Occupation Hygiene

Question 1

What kinds of workers would be most susceptible to Rocky Mountain Fever and Lyme Disease?

Answer 1

Forestry workers - these are tick-borne diseases

Question 2

Georgius Agricola

Answer 2

1556 - publishes a treatise in accidents and diseases in mining. Recommendations made for ventilation and the use of protective masks.

Question 3

What kinds of workers would be most susceptible to Psittacosis?

Answer 3

This is also know at “avian flu”, “Parrot disease” or “chlamydia Psittici”. Pet shop workers, poultry processors, and farmers are at most risk.

Question 4

What can be used to stop: 1. Alpha Radiation 2. Beta Radiation 3. Gamma Radiation

Answer 4

1. Sheet of paper 2. 1/2 inch of Aluminum (NOT Lead) 3. Several Inches of Lead

Question 5

Galen

Answer 5

2nd century - the physician recognizes the dangers of acid mists to copper miners

Question 6

What does LASER stand for?

Answer 6

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

Question 7

What type of workers are at most risk with exposure to mould species like aspergillus versicolor and stachybotrys chartrum?

Answer 7

Office workers, health care workers, post-operative patients, agriculture

Question 8

Pliny Secundus

Answer 8

50 AD - describes use of animal bladder as respiratory masks to prevent inhalation of lead and dust fumes

Question 9

British Window Tax ACT

Answer 9

1696 Levied taxes on the number of windows in a building. Factory owners brick in existing windows and make new buildings without windows. This produced dark, dingy workplaces with little natural light or ventilation causing poor working conditions.

Question 10

What type of UV radiation is know for bactericidal effect and what wavelength does it have?

Answer 10

UV-C Wavelength 280-220 nm

Question 11

What are some examples of diseases caused by infection microbial agents? What kind of workers could be exposed to these diseases?

Answer 11

Brucellosis - Cattle disease Q-Fever - Barnyard dust particles contaminated by infected animals like sheep, goats, cattle Hepatitis - Inflammatory condition of the liver from contaminated water or food Typhoid Fever - Samonella spread through water/food/carrier Tularemia - Rabbit Fever, Deer fly Fever Tuberculosis - Affects lungs, bacteria spread through coughs and sneezes - Lab workers, research workers, animal care workers, dish washers, janitors, and maintenance personnel for labs most susceptible to these diseases.

Question 12

Sir Percival Pot

Answer 12

18th century London Physician who noticed preponderance of scrotal cancer in young adult males who had been chimney sweeping since childhood. - related scrotal cancer to continued exposure to spot and lack of personal hygiene - his findings resulted in the British Chimney Sweeps Act of 1788

Question 13

What are some examples of diseases caused by fungal disease? What kind of workers could be exposed to these diseases?

Answer 13

Histoplasmosis - Fungus grows on fecal matter over long time (cows, bats, etc.) Fungus gets in lungs. - Farmers and horticulture worker at most risk

Question 14

What infectious diseases would Animal product processors, worker who work with animal hides, and people who skin animals be susceptible to?

Answer 14

Anthrax - bacteria from animal hides Tularemia - Rabbit fever, deer fly fever

Question 15

Who published the book “De Morbid Artificum”

Answer 15

Italian physician Dr. Bernardo Ramazzini and published in 1700. First book about comprehensive treatment of occupational disease. Described silicosis and many other industrial diseases of the time, together with protective measures which he felt would prevent the problems.

Question 16

Hippocrates

Answer 16

350 BC - identifies Lead poisoning in mines and metallurgists

Question 17

What are the 3 bones of the middle ear? What are they collectively called?

Answer 17

Collectively called the “ossicles” Individually named: - Malleus (hammer) - Incus (anvil) - Stapes (stirrup)

Question 18

Ulrich Ellenbog

Answer 18

1473 - records Lead and Mercury poisoning and recommends industrial hygiene measures

Question 19

What is the heat balance equation for Thermal Stress?

