UNI

TII
I
ENVI
RONMENTALCONTROL
3.
1Indust
ri
alHeal
thHazar
ds:
Industri
alhygienei st hesci enceofant i
cipat i
ng,recognizi
ng,ev al
uating,andcont r
oll
ing
wor kpl
acecondi ti
onst hatmaycausewor kers'inj
uryori ll
ness.I tall
owst owor kin
healthy environmentand mai ntai
ning good heal th among t he wor kers.
Ex:ov er
-
exposur etonoi se,heatet c.Hygieneisiniti
allybasedonl i
mitingpersonnel exposuresto
chemi calsandahasev ol
v edt oaddr esst hecont r
olofot herwor kplacehazards( Not
j
ustf orhealthhazar ds)St epst oPr ot
ectEmpl oy ees:
-
 Cont r
ol exposur eandr i
sk
 Ev al
uateexposur eandr i
sk
 Recogni zepot entialhazar ds
 Ant i
cipatepot entialhazar ds

3.1.
1I NDOOR/ OUTDOORAI RQUALI TY
Aircont ami nantsar e commonl ycl assi f
ied asei t
herpar ticulat
e orgasand v apor
contami nant s.Themostcommonpar ticul
atecont aminantsi ncludedusts, f
umes, mists,
aerosols, andf i
ber s.
Gasesar ef orml essf l
uidst hatexpandt ooccupyt hespaceorencl osureinwhi chthey
areconf ined.Exampl esar ewel di
nggasessuchasacet y
lene,ni t
rogen,helium,and
argon;andcar bonmonoxi degener atedf r
om t heoper ati
onofi nternalcombust i
on
enginesorbyi tsuseasar educinggasi naheatt r eat
ingoper at
ion.Anotherexampl eis
hydrogen sul fi
de whi ch isf ormed wher evert her ei s decomposi ti
on ofmat erial
s
containi
ngsul furunderr educingcondi ti
ons.
 Fumesar ef ormedwhenmat erialfr
om av olatil
izedsol i
dcondensesi ncoolair.I
n
mostcases,t hesol i
dpar ti
clesr esult
ingfrom t hecondensat i
onr eactwithairto
form anoxi de.
 Li qui dschangei ntov aporsandmi xwi t
ht hesur r
oundi ngat mospheret hrough
ev apor ati
on.
  Mi stsar ef i
nelydi videdl iquidsuspendedi nt heat mospher e.Theyar egener ated
byl iqui dscondensi ngf rom av aporbackt oal iquidorbybr eaki ngupal iqui di nto
adi sper sedst atesuchasbyspl ashi ng,f oami ngorat omi zing.Aer osol sar eal so
af or m ofami stchar act eri
zedbyhi ghl yr espi rable,mi nut el i
qui dpar ti
cles.
 Vapor sar et hegaseousf or m ofsubst ancest hatar enor mal lyi nasol idorl iquid
stat eatr oom t emper at ureandpr essur eVapor saref or medbyev apor ationf rom
al iqui dorsol i
dandcanbef oundwher eawor kerwoul dcl eanand/ orpai ntas
wel l aswher esol vent sar eused.
 Dust sar esol idpar ticlest hatar ef or medorgener at edf rom sol idor gani cor
i
nor gani cmat er i
alsbyr educi ngt hei rsi zet hroughmechani calpr ocessessuchas
crushi ng, gr i
nding, drill
ing, abr adi ngorbl ast i
ng.
 Fi ber sar e sol id par ticles whose l engt hi s sev eralt i
mes gr eatert han t heir
diamet er.
Defi
niti
on:I ndoorai rqual i
tyr efer st ot hepr esenceorabsenceofai rpol l
ut ant si n
bui
ldi
ngs.Ther ear emanysour cesofi ndoorai rpol l
ut ants.Thepr esenceofsour cesof
i
ndoorai rpol lut antssuchast obaccosmokeandr adon,orbycondi tionst hatpr omot e
poorindoorai rqual i
tysuchasi nadequat ev ent ilationormoi sturei nt rusi ont hatcanl ead
tomol dgr owt h, areusedasi ndi cat i
onsofpot ent i
al heal t
hef f
ect s.
 The qual it
y ofi ndoorai ri nsi de of fices,school s,and ot herwor kplaces i s
i
mpor tantnotonl yforwor ker s' comf ortbutal sof ort heirheal th.Poori ndoorai r
qual ity( IAQ)has been t ied t o sy mpt oms l ike headaches,f atigue,t roubl e
concent rating,andi rritationoft heey es,nose,t hroatandl ungs.Al so,some
speci fi
c di seases hav e been l inked t o speci fi
c ai rcont ami nant s ori ndoor
env ironment s,l i
keast hmawi thdampi ndoorenv i
ronment s.I naddi ti
on,some
exposur es,suchasasbest osandr adon,donotcausei mmedi atesy mpt omsbut
canl eadt ocanceraf termanyy ear s.
 Manyf act orsaf fectI AQ.Thesef act or si ncl udepoorv ent il
at ion( l
ackofout side
air),pr obl emscont r
ol l
ingt emper atur e,hi ghorl ow humi dity,r ecentr emodel ing,
andot heract ivi
tiesi nornearabui ldingt hatcanaf fectt hef reshai rcomi ngi nto
thebui lding.Somet imes,speci ficcont ami nant sl i
kedustf rom const r
uct ionor
renov at i
on,mol d,cl eani ng suppl ies,pest icides,orot herai rbor ne chemi cals
(i
ncl udi ngsmal lamount sofchemi cal sr eleasedasagasov ert i
me)maycause
poorI AQ.
OutdoorAi rQual i
ty
 TheCl eanAi rActr equi rest heEnv i
r onment alPr otect i
onAgency( EPA)t oset
Nat ionalAmbi entAi rQual itySt andar dsf orsi xcommonai rpol lutant s.These
commonl yf oundai rpol l
utant s( al soknownas" cri
ter i
apol lutant s")ar ef oundal l
overt heUni t
edSt ates.Theyar epar ti
cl epol lution( oftenr ef erredt oaspar ti
cul ate
mat ter) ,ground- l
ev elozone, car bonmonoxi de, sulfuroxi des, ni trogenoxi des, and
l
ead.Thesepol l
ut ant scanhar my ourheal thandt heenv ironment ,andcause
proper t
ydamage.Oft hesi xpol
lut
ants,par t
icl
epol l
uti
onandgr ound-l
evelozone
aret hemostwi despreadhealththreats.EPAcal lsthesepoll
utants"cri
ter
ia"air
pollutantsbecauseitregulat
esthem bydev el
opinghumanheal t
h-basedand/ or
env i
ronmentall
y-basedcrit
eri
a(sci
ence- basedguideli
nes)forsett
ingpermissible
l
ev els.Thesetofl i
mitsbasedonhumanheal t
hi scall
edpr i
mar ystandards.
Anot hersetoflimitsi
ntendedtoprev entenv i
ronmentalandpropertydamagei s
calledsecondarystandards
  Thedegr eeofwor kerr i
skf rom exposur et oanygi vensubst ancedependsont he
nat ureandpot encyoft het oxi cef fectsandt hemagni tudeanddur ationof
exposur e.Inf ormat ionont her iskt o wor ker sf r
om chemi calhazar dscanbe
obt ained f rom t he Mat erialSaf etyDat a Sheet( MSDS)t hatOSHA' SHazar d
Communi cat ionSt andar dr equiresbesuppl iedbyt hemanuf act urerori mpor t
er
tot hepur chaserofal lhazar dousmat er i
als.TheMSDSi sasummar yoft he
impor tantheal t
h,saf et y
,andt oxicologicali nf ormat ionont hechemi calort he
mi xture' s i ngr edient s. Ot her pr ovisions of t heHazar d Communi cat i
on
Standar dr equi ret hatal lcont ainersofhazar doussubst ancesi nt hewor kpl ace
hav eappr opr i
atewar ningandi dent i
ficationlabel s.
3.2ENVI RONMENTALCONTROL:
Env i
ronment alheal thhazar ds,l ikeoccupat i
onalheal thhazar ds,maybebi ologi cal,
chemi cal,phy sical ,bi omechani calorpsy chosoci ali n nat ure.Env ironment alheal th
hazar dsincl udet radi t
ionalhazar dsofpoorsani tati
onandshel ter,aswel lasagr i
cul tural
andi ndust rial cont ami nationofai r,wat er,f
oodandl and.Thesehazar dshav eresul tedin
ahostofheal thi mpact s,r angi ngf rom cat astrophi cdi rectef fect s( e.g.,ther ecent
choler aepi demi ci nLat i
nAmer icaandt hechemi cal poisoni ngout br eaki nBhopal ,India),
tochr onicef fect s( e.g.,inMi namat a,Japan) ,t osubt le,i ndirect,andev endi sput ed
effects.Env ironment alheal t himpact st husi ncludet hei ndi rectef fectsofi ndust r
ial
disrupt i
onofadequat ef oodandhousi ng,aswel last hedegr adat ionoft hegl obal
systemsonwhi cht heheal t
hoft hepl anetdepends.
Occupat i
onal Hy gi eneVsEnv ir
onment alHy giene
Occupat i
onalandenv i
ronment alheal thar est rongl ylinkedby :thesour ceoft heheal th
threati susual lyt hesame.Commonmet hodol ogies,par ti
cul arl
yi nheal thassessment
and exposur e cont rol·t he cont ri
bution t hatoccupat ionalepi demi ology makes t o
knowl edgeoft heef f
ect sofenv ir
onment alexposur e.Theef fectst hatoccupat i
onal
diseasehasonwel l
-beingi nthehomeandt hecommuni ty,
andconv erselytheef fectof
environment alpat hologyonwor kerpr oductivi
ty.Thesci enti
ficneedt oconsi dert otal
exposur esi nordert odet ermi nedose- r
esponser elationships.Theef f
iciencyi nhuman
resour ce developmentand ut il
i
zat i
on gained bysuch a l inkage.I mpr ovement si n
exposur econt roldeci sionsst emmi ngf r
om t hebr oaderv i
ew·gr eaterconsi stencyi n
standar d setti
ng f acil
itated by t he li
nk·t he f actt hatl i
nking env i
ronment aland
occupat ionalheal t
henhancest hei ncentiv
ef orr ectifi
cationofhazar dst obot ht he
wor kforceandt hecommuni t
y.
Object ive:
Topr otecttheheal thandwel lbeingofempl oy eesbyel i
minat i
ngorr educingheal th
hazar ds thatar ises f r
om t he wor kplace env i
ronment .Env i
ronmentsampl ing and
analysisshoul dbeunder t
akenatr egularintervalsbyqual ifi
edoccupat i
onalheal thand
safetypr ofessi
onal sinaccor dancewi ththemet hodsr ecommendedbyt heappr opri
ate
occupat ionalhealthaut horit
y.

