industrial hygiene

occupational health and safety system

1. INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE BY – IRAM DANISH SEMT-48 1

2. Definition of Occupational / Industrial Hygiene 2 Definition 1 ( International Occupational Hygiene Association By-laws – IOHA) “ Occupational Hygiene is the discipline of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large .”

3. Definition of Industrial Hygiene 3 Definition 2 (American Industrial Hygiene Association - AIHA ) “ That science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors and stresses arising in or from the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or among citizens of the community ”

4. Definitions – Industrial Hygiene 4 IOHA AIHA Occupational Hygiene is the discipline of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large.” Industrial Hygiene is “ That science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors and stresses arising in or from the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or among citizens of the community ”

5. What is the difference between Industrial hygiene and Occupational hygiene? The term Industrial Hygiene originated in the USA while in other parts of the world it is known as Occupational Hygiene. In some ways the term Occupational is a better description as health risks occur in all places that people work such as offices, shops, hospitals and farms, not just in places you would think of as industrial . 5

6. Qualification of an Industrial Hygienist 6 A person having a college or university degree (s) in engineering, chemistry, physics, medicine or related physical and biological sciences, who has also received specialised training in recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace stressors and therefore achieved competence in industrial hygiene.

7. Basic Principles of Industrial Hygiene 7 Anticipation of potential health risks Recognition of existing health hazards at the workplace Evaluation of health risks Control of unacceptable risks Remember the acronym : A.R.E.C .

8. Anticipation of potential risks 8 Best done – in the design stage of a process or equipment or at the formulation stage of a new substance or chemical Advantage : Eliminate the need for review or redesigning, thus save high costs.

9. Anticipation of potential risks 9 Basic information to consider: Characteristics of the process or equipment Physical and chemical properties of the formulation Adverse health effects from past experience and reported cases of occupational diseases and poisoning The process of anticipation is not easy and requires vast experience. Need to engage the assistance of experts such as the industrial hygiene practitioner, toxicologist and occupational health doctor.

10. Recognition of Health Hazards DipOSH_2011(Tay) 10 This may be achieved through – Workplace inspection i . Look at workplace environment, work processes , types of materials & equipment used; ii. Observe workers at work

11. Recognition of Health Hazards 11 Health surveillance and area monitoring Workers health records Review of past Incident investigation reports. Discussion with the management and workers Area Toxic Gas Monitoring

12. Harmful Factors that exist at the Workplace 12 Many workers may be exposed to a number of health hazards at work. Hazard recognition : Identifying factors or work processes that may be harmful to health. Knowledge of the physicochemical properties of a material/ substance, its harmful effects to health and identification techniques are essential .

13. Health Hazards encountered at Work DipOSH_2011(Ta 13 Chemical Substances Physical agents. Biological agents Ergonomics Psychological factors.

14. Chemical Hazards 14 Hazards – risks are associated with the use of chemicals. Hazardous chemicals may cause – Fire & Explosion Adverse health effects Damage to the environment Forms of Chemicals Dust, Particles and smoke Liquid and mists Gas and vapour Common Types Solvents Metals Acids and Bases Pesticides

15. Physical Hazards 15 Excessive exposure to the following physical hazards may cause harm to our health – Noise Vibration Ionising radiation Cosmic rays – gamma, alpha, Beta and X-rays; soil/rock radioactive elements– uranium, thorium, radium, potassium-40; Man-made nuclear radiation Non-ionising radiation UV, Infrared, microwave, laser. Lighting Extremely high/low temperature ✓ Extremely high/low air pressure

16. Biological Hazards • • • Micro organisms Bacteria, viruses and Parasites. The virus of contagious diseases may spread through its vectors. Toxins (spider, snake, scorpion, jellyfish, wasp) Plants (fungi, yeast, cotton dusts) Bacteria Anthrax, legionnaire’s disease, botulism, E.Coli, salmonella Viruses H5N1(Avian Flu), SARS, HIV, mumps, Dengue fever. Hepatitis A/B/C , Variecella (chickenpox) Fungi Poisonous mushrooms - Amanita virosa (Destroying Angel), – Amanita phalloides (Death Cap) Parasites Malaria, mites, leeches, intestinal worms

