Occupational Safety and Health in the Workplace
Introduction
Providing training programs to increase the number and competence of personnel engaged in the field of safety and health at work. Development of plans in accordance with the provisions of this act - Improving the administration and implementation of state laws on occupational safety and health.
Multiple Facets of the Safety and Health Professional
The professional hygiene is employed by the company as part of the company's responsibility to provide a workplace free of hazards. Since the passing of the Occupational Safety and Health Act; Resources, Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the liability of the industrial hygiene position has increased significantly.
Industrial Hygiene Program Tenets
An industrial hygienist often works to facilitate communication between management and the workforce regarding safety initiatives and concerns. As such, the skill set of an industrial hygienist must address this growing need for a technically sound, risk-based approach to industrial hygiene.
Application and Implementation of Industrial Hygiene
- Program Management and Administration
- Hazard Identification and Control Process
- Occupational Health Management
- Instrumentation and Calibration
- Data Management, Records, and Reporting
- Training and Qualification
- Continuous Improvement
This functional element establishes and administers the policies, plans, and procedures developed to define the strategy, approach, and documentation used to implement the industrial hygiene program. Training received by an industrial hygienist as part of an industrial hygiene qualification and continuing education process.
Industrial Hygiene Key Focus Area and Risk Reduction
Depending on the need of the moment, the staff expects the company hygienist to be the safety person. Both the occupational hygiene program and the implementation of the program in the field can always be improved.
Art and Science of Industrial Hygiene
Introduction
The primary focus of an industrial hygienist is to protect workers from routine and unique workplace hazards. Whether the industrial hygienist is communicating with workers, presenting a summary of working conditions to management, or evaluating data, industrial hygienists must learn to balance the use of art and science in their work.
Art of Industrial Hygiene
- Art of Hazard Recognition and Control
- Art of an Occupational Exposure Monitoring
- Art of the Occupational Health Program
- Art of People Management
- Solicit Feedback from the Workforce
- Team with the Workforce in Preventing
- Provide Positive Feedback
- Be Respectful and Trusting
It is the job of the industrial hygienist to review and evaluate a process, and listen to the workers when hazards are defined and controlled. Probably the most important aspect of the industrial hygiene profession is the skill of an industrial hygienist to listen and work with people.
Science of Industrial Hygiene
- Science of Hazard Recognition and Control
- Science of an Occupational Exposure
- Science of the Occupational Health Program
- Science of People Management
What are some of the chemical and physical hazards that an industrial hygienist must mitigate in the workplace. It is the role of the industrial hygienist to liaise frequently with the designated occupational health medical provider.
Industrial Hygiene Professional
Introduction
OSHA recognizes the field of industrial hygiene and the industrial hygienist as integral parts of facilitating a safe work environment and a healthy work culture. Workplaces are safer because of the professional hygiene professionals who apply the principles of industrial hygiene.
Role of the Industrial Hygiene Professional
Corporate Programmatic Support Role
In order for a safety and health philosophy and program to progress and be seen as an integral part of the corporate program, the management team must lead and demonstrate their support through.
Educating the Industrial Hygiene Professional
- College and University Curricula
Toxicology Aid in the understanding of the negative effects of chemicals on humans and the effect of chemical, biological and physical substances on the body. Too often, students will spend their time studying hard and focusing on graduating and not taking the time to gain experience in the field through internships.
Retention of the Industrial Hygiene Professional
The top three predictors of employee retention for an industrial hygiene professional are shown in Figure 3.2. If these elements are not internalized and facilitated through programs and policies and internalized by these professionals, one can certainly expect turnover to occur at a potentially modest to high rate.
Industrial Hygiene Certification
Some employers will send the industrial hygiene professional to training, allow time to study during the work day, or even pay exam fees. In addition, those industrial hygiene professionals who are certified are also employed when the resolution of issues is important (increased regulatory and financial obligations) and are often required when companies and institutions face legal issues (the industrial hygienist can act as an expert witness).
Continuing Education and Professional Development
Many managers or companies will support certification maintenance and the associated costs as long as they can see the value to the company. It is therefore important that professionals who are certified demonstrate a high level of professionalism and represent competence in the field.
Job Rotation
This can be challenging due to the associated costs that can be imposed on professionals, especially if they are not supported by the organization that employs them. In addition, some professionals may have a passion to be engaged only in specific types of tasks and may not be interested in a leadership role.
Organizational Structure
- Flat Organizational Structure
- Hierarchical Organizational Structure
An example of an organizational structure designed to provide career growth for the industrial hygiene professional in mind is shown in Figure 3.3. The structure of an organization, along with the style of the leadership team, can serve as a positive facilitator of employee engagement and retention.
Industrial Hygienist as a Generalist
Time and again we hear from others that "knowledge is power". This certainly applies to industrial hygienists, as knowledge of business processes, hazard recognition and hazard reduction are key to ensuring safe work. The general concept allows the industrial hygienist to be an SME in the field of industrial hygiene while having enough knowledge in other ES&H areas to give him the opportunity to perform other tasks and thus expand his knowledge base.
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Industrial Hygiene
- Professionalism
- Accountability
- Humility
- Reliability
- Trustworthiness
Displaying professionalism includes and encompasses every act of an individual, from the way they dress, to the way they present themselves to others, to the way they treat others. To be seen as ethical, we must be seen as trustworthy.
Regulatory Requirements and Enforceability
Industrial Hygienist as an Expert Witness
The industrial hygienist is one of the key professionals involved with the workforce in identifying and recognizing workplace hazards. Planning and tracking the physical condition of employees is generally not the responsibility of the industrial hygienist.
Strategies for Exposure Monitoring and Instrumentation
Introduction
The exposure assessment process is the primary method used by industrial hygienists to evaluate, quantify, and protect workers from environmental and workplace contaminants that cause acute and chronic health problems. The industrial hygienist must also recognize, to be effective and efficient, that the exposure assessment process is iterative; workplace conditions and hazards may change frequently, along with the manner in which work may be performed.
Regulatory Aspects of Industrial Hygiene Monitoring
The ability to effectively communicate this information is extremely critical for the industrial hygienist to build trust and credibility among the workforce. As public awareness of and education in the adverse health impacts of exposure to contaminants increases, so must the knowledge and communication skills of the industrial hygienist be proactive to comply with all applicable regulations.
Quantitative and Qualitative Exposure and Risk Assessment
- Quantitative Exposure and Risk Assessment
- Qualitative Exposure and Risk Assessment
During the early years and before the existence of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplace monitoring through data collection was usually incomplete. A qualitative risk assessment is based on the use of information, such as process-based conditions, observed in the workplace and the professional judgment of the industrial hygienist.
Process Flow of Exposure Assessment
- Defining the Scope of Work
- Developing a Monitoring Plan
- Implementing the Characterization and Monitoring
- Similar Exposure Groups
- Evaluating Data and Characterizing Exposures
- Application of Linear No-Threshold
- Occupational Exposure and
- Develop Controls
- Document Results
- Peer Review and Validation
- Communicate Data Results
- Develop a Reevaluation Plan
What are the work processes that are carried out in the production or execution of the company's activities. Current sampling and monitoring data, together with historical data, will form the basis of characterization data to be used in the exposure assessment process.
Occupational Safety and Health Characterization
- Diffusion Detector Tubes
- Vapor Monitor Badges
- Personal Air Sampling Pumps
- Handheld Electronic Monitors
- Fixed Air Monitors
If the tube has a clip, it can be hung on the worker's jacket, near the breathing zone, to obtain an accurate reading of the worker's exposure. At the end of the work shift, remove the pipe from the workshop and record the removal time.
Case Study: “I Smell Something”
Case Study: “I Have Been Sick for the Past 6 Months”
A continuous improvement plan begins with defining the current performance baseline of the industrial hygiene program. For example, an objective of the industrial hygiene program may be to have a highly skilled industrial hygiene organization.
Risk-Based Industrial Hygiene
Introduction
Today, risk is a topic of great importance around the globe because it often translates into dollars and cents. Determining acceptable risk is even more complicated when human health and welfare are involved.
Importance of Risk Assessments and a Risk-Based
Risk assessments are an integral part of a good occupational health and safety management program and are most effective when carried out in the design phase of a project. Risk assessments have proven to be valuable from an occupational safety perspective; are economically beneficial, such as providing an approach to minimize the company from overinvestment and the costs associated with recovery from incidents; and increase employees' confidence in and acceptance of risks.
Identifying and Controlling Workplace Risks
Companies that have used and continue to use it to ensure risk assessments are an integral part of their risk assessment and control program have seen the value of both monetary and cultural aspects. Variability is related to the range of exposure potential, such as the impact of an exposure from one person to another influenced by factors such as pre-existing conditions, genetic factors or heightened sensitivities; uncertainty refers to the inability to guarantee 100% accuracy, sometimes due to a lack of data or lead time.