Controlmeasur es
Preventi
onandcont rolmeasuresincl
ude,
butarenotli
mit
edto,
thefol
lowi
ng:
·eli
mination/subst
itutionandprocessmodifi
cati
on;
·engineeri
ngcont r
ols;
·admi ni
strat
ivecontrols;and
·useofper sonalprotectiveequi
pment.
Eli
mination/substi
tut i
onandpr ocessmodifi
cati
on
Whenev erpr acti
cabl e,a substance which gi
ves r
ise t
o a harmfulat
mospher
ic
contaminantshould
be el imi nat ed orr epl aced by one whi ch,whi le of fer
ing sui tablet echni caland
engineer i
ngpr oper ti
es,hasbeenest abl ishedt obehar mless,i deal l
y,orl esshar mf ul
thant heof fendi ngsubst ance.Al thoughsubst i
tut i
oni st hemostcer tainanddi rect
met hodofel imi nat ingorr educi nganoccupat ionalheal thhazar d,iti snotal way s
pract i
cabl e,sot hatengi neer ingcont rol sorot her
Measur esmaybecomenecessar y.Somet imesal esshazar dousmet hodofper formi ng
at askormodi fyingapr ocesscanbesubst i
tut edf ort heor i
gi nal met hod.
Engi neer ingcont rol s
Engi neer ingcont rol measur esmayi ncl udet hef ollowi ng:
·useofmechani cal handl ingmet hodsandaut omat i
on;
·appl icationofl ocal exhaustv ent i
lationt ot hepoi ntofor igi
noft hecont ami nant ;
·mechani cal gener alv ent il
ation;
·isolat i
on, segr egat i
onorencl osur eofoper ationspr oduci ngt hecont ami nant ; and
·dustsuppr essi on.
 Mechani calhandl ing
Mechani cal ,aut omat edandr emot el ycont roll
edmet hodsar eof tenappr opriate
fort hehandl i
ng ofpot ent iallyhar mf ulsubst ancesi nor dert o mi nimi set he
exposur eofempl oyeest ot hosesubst ances.
 Local exhaustv ent i
lation
Hazar dousat mospher iccont ami nant scanof tenbeef fect ivel ycont r oll
edatt hei r
originbymeansofal ocal exhaustsy stem.Thi ssy stem compr i
ses:
· ahoodwhi chcapt ur est hecont ami nantati tspoi ntofgener ation;
· aductsy st em wi thappr opr iateai r fl
ow;
· anai rcl eani ngsy st em t opr ev entpol lutionoft hegener alatmospher e;
· anexhaustf an; and
· ast ackorot hermeansofdi sper sionoft hedecont ami nat edai rt ot he
atmospher e.
 Gener alv ent i
lat i
on
Gener alv ent i
lat ionsy st emsar enotusual lyassat isf act oryi nt hecont rolof
heal thhazar dsasi st heuseofv ent i
l
at edpr ocessencl osur esorl ocalexhaust
vent il
at ion, butt heymaybeusef ul tocont rol mi noremi ssi onsofcont ami nant sof
l
owt oxi city.
Isolation, segr egat i
onandencl osur e
Hazar dousoper ationsshoul dbei sol at edorsegr egat edsoast or educet oami nimum
thenumberofempl oy eespot ent iallyl i
abl et obeexposedt ot hecont ami nant .Isolation
maybeachi ev edbyconduct i
nghaz ardousoper at ionsi nasepar at er oom orbui ldingor
i
naspeci allyseal edar ea,oratat imewhenonl yv eryf ew wor ker sar ei nt hev i
cinity.
Howev er,ev eni nt hesecasesper sonalpr otect iveequi pmenti sst illrequi red.I tmaybe
necessar yf orsubst ancest obeut ili
sedorpr oducedi nt ot al l
yencl osedandseal ed
plant swhi chpr ev entper sonalcont actwi tht hesubst ancesandal sopr eventanyr elease
ofcont ami nant si nt ot heai roft hewor kshop.I fsuchencl osur ei simpr act i
cabl eandt he
subst ancesar ehar mf ul,encl osur et ot hegr eat estext entpr act icabl eormet hodsf ort he
reduct ionofexposur eshoul dbeadopt ed.
Excepti nhi ghpr essur eort otal l
yseal edsy stems,asl i
ghtnegat ivepr essur ewi thint he
enclosur e,
prov i
dedbymeansofasui tabl ev ent ilationsy st em,shoul dbemai ntainedsoast o
prev entout war dl eakagei ntot hegener alwor kar eadur ingt heoper at i
on.Equi pment
and appar at us used i n pr ocesses whi ch r equi re encl osur ef orsaf e and ef ficient
oper at i
onshoul dbedesi gned, const ructed, adjust edandmai ntainedt oahi ghst andar d
so ast o pr ev entl eakage.Par ticul arat tent i
onshoul d begi vent o poi nt satwhi ch
hazar doussubst ancesent erorl eav et hesy stem.
Dustsuppr essi ont echni ques
Wetmet hodsofwor king,i nvolv ingt heuseofasui t
ablel iquid,usual l
ywat er ,canof ten
beadopt edi nt hecont rolofdust .Wat ermaybeusedi noper ationssuchascr ushi ng,
screeni ng,dr il
ling,gr indi ngorcut tingst one,andf orkeepi ngwetanyaccumul ationsof
fi
nel ydi videdmat erialonbenchesandf l
oor ssot hatt heydonotr eleasedustcl ouds
whendi st urbed.
Serv icingandmai ntenance
Allmachi ner y ,pl antand ot herpr oduct i
onequi pmentmustbepr oper lymai nt ained
wher ei tscondi ti
onmayef fectt hesev erityoft hehazar d.Hoods,duct s,f ansand
collect orsofexhaustv ent il
ationsy st ems,r espi ratorsandal lot herpr otect iv ecl ot hing
anddev i
cesshoul dbei nspect ed,cl eanedandser v i
cedr egular l
y.Def ectivepar tsmust
ber epl acedandal lrepai rsmadei mmedi ately
Env ironment alandper sonalhy gi ene
Cleani ng ofwal l
s,f l
oor s,cei li
ngs,ov erhead st ructures,wi ndows,t abl es,l edges,
machi ner yandot herequi pmentshoul dbeef fect edei therbyv acuum cl eani ngusi ng
cleaner sf ittedwi thHi ghEf fi
ciencyAi rFi l
ters( HEPA)f orr emov inghazar douspar ticles
orbywetmet hodsEmpl oy eesshoul dhav er eadyaccesst ocl eanwor ki ngcl ot hes,
prot ect i
vecl othi ng,adequat ewashi ngandl aundr yf acil
itiesand,i nsomeoft hemor e
hazar doussi tuat i
ons,shower sandchangi ngr ooms.Spl ashesbyi r
ritantorsensi tising
subst ancesmustbewashed of fi mmedi at elywi t
h soap and wat er .Cont ami nat ed
clothingmustber emov ed.
Per sonalpr ot ect i
veequi pment
Incer tainci rcumst ances,per sonalpr otect i
onoft hei ndi vidualempl oy eei snecessar y.
Per sonalpr ot ect ivedev icesshoul dber egar dedasbei ngsuppl ement ar ytosubst itution
andengi neer ingcont r olandshoul dnotbeusedi npr eferencet ot hem becauset heydo
nothi ngt oel imi nat et hehazar d.Per sonalpr ot ectiveequi pmentmustbeappr opr iately
select ed,i ndi vidual lyf ittedandwor kerst r
