By Ashley Loos-Figurski, Safety Consulting Manager
The term industrial hygiene means identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards to prevent worker illnesses and injuries. These hazards may include chemical, ergonomic, physical, or biological exposures.
The question is always asked: Where do I even start when it comes to figuring out where my exposures are? The answer to that is, start by performing a hazard assessment of the operation(s) in question. The primary purpose of a hazard assessment is to identify potential hazards, evaluate the risks they pose, and control the risks through mitigation actions. Companies should document the hazard assessment and keep it on file.
It is usually best to start with one operation at a time, beginning with the most hazardous one. You want to identify all possible potential hazards and exposures. Below is a list of potential hazards or exposures you may come across during the hazard assessment.
Chemical Exposures. Chemical exposures can occur through inhalation, ingestion, absorption, or injection. Review all the Safety Data Sheets for the operation and develop sampling strategies to assess employee exposure levels.
Ergonomic Exposures. Workplace situations where individuals are exposed to physical factors that can negatively impact their musculoskeletal system, leading to potential injuries. This assessment should include looking at the posture and positioning of workers. You should examine tasks that are repetitive, involve vibrations, require awkward bodily positioning, or involve forceful gripping or exertion. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) is a commonly used tool for evaluating the ergonomic risk associated with upper body tasks, specifically focusing on postures of the neck, trunk, and upper limbs.
Physical Exposures. Physical hazards are workplace hazards that can cause bodily harm through direct contact or the transfer of energy. Slips, trips, and falls; noise; fires and explosions; and temperature extremes are good examples of physical hazards. In the workplace, physical exposures are the most common type you will find of the exposures listed here.
Biological Exposures. Biological exposures occur when individuals come into contact with harmful microorganisms or toxins, potentially leading to illness or injury. Biological exposures may include employees coming into contact with bodily fluids or mold.
Once you determine the hazards to which workers are exposed, you can then identify mitigation actions to keep employees safe. When assessing mitigation or control actions, remember to use the hierarchy of controls. The most effective control measures are elimination and substitution, followed by engineering controls, administrative controls, and the use of personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment should be the last line of defense used when all other controls do not effectively mitigate the hazard. By conducting regular hazard assessments, you help to protect workers and promote a safety culture that benefits everyone.
Additional Offerings
RETTEW’s team of safety professionals has expertise in identifying and mitigating work location and job site dangers for a diverse client base, including private industry, contractors, municipalities, and other consulting firms. Our in-house staff and partners, including Certified Safety Professionals, Construction Health and Safety Technicians, Certified Industrial Hygienists, and Certified Ergonomics Compliance Directors, provide support to our clients in addressing construction, commercial, and industrial workplace safety concerns. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive safety services.