Addressing Industrial Hygiene Risks in the Workplace
- Industrial Hygiene Risk Assessment
Because of the potential for these challenges, it is important that the industrial hygiene function reports to a senior manager to ensure that management support and resource needs are met as needed. Of the two, quantitative assessments are generally preferred, as the decision is made using data that represents the activity, process or work environment.
Risk Ranking
Risk Communication
Knowledge of the audience gives insight into how the communication should be structured and delivered. The purpose of the communication is instrumental in shaping the tone and content of the message to be delivered.
Risk Acceptance
Much of the information used by the industrial hygienist when communicating with the occupational health medical provider is related to regulatory requirements. It is the role of the industrial hygienist to become familiar with work activities, workplace hazards and medical monitoring requirements related to the work being performed.
Recognizing, Evaluating, and Controlling Workplace Hazards
Introduction
The recognition or identification of hazards is one of three steps used to protect the worker from hazards in the workplace. Common examples of chemical hazards in the workplace include asbestos, lead, beryllium, ammonia, nitrates and carbon tetrachloride.
Historical Chemical and Industrial Hazards
The industrial hygienist is challenged to adequately communicate the recognition of the chemical hazard, along with communicating how the hazard will be adequately mitigated and the health risks to the worker will be minimized. The industrial hygienist must be thoroughly familiar with the work equipment, processes and chemicals that are introduced and used in the work environment.
Workplace Hazard Inventories
- Task Hazard Inventory
- Facility Hazard Inventory
Therefore, the industrial hygienist must understand what chemicals and toxic materials are used, in what form they are used, and what historical incidents have occurred in the work environment. In addition, there are known industrial hazards that have been determined based on the industrial process.
Injury and Illness Logs and Inspection Trending
Information trends obtained through self-assessment can be useful in providing feedback to management and employees on how existing workplace processes and conditions can be modified to promote safe working conditions. The checklist is general for the general hazard identification process, but can be modified to focus on those hazards most commonly found in the industrial hygiene profession.
Chemical Inventories: Use, Storage, and Disposal Records
Is the health hazard of the chemicals readily known and is information available to workers. Documentation related to the disposal of chemicals can also provide useful information for industrial hygiene about which chemicals may be present as part of the manufacturing process.
Regulatory Inspections and Violations
The industrial hygienist can obtain very useful information regarding the hazard identification and mitigation process when reviewing shipment information related to chemical disposal. Historical inspection results, whether the result of a scheduled or unscheduled regulatory inspection, can often provide clues to the hazard identification process and can be useful for industrial hygiene.
Hazard Control and Work Execution
- Hazard Elimination
- Product Substitution
- Engineering Controls
- Work Practices and Administrative Controls
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Planning Work
- Authorizing Work
- Work Execution
- Project Closeout
The industrial hygienist should communicate how the work is done, how the hazards associated with the work are identified, and the procedure used to control or mitigate the hazards. Supervisors and management must monitor the work to ensure that it is carried out on schedule and safely.
Management by Walk-Around
- Preparation
- Communication
- Persistence to Connect
In addition, it would be helpful if the manager had some familiarity with the workers and their performance. It's entirely possible that employees will be reluctant to talk to the manager during their first walk around.
Safety through Design: Designing Hazards Out
Waiting to address process hazards at project completion can be a costly and less effective way to address health and safety issues, and sometimes it can be too late to eliminate or minimize hazards. At such times, workers are often asked to wear PPE which can sometimes create additional risk or stress for the worker when performing work tasks.
Employee Engagement and Involvement
Arguably the most significant emergency response effort in United States history was 9/11. As part of the assessment plan, the method of assessment will have to be defined.
Medical Monitoring and Surveillance of the Worker
Introduction
A medical monitoring and surveillance program should be tailored to the hazards and contaminants to which the worker may be exposed. In addition, information generated as part of the medical monitoring and surveillance program may be used to support workers' compensation claims.
Medical Monitoring and Surveillance Program
There are also regulatory requirements related to medical monitoring that are specific to the type of occupation, such as nuclear operations and remediation, hazardous waste site cleanup, and chemical demilitarization. All of these factors must be considered by industrial hygienists when establishing and managing their workplace medical monitoring and surveillance programs.
