An introduction to occupational hygiene (also known as industrial hygiene)

1. What is Occupational Hygiene?
Mike Slater

2. Occupational
Hygiene?

3. Occupational
NO!
Hygiene?

4. Occupational Hygiene?

5. Occupational Hygiene?
NO!

6. Hygiene
“Conditions or practices conducive
to maintaining health and
preventing disease”
http://oxforddictionaries.com

7. Occupational hygiene is
about the prevention of
ill health caused by work

8. According to
the WHO,
globally, there
are:

9. 2,000,000
work-related
deaths per
year

10. 386,000 deaths
each year from
exposure to
airborne
particulates

11. 152,000
deaths per
year from
carcinogens in
the workplace

12. 37% of Lower
Back Pain is
attributed to
occupation

13. Occupational hygiene is
about the prevention of
ill health caused by work

14. We do that by the

15. We do that by the
Recognition

16. We do that by the
Recognition Evaluation

17. We do that by the
Recognition Evaluation Control

18. We do that by the
Recognition Evaluation Control
of hazardous agents

19. Chemical hazards
There are many thousands of hazardous chemicals
commonly used at work.

20. Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards also include:

21. Silica released during stone cutting
activities
Dusts – in this case stone dust contains crystalline silica
which causes silicosis, a serious lung disease
Source: HSE

22. Now you see it
Mists – in this case paint containing isocyanates, a
major cause of occupational asthma

23. Vapours are given off paints and other solvent
based products such as inks and adhesives

24. Fume – very fine particulate matter

25. Physical agents
Hazardous physical agents include noise,

26. Vibration (this hand grinder will also produce high
noise levels)

27. Non-ionising radiation like theultra-violet radiation
generated by arc welding

28. The thermal environment – hot and cold

29. Biological hazards
Biological agents like the micro-organisms that can
cause legionnaires’ disease and anthrax

30. Ergonomic hazards
Back and muscular damage caused by poor manual
handling practices

31. Tasks involving repetitive actions

32. The use of display screen equipment

33. Chemistry
Toxicology Physics
Occupational
Hygiene
Law Biology
Engineering

34. Chemistry
Toxicology Physics
Occupational
Hygiene
Law Biology
Occupational hygiene isEngineering
a multi-disciplinary science

35. Recognition Evaluation Control

36. Recognition Evaluation Control
Occupational hygienists are trained to anticipate and
recognise health hazards at work

37. Bakers are exposed
to flour dust which
can cause
occupational
asthma

38. Bakers are about
80 times more
likely to develop
occupational
asthma than the
average British
worker

39. Coal miners and
quarry workers are
exposed to dust
that can cause
silicosis – a serious
debilitating lung
disease

40. Cleaning with
solvents can lead to
dermatitis and
exposure to solvent
vapours.

41. And some solvents
can be absorbed
through the skin

42. This worker is
exposed to dust,
noise and vibration

43. Arc welders are
exposed to metal
fumes which can
cause metal fume
fever

44. and, in some cases,
asthma and lung
cancer

45. They’re also
exposed to irritant
gases and ultra-
violet radiation

46. Recognition Evaluation Control

47. RISK =

48. RISK = Hazard x

49. RISK = Hazard x Exposure

50. RISK = Hazard x Exposure
Exposure assessment is an important part of the
occupational hygienist’s role

51. RISK = Hazard x Exposure
This can involve:

52. Personal exposure sampling

54. Exposure modelling

55. Observations

56. Biological
Monitoring
Which may involve taking blood samples

57. But taking urine samples is usually preferable as it’s
easier and more acceptable to the worker

58. Recognition Evaluation Control

59. Prevention
Engineering
Work practices
PPE

60. Prevention
Engineering
Work practices
PPE
This is the “hierarchy of control”

61. Prevention
Engineering
Work practices
PPE

62. Prevention
Process
Elimination Substitution
change

63. Prevention
Engineering
Work practices
PPE

64. Containment

65. A fume cupboard – an example of local exhaust
ventilayion

66. Photograph
courtesy of
HSE

67. Prevention
Engineering
Work practices
PPE

68. Work practices / organisation
Time Reduce exposure time
Job rotation
Work – rest regimes
Work scheduling
Distance Segregation
Restrict access
Rest areas
Organisation Reduce numbers exposed
Good working practice
Written procedures
“Permits to work”

69. Prevention
Engineering
Work practices
PPE
Personal protective equipment – which should be
the last resort

70. Respiratory protection

71. Chemical protective clothing, gloves
and eye protection

72. Management measures
Maintenance of controls
Supervision
Exposure monitoring
Screening & health surveillance
Information, instruction, training
Review and audit

73. www.bohs.org

74. www.bohs.org
The organisation for anyone interested in
occupational hygiene in the UK

75. http://www.slideshare.net/mikeslater
mike@diamondenv.co.uk
http://diamondenv.wordpress.com
Twitter: @diamondenv
Mike Slater

76. Picture credits:
 Stock.XCHNG - www.sxc.hu/
 Cirrus Research - www.cirrusresearch.co.uk
 The Health and Safety Executive – www.hse.gov.uk
 www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/children_in_facto
ries/
 www.beautifulbritain.co.uk

77. Mike Slater, Diamond Environmental Ltd. (mike@diamondenv.co.uk)
This presentation is distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
UK:International Licence