INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

What is Industrial Hygiene?

Industrial Hygiene (IH) –
is the science and art
dedicated to recognition,
evaluation and control of
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.
De Morbis Artificum
Diatriba (Diseases of
Workers)
By: Bernardino
Ramazzini

- Father of Industrial Hygiene

 CLASSIFICATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL/HEALTH
HAZARDS
RECOGNITION
Environmental / Health Hazards

Physical Chemical

Biological Ergonomics
Chemical Hazards
Type of Chemicals Hazardous Form

Organic Solvents-------------------------------------- Vapor

(Rugby, Alcohol, Acetone)

Heavy metals------------------------------------------- Fumes

(Lead, Copper, Cadmium)

Acid/Base------------------------------------------------ Mists
(Acetic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, HCl)

Dust------------------------------------------------------- Particulate Matter

(Total Respirable Dust, Asbestos,)

Gas-------------------------------------------------------- Gases
(Hydrogen Sulfide, Nitrogen Gas)
ORGANIC SOLVENTS →VAPORS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS →VAPORS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS →VAPORS
HEAVY METALS →FUMES
HEAVY METALS →FUMES
ACID/BASE →MISTS
ACID/BASE →MISTS
ACID/BASE →MISTS
DUST →PARTICULATE MATTER
DUST →PARTICULATE MATTER
Physical Hazards
• Noise
• Vibration
• Illumination
• Extreme
temperature
• Extreme
pressure
• Radiation
NOISE Occupational Exposure
• Airports (Pilots, Flight Attendants, Airport Jobs)
• Construction (Jack Hammer)
• Blasting operation in Mining site.
• Cutting of Roof Sheets.
Extreme Cold
Extreme Heat
Radiation
Poor Illumination
Biological Hazards
• Bacteria
• Virus
• Fungi
• Parasites
• Insects
Ergonomic Hazards
• Repetitive motion
• Forceful motion
• Awkward posture
• Static posture

“Fit The
Task To The
Person”
Evaluation of
Hazards
EVALUATION
Determine the magnitude or extent of the
health hazards
 EVALUATION METHOD
Qualitative
- Plant “Walk-through” survey

Quantitative (WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT-WEM)

- Sampling and analytical program
- Use of Industrial Hygiene measuring equipment

WEM – “Sampling and analysis carried out in respect of

atmospheric working environment and other fundamental
elements of working environment for the purpose of
promoting and maintaining the health of his workers.”
Threshold limit Value – TLV

Airborne concentration of substances recommended

values and represent conditions under which it is
believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly
exposed to day after day without adverse health
effects.
 3 TYPES THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
TLV- TIME WEIGHTED AVERAGE – TWA concentration
for a conventional 8 hr. Exposure or 40 – hr. work week

TLV- SHORT TERM EXPOSURE LEVEL –

Concentration to which workers Exposed at a given time
Ex: 500 ppm (15 mins peak )

TLV – Ceiling – Conc. That should not be exceeded

during any part of the working exposure
Hydrogen Chloride TLV-C = 500 PPM
Recommended Illumination Levels

• A minimum of 50 lux – passageway, corridor,

warehouse
• A minimum of 100 lux – engine and boiler
rooms; toilets and washrooms
• A minimum of 200 lux – machine work,
canning and preserving; planning of lumber
and veneering
• A minimum of 300 lux – medium inspection;
office deskwork with intermittent reading and
writing for filing and mail sorting.
Permissible Noise Exposure Level*
Duration/day, Hours (hr) Sound Level, dB(A)
8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1½ 102
1 105
1/2 110
1/4 115**
* OSHS, DOLE
** Ceiling value: No exposure in excess of 115 dBA is
allowed.
EVALUATION
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE RESULTS OF MEASUREMENTS?

ACTUAL RESULT OF WEM THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE

Actual reading in the WEM- TLV- Airborne concentration of
IH equipment or based on substances and represent
the laboratory analysis. conditions under which it is
believed that nearly all
workers may be repeatedly
exposed to day after day
without adverse health effects

FAILED
Work Environment Measurement (WEM)
• Refers to the determination of environmental
stresses and their hazardous effects on worker’s
health through direct measurement of hazards
using IH equipment.

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 IH Equipment

Smoke Tube
Gas and VOC Monitor
Ambient Temperature
Relative Humidity

Lux
Meter
Sound Level Supply Air, Air Velocity
Meter
 TYPES OF
SAMPLING

Workplace Sampling
- is the measurement of
contaminant in the work
area. This helps pinpoint
work areas with high or
low exposure levels of
contaminants.
- Sampling apparatus is
placed in the area in
which a toxic/physical
agent is generated.
TYPES OF SAMPLING
Personal Sampling
- is the measurement of a particular
worker’s exposure to airborne
contaminants

68
 Types of
Sampling
Biological Sampling
- is a way of assessing
chemical exposures by
measuring the chemical or its
breakdown products in a
biological sample (usually
urine, blood or breath).

69
 Control of Hazards
A PROCESS OF CONCEPTION, EDUCATION,
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
BENEFICIAL INTERVENTIONS AND CHANGES
CARRIED OUT THAT ALLEVIATE THE
HAZARDS CONDITION.
Control of Occupational Hazards

Hierarchy of Controls

Engineering Control

Administrative Control

Personal Protective Equipment

Department Order 136 - 14
 What is a Label?

Label – Refers to an appropriate

group of written, printed or graphic
information elements that are affixed
to, printed on, or attached to the
immediate container of a hazardous
product, or to the outside packaging
of a hazardous product.
 What is SDS?
Safety Data Sheet

A summary of the important

health, safety and
toxicological information on
the chemical or the mixture
ingredients.
 Safety Data Sheet
➢ Provide comprehensive information about a

chemical substance or mixture

➢ Primarily for workplace use

➢ Employees & workers use these as a source of

information about hazards and to obtain

advice on safety precautions
 Contents of Safety Data Sheet
1. Identification of the Chemicals
2. Hazards identification
3. Composition / Information on
ingredients
4. First-aid measures
5. Fire fighting measures
6. Accidental release measures
7. Handling and storage
8. Exposure control
and personal protection
9. Physical and chemical
properties
10. Stability and reactivity
11. Toxicological information
12. Ecological information
13. Disposal considerations
14. Transport information
15. Regulatory information
16. Other information
Medical Surveillance is the analysis of health
information to look for problems that may be
occurring in the workplace that require targeted
prevention. The purpose of medical surveillance in
occupational Health is prevention of Illness.
Why conduct Medical Surveillance?
Medical Surveillance is necessary as a preventative measure in
worker’s exposure to different hazards in the workplace. It is a
useful tool to help safety officers in organizing,
formulating safety programs to protect workers from
any disease that may arise from exposure to a hazard
considering that the worker population is not homogenous.

Medical surveillance is conducted when diseases in

question are associated with particular exposure or
industry, hazard level within safe or acceptable limits
don’t guarantee that workers won’t be affected, analyze
trends and patterns in the workforce to guide prevention
efforts. And, to meet regulatory requirements.
End of Module.