Principles Of Occupational Hygiene

Occupational Hygiene, a terminology used in the U.K., European Countries, and India, is the same term as Industrial Hygiene, used in the USA. It is defined as “The science and art devoted to anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control factors and stress (arising in or from the work place), which may cause sickness, impaired health, and wellbeing or significant discomfort and inefficiency among workers or among citizens of the community” (John Hopkins).

Occupational Hygiene is the method (discipline), to keep track of hazards in the workplace, employed through successive steps aimed at preventing occupational diseases and injuries and promoting the well-being of persons at work. The term hazard, connotes “a substance or material that

Multiple Exposures to different hazards concurrently or sequentially.

2. Occupational hygienists are technologists who assess and control hazards at the workplace and community as required.

3. The principles of occupational hygiene practice are as below:

3.1. Anticipation

Anticipation with prior knowledge of the hazards of machines, materials, and structures allows proper occupational health and environmental impact assessment. This is essential prior to design and erection of any new workplace including location, selection of least hazardous materials, and proper control technology.

3.2. Recognition

This is the primary step. A walk-through, preliminary survey is done to assess hazard and risk. The saying “what the mind does not know, they eyes do not see” is appropriate in this context. Thus, this procedure is essential in practice to determine future action in ensuring hygiene. The survey is best carried out by a person who is knowledgeable and experienced.

3.3. Evaluation

Evaluation is conducted through exposure assessment to determine how much and how long the workers have been exposed to the hazard, thus paving the way for prevention and control

Work Practices

• Adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in tune with the culture and discipline of the undertaking

• Avoid practices such as bending over machines, which can soak the work clothes and also bring the face and nose closer to the generation of hazardous materials

• Personal hygiene, use of barrier cream before work, washing hands, and bathing if required

• Education

• Continuous evaluation of hazards through environmental monitoring

3.4.4. Personal Level (Medical Surveillance)

• Preplacement and periodical medical examinations for proper placement of workers

• Biological monitoring for early detection of occupational diseases

• First aid and treatment

• Change of job and shift change, if and when needed

4. The following terminology is related to exposure limits as proposed by the American Conference of governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH).

4.1. Threshold Limit Value (TLV)

TLV is the airborne concentration of a substance which nearly all workers may be exposed to day after day without adverse effects.

4.2. Threshold Limit Value – Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA)

TLV-TWA is the allowable 8-hour a day concentration that a worker may be exposed to during a 40-hour-week.

4.3. Threshold Limit Value – Ceiling