Industrial Hygiene Services

What is Industrial Hygiene?

Industrial hygiene is the practice of foreseeing, identifying, assessing, and managing workplace factors that could result in harm or sickness for employees. Industrial hygienists employ environmental monitoring and analytical techniques to measure worker exposure levels and implement engineering solutions, work practices, and other measures to mitigate potential health risks.

What is a Worksite Analysis?

Conducting a thorough worksite analysis is a critical initial step for an industrial hygienist in pinpointing the sources of potential issues within various jobs and workstations. This analysis involves measuring and identifying exposures, problematic tasks, and risks. For optimal results, the worksite analysis should encompass all jobs, operations, and work activities. The industrial hygienist meticulously inspects, researches, or analyzes how specific chemicals or physical hazards at the site impact worker health. Should any health hazards be identified, the industrial hygienist then suggests the necessary corrective measures.

How do IH's Recognize and Control Hazards?

Industrial hygienists understand that the main way to decrease employee exposure to occupational hazards is through engineering, work practice, and administrative controls. Engineering controls aim to minimize exposure by eliminating or reducing the hazard at its source, or by keeping the worker isolated from the hazards.

What Are Some Examples of Job Hazards?

In order to proficiently identify and assess workplace hazards and suggest control measures, industrial hygienists need to be well-versed in the characteristics of these hazards. Common workplace dangers comprise air pollutants, as well as chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic hazards.

Air Contaminants

These are typically categorized as either particulate or gas and vapor pollutants. Common particulate pollutants encompass dusts, fumes, mists, aerosols, and fibers.

Chemical Hazards

Toxic chemical compounds in various states including solids, liquids, gases, mists, dusts, fumes, and vapors pose health risks through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. Airborne chemical hazards manifest as concentrations of mists, vapors, gases, fumes, or solids, some of which are harmful when inhaled, irritate the skin upon contact, can be toxic if absorbed through the skin or ingested, and others are corrosive to living tissue.

Physical Hazards

These encompass elevated amounts of ionizing and non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, noise, vibration, lighting, and temperature.

Ergonomic Hazards

The field of ergonomics delves into and assesses a diverse spectrum of activities, encompassing tasks like lifting, holding, pushing, walking, and reaching. Numerous ergonomic issues stem from technological advancements, like accelerated assembly line speeds, the introduction of specialized tasks, and increased repetition. Additionally, inadequately designed job tasks can lead to ergonomic challenges. These conditions may give rise to ergonomic risks such as excessive vibration and noise, eye strain, repetitive motion, and issues related to heavy lifting. Poorly designed tools or workspaces can also pose ergonomic risks. Prolonged exposure to repetitive motions or frequent shocks, common in roles involving sorting, assembling, and data entry, can often lead to irritation and inflammation of the tendon sheath in the hands and arms, a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome.