mist, fumes, cloud, gases, vapors, smoke etc are examples of aerosols

– So what is an aerosol? - An aerosol is defined as a suspension of fine solid or liquid droplets in a gas

(1) Chemical Hazards

• It is important to understand how to handle chemicals, used as raw materials or generated as byproducts

• It is also critical to understand the information about all hazards associated with chemicals (Lectures # 3 – regulations will discuss this topic)

• The risks associated with handling of chemicals are many

– E.g duration, magnitude or dose (this will be discussed later). Skim through chapter 15 of the text book Fundamentals of IH by Plog and Quintal

(2) Physical Hazards

Specific examples of physical hazards include :• Noise• Extreme Heat – Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) – pg 13• Extreme Cold – cold stress – pg 13 by Plog• Light• Vibration• Others….class to discuss

– Others - see chapt 9-10-11-12 by Plog and Quintal

(4) Physical Hazards

• Examples of physical hazards include - Non -Ionization and Ionization Radiation - skim through quickly plog 257-325

– Ultra-Violet (UV) Light– Infra-Red (IR) Radiation– Microwaves– Radar– Lasers– X-Rays– Low frequency power transmission lines– Others – the class to discuss

(3) Biological Hazards

• Biological Agents/Hazards

– Insects, yeasts, fungi, bacteria, viruses

– Mold

– H1N1

– Others – the class to discuss

• See chapter 14 of Fund. of IH by Plog and Quinlan s

(3) Biological Hazards

Others examples of biological hazards include:

• Hospital (BIOHAZARDS) wastes such as

– Infectious Blood/Body Fluids

– Tuberculosis/Hepatitis

– Population at risks estimated at 100,000+ million worldwide

• Other biological hazards - class to discuss…..!!

(4) Mechanical Hazards

• Specific examples of mechanical hazards include

– Flying chips– Nip points– Sparks– Metal parts– Rotating metal or mechanical/machine parts

(5) Ergonomic Hazards – pg 17 by Plog

• Examples of ergonomic hazards include

– workstation design, repetitive motion, improper lifting/reaching, poor visual conditions

– Poor sitting arrangements; improper keyboarding; improper monitor position; poor lighting; poorly designed tools and work areas

– See chapter 13 of the Fundamentals of IH by Plog and Quinlan on how these may be controlled!

Other work or occupational hazards??

• Students to brainstorm

Some IH Topics, Concepts and Terms

• Toxicology• Occupational Health Standards• Airborne Hazards• Indoor Air Quality• Skin Disorders• Noise Exposure• Radiation (ionizing and non-ionizing)• Thermal or Cold Stress

• Anatomy – ear, eye, liver, etc• Biohazards – virus, fungi etc• Chemicals – benzene • Illumination• Personal Protective Equipment• Ventilation Engineering• Vibration• Air Sampling Protocols• MSDS etc.• Regulations and Standards e.g PEL; TLV; REL etc.

Some IH Topics, Concepts and Terms

• For example: Toxicology is the study of:

• The harmful effects of chemicals and other physical phenomena on biological systems.

• How and why certain substances cause disruptions of biological systems resulting in toxic effects

– And the mechanisms involved

Industrial Hygiene

• Other terms used to refer to the IH profession and related jobs:

– Occupational Industrial Hygiene– Environmental Hygienist – Environmental Health Specialist– Occupational Health Nurse

• See chapter 23-27 of the Fundamentals of IH by Plog and Quintal (page 727-793) and pg 6 Scott

Other terms used for IH specialist

• Medical scientist

• Detective OR Investigator

• Engineer

IH as A Medical Scientist/Doctor

• Why is an IH be described as a medical scientist or medical doctor?

– An IH professional with extensive training may acquire knowledge and skills necessary to look at an occupation or work environment and make an “educated guess” about what health hazards that might exist (anticipate and recognize hazards)

IH as An Detective OR Investigator

• Why is an IH considered a detective or investigator?

– An IH professional must be able to seek to know information about hazards of workplaces (occupational environment) and use analytical methods available to detect the extent of workers’ exposure to such hazards

– Note: a broken arm or leg is pretty obvious – even to an untrained individual!!

– It is that stuff which we cannot see that worries IH the most - EVALUATION!!

IH as An Engineer

• Why would an IH be considered an engineer or technician?

– An IH professional must be able to recommend designs to limit or minimize and/or eliminate workplace hazards e.g. ventilation systems

– This where CONTROLS come into picture or framework of the functions of an IH!!

Aspects of IH: Identification Agents/recognition functions

How can you find the Potential Health Hazards in your Facility?

* Walk-Through Survey * Ask Employees* Check The Inventory * Inquire With Different Associations.* Inquire with Unions * NIOSH* OSHA * Safety & Health Organizations

Many Organizations Publish valuable information like trade assoc.,unions, NIOSH, OSHA and others.

Industrial Hygienist as A Detective or Investigator

Important Aspects of IH: Evaluation of Agents

• Observations – mainly the work processes; industrial unit operations

• Quantitative measurement of the agents of concern – air measurements; physical agents (noise; radiation etc)

• Experience and knowledge of Industrial Hygienist is an important asset

Industrial Hygienist as A Detective or Investigator

Risk Factors that can be investigated by an IH

Frequency (how often)

Intensity (how much)

Duration (how long)

Individual Sensitivity

Toxicity of the Chemical

Industrial Hygienist as A Detective or Investigator

Industrial Hygienist as An Engineer

You cannot manage what you cannot measure…!!.

Units of Measurement

• Parts per Million (ppm)

• Milligrams per Cubic Meter (mg/m3)

• Fibers per Cubic Centimeter (f/cc)

• (1) Substitution has now taken precedence in the hierarchy of controls

Industrial Hygienist as An Engineer

Important Aspects of IH: Control of Agents/Hazards

Important Aspects of IH: Control of Agents/Hazards

– (2) Engineering Controls

• Engineering changes in design, equipment, processes

• Substituting a non-hazardous material

Industrial Hygienist as An Engineer

– (3) Administrative Controls

• Reduce the human exposure by changes in procedures, work-area access restrictions, worker rotation

Industrial Hygienist as An Engineer

Important Aspects of IH: Control of Agents/Hazards

– (4) Personal Protective Equipment /Clothing

– Ear plugs / muffs, safety glasses /goggles, respirators, gloves, clothing, hard-hats

Industrial Hygienist as An Engineer

Important Aspects of IH: Control of Agents/Hazards

Job Description of an IH professional

• Typical roles of an IH (see chapter 23 of Fundamentals of IH by Plog and Quintal)– Investigating workplace hazards– Making recommendations for improvement– Conduct research to provide data to support interventions– Develop techniques to anticipate and recognize hazards– Train, education and participate in induction courses for new workers– Ensure procedures are followed regardless rank– Direct S&H programs or IH programs specifically

Code of Ethics for the Practice of IH

• Code of Ethics: “Code of ethics - defined as the guidelines that are written and issued by an organization to its workers, management, and other professionals affiliated to that organization in order to help them conduct their actions in accordance with its primary values and standards.” http://www.businessdictionary.com

• The Code of Ethics and Canons for the practice of the IH profession will be discussed in Lectures # 2