ai nedi nt heircor rectuseandmai ntenance.
Per sonalpr otect i
veequi pmentmustber egul arl
ycheckedandmai nt ai
nedt oensur e
thatt hewor keri sbei ngpr otect ed.
Educat ionandt raining
All empl oy ees wor king wi th subst ances whi ch pr oduce har mf ul at mospher i
c
cont ami nant smustbei nf ormedoft hehazar dsf rom exposur et ot hecont ami nantand
thepr ecaut i
onsnecessar yt opr ev entdamaget ot heirheal th.Theyshoul dbemade
awar eoft heneedt ocar ryoutt hei rwor ksot hatasl i
ttlecont ami nat i
onaspossi bl eis
produced, andoft hei mpor tanceoft hepr operuseofal l
Safeguar dsagai nstexposur et ot hemsel v esandt heirfellowwor ker s.Adequat etr aining,
bothi nt hepr operexecut ionoft het askandi nt heuseofal lassoci atedengi neer ing
cont rols, aswel lasofanyper sonal pr ot
ect iveequi pment ,isessent i
al.
Moni tor i
ng
Moni toring may be used f ort he ev al uation ofa hazar d and f orassessi ng t he
effect ivenessofcont rolmeasur es.Thedesi gnandi mpl ement ationofamoni t
or ing
progr am shoul dbecar ri
edoutby ,ori nconsul tationwi th,apr oper lyqual ifi
edper son.
Moni tor ing oft he wor k env i
ronmenti nv olv es t he measur ementofat mospher ic
cont ami nant s atsel ect ed l ocat i
ons i nt he wor kpl ace,t hati s,st atic,posi ti
onal
moni t
or ing. Per sonal moni tori
ng i nv olves t he measur ement of at mospher ic
cont ami nant si nt hebr eat hingzoneoft hei ndi vidualwor ker .Bi ologi calmoni tor i
ng
i
nv ol vesmeasur ementoft heconcent rat i
onofacont ami nant ,itsmet abol i
tesorot her
i
ndi cat orsi nt he t i
ssues orbodyf l
ui ds oft he wor ker .I n some cases,bi ologi cal
moni tor ingmayber equi redt osuppl ementst aticorper sonalmoni tor ing.I nt hecont r ol
ofheal thhaz ardsduet oaspeci fi
ccont ami nant ,wher ei thasbeendemonst rat edt hat
theexposur eoft heempl oy eet ot hecont ami nanti sappr oachi ngt her elev antexposur e
standar d,orwher ebi ol ogi calmoni tor i
ngi ndi cat est hatanunaccept abl eexposur ei s
occur ring,i mmedi ateact ionmustbet akent or educet heheal thhazar dandi nt ensi ve
moni tor ingshoul dcont inue.
3.3I NDUSTRI ALNOI SE-NOI SEMEASURI NG I NSTRUMENTS,CONTROLOFNOI SE,
VIBRATI ONI NI NDUSTRI ALSAFETY
Thet ermsnoi seandv ibr ationar eof tenl inkedasi n,f orexampl e,‘ noi seandv ibrat i
on
engi neer ing.’Thi si sbecauseexposur et ov ibrat ioni susual l
yassoci atedwi thexposur e
tonoi se,andt hephy sicsofv i
brationandnoi sear esi mi lar.Whi let hespeci f
icheal th
effect sofexposur et onoi sear edif f
er entt ot hosear isingf rom exposur et ov ibr ation,
theyar ebot hi nsi diousandcanmani festaf teral ongper i
odofl atency .Theheal th
effect sofnoi seandv ibr at i
onshoul dbet akenser iousl ybyt heircr eat or saspar toft hei r
busi nessact ivities.Managementofnoi seandv ibr ationhazar dsi saspeci ali
star eawi th
adv iceabl et obesour cedf rom noi seandv ibr ationengi neers,occupat i
onalhy gi eni st s
andaudi ologist s.
Noi se,anot hersi gnificantphy si
calhazar d,canbecont r
olledbyv ariousmeasur es.
Noi secanber educedbyi nst alli
ngequi pmentandsy st emst hathav ebeenengi neer ed,
desi gned,andbui l
tt ooper atequi etly;byencl osi ngorshi eldingnoi syequi pment ;by
maki ngcer t
aint hatequi pmenti singoodr epai randpr oper l
ymai ntai nedwi thallwor nor
unbal ancedpar tsr eplaced;bymount i
ngnoi syequi pmentonspeci almount st or educe
vibrat ion; andbyi nst allingsi lencer s, muf fl
er s, orbaf fl
es.
Subst itut i
ngqui etwor kmet hodsf ornoi syonesi sanot hersi gnificantwayt or educe
noi se, forex ampl e, wel dingpar tsrathert hanr iv et i
ngt hem.Al so, treat i
ngf l
oor s,cei li
ngs,
andwal lswi thacoust icalmat er i
alcanr educer ef lect edorr ever berantnoi se.I naddi tion,
erect i
ngsoundbar ri
er satadj acentwor kst ationsar oundnoi syoper at ionswi llr educe
wor kerexposur et onoi segener atedatadj acentwor kst at ions.
Itisal sopossi blet or educenoi seexposur ebyi ncr easi ngt hedi stancebet weent he
sour ceandt her eceiv er ,byi solati
ngwor ker si nacoust i
calboot hs,l imi ti
ngwor ker s'
exposur et i
me t o noi se,and bypr ov iding hear ing pr otection.OSHA r equi res t hat
wor ker si nnoi sysur roundi ngsbeper iodi cal l
yt est edasapr ecaut ionagai nsthear i
ng
l
oss.
Noi se
Ev er yy ear ,mi lli
onsofpeopl ei nt heUni tedSt at esar eexposedt ohazar dousnoi seat
wor k.Noi se-relat ed hear ing l oss has been l isted as one oft he mostpr ev alent
occupat ionalheal thconcer nsi ntheUni tedSt at esf ormanyy ear s.Exposur et ohi gh
l
ev el sofnoi secancauseper manenthear ingl oss.Nei thersur ger ynorahear ingai dcan
hel pcor rectt hist ypeofhear ingl oss.Shor tt er m exposur et oloudnoi secanal socause
atempor arychangei nhear i
ng( yourear smayf eelstuffedup)orar i
nginginyourear s
(t
inni
tus).Theseshor t
-ter m problemsmaygoawaywi thi
naf ewmi nutesorhour saf t
er
l
eav i
ng the noi sy area.Howev er,repeat ed exposur es tol oud noi se can lead t o
permanentt innit
usand/ orhear i
ngl oss.
Loudnoi secanal socr eatephy si
calandpsy chologicalst ress,r educepr oducti
v i
ty,
i
nterfer
ewi thcommuni cationandconcent rati
on,andcont r
ibutetowor kplaceaccidents
andinjuriesbymaki ngi tdi ff
iculttohearwar ni
ngsi gnals.Noi se-
inducedhear i
ngl oss
l
imitsy ourabi l
itytohearhi ghf r
equencysounds,under standspeech,andser iously
i
mpai rsy ourabili
tytocommuni cate.Theef fectsofhear i
ngl osscanbepr ofound,as
heari
ngl osscani nterferewi thy ourabi li
tytoenjoysoci ali
zingwi thf ri
ends,playi
ngwi th
yourchildrenorgr andchi ldren,orpar t
icipati
nginot hersoci alactiviti
esy ouenjoy,and
canleadt opsy chol
ogical andsoci alisolati
on.
HowDoest heEarWor k?