Establishment of Company Policies, Protocols,
Commitment to work with the union as part of the medical monitoring and surveillance program, if applicable. When issuing a corporate policy, the company or institution should develop protocols and procedures for the implementation of the oversight program.
Scheduling and Tracking of Physicals
The employee may perform industrial hygiene sampling and monitoring in both hot and cold environments for <10 hours/week. Will the employee be required to kneel as part of his or her job functions.
Interfacing with Medical Professionals
Recommendations from the occupational physician for implementing additional workplace actions to prevent future injuries and illnesses. It is the role of the occupational hygienist to be the eyes and ears of the occupational physician in implementing a medical surveillance and monitoring program.
Notification of Test Results
The industrial hygienist will relate the SEGs to the work categories; this information is then communicated to the occupational health medical provider for use in performing physicals. Any medical or insurance information necessary to support workers being evaluated by the occupational health provider.
Analysis of Occupational Health Data
Medical Monitoring Records and Reporting
The occupational hygienist is often relied upon to be the representative for the company when granting access and managing exposure and medical records. The company may also be required to provide exposure records that reasonably indicate the amount and nature of toxic contaminants at a specific workplace, or used in a specific work environment, in which the requesting employee may have performed work.
Case Study 1: Chromium IV Exposure
Case Study 2: Beryllium Exposure
One of the more significant emergency response efforts in the United States was related to Hurricane Katrina. Furthermore, a continuous improvement plan does not need to be long-term; plan documentation.
Workforce Training on Hazard Recognition and Control
Introduction
It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that an appropriate hazard recognition and hazard reduction training program is in place and that employees are trained. This knowledge of the task also translates into an employee's ability to make decisions about working safely and taking care of employee safety.
Why Provide Workplace Training?
Regardless of the initial and ongoing investment, training and development provide both the company and individual employees with benefits that make the cost and time a worthwhile investment. When workers are properly trained, the chances of being involved in a workplace accident are reduced and employees will become more proficient in performing their jobs.
Developing an Effective Training Strategy
An effective training program supports strengthening the skills that employees need to improve and perform their work efficiently with the required quality. A training program designed to develop workers will take employees to a higher level of performance by providing them with similar skills and knowledge.
Hazard Recognition, Evaluation, and Control Training
- Hazard Anticipation
- Hazard Recognition and Identification
- Evaluate Hazards
- Controlling Hazards
Training developed to assist workers in their ability to identify workplace hazards should take advantage of industry knowledge that workers may already have. Too often, workers are left out of the planning process and expected to complete work based on what others believe is the right approach.
Trainer Knowledge and Qualification
Training Effectiveness Evaluation
Other Training Methods and Tools
- Process or Tool Mock-Up
- Peer-to-Peer Training
- Training at the Job Site
- Hazard Identification Checklist
Allows the worker to learn the entire task in its entirety, perform the task in a simulated environment, and become proficient without being exposed to the hazards involved in the task itself. On-the-job training involves sending a qualified trainer to the workplace to train employees in processes and tasks in the environment where the work is to be carried out.
The Use of Case Studies to Enforce Learning
- Case Study
In the case of the unplanned emergency scenarios, some information is known and some is not. Determining the primary hazard posed by the incident and associated risks to response personnel.
Industrial Hygiene and Emergency Response
Introduction
Much of the damage was caused by rainfall and flooding that occurred before and after the hurricane. As part of the response and recovery efforts associated with 9/11, the industrial hygienist played a key role in understanding the risks posed to response personnel and people affected by the disaster.
Approaches to Emergency Response
How these steps proceed, and the decision-making associated with several of them, affects the ability of the emergency response organization to effectively mitigate and protect personnel and the environment. These steps affect the ability of the emergency response organization to effectively mitigate and protect personnel and the environment.
Initiating Event
Equipment is collected based on its availability and the focus of the initial response actions. These regulations are designed to protect workers, the public, and the environment from occupational accidents that occur and to help plan emergency response actions, such as the chemical release that occurred in 1984 in Bhopal, India.
Event Notification
However, in the event of a terrorist attack, there may be no reporting process other than the event itself and the communication of subsequent events. Using technology in communicating the occurrence of an event, alerting others to the event, and responding to the event is extremely important.
Event Response
Special equipment or special skills may be required to respond to emergencies or contaminants of concern. Depending on the emergency situation, emergency responders should consider whether there are any special equipment or requirements to consider when responding to and stabilizing the scene.
