Industrial Hygiene Approach to EHS Issues in Schools: Assessment, Controls, Design, and Prevention Lorraine M. Conroy, ScD, CIH Associate Professor University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health April 6, 2002

Prevention • What are we preventing?

Prevention • What are we preventing?

– Injuries and Illnesses – Exposure

Prevention • How are we preventing injuries and Illnesses?

– Early Identification and Treatment (medical) – Exposure Elimination or Reduction (industrial hygiene)

Industrial Hygiene • What is Industrial Hygiene?

Industrial Hygiene • What is Industrial Hygiene?

– Anticipation, Recognition, Evaluation, and Control of hazardous substances or agents

Industrial Hygiene • Anticipation – what are potential hazards that may be introduced with processes or products?

• Recognition – what are potential hazards in the workplace?

• Evaluation – how severe are the potential hazards? Are the potential hazards truly hazardous?

• Control – how can potential health hazards be eliminated or minimized?

Hazard Anticipation • Obtain the process flow chart or description • Obtain ingredient and product information • Read the equipment descriptions • Study the building and process design plans • Identify exposures to toxic agents • Anticipate exposure hazards during normal conditions and process upsets • Consider the potential health effects

Hazard Recognition • Sketch the floor plan • Identify the hazard sources • Place the sources on the plan • Place the receivers on the plan • Show the pathways between them • Consider the potential health effects

Workplace Characterization • What is the process?

• Activities?

• Raw materials?

• Products?

• By-products?

• Waste products?

• Processing aids?

Workforce Characterization • job title / job description • task analysis • exposure duration – shift length; continuous • number of workers / community members / family members • other considerations – children

Characterization of Agents • Form of agent – chemical – physical – biological • Health effects – toxicology – epidemiology • Exposure Limits – occupational – environmental – children

Characterization of Agents • Health Effects – Sources of Information • Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) • Toxicology Literature • Epidemiology Literature • Internet

Hazard Evaluation • Qualitative Exposure Assessment • Quantitative Exposure Assessment • Is the exposure acceptable?

Exposure Limits • Regulatory – Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Environmental Protection Agency – Nuclear Regulatory Commission – State and Local Health Departments • Non-regulatory

Hazard Control • Hierarchy of Controls

Source Controls • Substitution • Process Change • Process Enclosure • Process Isolation • Wet Methods • Local Exhaust Ventilation • Adequate Maintenance Program

Pathway Controls • Housekeeping • General Exhaust Ventilation • Dilution Ventilation • Distance • Continuous Area Monitoring • Adequate Maintenance Program

Receiver (Worker) Controls • Training & Education • Rotation • Enclosure of Worker • Personal Monitoring Devices • Personal Protective Devices • Adequate Maintenance Program

• Advantages – Source – Pathway – Receiver • Limitations – Source – Pathway – Receiver Hazard Control