Whensoundwav esentert heout erear ,thev ibrationsi mpactt heeardr um andar e

transmi ttedt ot hemi ddleandi nnerear .Inthemi ddleeart hr eesmal lbonescal ledt he
mal leus( orhammer ),thei ncus( oranv i
l)
,andt hest apes( orst ir
rup)ampl i
fyand
transmi tt hev i
brationsgener atedbyt hesoundt othei nnerear .Theinnerearcont ainsa
snai l
-likest ructurecal l
edt hecochl eawhi chi sfil
l
edwi thfluidandl inedwi thcellswi th
veryf inehai rs.Thesemi cr oscopichai rsmov ewitht hev i
brationsandconv ertthesound
wav esi ntoner v eimpulses-t her esul tisthesoundwehear .
Exposur et oloudnoi secandest royt hesehai rcell
sandcausehear ingl oss!
Noi seandi tsmeasur ement
Anoi seassessmentmaybesi mpl eorqui tecompl exdependi ngonci rcumst ancessuch
ast het ypeandsi zeoft hewor kpl ace,t henumberofwor ker sandwhet herpr ev i
ous
noiseassessmentdat ai sav ai l
able.A noi seassessmentcanbecar riedoutwi tha
soundl evelmet er(SLM)oranoi sedosemet er(NDM) .AnSLM i susual l
yhandhel dand
theref or et he assessori s pr esentas t he measur ement s ar e made;t his has t he
adv ant aget hattheassessorcanobser vef ir
sthandwhati sbei ngmeasur ed.AnNDM i s
desi gnedt obewor nonaper sonf oraper iodoft i
mewhi l
stt hatper sonconduct swor k.
Inpr act ice, t
heassessori snotal way spr esentdur ingt heent ireassessmentper i
odand
somayr elyont hewear ert opr ov idei nputt othesur vey.I neachcase,t hemet er’s
mi crophoneshoul dbehel dwi thinaspher eof10cent imetersoft heear ,inaccor dance
wi t
ht her equirement sofOccupat i
onalNoi seManagement .Bot hear smayneedt obe
assessedandt hewor stexposedearr esultsusedf ornoisemanagementpur poses.
Bot ht ypesofi nst rument smeasur et hesoundpr essur ev ari
ationsasasoundpr essure
l
ev elexpr essedi ndeci bel s(dB) .Thedeci belscaleisl ogarit
hmi c,orcompr essed,ast he
humaneari scapabl eofhear i
ngov eral arger angeofsoundpr essur es.
 War ningSi gnsofNoi syWor kplace
 Noi semaybeapr oblem iny ourwor kplaceif:
 Youhearr i
ngi ngorhummi ngi ny ourear swheny ouleav ewor k.
 Youhav et oshoutt obehear dbyacowor keranar m'slengt haway .
 Youexper iencet empor aryhear i
ngl osswhenl eav i
ngwor k.
Noi sei smeasur edi nuni tsofsoundpr essurelev elscal l
ed deci bels,namedaf t
er
AlexanderGr aham Bel l,usi ngA- weight edsoundl ev els(dBA) .TheA- weightedsound
l
ev els cl osel ymat ch t he per ception ofl oudness byt he human ear .Deci bels are
measur edonal ogar it
hmi cscal ewhi chmeanst hatasmal lchangei nt henumberof
deci belsr esul tsi nahugechangei nt heamountofnoi seandt hepot entialdamaget oa
person' shear ing.
UnderOSHAst andar ds,wor kersar enotper mit
tedt obeexposedt oan8- hourTWA
equalt oorgr eat ert han90dBA.OSHAusesa5- dBAexchanger ate,meani ngthenoi se
l
ev el doubl eswi theachaddi ti
onal 5dBA
Reduci ngNoi seHazar ds
Engi neer ingCont rols
Engi neer i
ngcont rolsar et hef i
rstlineofdef enseagai nstexcessi venoi seexposur e.The
useoft hesecont rolsshoul dai mt or educet hehazar dousexposur etot hepoi ntwher e
ther iskt ohear ingi sel imi natedormi ni mized.Wi t
ht her eductionofev enaf ewdeci bels,
the hazar dt o hear ing i sr educed,communi cati
on i si mpr oved,and noi se-
related
annoy ancei sreduced.Ther ear esev eralway stocont rolandr educewor kerexposur eto
noisei nawor kpl ace.