Risk Prioritization
The risk prioritization process is used when responding to identified hazards, as part of incident response actions, and considers not only the primary hazard, or cause of the event, but also secondary hazards that resulted from the event. On arrival at the event scene, a more detailed and in-depth assessment of the hazards is carried out.
Resources and Equipment
The initial assessment of the number and type of resources and equipment required is based on preliminary information obtained as part of the incident notification process. The shorter the duration of the emergency, the less equipment will be needed as part of the response.
Logistical Support
An initial assessment of equipment needs is performed as part of the event notification process, but as response efforts continue, and more information is known about the environmental conditions of the event site, the type of equipment required may change. The ability to continue to have access to needed equipment and personnel becomes critical as the length of the response increases.
Event Response Communication
Communication with the public and social media has become one of the most impactful needs when responding to an emergency event. It is important to note that depending on the size of the event, the level of importance of communication with the public and social media increases exponentially.
Event or Site Transition
The ability of incident response managers and stakeholders to communicate effectively with the public and social media is extremely influential in how the response effort is perceived and whether it is deemed successful. Designate two communications positions or specialists at the onset of an emergency: an on-scene communications representative and a communications representative to communicate with external stakeholders and regulators, the public, and social media.
Lessons Learned from 9/11
- Event Notification
- Event Response
- Site Transition
One of the most common drivers for evaluating an industrial hygiene program is to ensure that the company is in compliance with employee safety and health laws and regulations. Improving the relationship between management and staff will result in greater ownership of the industrial hygiene program by everyone in the company as it has become personal to them.
Evaluating the Industrial Hygiene Program
Introduction
A successful industrial hygiene program is built on the fundamental principle that both program and field implementation are implemented in accordance with processes and procedures that are consistent with both company and regulatory requirements. To understand whether the program and implementation in the field are in compliance with laws and regulations, you minimize legal, personal and financial risks.
Identifying the Program and Process to Assess
Identifying Key Attributes to Assess
Developing the Assessment Plan and Lines of Inquiry
Lines of inquiry to be used when conducting the assessment (which may include a ready-made checklist). The reason why the review is done determines how the lines of inquiry are written.
Performing the Assessment
How the information from the assessment will be used and are there other considerations, such as legal requirements or personnel, that should be included in the lines of inquiry. If the workers wish to bring someone with them as a witness, this must be accepted.
Data Analysis
- Data Organization
- Analysis Method
- Risk Management of Identified Hazards
- Relationship of Data to Existing Programs
- Data Storage and Management
It is important that the hygienist professional understands where and how the data generated, as part of routine sampling, can be used in other programs and processes that the company uses in everyday work. It is therefore the job of the hygiene professional to monitor and update data management software with some routine frequency.
Document Assessment Results
2(a) Computers used in the Industrial Hygiene Department are upgraded and use the latest data analysis software. Computers used in the Industrial Hygiene Department are upgraded and use the latest data analysis software.
Continuous Improvement
Introduction
A continuous improvement program targets functional elements of the industrial hygiene program that have been identified as not well implemented, or fully implemented, but a higher level of performance is desired. This monthly review provides a good forum for the industrial hygiene manager or staff to summarize and present the continuous improvement plan for acceptance.
Defining the Performance Baseline
Development of Improvement Goals and Objectives
If the goals are too many, then they are not achievable because the industrial hygienist and the company have limited resources (both people and resources) to complete the plan. In addition, goal achievement is most successful when employees and management contribute because individuals have ownership and a sense that they have directly contributed to the success of the organization.
Identify Actions to Meet Goals and Objectives
The actions for the continuous improvement plan should be integrated into the day-to-day business so that improvement becomes part of the day-to-day business. The status of the plan should be reviewed with staff and feedback sought so adjustments can be made to further assist in achieving goals and objectives within current business schedules.
Measurement and Evaluation of Performance
In addition, reviewing the statistics should be an event scheduled as part of routine operations. Without sponsorship from management and staff, the industrial hygienist's ability to secure the funding and resources necessary to continue to implement a sound program will be compromised.
Case Study: Tungsten Tools
It is important to note that the results obtained from the review of performance measures should be communicated across the company, and not just within the industrial hygiene and safety and health groups, to reinforce the importance of the worker protection program. What tools can an industrial hygienist use to develop and implement a continuous improvement program for industrial hygiene.