17. Ergonomic Hazards 17 Musculoskeletal disorders affecting workers may arise from unsuitable work conditions or physical incapacity to carry out their assigned tasks. 1. Awkward body postures

18. Ergonomic Hazards Examples of unsuitable work conditions or physical incapacity: 4 Poor lightning and cramp work place 18 2. Manual lifting of heavy loads 3. Repetitive hand Movements

19. Psychological hazards 19 Tensions at the workplace may disturb the concentration and mental health of the worker Examples of Tensions at the workplace Monotonous work Excessive workload and overtime Poor work relationships with colleagues and supervisors Shift work Remuneration and annual leave issues Sexual Harassment

20. Objectives of Risk Evaluation (Assessment) 20 To determine the level of worker exposure (high, medium or low) to health hazards and the effectiveness of the existing control measures, and their relationship to the risk of disease. To enable decisions to be made on additional control measures to bring the health risks down to within PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit). – e.g. engineering control to reduce airborne contaminants, worker training, health surveillance .

21. Risk Evaluation – what to look at? 21 Risk = Hazard x Exposure Hazard Component = Magnitude of hazard and the potential adverse health effects from possible routes of entry or contact. Exposure Component = Chances of overexposure occurring by taking into account: i . Characteristics of exposure ii. Level of exposure Risk Conclusion – takes into account the work practices and personal factors including individual susceptibility.

22. Risk Evaluation 22 (i ) Characteristics of exposure Who are exposed (based on Job types and tasks performed)? How many are exposed? What are they exposed to? ✓ How are they exposed? € Inhalation € Skin Absorption € Ingestio n

23. Risk Evaluation 23 (ii) Level of Exposure Frequency of exposure daily, weekly, monthly? Duration of exposure by seconds, minutes, hours? Intensity of exposure high, medium, low?

24. Risk Evaluation 24 (ii) Level of Exposure Exposure intensity - Quantitative Using equipment to measure the intensity or magnitude of exposure Field Sling Psychrometer Exposure intensity - Qualitative Using observation and professional opinion

25. Risk Conclusion 25 Ri sk c on c lu s io n i s m ad e a ft e r t a k in g in t o a cc oun t Level of risk exposure (high, medium or low) based on qualitative or quantitative assessment and rated against the Industry accepted Permissible Exposure Limits. The work practices, and personal factors (including individual susceptibility) ii. The adequacy of existing control measures

26. Control of Health Risks 26 Principle of Risk Control Prioritise the control measures at the source, not the worker Prioritise the elimination of hazards, not the reduction of exposure Controls should target below the permissible exposure limits Controls should be as low as reasonably practicable, especially in cases where there is no data on the permissible exposure limit Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last resort

27. Principle of Risk Control 27 Prioritise the control measures at the source , not the worker Controlled source means – € Controlled exposure € A hazard free environment It is easier to control processes, machinery and equipment than to control workers

28. Principle of Risk Control 28 Prioritise the elimination of hazards , not the reduction of exposure No hazard means no exposure Elimination of hazards is more effective Reduction of exposure is only recommended where it is not possible to eliminate or isolate the hazard

29. Principle of Risk Control DipOSH_2011(Tay) 29 Controls should target below the permissible exposure limits Risk is reduced if worker exposure is below the permissible limits Exposure beyond the permissible limits is harmful to worker health Violation of Regulations, if PEL is exceeded

30. Principle of Risk Control 30 Controls should be as low as reasonably practicable , especially in cases where there is no data on the permissible exposure limit The risk of cancer or allergy exists even at low exposure levels Hazard free environment is still the best working environment Many chemicals do not have permissible exposure limits

31. Hierarchy of Risk Controls 31 It is a list of protection strategies that are rated in order of priority from the best to the worst. Elimination Substitution Isolation Engineering controls Administrative controls - Safe work practices and procedures Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

32. Other Methods to increase the levels of Control on health risk at the Workplace 32 Provide Information, instruction and training to workers. Exposure monitoring Health surveillance First aid and emergency facilities Warning signa l s

33. Tay 33