Engineeri
ng cont r
ols t hat r educe sound exposur e l evels are av ail
able and
technologi
call
yf easi
blef ormostnoi sesour ces.Engineeri
ngcont r
olsinvolvemodi fyi
ng
orreplaci
ngequi pment ,ormaki ngr elatedphy sicalchangesatt henoisesourceoral ong
thet r
ansmissionpat htor educet henoi selev elatthewor ker'
sear.Insomei nstances
theappl i
cati
onofar elativel
ysi mpl eengi neeringnoisecont rolsoluti
onr educest he
noisehazar dtot heextentt hatf urtherrequirement softheOSHANoi sestandard( e.
g.,
audiomet r
ictesti
ng( hearingt ests),hearingconser vati
onpr ogram,provisi
onofhear i
ng
protector
s,etc...
)arenotnecessar y.Exampl esofi nexpensive,eff
ectiveengineer i
ng
controlsi
ncludesomeoft hef ol
lowi ng:
 Choosel ow-noiset oolsandmachi nery(e.g.
,BuyQui etRoadmap( NASA) ).
  Maintainandlubr
icat
emachiner
yandequipment(
e.g.
,oi
lbear
ings)
.
 Placeabar ri
erbetweenthenoi sesour
ceandemployee(e.
g.,soundwal
l
sor
curtai
ns).
 Encloseorisol
atethenoi
sesource

Usi ngdi stancet ocont rolexposur e.

