Industrial Hygiene

An Introduction
For
Chemical Engineers
 Goal of Industrial Hygiene

Worker safety and well-being

Anticipation
Recognition

Evaluation
Control
 Workplace Hazards

Chemical
Physical
Ergonomic
Biological
 Chemical Hazards

Irritants
Asphyxiants
CNS Agents
Specific organ agents
Genetic activity

Acute versus Chronic

 Irritants

Respiratory
Skin
Eye
 Irritants

Primary/Secondary
Primary at source of contact
Secondary travels through blood to another
area
Reversible/Irreversible
Sensitization
Irritant that has a delayed reaction on subsequent
exposure
 Asphyxiants

Simple Asphyxiants Chemical Asphyxiants

N2 CO
CO2 HCN
He H2S
CH4
Interact at cellular level
Dilute air so oxygen to inhibit oxygen
content is low uptake.
 Central Nervous System
Depressants
Narcotics
Anesthetics
Depressants
 CNS Depressants

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
Increased chain length enhances effect
Addition of an alcohol group (i.e. ethanol)
Addition of a halide group enhances the effect
 Specific Organ Attack

May be reversible or irreversible

Blood - Hemotoxic
Liver Hepatotoxic
Lungs Pulmonotoxic
Kidneys Nephrotoxic
Skin Dermatotoxic
Nerves & Brain - Neurotoxic
 Genetic Activity

Typically is irreversible
Causes cancer Carcinogen
Causes chromosome damage Mutagen
Causes birth defects Teratogen
Causes damage to reproductive system
-Reproductive Hazard
 Anticipation of Chemical
Hazards
Consider the following:
Raw materials
Intermediates formed
Final products
Disposal of used products
Maintenance materials
Cradle to Grave thought process
 Anticipation of Chemical
Hazards
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) has established Permissible Exposure limits
They are defined in time weighted average, TWA, for
most working conditions. Short Term Exposure Limits,
STEL, for 15 minute exposure. Ceiling, C, for maximum
allowable concentration.
American Council of Government Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH) has established Threshold
Limit Values, TLV.
 Anticipation of Chemical
Hazards
Material Safety Data
Sheets, MSDS
 Recognition of Chemical
Hazards
Odors
Not all agents have detectable odor
Frequent headaches
Dermatitis
Drowsiness
Personality changes
Clusters of problems
 Workplace Hazards

Chemical
Physical
Ergonomic
Biological
 Physical Hazards

Dusts and Fibers

Noise
Corrosives
Temperature Extremes
Ionizing Radiation
Non-Ionizing Radiation
 Dusts and Fibers

Concerned about particle size and

penetration into pulmonary track
D > 0.5 micron does not reach lungs (but may
ingest)
0.2 < D < 0.5 micron respirable and gets stuck
in lungs
D < 0.2 micron are exhaled
 Noise Hazard Recognition

Need to shout
Ringing sensation
Degraded hearing after work
Auditory testing
 Noise Hazard

Sound level measurement

L = 10 * Log (I/I0)2

L = Sound intensity, decibels (dB)

P = Sound pressure, rms (Pa)
I0 = Reference sound pressure, rms (20 Pa)
 Typical Noise Sources

Source Sound Level (dB)

Rocket 195
Jet Engine 160
Rock Band 115
Power Lawn Mower 95
Factory 90
Noisy Office 80
Conversation 65
Quite Room 40
Whisper 20
 OSHA Sound Level PELs

Sound Level (dB) Exposure Time Limit (hr)

< 90 No Limit
90 8
95 4
100 2
105 1
110
115
> 115 0
 Noise Control

Enclose equipment
Enclose operator
Slower rotational speed
Intake/Exhaust mufflers
Padded mountings
 Corrosive Hazards

Usually concerned with the affect of

corrosives on process equipment
Concern for contact of workers with
corrosives

Usually involves necrosis, the death of local
tissue due to contact of agent
 Temperature Extremes

Heat Stress Cold Stress

Heat Stroke Frostbite
Heat Exhaustion Hypothermia
 Heat Stress

Bodys Energy Balance External Conditions

Metabolic rate Temperature
Radiation Humidity
Convection Air movement
Sweating Radiation

In a typical healthy individual the internal core body

temperature may rise as much as 3C during heat stress
 Cold Stress

Less Common in Industrial Situations

Cold climates
Refrigerated space
Wind chill
Responses to Cold Stress
Body core temperature is typically 37C
Shivering when body Tc < 36C
Lose Consciousness at Tc < 34C
 Temperature Stress Control

Hot Stress Cold Stress

Air movement Limit exposure time
Periodic rest Protective clothing
Remove to cooler
location
 Ionizing Radiation

Physical damage to cells

Possible genetic damage
Types of Radiation
Alpha emitted from nuclei of radioactive particles
Beta similar to but with more penetrating (~ 1 cm)
X-ray produced from high speed electrons striking material

Gamma originates from nucleus, produces burns

Neutrons emitted from disintegration of isotopes, very
penetrating
 Common Units to Measure
Radiation
Rad the unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation
equal to the absorption of 100 ergs/g
Roentgen exposure to x-rays or gamma rays equal to
absorption in 1 cm3 of air to produce 1 electrostatic unit
of charge
Rem the dosage of ionizing radiation that will cause
the same biological effect as 1 rad of x-, gamma or beta
Curie the rate at which radioactive material emits
particles, 3.7x1010 disintegrations per second
 Protection from Ionizing
Radiation
Alpha, Beta - Little protection required

X-ray, Gamma - Extensive high

density shielding

Neutrons - Special shielding

techniques
 Non-Ionizing Radiation

Low frequency - ~ 3 m wavelength

Microwaves - 3 m to 3 mm

Infrared - 3 mm to 750 nm

Visible light - 750 nm to 400 nm

 Non-Ionizing Radiation
Ultraviolet Radiation
UV-A 400 to 320 nm
Harmful only to eyes, causes sun tan

UV-B 320 to 280 nm

Causes skin damage (sun burn), source arc welding

UV-C 280 to 220 nm

Severe damage, source germicidal lamps
 Laser Light

Especially dangerous for eyes

Retinal burns
Corneal burns
 Workplace Hazards

Chemical
Physical
Ergonomic
Biological
 Ergonomic Hazards

Physiological Hazards Psychological Hazards

Awkward movements Boredom
Muscle strain Concentrated attention
Simulated inputs
 Ergonomic Hazards

Increasing emphasis due to repetitive nature

of some industrial manufacturing jobs.

Also with more operators working at

computers or workstations there are
ergonomic concerns.
 Workplace Hazards

Chemical
Physical
Ergonomic
Biological
 Biological Hazards

Pathogenic organisms
Five levels of classification
1 least dangerous
5 most dangerous

Pathogenic organisms are typically not found in a

chemical processing facility
Possible biological hazards in an industrial setting
AIDS
Hepatitis B
 Biological Hazards

Industries with possible biological hazards

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Food processing or agricultural products

Typically hazards are well contained

 Chemical Engineers
Responsibility
Be aware of industrial hazards and possible
effects.
Design inherently safer systems that
minimize worker exposure to hazards.
As a manager encourage proper safety
procedures and good housekeeping to
minimize employees exposure to hazardous
situations.