Occupational hygiene

Occupational Hygiene

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Exposure risk assessment and management is a key component of occupational hygiene.

Occupational hygiene is the discipline of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large. It is a multidisciplinary field that draws on knowledge from toxicology, epidemiology, engineering, and occupational health.

Key Concepts

Anticipation

Anticipation involves the proactive identification of potential health hazards in the workplace before they occur. This requires a thorough understanding of the processes, materials, and equipment used in the workplace.

Recognition

Recognition is the process of identifying existing health hazards in the workplace. This involves conducting workplace assessments and surveys to identify potential sources of exposure to harmful agents.

Evaluation

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Sound level meters are used to evaluate noise exposure in occupational settings.

Evaluation involves measuring the extent of exposure to health hazards and comparing these measurements to established occupational exposure limits. This step often requires the use of specialized equipment and techniques to accurately assess exposure levels.

Control

Control is the implementation of measures to eliminate or reduce exposure to health hazards. The Hierarchy of Controls is a widely used framework in occupational hygiene to prioritize control measures.

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The Hierarchy of Controls is a framework used to control occupational hazards.

Hierarchy of Controls

The Hierarchy of Controls is a system used to minimize or eliminate exposure to hazards. It is arranged in order of effectiveness:

1. Elimination - Physically remove the hazard. 2. Substitution - Replace the hazard with a less dangerous one. 3. Engineering Controls - Isolate people from the hazard. 4. Administrative Controls - Change the way people work. 5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Protect the worker with personal gear.

Occupational Exposure Limits

Occupational exposure limits are used to protect workers from harmful exposures.

Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are regulatory limits on the amount or concentration of a substance in the air. They are intended to protect workers from the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances.

Noise and Hearing Conservation

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Disposable foam earplugs are a form of personal protective equipment used to protect against noise exposure.

Noise is a common occupational hazard that can lead to hearing loss. Occupational hygiene practices include the assessment of noise levels and the implementation of hearing conservation programs to protect workers.

Air Quality and Monitoring

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Data fields essential for conducting air and noise surveys.

Air quality monitoring is a critical component of occupational hygiene. It involves the measurement of airborne contaminants to ensure they are within safe limits. This can include dust, gases, vapors, and fumes.

Related Pages

• Industrial hygiene
• Occupational safety and health
• Toxicology
• Epidemiology