Cont roll
ing noi seexposur et hrough di stance i sof ten an ef fect iv
e,y etsi mpl eand
i
nexpensi v eadmi nist rativecont rol.Thi scont rolmaybeappl icabl ewhenwor ker sar e
presentbutar enotact ual lywor kingwi thanoi sesour ceorequi pment .Increasi ngt he
distancebet weent henoi sesour ceandt hewor ker ,r educest heirexposur e.I nopen
space,f orev er ydoubl ingoft hedi stancebet weent hesour ceofnoi seandt hewor ker,
thesoundl ev eloft henoi sei sdecr easedby6. 02dB.Nomat terwhatt hescal eof
measur ement , youwi ll getabouta6dBsoundl ev el dropf orev er ydoubl i
ngofdi stance.
Hear ingpr otect ionwor ksonl yi fit'sused.
Anef fect ivehear ing conser vat i
onpr ogr am mustbei mpl ement ed byempl oy ersi n
gener alindust rywhenev erwor kernoi seexposur ei sequalt oorgr eatert han85dBAf or
an8- hourexposur eori nt heconst ruct i
oni ndust r
ywhenexposur esexceed90dBAf or
an8hourexposur e.Thi spr ogr am st r
ivest opr ev enti nitialoccupat i
onalhear ingl oss,
preser veandpr otectr emai ninghear i
ng,andequi pwor ker swi t
ht heknowl edgeand
hear i
ngpr otect iondev icesnecessar ytopr ot ectt hem.Formor ei nformat i
ononhear ing
conser vat ion pr ogr ams,r ev i
ewOSHAcademy Cour se 751,Hear ing Conser vation
Progr am Management .
Admi nist rati
v eCont rol s
Admi nistr ati
v enoi secont rolmeasur esai mt or educet heamountofnoi set owhi cha
wor keri s exposed v i
a or gani sat i
onalmet hods,f orexampl e,del i
neat i
ng hear ing
protection ar eas,noi se mappi ng t oi dent i
fysaf e/unsaf e noi se ar eas,r eschedul ing
wor kers’ dutiest ol i
mi texposur et i
mes, opt imisingmai nt enance, r
eplaci ngol dpl antand
equipmentwi thnewqui eterpl antandequi pmentt hrougha“ Buy ingQui et”program
Hear ingpr otect ion
Hear i
ngpr ot
ect orsshoul dbewor nwher ehazar dousnoi sel ev elsexi sti nt hewor kplace
thatcannotber educedbyhi gher -or dercont rolsorunt ilsucht imest hatt henoi sel ev els
have been r educed t o non- hazar dous l evelst hr ough el imi nat i
on,subst i
tut i
on or
engineer ingnoi se- cont r
olmeasur es( SafeWor kAust ral i
a, 2010a) .Ther ear ethreebasi c
typesofhear i
ngpr ot ect orsav ailable:di sposabl eori ndi vidual lymoul dedear plugs,ear
canalcaps,andpassi veoract iveear muf fsWhenhear ingpr ot ectioni sr equired,t her e
shoul dbeasy stemat icappr oacht hati ncl udes:
·Sel ectionofhear ingpr otect i
onbyasui tabl yqual ifi
edper son
·Trainingi nf itti
ngandwear ingoft hehear i
ngpr ot ect i
onf ort hoser equi r
edt ouset he
hearingpr ot
ect i
onEst ablishmentofar r
angement st of i
ttheheari
ngprotectorsbefore
enteringthenoi sywor kar ea
·Establ i
shmentofar rangement sforcleani
ng,maintenanceandsecur estorage
·Mar kingofar easwher ehear i
ngprotecti
onisrequired
·Appr opriatedocument ation
·Moni tori
ngoft heeffectiv enessofthehearingprotectionuse
·Managementandov ersightbyasui tablyqual
ifi
edper son
PersonalPr otectiveEqui pment
Hearingpr otectiondev ices( HPDs),suchasear muf f
sandpl ugs,ar
econsi der
edan
accept ablebutl essdesi rableoptiont ocontrolexposur estonoiseandar egener al
ly
useddur ingt het imenecessar ytoi mplementengi neer i
ngoradmi ni
str
ativecontrol
s,
whensuchcont rolsarenotf easi
ble,orwhenwor ker '
shear i
ngtestsi
ndi
catesignif
icant
hearingdamage.
Vi
brat
ion
Vibr ationcausedbymachi neryiscommon.Vi br at i
ont ransf er redf r
om amachi net ot he
human bodymaycausedi scomf ort,ar educt ion ofper for mance,and ev en i nj
ur y.
Exampl esofi njurycausedbyv ibrationi ncl udehand- ar mv ibr ati
onsy ndr ome( HAVS)or
damaget ot heci rcul at orysy stem oft heupperext remi ties( Ray naud' ssy ndrome) .
Vibr ationmayal socausedamaget ot heper i
pher alner v es( per ipher alneur opat hy )
,and
tot hebonesandj oi nts( asept i
cnecr osis, fatiguef r actur es, degener at i
vej ointdi sease) .
Measur ementandev aluat ionofr i
skassoci atedwi thv ibr ation
The ev aluation ofhuman v i
bration i s compl ex and r equi r
es manyf act or st o be
consi deredapar tf rom measur ementoft hesur facev ibrat i
on.Measur ementofhuman
vibrat ionexposur ei nv olvest heuseofaccel eromet ersandspeci ali
sedv i
brationmet ers
(e.g.CCOHS,2008;Gr i
ffin,1990) .Themagni tudeoft hev i
br ati
oni sexpr essedas
accel er ationi nm/ s2andi smeasur edi nt hr eedi rect i
ons– hor i
zont alf r
ont -
aft( X)
direct ion,hor izont alsi de-to-si
de( Y)di rectionandv erticalupdown( Z)di rectionatt he
pointofcont actwi tht hev i
brati
ngobj ect.
Ray naud' sSy ndr ome( alsocal ledWhi tef inger s)i sadi seaseoft hehandsi nwhi cht he
bloodv esselsi nt hef inger scollapseduet or epeat edexposur et ov i
br ati
on.Theski n
andmuscl etissuedonotgett heoxy gent heyneedandev ent uallydi e.HAVSi samor e
adv anced condi tion,and t heent i
rehand orar m maybeaf fected byexposur et o
vibrat ion.Ear lysi gnsofHAVSar ei nfrequentf eelingsofnumbnessand/ ortingl i
ngi nt he
fi
nger s,hands,orar ms,ornumbnessandwhi t enessi nt het ipoft hef i
ngerwhen
exposedt ocol d.
Ast hedi seasepr ogr esses,awor kerexper iencesmor ef requentat tacksofnumbness,
ti
ngl ing,andpai nandf indsi tdif
ficultt ot hehands.Awor kerwi thadv ancedHAVSmay
bedi sabledf oral ongamountoft i
me.
Cont rolofv i
br ationhazar d
Possi bleSol ut ions
Vibr ationi sespeci allydanger ouswhenpr operdampi ngt echni quesar enotappl i
ed,if
machi nesar enotmai ntained,iftool sar enotal ter nated,ori fawor kerusesav i
brating
toolf orconsecut ivehour sdur i
ngawor kday .Possi blesol utionsi ncl udeengi neering
cont rol stor emov et hev ibrati
onhazar dandsaf ewor kpr act icest oreduceexposur et o
exist i
ngorpot ent ialv ibrat i
on.Wor kersneedt obet rainedont hehazar dsofwor king
withv ibratingt ool s, andshoul dalway sal lowt het ool ormachi net odot hewor k.
·Acqui r
eandkeepup- to- dateknowl edgeofv i
br ationhazar ds
·Gainanunder st andi ngoft henat ur eoft heoper at i
onsoft hebusi nessandt hev ibration
hazardsandr isksassoci atedwi tht hoseoper at i
ons
·Toensur et heav ailabi lit
yofappr opr iat er esour cest oel imi nateormi nimi ser isksof
vibr
ationhaz ar ds
·Toensur eappr opr iat epr ocessesf orr ecei vingandconsi der inginfor mat ionr egar ding
i
ncidents, hazar dsandr isksandr espondi ngi nat imel ywayt ot hatinfor mat ion.
Recommendedcont rolsf orwhol e- bodyv i
brationi ncl ude:
·Eli
minat i
on/ desi gn
o Tr eat ing t hev ibrationsour ce,t het ransmi ssionpat h ort her eceiver ,ora
combi nat i
onoft het hree,toel imi nat eormi nimi zeexposur eofwor ker s
o Ensur ing dr iv ers of v ehi cles can r egular l
y change post ure wi thout
compr omi singcont rol ofthev ehi cl e
·Engineering
oI nsul at i
ngseat sandheadr estsi ncaseswher ev i
br ati
oni stransmi ttedt hrough
theseatorheadr est, throughi ncor por at i
onofspr inganddamper s
·Admi nistrativecont rols
oEnsur ingt hatpl antandequi pmentar ewel lmai ntai nedt oav oidr esonanceand
excessi v ev i
brat ion
oMai ntai ningr oadsorot hersur f acear easi ngoodcondi ti
on( i.
e.f i
llinpot holes
assoonast heyoccur )
oLi mi tingt hespeedatwhi chv ehi clest rav el dependi ngont erraincondi t
ions
oLi mi tingt het imespentbywor ker sonv ibr atingsur faces
oI ncor por atingmi nibr eaksonar egularbasi soI ncor poratingseatmai nt enance
andr epl acementpr ogr ams.
Recommendedcont rolsf orhand- ar mv ibrationi ncl ude:
·Eli
minat i
on/ desi gn
oIncor por ati
ngant i-vi
brationhandl esi nt ool s
·Engineering
oLaggi nghandl eswi thsof tresi lientmat erial afterpur chase
·Admi nistrativecont rols
oEmpl oy ingami nimum handgr ipconsi stentwi t
hsaf ewor koper ati
onoft he
tool orpr ocess
oAv oi dingcont i
nuousexposur et hroughi ncor poratingpausesofappr oximat ely
20mi nut esi nev er yt wo-hourper iod
oPr act icingj obr ot ati
ont hr ought eamwor ksot hat ,wher epr acticable,wor king
wi t
hv ibrat ingt ool sdoesnotexceedf ourhour si nthecour seofanyonewor king
day
oRest i
ngt het ool ont hewor kpi ecewhenev erpr act i
cabl e
oMai nt aini ngpr oper l
yshar penedcut t
ingt ool s
oPer sonal prot ect iveequi pment
oWear ingadequat eclothing, incl udi nggl ov es, tokeepwar m
·Other
oAv oidi ngsmoki ngasi tconst ri
ct st hebl oodv essel s
o Under standi ng t he phy si ologi caland sensor i
neur alef f
ect s ofpr olonged
vibrationexposur e
 oConsulti
ngadoctoratt
hefi
rstsi
gnofvi
brati
ondiseaseandi
nqui
ri
ngaboutt
he
possi
bil
i
tyofchangi
ngtoajobwithl
essexposure.
3.
4PERSONALPROTECTI
ON(
PPE)
Personalpr otect iveequi pment ,orPPE,i sanyt ypeofequi pmentorcl othingwor nbya
persont opr ot ectt hem f rom aspeci fi
chazar dandmi ni
mi zeexposur etot hehazar d.
Indust ri
alwor kpl acescanof tenbeadanger ouspl ace,andPPEi sanef fect i
veand
prov enwayt oi mpr ov et hesaf etyofaf aci l
ity.Ev erydaywor kersar epr ot ectedf rom
potent iali njuryandi llnessbywear ingPPE.PPEt ypi
cal l
ypr ov i
desal evelofpr otection
from anumberofhazar dsl i
kephy sical, radiol ogical,chemi cal ,elect rical,bi ological,and
mechani calhazar ds.CommonPPEy ouwi llf i
ndatani ndust r
ialwor kpl acei nclude
safet ygl ov es, steel -t
oedboot s,hi -vi
ssaf etyv est,hardhat s, andmuchmor e.
PPE,Per sonalPr otect i
v e Equi pment ,ar et he tool st hatensur et he basi c heal th
protect ionandsaf etyofuser s.PPEi sanydev i
ceorappl i
ancedesi gnedt obewor nby
ani ndi vi
dualwhenexposedt ooneormor eheal thandsaf etyhazar ds.PPEi ncludesal l
clothingandot herwor kaccessor i
esdesi gnedt ocr eateabar rieragai nstwor kplace
hazar ds, andusi ngPPEr equi reshaz ardawar enessandt rainingont hepar toft heuser .
Empl oyeesmustbeawar et hatt heequi pmentdoesnotel imi natet hehazar d;ift he
equipmentf ails,exposur ewi l
loccur .Tor educet hepossi bilityoff ail
ur e,equi pment
mustbepr oper lyf it
tedandmai nt ainedi nacl eanandser v
iceabl econdi ti
on.
Empl oyer sar er equi redtoassesst hewor kpl acet odet ermi nei fhazar dst hatr equi r
et he
useofhead, ey e, face, hand, orf ootpr otect i
onar epr esentorar elikel yt obepr esent.I f
hazar dsort hel ikelihood ofhazar dsar ef ound,empl oy er smustsel ect ,and hav e
affect edempl oy eesuse, proper l
yf ittedPPEsui tablef orpr otect i
onf rom t hesehazar ds.
Befor edoi ngwor kr equiringt heuseofPPE,empl oyeesmustbet rainedt oknowwhen
PPEi snecessar y,whatt y peisnecessar y,howi tistobewor n,andwhati tsl imitati
ons
are,aswel l asi tspr opercar e,mai nt enance, usef ullif
e, anddi sposal .
HeadPr ot ect ion
Protect ivehat sf orheadpr otect i
onagai nsti mpactbl owsmustbeabl et owi t
hstand
penet rat i
onandabsor bt heshockofabl ow.I nsomecases,hat sshoul dal sopr otect
againstel ect ri
cshock.Recogni zedst andar dsf orhat shav ebeenest ablishedbyt he
Amer icanNat ional Standar dsInst it
ut e( ANSI ).
SAFETYFORTHEHEAD

