What is Occupational Hygiene?

Mike Slater

Occupational Hygiene?

Occupational Hygiene?

NO!

Occupational Hygiene?

Occupational Hygiene?

NO!

Hygiene
Conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease
http://oxforddictionaries.com

Occupational hygiene is about the prevention of ill health caused by work

According to the WHO, globally, there are:

2,000,000 work-related deaths per year

386,000 deaths each year from exposure to airborne particulates

152,000 deaths per year from carcinogens in the workplace

37% of Lower Back Pain is attributed to occupation

Occupational hygiene is about the prevention of ill health caused by work

We do that by the

We do that by the
Recognition

We do that by the
Recognition Evaluation

We do that by the
Recognition Evaluation Control

We do that by the
Recognition Evaluation Control

of hazardous agents

Chemical hazards
There are many thousands of hazardous chemicals commonly used at work.

Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards also include:

Silica released during stone cutting activities Dusts in this case stone dust contains crystalline silica which causes silicosis, a serious lung disease
Source: HSE

Now you see it

Mists in this case paint containing isocyanates, a major cause of occupational asthma

Vapours are given off paints and other solvent based products such as inks and adhesives

Fume very fine particulate matter

Physical agents

Hazardous physical agents include noise,

Vibration (this hand grinder will also produce high noise levels)

Non-ionising radiation like theultra-violet radiation generated by arc welding

The thermal environment hot and cold

Biological hazards

Biological agents like the micro-organisms that can cause legionnaires disease and anthrax

Ergonomic hazards

Back and muscular damage caused by poor manual handling practices

Tasks involving repetitive actions

The use of display screen equipment

Chemistry

Toxicology

Physics

Occupational Hygiene
Law Biology

Engineering

Chemistry

Toxicology

Physics

Occupational Hygiene
Law Biology

Occupational hygiene isEngineering a multi-disciplinary science

Recognition

Evaluation

Control

Recognition

Evaluation

Control

Occupational hygienists are trained to anticipate and recognise health hazards at work

Bakers are exposed to flour dust which can cause occupational asthma

Bakers are about 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average British worker

Coal miners and quarry workers are exposed to dust that can cause silicosis a serious debilitating lung disease

Cleaning with solvents can lead to dermatitis and exposure to solvent vapours.

And some solvents can be absorbed through the skin

This worker is exposed to dust, noise and vibration

Arc welders are exposed to metal fumes which can cause metal fume fever

and, in some cases, asthma and lung cancer

Theyre also exposed to irritant gases and ultraviolet radiation

Recognition

Evaluation

Control

RISK =

RISK = Hazard x

RISK = Hazard x Exposure

RISK = Hazard x Exposure

Exposure assessment is an important part of the occupational hygienists role

RISK = Hazard x Exposure

This can involve:

Personal exposure sampling

Exposure modelling

Observations

Biological Monitoring

Which may involve taking blood samples

But taking urine samples is usually preferable as its easier and more acceptable to the worker

Recognition

Evaluation

Control

Prevention Engineering

Work practices PPE

Prevention Engineering

Work practices PPE

This is the hierarchy of control

Prevention Engineering

Work practices PPE

Prevention
Process change

Elimination

Substitution

Prevention Engineering

Work practices PPE

Containment

A fume cupboard an example of local exhaust ventilayion

Photograph courtesy of HSE

Prevention Engineering

Work practices PPE

Work practices / organisation

Time Distance Organisation
Reduce exposure time Job rotation Work rest regimes Work scheduling Segregation Restrict access Rest areas Reduce numbers exposed Good working practice Written procedures Permits to work

Prevention Engineering

Work practices PPE

Personal protective equipment which should be the last resort

Respiratory protection

Chemical protective clothing, gloves and eye protection

Management measures
Maintenance of controls
Supervision
Exposure monitoring
Screening & health surveillance Information, instruction, training
Review and audit

www.bohs.org

www.bohs.org
The organisation for anyone interested in occupational hygiene in the UK

http://www.slideshare.net/mikeslater
mike@diamondenv.co.uk http://diamondenv.wordpress.com

Twitter: @diamondenv

Mike Slater

Picture credits:
Stock.XCHNG - www.sxc.hu/
Cirrus Research - www.cirrusresearch.co.uk The Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.uk www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/children_in_facto

ries/ www.beautifulbritain.co.uk

Mike Slater, Diamond Environmental Ltd. (mike@diamondenv.co.uk)

This presentation is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike UK:International Licence