Industrial Hygiene Control Strategy

Industrial hygienists reduce or prevent workplace hazards. Proper anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of hazards can prevent workplace disease, physical harm and even death. Today, industrial hygienists work to control exposures throughout the manufacturing process. Control practices include the planning and design of a process as well as the actual manufacturing of a product. Comprehensive hazard control involves the use of a number of available strategies.

Anticipation

• Preventing exposure is the best control strategy available. Review the chemicals, equipment and processes present to determine the hazards posed. Analyze workplace conditions for potential dangers. Anticipate the hazards that workers actually or potentially may encounter. Then, implement control methods to eliminate or reduce those hazards.

Recognition

• You must recognize hazards to be able to control them. Be continuously on the alert for existing and potential chemical, physical and biological hazards. Develop a sense of safe and acceptable work practices. Recognize deviations from acceptable conditions and the introduction of new hazards. Recognition of new hazards or changes from established procedures allows control measures to be implemented early. Early recognition and control of hazards will reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses.

Evaluation

• Proper evaluation of each hazard is necessary for selection of the control methods needed. Evaluate the hazards of machinery to determine where guarding is required. Take air samples to determine the concentration of chemicals present. Determine the need for chemical substitution, increased ventilation, scheduling changes or personal protective equipment (PPE) based on test results. Ergonomic problems can be avoided or reduced based upon an evaluation of worker posture and movement. Effective evaluation will allow selection of appropriate control measures.

Control

• Control strategies are selected as a result of the anticipation, recognition and evaluation of specific hazards. The traditional hierarchy for control strategies is to use engineering controls, then administrative controls and, finally, PPE when the other methods are insufficient.

Engineering Controls

• Engineering controls are a mechanical hazard controls. Machine guarding, ventilation, noise barriers, splash guards and railings are all examples of commonly used engineering controls. These methods are preferred because of their higher reliability.

Administrative Controls

• Administrative controls rely on changing workers' schedules, hazard contact times, work practices and training. Change schedules to reduce individual exposure time to hazardous conditions. Teach workers to recognize and avoid hazardous situations. Train workers in specific techniques that reduce or eliminate exposure to hazards.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Personal protective equipment is used when engineering controls and administrative controls are inadequate for complete control of a hazard. Respirators can be used when ventilation does not fully control air contaminants. Use gloves, goggles and protective clothing when splash protection cannot provide complete protection. Employ PPE when other protective measures are inadequate or unavailable.

Integrated Control Strategy

• Each industrial hygiene control problem is unique. Several strategies may effectively control a particular hazard. Each applicable solution should be evaluated. The method or methods that best protect the worker should be selected as the desired control strategy.