Wear i
ng ahelmetof fer
sprotection and can preventhead i nj
uri
es.Sel ecta st urdy
helmetthatisadaptedtothewor kingconditi
ons.Thesedaysy oucanf i
ndmanyel egant
designsandy oucanchooseext raoptionssuchasanadj ustableinteri
orhar nessand
comf or
tablesweatbands.
Eacht y
peandcl assofheadpr otectori
si nt
endedtoprovi
depr ot
ectionagainstspeci fi
c
hazardousconditi
ons.Anunder standingoft hesecondit
ionswi llhelpinsel ecti
ngt he
ri
ghthatforthepar t
icul
arsi
tuati
on.
Thewear ershouldbeabl etoidentifyt
het ypeofhelmetbyl ookingi nsi
det heshellfor
themanuf act
urer,ANSIdesi
gnationandcl ass.Prot
ecti
vehatsar emadei nthef ol
lowing
typesandcl asses:
 Ty pe1-hel met swi thf ullbri
m, notl esst han1and1/ 4incheswi de;
 Ty pe2-br iml esshel met swi thapeakext endi ngf orwar df r
om t hecr own.
Fori ndust rialpur poses, t
hr eecl assesar er ecogni zed:
 Cl assA-gener al ser vice, l
imi t
edv oltagepr otection;
 Cl assB-ut ilityser vi
ce, hi
gh- voltagepr otection; and
 Cl assC-speci al serv ice,nov oltagepr otection.
Hatsandcapsunder
 Cl assAar ei ntendedf orpr ot ectionagai nsti mpacthazar ds.Theyar eusedi n
mi ning, const ruct i
on, shipbuilding, tunnel i
ng, l
umber i
ng, andmanuf actur
ing.
 Cl assBut il
ityser vicehat sandcapspr otectt hewear er '
sheadf rom impactand
penet rati
onbyf all
ingorf lyi
ngobj ect sandf rom hi gh-voltageshockandbur n.
Theyar eusedext ensi velybyel ectrical wor kers.
 Thesaf etyhatorcapi nClassCi sdesi gnedspeci fi
callyf orli
ght weightcomf ort
ani mpactpr otect i
on.Thi scl assi susual lymanuf acturedf r
om al umi num and
of fersnodi elect ri
cpr otection.Cl assChel met sar eusedi ncer tainconst ructi
on
andmanuf act uringoccupat i
ons,oi lfields,r efi
ner i
es,andchemi calplantswher e
ther ei snodangerf r om el ectricalhazar dsorcor rosion.Theyal soar eusedon
occasi onswher et her eisapossi bili
tyofbumpi ngt heheadagai nstaf ixedobj ect.
FootandLegPr ot ect ion
Accor dingt oonesur vey ,mostoft hewor kersi nsel ectedoccupat ionswhosuf f
ered
footi njuries wer e notwear i
ng pr otect i
v ef oot wear .Fur thermor e,mostoft heir
empl oy ersdi dnotr equi ret hem t owearsaf etyshoes.Thet ypical footinjurywascaused
byobj ect sf alli
ngf ewert han4f eetandt hemedi anwei ghtwasabout65pounds.Most
wor kerswer einjur edwhi leper formi ngt heirnor mal j
obact ivit
iesatt heirwor ksites.
PROTECTI ONFORTHEFEET

Ev en y ourf eetneed sol id prot ection.Safety shoes( t

ype Sb,S1,S2 orS3)and
boot s(typeS4orS5)ar et heidealsol uti
ont opr otectt hef eetagainstheav yweights.
Anant i
skidsol eisusef ulwhenwor ki
ngi nadampenv ir
onment ,defi
nit
elyifyouknow
that16, 2% ofal lindust ri
alacci dent sar ecausedbyt ri
ppingorsl i
ding.Onsl i
pper y
sur faces,suchassnow andi ce, shoecl awsar er ecommended.Speci alsockscan
prov i
deext racomf or
t.
Forpr otect i
onoff eetandl egsf rom f al
li
ngorr oll
ingobj ects,sharpobj ect
s,molten
met al,hotsur faces,and wetsl i
pper y surfaces,wor ker s should use appropri
ate
foot guards, safetyshoes, orboot sandl eggings.Leggi ngspr otectthelowerlegandfeet
from mol tenmet al orwel dingspar ks.Saf et
ysnapsper mi ttheirrapidremov al.
Alumi num al l
oy,fiberglass, orgalvani zedst eelfootguar dscanbewor nov erusualwor k
shoes, althought heymaypr esentt hepossi bil
ityofcat chingonsomet hi
ngandcausi ng
wor kerstot ri
p.Heat -
resi stantsoledshoespr otectagai nsthotsur f
aceslikethosefound
i
nt her oofing,paving, andhotmet al i
ndust r
ies.
Safetyshoesshoul dbest urdyandhav eani mpact-r
esistantt oe.Insomeshoes,met al
i
nsolespr ot
ectagai nstpunct ur
ewounds.Addi ti
onalpr otect i
on,suchasmet atarsal
guards,maybef oundi nsomet ypesoff ootwear.Saf et
yshoescomei nav arietyof
sty
lesandmat erials,suchasl eatherandr ubberboot s,oxfor ds,andevent ennisshoe
model s.
EyeandFacePr ot ecti
on
Suit
abl eeyeprotectorsmustbepr ov i
dedwher ethereisapot enti
alfori
njurytotheey es
orfacef rom fly
ingpar t
icl
es,mol tenmet al,l
iquidchemi cals,acidsorcaust icliquids,
chemical gasesorv apors,potenti
allyinj
uri
ousl i
ghtradiati
on,oracombi nat i
onoft hese.
PROTECTYOUREYES

