Occupational Hygiene Flashcards
What are the six elements of an occupational hygiene program? (Hint - Same as an OHS Program)
1) Management Involvement 2) Hazard ID and Risk Control 3) Rules and Procedures 4) Training 5) Communication 6) Accident/Incident Reporting and Investigation
What is a principle of the code of ethics in Industrial Hygiene?
1) Use scientific principles to practice the profession and protect the health and well being of workers. 2) Counsel affected parties about possible exposures to hazards and what methods and controls are available for safe work. 3) Maintain confidentiality of personal and business information. 4) Avoid conflicts of interest. 5) Perform services only in areas of competence.
1) What 1883 act put increasing pressure on employers to provide workers a safe workplace? 2) When did workers compensation first become available in Canada? (And where)
1) 1833 - The Factory Act 2) 1915 - In Ontario
What are some job functions of an Occupational Hygienist?
1) Direct an occupational hygiene program 2) Workplace inspections 3) Study processes to obtain full details of potential exposures 4) Measure stressors or factors to determine exposure 5) Conduct training and education 6) Interpret workplace in terms of potential to cause ill health.
What was Pliny the Elder’s contribution to Industrial Hygiene?
Noticed workers in dusty trades used masks and that slaves who worked with asbestos got sick.
Who is considered the greatest contributor to the science of Industrial Hygiene? What was his observation and quote?
Paracelsus He described miners lung/asthma/dyspnea and attributed it to vapors. Quote - “All substances are poisons, the right dose differentiates a poison from a remedy.”
What are the cornerstones of an effective Occupational Hygiene program?
Anticipation of hazards Recognition of hazards Evaluation Control
What is the ACGIH and what are they most famous for?
The American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists - They publish Threshold Limit Values, most famous for the TLV Booklet.
What is AIHA and what do they do?
The American Industrial Hygiene Association. They promote study, evaluation, and control of environmental stresses. Provides training and develops educational resources. Founded in 1939.
- What is OSHA?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They are the US regulatory enforcers, and educate about hazards.
What is NIOSH What is the CRBOH and what designation does it administer? What is the ABIH and what designations does it administer?
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Canadian Registered Board of Occupational Hygienists, ROH (Registered Occupationl Hygienist) and ROHT (Technologist) American Board of Industrial Hygienists. CIH - Certified, CAIH - Certified Associate
What was Hippocrates Greatest Contribution to Industrial Hygiene?
Hippocrates identified lead poisoning in miners.
Who was the “father of Industrial Medicine?” - What was his book called? - What question did he believe should be included in every patient case history?
- Bernardo Ramazzini - De Morbis Artificum Diatriba - The diseases of workmen (contained description of occupational diseases including silicosis) - What trade are you?
______ is an OHS discipline concerned with exposure of workers to airborne contaminants, skin contaminants, and other harmful agents.
Occupational Hygiene
What is the definition of Occupational Hygiene?
Science and Art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental stressors arising in or from workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health and well being, or significant discomfort among workers.
Who passes Statutes?
What is the difference between statute law and common law?
The highest governing power in the jurisdiction. Federally it is passed in the house of commons.
Statue law is based on actions of a person w/respect to others compared to written obligations (Acts Regs Codes). Common law is based soley on past or current judicial decisions.
How many legislative authorities are there in Canada?
What type of law does WCB fall into?
What health and safety code applies to Federally legislated workers?
- 1 Federeal, 10 Provincial, 3 Territorial.
Administrative Law, taken care of provincially by administrators.
Canada Labour Code part II.
What is Specification Based Legislation? Example.
What is Performance based legislation? Example
Regulations are quantitatively specific. More focus on REACHING the desired outcome. IE Hearing protection must be worn above 85 dBA.
Regulations are less quantitatively specific. More focus on the outcome than the process of getting there. IE Employer must monitor for airborne contaminants if workers may be exposed.
What are examples of Occupational Hygiene hazards which have no threshold effect? Meaning a single dose may cause the damage?
What are other names for Compliance Levels? PEL, OEL, TLV.
Asbestos, Carcinogens, Viruses, Allergic Agents.
Permissible Exposure Limits, Occupational Exposure Limits, Threshold Limit Values.
Are TLV’s safe limits?
For what hazards might you use:
mg/m3?
ppm?
f/cc?
No, They are defined as compliance limits.
mg/m<sup>3</sup> = Gases, vapours, dusts, mist, fumes ppm = gases, vapours f/cc = fibrous substances
What formula converts mg/m3 to ppm?
What are basic TLV’s based on?
ppm x MW = mg/m3 x 24.45
8 hour days, 40 hour weeks, 40 year careers without risk of ill health.
What is an 8 hour or TWA-TLV?
What is a 15 minute or STEL-TLV?
What is a Ceiling or C-TLV?
Time weighted average for 8 hours a day/40 hours per week without risk of ill health.
15 Minute period of exposure continuously for a short time to be exposed to without suffering injury.
Concentration to ever be exceeded at any time.
In Alberta if a TWA-TLV is provided but no STEL-TLV or C-TLV, what assumptions are you legally allowed to make?
Chemical X has 8 Hour TLV of 10, STEL-TLV of 25, rule is 4 excursions per shift. Is the following exposure time compliant?
8: 00-12:00 - 5ppm, 12:00-1:30 - 6ppm, 1:30-1:45 20ppm
1: 45-2:30 - 6ppm, 2:30-2:45 - 20ppm, 2:45-4:00 - 6ppm
You can create a STEL-TLV of up to 3x the TWA-TLV for 30 minutes/24 hours, and a C-TLV of 5x the TWA-TLV.
(5ppmX4 hours)+(6ppmX1.5 hours)+(20ppmX0.25 hours)+(6ppmX0.75 hours)+(20ppmX0.25 hours)+(6ppmX1.25 hours) / 8 hours = 6.38 ppm, Exposure is in compliance and under the TWA TLV of 10, and doesn’t exceed the STEL 4 exposure limit.
Ammonia 8 Hour TLV of 25ppm, STEL-TLV 35ppm.
4 15 minute excursions allowed.
8:00-9:00 5ppm, 9:00-9:12 - 26ppm, 9:12-11:12 - 20ppm
11:12-12:00 - 28ppm, 12:00-4:00 20ppm.
Does this exceed the TWA-TLV? Is it in compliance?
(5ppmX1 hour) + (26ppmX0.2 hour) + (20ppmX2 hour) + (28ppmX0.8 hour) + (20ppmX4 hour) = 19.1
- This is a compliant TWA-TLV itself, HOWEVER, a max of 15 consecutive minutes is allowed for a STEL TLV and this exceeds it (48 minutes) so is not compliant.
