Industrial hygiene is the science devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of the environmental factors or stresses in the workplace that may cause illness, injury, impaired health or well-being, or significant discomfort for a worker.
The role of the industrial hygienist is to:
- Protect the health of the employees.
- Have an objective attitude toward occupational health hazards regardless of external influences in order to recognize, evaluate, and control the hazards in the work environment for the safety of the employees.
- Counsel employees regarding the health hazards and the precautions necessary to avoid adverse health effects.
- Know the effects of the chemical and physical agents at various exposure levels on the health of the employee.
- Monitor and analyze the extent of exposure.
- Engineer methods of control to reduce or eliminate workplace hazards.
Scope
Risks to employees can include:
- Air contaminants
- Typically classified as particulate or gas and vapor contaminants. The most common include dusts, fumes, mists, aerosols, and fibers.
- Biological
- Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other living organisms that can cause infections by entering the body directly or through breaks in the skin.
- Chemical
- Hazardous solids, liquids, gases, mists, fumes, dusts, and vapors.
- Ergonomic
- Includes but not limited to, eye strain, repetitive motion, heavy lifting, excessive vibration and noise.
- Physical hazards
- Ionizing and nonionizing electromagnetic radiation, noise, vibration, illumination, and temperature extremes.
Regulatory citations
Note: There are many other OSHA standards that can be interrelated to industrial hygiene, such as, but not limited to, Toxic and Hazardous Substances, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hazard Communication, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories. The General Duty Clause may be used in cases of temperature extremes such as heat or cold stress and ergonomics.
Key definitions
- Biological hazards: Insects, molds, fungi, and bacterial contamination.
- Chemical hazards: Excessive airborne concentrations of mists, vapors, gases, or solids in the form of dust or fumes. They may be inhalation hazards or skin irritant or absorption hazards.
- Ergonomic hazards: Improperly designed tools or work areas including improper lifting, repetitive motions, poor visual conditions, and awkward positions.
- Industrial hygiene: The science devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of the environmental factors or stresses in the workplace that may cause illness, injury, impaired health or well-being or significant discomfort for a worker.
- Physical hazards: Excessive levels of radiation, noise, vibration, and temperature or pressure extremes.
Summary of requirements
- Employers are required to implement some element of an industrial hygiene or occupational health program. The OSH Act establishes the criteria the employer will use in protecting employees against health hazards and harmful materials.
- Generally, the guidelines set the standards for compliance in the following areas:
- Use of labels and markings to warn of exposure hazards.
- Prescribe suitable protection equipment and control or technological procedures to be used against hazards.
- Monitor or measure employee exposure levels.
- Employers must maintain accurate records of employee exposures to potentially toxic materials or harmful physical agents that are required to be monitored.
- Employers must notify any employee who has been or is being exposed to toxic materials or harmful physical agents in concentrations or at level that exceed those prescribed by any standard.
- Employers must inform any employee who is being exposed of the corrective action being taken.
- The OSHA regulations deal with air contaminants (gases, fumes, vapors, dusts, and mists), noise, and ionizing radiation.