Theey esar et hemostcompl exandf ragilepartsofourbody .Eachday ,moret han600

peoplewor ldwi desust ai ney einjur i
esdur i
ngt heirwor k.Thankst oagoodpai rofsaf ety
glasses, t
hesei nj uri
escoul dbepr ev ented.Doy oucomei ntocont actwithbri
ghtl i
ghtor
i
nf r
aredr adiation?Thenwel dinggoggl esorashi eldof ferthei dealprot
ecti
on!
Everypr ot ectorshal lbedi st i
nctlymar kedt ofaci l
it
atei dentif
icat i
onofthemanuf acturer
andmustmeett hef oll
owi ngmi ni mum r equirement s:
 Pr ov ideadequat epr otectionagai nstthepar ti
cul arhazar dsf orwhicht heyar e
desi gned
 Ber easonabl ycomf ortablewhenwor nundert hedesi gnat edcondit
ions
 F itsnugl ywi thouti nterfer
ingwi tht hemov ement sorv isionoft hewearer
 Bed urabl e
 Bec apabl eofbei ngdi sinfect ed
 Bee asilycl eanable
 Bek eptcl eanandi ngoodr epair.
EarPr ot ect i
on
Exposur et ohi ghnoi sel ev elscancausehear i
ngl ossori mpai r
ment .Itcancr eat e
physicalandpsy chologi calst r
ess.Ther eisnocur ef ornoi se- i
nducedhear i
ngl oss,so
thepr ev ent i
onofexcessi v enoi seexposur eist heonl ywayt oav oidheari
ngdamage.
Specifical l
ydesi gnedpr otectioni sr equired,dependi ngont het ypeofnoiseencount er ed
andt heaudi t
or ycondi tionofempl oy ee.
HEARI NGPROTECTI ON

Doy ouworkinanenvi
ronmentwi t
hhighsoundlevels?Int
hatcaseiti
sver
yimpor
tant
to consi
derheari
ng protect
ion.Ear
plugsarev er
y comfort
able,butearmuf
fs are
conveni
entonthewor
kf l
oorasy oucanquickl
yputtheseonortaket
hem of
f.
Disposableear plugsshoul d beused onceand t hrown away;non- di
sposableones
shouldbecl eanedaf t
ereachusef orpr opermai ntenance.Earmuf f
sneedt omakea
perfectsealaroundt heeartobeef f
ect i
ve.Glasses,longsi
deburns,longhair,andfaci
al
mov ement s,suchaschewi ng,canreducepr otecti
on.Specialequi
pmenti sav ai
labl
efor
usewi thglassesorbear ds.
Arm andHandPr otect
ion
Burns,cuts,electri
calshock,amputationandabsor pt i
onofchemi calsareexampl esof
hazardsassoci atedwitharm andhandi nj
uri
es.Awi deassor t
mentofgl oves,handpads,
sl
eev es,andwr istl
etsf
orprotect
ionfrom thesehazar dsisavail
abl
e.
PROTECTYOURHANDSWI THTHERI GHTGLOVES

Handsandf i
nger sar eof t
eni njured, soi tisv i
taltopr otectthem proper l
y .Dependi ngon
thesect ory ouwor ki n,y oucanchoosef rom gl ov esf ordi f
ferentapplicat i
ons:
 p rotect i
onagai nstv i
brati
ons
 p rotect i
onagai nstcut sbyshar pmat eri
als
 p rotect i
onagai nstcol dorheat
 p rotect i
onagai nstbact eri
ologi cal ri
sks
 p rotect i
onagai nstspl ashesf rom di lutedchemi cal s
Thedev icesshoul dbesel ectedt of i
tthespeci fi
ct ask.Rubberi sconsi der edoneoft he
bestmat er i
alsf orinsul atinggl ov esandsl eev esandmustconf ormt oANSIst andar ds
(copi esav ailablef rom ANSI ,1430Br oadway ,New Yor k,NY10018) .Ot hergl oveand
clothingmat erialssuchasl atex,ni tri
le,but ylr ubber ,neopr ene,etc.areav ai
lable.Each
mat er i
ali sthor oughl yt estedandr atedagai nstspeci ficchemi calcompounds.Youneed
toknowwhathazar dy ouar epr otect ingagai nsttochooset hecor rectmat er i
al.
Tor soPr otect i
on
Manyhazar dscant hr eatent het orso:heat ,spl ashesf r
om hotmet alsandl i
quids,
i
mpact s, cuts,acids, andr adiation.Av arietyofpr otect iveclothi
ngi sav ailable,including
vest s,jacket s,apr ons,cov eral
ls,andf ullbodysui ts.Fi r
er etar
dantwoolandspeci all
y
treatedcot toncl ot hingi temsar ecomf ortable,andt heyadaptwel lt oav ar i
etyof
wor kpl acet emper atures.
WEARTHECORRECTWORKCLOTHI NG

Prevent
ingacci
dentsiscrucialinacrowdedwor kshop.Thatiswhyagoodv i
sibi
lit
yat
worki samust :ahigh-
visibil
it
yjacketandpant smadeofast r
ongf abri
ccanhel p
prev
entaccidents.Justlike the hand protect
ion,there ar
ev ersi
ons fordi f
ferent
appl
icati
ons Other t
ypes of pr otect
ion incl
ude leather
,r ubberi
zed fabri
cs,and
disposablesuitssuchasthosemadef r
om tyke.
RespiratoryProtecti
on
I
nf or
mat ion on the requi
rement
sf orr espi
rat
orst o contr
olt he devel
opmentof
occupationaldiseasescausedbybreathi
ngaircontaminat
edwi thhar
mf uldust
s,fogs,
fumes,mi st
s,gases,smokes,spr ays,and v aporsis avai
lableint heRespir
ator
y
Protecti
onpar tofourwebsit
e.
MAI NTAINAGOODRESPI RATION

Wear i
ngamaskatwor kisnol uxury,def i
nitel
ynotwhencomi ngi nt
ocont actwith
hazardousmat er
ial
s.15% oft heempl oyeeswi t
hintheEU inhalev apours,smoke,
powderorduskwhi l
eper f
or mingt heirjob.Dustmasksof f
erprotecti
onagai nstfine
dustandot herdangerouspar t
icl
es.Ifthemat erial
saretrul
ytoxi
c,useaf ull
-facemask.
Thisadherest i
ght
lytotheface, t
opr otectthenoseandmout hagai
nsthar mfulpoll
uti
on.
WORST- CASESCENARI O
Preventi
oni sbett
erthancur e.Asmar tthingi st obepreparedforthewor st.Aclassic
fir
st-
aidkitisnoluxurybutaf i
rst-
aidki tf
ort heey escanalsobeanessent ialfi
rstai
d.If
theempl oyeecomesi ntocontactwithchemi cals,asafetyshowerismandat ory,sothat
hecanr i
nset hesubstancesoffhisbodyatanymoment .

PREVENTI NGACCI DENTS: PICTOGRAMS

Notonlyisprepari
ngy ourwor kshopforaccidentsasmar tthi
ngtodo, i
tisev
ensmar ter
toorganisey ourworkshopinsuchawayt hatnoser i
ousaccidentscantakeplace.A
si
mplewayt omakey ourwor kshopsaferistousepi ctograms:indi
cati
ngf l
ammabl e
materi
als,thenecessaryuseofhear ingprotecti
on,indi
cati
ngemer gencyexi
ts.Youcan
fi
ndallpict
ogr amsinthe‘Labels&decals’catalogueunder‘Saf
ety’
.