Answer 19

S=M+R+C+K-E S = the rate of hear storage (i.e. the change in intrinsic body heat) M = the rate of metabolism (heat produced within the body) R = the radiative gain (or loss) C = the rate of convective heat gain (or loss) K = the rate of conductive heat gain (or loss) E = the rate of evaporative heat loss

Question 20

What are some examples of diseases caused by parasitic diseases? What kind of workers could be exposed to these diseases?

Answer 20

Toxoplasmosis - Cat feces, common parasite Echinococcosis - tapeworm in dogs, sheep, cattle, goats, pigs - Food and grain handlers, farmers and labourers are at risk

Question 21

What kinds of workers would be most susceptible to Erysipelas?

Answer 21

Comes from Strep A bacterium. People who work with fish, shellfish, meat, poultry

Question 22

British Factory and Workshop Act British Factory Act

Answer 22

British Factory and Workshops Act - 1802 amended in 1887 British Factory Act - 1897 Acts are significant because the authority of workplace inspectors was significantly increased

Question 23

What are the 5 key components of a workplace respiratory protection program?

Answer 23

Procedure, assessment, respirator selection, training, and maintenance

Question 24

What is the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)? Natural wet bulb temperature (Tnwb)? Globe Temperature (Tg)?

Answer 24

WBGT is used widely to evaluate industrial heat stress. Tnwb is is a measurement of temperature that takes into account the impact of both humidity and air movement. The globe temperature is a measurement of radiant heat from surrounding processes and equipment and convective heat exchange with the ambient air. Tdb is the direct measure of the air temperature. The wet bulb temperature is always lower than the dry bulb temperature but will be identical with 100% relative humidity

Question 25

What is the threshold of normal hearing expressed as a sound pressure? What is the frequency range of normal hearing?

Answer 25

20 micro Pascals 20-20,000 Hz

Question 26

TP = SP + VP What do TP, SP, and VP mean?

Answer 26

Total pressure (TP) is the algebraic sum of the static pressure (SP) and the velocity pressure (VP). Static Pressure In ventilation applications, the static pressure is generated by the fan and it is usually the difference between the pressure and the exhaust system and atmospheric pressure. At the hood, static pressure must be less than atmospheric pressure to draw the contaminants into the ducting system. Velocity Pressure This is the pressure due to the flow of air within the ducting system. Velocity pressure is always positive and is in the direction of the airflow.

Question 27

Keeping contaminants below acceptable levels is achieved by using a parameter known as the ventilation efficiency or ventilation effectiveness (K). What value of K is considered acceptable?

Answer 27

The value of K in most industrial areas ranges from 1.5 – 3. If K > 3 the mixing should be improved; in other words, the lower the K value the more effective the dilution of the contaminant. Air flow through rooms, particularly in modern office environments, is critical for a healthy working environment. While there are no hard and fast rules, five air changes per hour is considered appropriate for the average office.

Question 28

If the air exchange rate in a welding shop (50 feet by 100 feet by 15 feet) is 5 air changes per hour, what is the volumetric flow rate?

Answer 28

N = (60 X Q)/Vol = 5, Vol = 50 X 100 X 15 = 75,000 ft3 Q = (N X Vol)/60 = (5 X 75,000)/60 = 6,250 cfm (or ft3/min)

Question 29

What type of hood is the fume hood typically found in a chemical laboratory? What type of hood is a welder’s local exhaust hood?

Answer 29

A fume hood is an enclosing hood. All hazards are being produced and released within the enclosure making it relatively easy to capture them A welder’s hood is a capture hood. The air flow into the hood is able to “capture” contaminants produced by the welding operation

Question 30

How many Classes of biological safety cabinets are there?

Answer 30

There are three Classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Class II has four sub-categories A, B1, B2 and B3 for a total of 6 Categories

Question 31

For the following chemicals give examples, effects on skin and trades or processes they could be encountered:

• Acids
• Alkalis
• Metals and Metal Salts
• Solvents
• Petroleum and Tar Derivatives
• Soaps and detergent powders
• Insecticides
• Resins

Answer 31