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 CO2 He CH4

CO HCN H2S

Dilute air so oxygen content is low

Interact at cellular level to inhibit oxygen 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
Rocket Jet Engine Rock Band Power Lawn Mower Factory Noisy Office Conversation Quite Room Whisper

Sound Level (dB)

195 160 115 95 90 80 65 40 20

OSHA Sound Level PELs

Sound Level (dB)
< 90 90 95 100 105 110 115 > 115

Exposure Time Limit (hr)

No Limit 8 4 2 1 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 Heat Exhaustion

Frostbite Hypothermia

Heat Stress
Bodys Energy Balance External Conditions

Metabolic rate Radiation Convection Sweating

Temperature Humidity Air movement 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 Body core temperature is typically 37C Shivering when body Tc < 36C Lose Consciousness at Tc < 34C

Responses to Cold Stress

Temperature Stress Control

Hot Stress

Cold Stress

Air movement Periodic rest Remove to cooler location

Limit exposure time Protective clothing

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 Extensive high density shielding

X-ray, Gamma

Neutrons

Special shielding techniques

Non-Ionizing Radiation
Low frequency Microwaves Infrared ~ 3 m wavelength 3 m to 3 mm 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 Muscle strain

Boredom 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.