Industrial hygiene risk assessment

Process risk management Industrial hygiene risks should be periodically reviewed as are process safety risks. Some of the process hazard assessment techniques used for PSM can be expanded to include consideration of industrial hygiene issues... 

The purpose of hazard analysis and risk assessment ia the chemical process industry is to (/) characterize the hazards associated with a chemical facihty (2) determine how these hazards can result in an accident, and (J) determine the risk, ie, the probabiUty and the consequence of these hazards. The complete procedure is shown in Figure 1 (see also Industrial hygiene Plant safety). 

All Monsanto PMN s submitted to date have voluntarily included information beyond that mandated by the act. This has, in some cases, included Material Safety Data Sheets, Label information, details regarding the industrial hygiene programs in the proposed manufacturing site(s), risk assessment information and other related information. While this information is not mandated, we believe in most situations it is to our benefit to assist the agency in this way. 

The next step of the risk assessment, led by an industrial hygiene professional, evaluates the likelihood that a person exposed to the identified hazards would experience an effect. It is important to note that even a positive therapeutic effect (e.g., cholesterol-lowering) is considered to be adverse in terms of occupational exposure. The goal is to return the person home in the same condition he/she arrived in. Questions addressed in this part of the risk assessment include ... 

AIHA, Jayjock, M., J. Lynch and D. Nelson (2000). Risk Assessment Principles for the Industrial Hygienist, American Industrial Hygiene Association Press, Fairfax, VA, USA. 

Basic professional development courses offered by SCHC are MSDS and Label Preparation Workshops Science, Toxicology and Industrial Hygiene for Hazard Communication and Hazard Determination Risk Assessment. Regulatory courses include Canadian Mexican Hazard Communication Pesticide Consumer Product Labeling Component Disclosure Requirements European Union Hazard Communication Transportation Classification Labeling HMIS/NEPA Labeling and International Chemical Control Laws. 

Risk Assessment — A Multidisciplinary Process. Sound risk assessment must be considered as a multidisciplinary function relying upon data and experience from toxicology, epidemiology, clinical medicine and Industrial hygiene or engineering representing exposure aspects of substances or agents. 

After an initial process equipment assessment confirmed the presence of mercury in natural gas being processed the company industrial hygiene department initiated the mercury exposure risk assessment program. 

American Industrial Hygiene Association (AHA) http //www.aiha.org/Pages/default.aspx (accessed October 14, 2010). Serving the needs of occupational and environmental health professionals practicing industrial hygiene, AHA s more than 30 technical committees deal with such concerns as exposure and risk assessment strategies, indoor environmental quality, workplace environmental exposure levels, noise hazards, and respiratory protection. Special events or services AHce annual conference, co-sponsored by AHA and ACGIH. Web site offers an electronic discussion list. 

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