Submitted by Tori Hudson, AMP-100
Graduate of the Aeronautical Center Development (AsCEnD) Program Cohort #2
While the term hygienist tends to make people think of going to a dentist or visiting their dental hygienist to get their teeth cleaned, industrial hygienists encounter far more diverse threats than battling plaque and cavities. An industrial hygienist is a professional who identifies and prevents unhealthy exposures in the workplace that may cause injuries and illnesses. The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) defines industrial hygiene as "a science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, control, and confirmation of protection from those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort amount to workers or among citizens of the community."
The industrial hygiene team (IHT) works together to ensure the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) is providing a safe and healthful workplace for all 6,300 employees on campus. Some of the responsibilities that fall under the IHT include: the exposure monitoring, respiratory, hearing conservation, hazard communications, indoor air quality, ergonomics, drinking water, ventilation, blood borne pathogens and radiation programs. The MMAC has approximately 35 work locations that receive either a yearly or biennial comprehensive industrial hygiene survey (CIHA). A comprehensive survey includes four elements.
The opening conference is a brief informal meeting that consists of the IHT, shop managers and employees. During this time the IHT team explains the scope and details of the survey. Shop management has a chance to ask questions and/or request assistance with training and reviewing safety and health programs.
A shop representative accompanies the IHT on the walk-through of the shop. During that time, the team focuses on specific processes that could lead to health hazards. To understand the different tasks and processes within the shop, the IHT will talk to employees to determine if a follow-up evaluation is needed or if personal exposure monitoring should be conducted.
Personal exposure monitoring is a way of measuring a worker’s exposure level to a contaminant or hazard (e.g., dust or noise levels) during a specific task. The IHT uses a wide variety of sampling equipment to evaluate worker exposure. Here are a couple examples of just a few of the instruments used by the IHT.
Some contaminants that may require personal exposure monitoring at the MMAC include hexavalent chromium, lead, asbestos, resin acid and welding fumes. To quantify an employee’s exposure to a particular contaminant, an air sampling pump is attached to the worker’s belt using a belt clip on the pump and the collection media is attached by a holder. This apparatus is clipped to the employee’s shirt collar in his/her breathing zone. The air sampling pump pulls air through the collection media and contaminants in the air are trapped on the filter inside the cassette. At the end of the sampling period, the cassette is sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis. To determine compliance, the results are compared to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) permissible exposure limits located in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z Toxic and Hazardous Substances or the threshold limit values developed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). A dosimeter is used to measure a worker’s daily exposure to noise levels within the workplace. To capture this data the dosimeter is positioned on the employee’s shirt to ensure the microphone is high on the shoulder and close to the ear. At the end of the work shift the results are tabulated by the instrument and compared to the OSHA Noise Standard, 29 CFR 1910.95 Occupational Noise Exposure.
At the end of the CIHA, a comprehensive report detailing any findings is sent to the shop. A closing conference is held with shop management to discuss any concerns, exposure monitoring results and any serious hazards identified during the walk-through. The IHT works with the shop to correct any hazards found during the CIHA. The IHT, along with shop management work together to build a safe workplace.
If you have questions or concerns regarding your workplace, please feel free to contact the AMP-100, Safety Office, Tori Hudson at (405) 954-0371.
