Document 44m0dmEp273XDOnq8JL3gaa0x

engineenng methods for eliminating or mini mizing them The Industrial Hygienist Definitions The following definitions have been ap proved by the Amencan Industrial Hygiene Association "Industrial hygiene is that science and art devoted to the recognition, evaluation and control of those environmental factors or stresses, arising in or from the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort and inefficiency among workers or among the citi zens of the community "An industrial hygienist is a person hav ing a college or university degree or degrees in engineering, chemistry, physics, or medi cine or related biological sciences who, by virtue of special studies and training, has acquired competence in industrial hygiene Such special studies and training must have been sufficient in all of the above cognate sciences to provide the abilities (a) to rec ognize the environmental factors and stresses associated with work and work operations and to understand their effect on man and his well-being, (b) to evaluate, on the basis of experience and with the aid of quantitative measurement techniques, the magnitude of these stresses m terms of ability to impair man's health and well-being, and (c) to pre scribe methods to eliminate, control or re duce such stresses when necessary to allevi ate their effects " Scope Recognition of environmental factors and stresses which influence health requires that the industrial hygienist be familiar with work operations and processes The categories of stresses that interest him are (a) chemical -- liquid, dust, fume, mist, vapor, or gas, (b) physical --electromagnetic and ionizing radi ations, noise, vibration, and extremes of tem perature and pressure, (c) biological --insects, mites, molds, yeasts, fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and (d) ergonomic--body position in relation to task, monotony, boredom, re petitive motion, worry, work pressure, and fatigue The industrial hygienist recognizes that such stresses may immediately endanger life and health, accelerate the aging process, or cause only significant discomfort and in efficiency Evaluation of the magnitude of the en vironmental factors and stresses arising in or from the workplace is done by the industrial hygienist, aided by his training, experience, and quantitative measurement of the chem ical, physical, biological, or ergonomic stresses He can thus give an expert opinion as to the general healthfulness of the environ ment, either for short periods or for a lifetime of exposure Prescription of corrective procedures, when necessary to protect health, is based on the industrial hygienist's experience and know ledge and on the quantitative data he has ob tained He can prescribe control measures such as isolation of a work process, substitu tion of a less harmful material, or any of the other measures discussed later m this chapter Function The industrial hygienist 1 Directs the industrial hygiene program 2 Examines work environment, environs a) Studies work operations and processes to get full details of the nature of the work, materials and equipment used, products and byproducts, number and sex of employees, and hours of work b) Measures the magnitude of exposure or nuisance to workers and the public In doing so, he must (1) select or devise methods and in struments suitable for such meas urements, (2) personally or through others un der his direct supervision conduct such measurements, and (3) study and test material associated with the work operation c) Studies and tests biological materials, Amencan Industrial Hygiene Association Jour nal, 20 428-430 (Oct 1959) 1245