What is occupational hygiene?

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

Recognition

We do that by the

Recognition Evaluation

We do that by the

Recognition Evaluation Control

We do that by the

Recognition Evaluation Control

We do that by the

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

Source: HSE

Dusts – in this case stone dust contains crystalline silica which causes silicosis, a serious lung disease

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

Occupational Hygiene

Chemistry

Physics

Biology

Engineering

Law

Toxicology

Occupational Hygiene

Chemistry

Physics

Biology

Engineering

Law

Toxicology

Occupational hygiene is 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

They’re also exposed to irritant gases and ultra-violet 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 hygienist’s 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 it’s 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

Elimination Substitution Process change

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

Containment

A fume cupboard – an example of local exhaust ventilayion

Photograph courtesy of HSE

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPE

Time Reduce exposure timeJob rotationWork – rest regimesWork scheduling

Distance SegregationRestrict accessRest areas

Organisation Reduce numbers exposedGood working practiceWritten procedures“Permits to work”

Work practices / organisation

Prevention

Engineering

Work practices

PPEPersonal 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.orgThe 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.ukThe Health and Safety Executive – www.hse.gov.ukwww.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/children_in_facto

ries/www.beautifulbritain.co.uk

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

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