Fundamentals ofIndustrial Hygiene

Industrial Hygiene is the identification, evaluation & control of hazards in the workplace

Hazards that can lead to accidents and work-related illnesses.

What is SAFETY ?Freedom from accidentsFreedom from harm, injury and loss

An accident is the result of contact of a body with a source of energy above the threshold limit of that body

Common accidentsStruck byStruck againstFall from a heightFall on same levelCaught inCaught onElectrocutionOverload

Causes of Accidents :Unsafe Condition - seen as a physical or chemical property in the materialUnsafe Act - a violation of safe procedureact of omissionact of commission

IdentifyEvaluateCorrectThree Steps to Control Accidents & Work-related illness:

Identify the HazardInspection (Before)Investigation (After)

Evaluate the HazardOSHA standardsNIOSHTLV

When is it time to change the tire?

Tread Wear Indicator

tread wear indicator

Correct the HazardEngineering ControlAdministrative ControlPersonal Protective Equipment

Engineering Methods - eliminate or reduce the hazard by:Initial design specificationSubstitutionIsolation (Place)Ventilation, others . . .Industrial Hygiene Methods of Control

Administrative Methods - control of employees exposure Scheduled reduced work hours in contaminated areasIncreased breaksSOPsIsolation (Time)Medical ExamsIndustrial Hygiene Methods of Control

Personal Protective Equipment -barrier aids in controlling individual exposure to hazardsIndustrial Hygiene Methods of Control

Occupational Health

The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations

ILO/WHO 1950

TYPES OF HAZARDSPhysical HazardsChemical HazardsBiological HazardsErgonomic Hazards

Physical HazardsNoiseVibrationExtremes Of TemperatureIlluminationPressure

Chemical HazardsLiquidsSolidsGas

Routes of entryInhalationIngestionDermal contactEye contamination

Biologic HazardsBacteriaVirusesFungiInsects/Parasites

Ergonomic HazardsImproper Tools and Equipment DesignUnnecessary/ Unusual Lifting or ReachingRepetitive MotionsStress at Work

Mismatch between the worker & his work

Permissible Noise Exposure*

Duration/day Sound Level (hours) (dB)890493296199 0.5 102 0.25 or less 105*without the need of hearing protection

OSHA 1981

Health Effects Of NoiseAcute Effects:Acoustic Trauma (explosion, gunshot)Temporary Threshold shift (Disco)Poor communication

Adverse Health Effects of NoiseChronic or Long term effects:Permanent Threshold shiftNoise induced hearing lossPsychosomatic effects

Control of Noise Engineering methods

Purchase new equipmentIsolation/dampingAdministrative Control

Job rotation / breaksPPE

Ear plugs / ear muffs

Heat StressExposure settings:High temperatureHigh humidityPoor ventilationMultiple heat sources

Acute Health Effects of HeatPrickly heat - immature sweat glandsHeat fatigue - bad mood (water loss)Heat cramps - muscle spasm(water + salts)Heat exhaustion - fatigue, diaphoresis, dehydration, nausea, vomiting

(water + salts + electrolytes)Heat stroke - overheating, seizure, coma

(failure of thermoregulatory system)

Control Of Heat Problems Engineering controlVentilationWater sources (fountains/showers)Administrative controlJob rotation/breaksPPECotton clothes, multiple changes

insulation

Melanin pigments

Cold StressIce plantsFood processing plantsDeep sea divingSemiconductorBroadcast industry

Control MethodsEngineering ControlIsolation / enclosure / insulationAdministrative ControlShift work, rest periodsWarm food & drinks / medical examsPPEThermal clothing / electric blanketGloves / cap / jacket / wool lined shoes

Vibrationcontinuous low frequency oscillation that is more likely felt than heardaffects the body through direct contact exposure settings:hand held grinding toolsjack hammer, chain sawtransportation

Health Effects of VibrationInflammation (wrist, elbow, shoulder)Carpal tunnel syndromeTenosynovitisFatigue

Prevention & TreatmentEngineeringTool re-designIsolation

Administrativeshifting

PPEgloves, dampers

IlluminationVisibility of a workplace

- as a result of light - (natural or artificial)lumens or lux

Importance of IlluminationOSHA standardsactive storage - 50 luxproduction line - 300 luxclerical work - 500 luxfine movement work - 1000 lux

500 lux

Acute effects

eye straindizzinessheadacheneck painsteary eyes

CataractSenile arc

Control MethodsImprove illumination by adding:artificial light sourcesnatural light sourcesReduce by:Isolation or enclosure PPEEye examination

PressureAtmospheric force that is constantly applied on the body, as a result of normal changes in altitude or artificially induced conditions.

Pressure changes cause body stressAcute Effects: FatigueIncoordinationApprehensionExcitabilityParesthesiasDizzinessHeadachesDisorientationTremorsConvulsionsDepressed sensoriumNarcosisPulmonary edemaDeath

Control methodsPre-employment screeningTraining (Pre-event)Scheduled work durationExercise (During event)Medical monitoring / Medications Pressure vessels / chamberRehabilitation (Post-event)Pressurized suits

Chemical Hazards

Exposure settingsOil and fuelSolventsMetal welding fumesAcids and AlkalisLead (organic & inorganic)Dust (Silica, asbestos)

Skin AbsorptionImportant accidental route of entryskin acts as protective barrierlocal - irritationgeneral - sensitization

local

general

Ingestionnot widespread in industryaccidental swallowingeating in contaminated areassmoking on the job with contaminated fingers & hands

Handling of cement dust

Inhalationmost important route of exposure because anything that enters the lungs is spread by the blood throughout the body

Organ systems of the body that are affected:SkinLungCNSKidneyLiverBloodHeart

General Health effects DisorientationEuphoriaLight headednessConfusionUnconsciousnessHeadacheNausea, vomitingParalysis, convulsion, death

Control of Chemical HazardsEngineering

Initial selection / substitutionChemical hoodRedesign the processAdministrative

SOP / shiftwork / housekeepingMSDS reviewEnvironmental monitoringPPE

Biologic HazardsTuberculosisAIDSHepatitis A, BChicken poxCough & coldsSore eyesLiceSTD

Biologic hazardsCharacterized by organisms that have:lifethe ability to multiply

Eye contaminationconjunctivitis / syphilis

Inhalation - entry by droplet infectionInfluenza virusTB bacilliSARSMeningococcemia

Ingestion - infected food & waterImproperly cooked food - parasitesContaminated water - AmoebiasisFeco-oral route - Hepatitis AUrine on lids of canned drinksSoft drinks in ice coolers

Pests

Dermal contactPerspiration steering wheel, golf clubs, PPESkin scales - clothesBody hair - lice, crabs, fleasCandidiasis, Syphilis, Gonorrhea

Fungal infection

Injection - through a break in the skinCuts - knife, blades - Hepatitis BPunctures - ice pick, needles - TetanusAbrasions - grinding stone - foreign bodyLacerations bacteria, HIV

Control of Biologic HazardsEngineeringsterile work place / shower facilitiesUV light / chemicalsClimate controllow T - retard bacterial growthhigh T - cause cell wall fragility / lysisAdministrativeSOP / shiftwork / housekeepingPPE

ErgonomicsIt is a technique that brings together several disciplines to solve problems at work

Tools and EquipmentElectric typewriterTelephone / calculatorHand tool design: pliersDriving

MANWORKSTATIONTOOLJOB

Jobthe task conducted at the workplace

Workstationwhere tasks are carried out

Toolpowerful, fast, tirelessenables man to accomplish his job with reduced effort

Manintelligent, adaptive and versatilethe basis of existence - survival

Cumulative Trauma DisordersTendinitisCarpal Tunnel SyndromeLower Back Pain

Fatiguea deterioration of mental and physical performancein everyday experience, fatigue is the accumulation of the effects of various sources.

Job DesignFrequent review of work processElimination of crossoversWorkers position/posture

Risks in the JOBPositionForceFrequency

Best position:Elbow at 90 100 degreesWrist is straight

Because the arms are at a relaxed position and you maximize 100% muscular strength from this position

What is wrong with the picture? What would you recommend?

PositionHandWrist

ForceUse as less force as possiblePush your load, dont carry it

Waiters use carts instead of carrying plates over their shoulder

Climbing poles is a repetitive task

Basket cranes used to raise workers to top of electric poles

Repetition

Repetition removed

Observable discomfort or painWearing a support bandageshaking or rubbing hands /forearmsFlexing shoulder and back musclesRubbing neck, shoulders and backTaking pain-relief medicationFrequent clinic visits / absenteeism

Employee modificationsPillow for back supportstacked mats or platforms to stand onTool handles wrapped in tape

Adapt the job, the tool and workplace to the worker; instead of making the worker adapt to all of these.

Hazard RecognitionVisible dust clouds or fumesEye or skin irritation on walk-throughRoad excavationNeed to raise voice to communicateChange of nail polishPoor work practicePoor plant layout Noontime sunOctopus connections

WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT

WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT is the direct measurement of hazards, environmental stresses and their hazardous effects on the workers health.Purpose of Work Environment Measurement (WEM) :

* Determine the magnitude of harmful environmental agents; * Predict the harmfulness of new facilities, processes and methods; * To monitor workers exposure to hazards; * Evaluate the effectiveness of control measures adopted for improvement; * Maintain a favorable working condition.

Threshold Limit Values ( TLVs )- refer to the time weighed concentrations of airborned contaminants for an 8-hour workday and 40 hour per week exposure.Types of TLVs :

1. TLV TWA is the time weighed average concentration of airborne contaminants for a normal 8-hr. workday and 40 hr. work week, without adverse effect to the health of the workers.

2. TLV - STEL- is a time weighed average calculated over a 15 minute period. This is applied in situations where brief excursions could be experienced (while not exceeding the 8-hour TLV-TWA)

Types of TLVs . 3. TLV C - are values which should not be exceeded even briefly.If any of these three TLVs is exceeded, a potential hazard from that substance is presumed to exist. The degree of hazard from exposure to harmful environmental factors or stresses would depend on the following: * Nature of the material or energy involved. * Intensity of exposure. * Duration of exposure. * Individual susceptibility.

WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASURING INSTRUMENTS ( WEM )NOISE - Sound level meter, frequency analyzer.

LIGHT - Luxmeter or Lightmeter

EXTREMES OF TEMPERATUTE Thermometer

RADIATION Film badge, Thermoluminiscence detectors, Pocket dosimeter.

CHEMICAL AGENTS Gas and Vapor monitors.

BIOLOGIC AGENTS Microscope.

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE CONTROL METHODS:SUBSTITUTIONCHANGING THE PROCESSISOLATIONWET METHODSLOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATIONPERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENTPERSONAL HYGIENEHOUSEKEEPINGWASTE DISPOSALMEDICAL CONTROLSADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL

.Thank you

tread wear indicator