Ventilation

• Ventilation is used in the workplace to control emissions, exposures, and chemical hazards, as well as to control temperature, humidity, and odors.

Industrial ventilation generally involves the use of supply and exhaust ventilation to control emissions, exposures, and chemical hazards in the workplace. Traditionally, nonindustrial ventilation systems commonly known as heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems were built to control temperature, humidity, and odors.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard for industrial ventilation is found at 1910.94 — Ventilation. Specific operations are covered in separate paragraphs within the standard, including: 1910.94(a) — Abrasive blasting, 1910.94(b) — Grinding, polishing, and buffing operations, and 1910.94(c) — Spray finishing.

Several other standards also contain ventilation requirements. For example, those for welding are found in 1910.252; exposure to carcinogens is found in 1910.1003 to 1910.1016; dipping and coating is found in 1910.124; exposure to lead is found in 1910.1025; and cadmium exposure is found in 1910.1027.