General Concepts, Philosophy, and Terminology of Industrial Hygiene

GENERAL CONCEPTS, PHILOSOPHY, AND TERMINOLOGY OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE 

Much of the following discussions ate included to orient the reader to the safe handling practices and personal pro- 

OSHA develops health standards with technical assistance from NIOSH. Standards are based on research and other appropriate information available to the Agency. In addition to considering the most recent scientific data. OSHA must consider the health and safety of employees, experience with other health and safety laws, and the feasibility of standards that it promulgates. 

Section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act describes the process of establishing health and safety standards. Procedures for rulemaking under the Act include the publication of advanced notice of proposed rules and final rules. Throughout the process, public comments are solicited and considered in the development of the rules. The Secretary of Labor has the authority under Section 6 of the Act to establish emergency temporary standards when there is evidence to support the need. Emergency temporary standards have been promulgated for carcinogens such as benzene and asbestos. 

In addition to the early PELs, OSHA published expanded standards for fourteen substances in 1974. Included were asbestos and several carcinogens, such as benzidine, beta-naphthylamine and ethylenimine. These standards define requirements for workplace monitoring, training, labeling, medical surveillance, respiratory protection, and recordkeeping. Expanded standards have since been published for several additional chemicals, including benzene, ethylene oxide and formaldehyde. The standard for asbestos has been updated to address the carcinogenicity of that compound. 

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