Occupational-Environment BOSH/hazard.pdf

Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training for Safety

1. Module 8 –OCCUPATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

2. INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Industrialhygieneis“thescienceandartdevotedtotherecognition,evaluationand
controlofenvironmentalfactorsorstressesarisinginorfromtheworkplace,
whichmaycausesickness,impairedhealthandwell-being,orsignificant
discomfortandinefficiencyamongworkersorcitizensofthecommunity.”
Implementingindustrialhygienepracticessuchasexposureassessmentand
institutingcontrolmeasurestominimizeoccupationalaccidentsanddiseasesand
theircostsaswellasenhanceproductivity.
Industrialhygieneisinterconnectedwiththedifferentaspectsofwork–researchand
development,production,medical/health,safetyandmanagement.

3. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
RECOGNITIONOFOCCUPATIONALHEALTHHAZARDS
Classificationofoccupationalhealthhazards
Thevariousenvironmentalstressesorhazards,otherwiseknownasoccupationalhealth
hazardscanbeclassifiedaschemical,physical,biological,orergonomic.
1.ChemicalHazards.Occupationalhealthhazardsarisefrominhalingchemicalagentsin
theformofvapors,gases,dusts,fumes,andmists,orbyskincontactwiththesematerials.
Thedegreeofriskofhandlingagivensubstancedependsonthemagnitudeanddurationof
exposure.
a.Gasesaresubstancesingaseousstateareairborneatroomtemperature.
Examplesarechlorine,hydrogensulfide,ammonia,carbonmonoxide,sulfurdioxide,
phosgeneandformaldehyde.
b.Vaporresultswhensubstancesthatareliquidatroomtemperatureevaporate.
Examplesarethecomponentsoforganicsolventssuchasbenzene,toluene,
acetone,andxylene.

4. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
c.Mistis a fine particles of a liquid float in air. Examples: nitric acid and sulfuric acid.
d.Dust is a solid harmful substances are ground, cut or crushed by mechanical
actions and fine particles float in air. Examples are metal dusts and asbestos.
e.Fumeis a gas (such as metal vapor) condensed in air, chemically changed and
becomes fine solid particles which float in air. Examples are oxides generated
from molten metal such as cadmium oxide, beryllium oxide, etc.
2.PhysicalHazards.Problemsrelatingtosuchthingsasextremesoftemperature,
heatstress,vibration,radiation,abnormalairpressure,illumination,noise,and
vibrationarephysicalstresses.Itisimportantthattheemployer,supervisor,andthose
responsibleforsafetyandhealthareonguardtothesehazardsduetothepossible
immediateorcumulativeeffectsonthehealthoftheemployees.

5. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
2.PhysicalHazards.
a.Extremetemperature.Extremetemperatures(extremeheatandextremecold)
affecttheamountofworkthatpeoplecandoandthemannerinwhichtheydo
it.Inindustry,theproblemismoreoftenhightemperaturesratherthanlow
temperatures.
Heatstressmaybeexperiencedbyworkersexposedtoexcessiveheatarisingfrom
work.Workersatriskofheatstressincludeoutdoorworkersandworkersinhot
environmentssuchasfire-fighters,bakeryworkers,farmers,constructionworkers,
miners,,factoryworkers,etc.workersaged65andolder,thosewithheartdisease,
hypertensionorthosetakingmedicationsareatagreaterriskforheatstress.
Coldstress.Workersexposedtoextremecoldorworkincoldenvironmentssuch
asthoseiniceplantsorrefrigeratedworkplacesmaybeatriskofcoldstress.
Monitoringandevaluationofrefrigerantchemicalsishighlyrecommendedwhen
workingincoldstorageandrefrigeratingplants.

6. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
b.Radiation
Electromagnetic waves are produced by the motion of electrically charged particles.
These waves are also called “electromagnetic radiation” because they radiate from the
electrically charged particles. They travel through empty space as well as through air
and can penetrate some other substances.
c. Extreme pressure. It has been recognized as from the beginning of caisson work
(work performed in a watertight structure) that men working under pressures greater
than at a normal atmospheric one, are subject to various illnesses connected with the job.
Hyperbaric(greater than normal pressures) environments are also encountered by
divers operating under water, whether by holding the breath while diving, breathing
from a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA), or by breathing gas
mixtures supplied by compression from the surface.

7. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
d.Inadequate illumination.The measure of the stream of light falling on a surface is
known as illumination. The key aspects of illumination include lux, luminance,
reflectance, glare and sources of lighting.
Factors in determining the quantity of light:
▪Nature of work-more light will be required if one is working with small objects.
▪Environment-the ability of the surrounding surfaces to reflect light.
▪Eyesight of the workers-the ability of the eye to adjust rapidly to different
distances declines as people grow older.
e.Noiseor unwanted sound is a form of vibration conducted through solids, liquids,
or gases. The level of noise in an industrial operation can constitute a physical hazard to
the exposed workers. The extent of the hazard depends not only on the overall noise
level but also on the time period and frequency and type of noise to which the worker is
exposed.

8. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
3. Biological Hazards.Biological hazards are any virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite, or living
organism that can cause a disease in human beings. They can be a part of the total
environment or associated with certain occupations such as medical professions, food
preparation and handling, livestock raising, etc.
Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are commonly infectious and parasitic which
can also result from exposure to contaminated water, insects, or infected people.
4. Ergonomic Hazards.“Ergonomics” literally means the customs, habits, and laws of work.
The human body can endure considerable discomfort and stress and can perform many
awkward and unnatural movements for a limited period of time. However, when awkward
conditions or motions are continued for prolonged periods, the physiological limitations
of the worker can be exceeded. To ensure a continued high level of performance, work
systems must be tailored to human capacities and limitations.

9. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
5.SpecialConsiderations:
ThefollowingitemshavebecomeimportantOSHissues
thatneedtobeaddressedbyIndustrialHygiene
professionalsandemployers:
a.Confinedspaceisanenclosedorapartiallyenclosedspace.Ithas
restrictedentranceandexit(bylocation,size,andmeans)thus,the
naturalairflowislimited.Thiscancauseaccumulationof“dead”or
“bad”air”andairbornecontaminants.Confinedspacesarenot
designed,andintendedforhumanoccupancy.
b.IndoorAirQuality(IAQ)referstothequalityoftheairinsidebuildings
asbasedontheconcentrationofpollutants&thermal(temperature&
relativehumidity)conditionsthataffectthehealth,comfortand
performanceofoccupants.
An example of confined space
with its accompanying
occupational health hazards

10. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
MethodsofRecognizingoccupationalhealthstresses/hazards
Nowthatwearefamiliarwiththeclassificationofhazards,wecannowdiscusshowto
identifythedifferenthazardsthroughacombinationofthefollowingmethods:
1.Walk-through/ocularinspection–thisisnecessaryinidentifyingthepotential
hazardsanddeterminingthecriticalconditionsintheworkplace.Itwillbegoodtomakea
checklistforinspection.
2.Reviewoftheprocessinvolved–Theidentityofthechemicalintermediates
formedinthecourseofanindustrialprocessandthetoxicologicalpropertiesofthese
intermediatesmaybedifficulttoestablish.Undesirablechemicalby-productssuchas
carbonmonoxideresultingfromtheincompletecombustionoforganicmaterialmaybe
formed.

11. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
MethodsofRecognizingoccupationalhealthstresses/hazards
3.Knowingtherawmaterials,by-productsandfinishedproducts–Knowingaboutthe
rawmaterialsusedandthenatureoftheproductsmanufacturedwillhelpyoudetermine
thespecificcontaminantstowhichworkersareactuallyexposed.
4.Gatheringworkers’complaints–theactualchemicalsorsubstanceshandled
maybedeterminedbyinterviewingtheworkers.Moreso,theircomplaintscanalsobe
gatheredandassessedintheclinicrecord.
5.SafetyDataSheet(SDS)isasummaryofimportanthealth,safetyand
toxicologicalinformationonthechemicalorthemixtureingredients.

12. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
Evaluationofoccupationalstresses/hazards
A.Determiningthemagnitudeorlevelofhazardsusingindustrialhygieneequipmentthrough
WorkEnvironmentMeasurement(WEM)
Oncethehazardshavebeenrecognized,itisnecessarytomeasurethelevelsofthehazardsand
themagnitudeofworkers’exposuretothem.ThisisdonethroughtheWEMwhichemploysdirect
measurementofhazards.WEMisconductedforthefollowingpurposes:
•determinemagnitudeofharmfulenvironmentalagents.
•physicallychecktheenvironmentthroughmeasurement.
•predictharmfulnessofnewfacilities,rawmaterials,productionprocessesandworkingmethods.
•monitorworker’sexposuretoharmfulsubstances.
•evaluatetheeffectivenessofenvironmentalcontrolmeasuresadoptedtoimprovethe
workplace.
•maintainfavorableenvironmentconditions.

13. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
Evaluationofoccupationalstresses/hazards
TypesofEnvironmentalMonitoring:
1.PersonalMonitoring–themeasurementofaparticularemployee’sexposureto
airbornecontaminants.Themeasuringdeviceisplacedascloseaspossibletothe
contaminant’sentryporttothebody.Forexample,whenmonitoringatoxicair
contaminant,themeasuringdeviceisplacedclosetotheworker’sbreathingzone.The
datacollectedcloselyapproximatestheconcentrationofcontaminantstowhichtheworker
isexposedto.
2.Area/EnvironmentalSampling–Environmentalsamplingisthemeasurementof
contaminantconcentrationintheworkroom.Themeasuringdeviceisplacedadjacent
totheworker’snormalworkstationoratfixedlocationsintheworkarea.Thiskindof
monitoringdoesnotprovideagoodestimateofworker’sexposurebuthelpsto
pinpointworkareaswithhighorlowexposurelevelsofcontaminants.

14. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
Evaluationofoccupationalstresses/hazards
▪Instrumentsusedtomeasurethedifferenthazards
▪LuxMeter-illumination
▪Psychrometer-humidity
▪Anemometer-airmovement
▪SmokeTester-airdirection
▪GlobeThermometer-heat
▪SoundLevelMeter-noise
3.BiologicalMonitoring–involvesthemeasurementofchangesinthecomposition
ofbodyfluids,tissueorexpiredairtodetermineabsorptionofapotentiallyhazardous
material.Examplesaremeasurementofleadandmercuryinbloodorinurine.

15. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
Evaluationofoccupationalstresses/hazards
B.Analysisofresults
The collected samples from the WEM are analyzed in the laboratory. Some of the analytical
instruments used are as follows: UV-VIS Spectrophotometer for analyzing acids, AAS
for heavy metals, Gas Chromatograph for organic solvents, and X-ray Diffractometer.
C.Comparisonofmeasurementresultswithstandards
Laboratory analysis results are compared with the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). These are
exposure guidelines that have been established for airborne concentration of many
chemical compounds. Concentrations of hazards that exceed the TLVs can cause adverse
effects to humans.

16. INDUSTRIALHYGIENE
Evaluationofoccupationalstresses/hazards
B.Analysisofresults
The collected samples from the WEM are analyzed in the laboratory. Some of the analytical
instruments used are as follows: UV-VIS Spectrophotometer for analyzing acids, AAS
for heavy metals, Gas Chromatograph for organic solvents, and X-ray Diffractometer.
C.Comparisonofmeasurementresultswithstandards
Laboratory analysis results are compared with the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). These are
exposure guidelines that have been established for airborne concentration of many
chemical compounds. Concentrations of hazards that exceed the TLVs can cause adverse
effects to humans.

17. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
Incontrollinghazardsintheworkplace,itiscriticalthatadequateattentionbepaidto
engineeringcontrol.Theapplicationofindustrialventilationmostofthetime
addressestheproblem,since80%oftheworkenvironmentproblemisattributedtopoor
ventilation,especiallywhenpresenceofchemicalandhotprocessesareinvolved.
Whilegeneralventilationcanbeusedforthermalcomfortofworkers,localexhaust
ventilationisaverypracticalandbeneficialapproachincontrollinghazardoussubstancesin
theworkplace.
Administrativecontrolmeasuresontheotherhand,canbereadilyimplementedby
management.Usingpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE)isalsousefulasinterim
controlmeasureswhilethenecessaryengineeringcontrolmeasuresarebeinginstalled
orwhereothercontrolsmaynotbefeasible.

18. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
Therearethreegeneralenvironmentalcontrolmeasuresthatareusefulinthe
workplace:engineeringcontrols,administrativecontrolsandpersonalprotective
equipment.
Hierarchyofenvironmentalcontrols:
1.EngineeringControls-eliminatethehazardbyconsideringsafetyandhealth
provisions,substitution,modificationofprocess/equipment,isolation,wetmethodsand
industrialventilation.Engineeringmethodsofcontrolarethemosteffectivein
preventingorreducingworkenvironmentfactorsorstresses.Amongthesemethodsare:
a.Properdesignandplanning–Initialconsiderationregardingsafetyandhealthaspects
mustbemadeintheplanningandconstructionstage.Weshouldbearinmindthatonce
thecontrolmeasuresareinplace,itisalreadyveryhardtoalterormodifythedesign,
especiallywhenwerealizethatthecontrolmeasurebeingadoptedisineffective.

19. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
b.Substitution/replacementofmaterialsused.Oneofthecontrolmethodsis
throughsubstitutionofnon-toxicchemicalsforthehighlytoxicones.Anumberofyears
ago,paintscontaintoxicchemicalssuchasbenzene,toluenediisocyanate(TDI)and
othertoxicorganicsolventswhichareknowntocauseadversehealtheffects.Dueto
theadvancementinmaterialandchemicalsciences,paintsnowadaysarebeing
reformulatedanditstoxiccomponentsareeliminatedandreplacedbysafernon-toxic
substitutes(fromsolventbasedtowaterbasedpaints).
However,anindustrialhygienistmustexerciseextremecautionwhensubstitutingone
chemicalforanother,toensurethatsomepreviouslyunforeseenhazardsdonotoccur
alongwiththesubstitution.

20. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
c.Modificationintheprocess/equipment.Achangeintheprocessoffersanideal
chancetoconcomitantlyimproveworkingconditions.Mostchangesaremadetoimprove
qualityorreducecostofproduction.However,insomecases,aprocessismodifiedto
reducethehazard.Forinstance,inmodifyingaprocess,automationcanbeusedto
lessenworker’sexposuretothecontaminant.Inmodifyingequipment,theuseoflidscan
preventdispersionofdustduringmixing.
d.Isolation.Hazardousoperationsshouldbeisolatedtominimizeexposureof
workers.Theisolationcanbeaphysicalbarrier,suchasacousticpanels,tominimize
noisetransmissionfromagenset,whiningblowerorripsaw.Theworkermayalsobe
isolatedorenclosedinasoundproofcontrolboothwithacleansourceofairsuppliedtothe
booth.Isolationcanalsobeintermsoftimeordistance.

21. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
e.Wetmethods.Airbornedusthazardscanbeminimizedorgreatlyreducedbyapplying
waterorothersuitableliquids.Dampeningpowdermaterialsorsuppressingdust
generationthroughmistingorsprayingofwaterwilldefinitelycontroldustdispersion.
Dampeningordrenchingpowdermaterialstopreventitfromgettingairborneisone
ofthesimplestmethodsfordustcontrol.Itseffectiveness,however,dependsupon
properwettingoftheparticulates.Itsapplicationalsodependsonthenatureofprocess
andproduct.
f.Industrialventilation.Averyimportantaspectofengineeringcontrolhastodowith
ventilation.Industrialventilationistheprocessofsupplyingfreshairand/orremoving
contaminantladenairbynaturalormechanicalmeanstoandfromanyspace.

22. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
2.AdministrativeControls-controlemployees’exposurebyschedulinghazardous
workprocess;reducedworkinghoursinhotprocessesandworkareaswithexcessive
noiselevels;assigningworkerstootherlesshazardousworkareasofproductionand
trainingofworkersonvarioushealthandsafetyaspects.
a.Reductionofworkperiods.Reductionofworkperiodsisamethodofcontrolinlimited
areaswhereengineeringcontrolmethodsatthesourcearenotpractical.
b.Adjustingworkschedules.Forworkerswhomustlaborinacompressed-air
environment,schedulesofmaximumlengthworkshiftandlengthofdecompression
timehavebeenprepared.Thehigherthepressure,theshortertheworkshiftandthe
longerthedecompressiontimeperiod.
c.JobRotation.Jobrotationwhenusedasawaytoreduceemployeeexposuretotoxic
chemicalsorharmfulagentsmustbeusedwithcare.Whilerotationkeepsexposure
belowrecommendedlimitsexposesmoreworkerstothehazard.

23. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
f.Emergencyresponsetrainingandeducation.Also,besuretogiveemployeestraining
onhowtorespondtoemergencies.OSHtrainingonwhentorespondornotisalso
critical.
g.Housekeepingandmaintenance.Goodhousekeepingplaysakeyroleinthe
controlofoccupationalhealthhazards.Removedustonoverheadledgesandonthefloor
beforeitcanbecomeairbornebytraffic,vibration,andrandomaircurrents.Stressthat
goodhousekeepingisalwaysimportant;butwheretherearetoxicmaterials,itisof
paramountimportance.

24. ENVIRONMENTCONTROLMEASURES
3.UseofPersonalProtectiveEquipment-shouldbeconsideredasthelastresort
whenengineeringcontrolsarenotfeasibleorarenotsufficienttoachieveacceptable
limitsofexposure.PPEcanbeusedinconjunctionwithengineeringcontrolsand
othermethods.
However,PPEsprotectivedeviceshaveoneseriousdrawback–theydonothingtoreduce
oreliminatethehazard.Thefactthataprotectivedevicemaybecomeineffective
whenthewearerlackssufficientknowledgeonhowtouseit.
Theuseofthisshouldbeconfinedtosituations…
a.wheretemporarycontrolmeasuresarenecessarybeforeengineeringcontrolsinstalled.
b.whereengineeringcontrolsarenotpracticable.
c.Tosupplementengineeringcontrolsinreducingexposureduringmaintenanceandrepair.
d.duringemergencies

25. “Anghanap-buhayay
paraikabuhay,hindi
paraikamatay.”
THANK YOU!