1. Davies, OHS Unit, October 2006 The Role of Occupational Hygiene in OH Management Dr Brian Davies AM

2. 2 What is Occupational Hygiene ? 'Occupational Hygiene is the discipline of anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling health hazards in the working environment with the objective of protecting worker health and well-being and safeguarding the community at large.' (Source IOHA)

3. 3 The Scope of Occupational Hygiene Recognition of health problems created within the industrial environment (chemical, physical & biological) Evaluation in terms of long and short term effects Development of corrective measures to control problems

4. 4 Functions Performed by Hygienists Examination and evaluation of the work environment Interpretation of gathered data Preparation of control measures Education Ongoing audits Research

5. 5 Occupational Hygienists Are trained to recognise conditions that give rise to potential health problems –What health effects are possible in the workplace? Need to understand the process –What is causing the health effect? –How are people being exposed?

6. 6 Occupational Hygienists Develop appropriate and cost effective monitoring programmes to establish worker exposures –What type of monitoring programme is required? –Number of samples to give an accurate estimate of exposure? Participate in the development of control technologies –Control technologies need to be effective & practical

7. 7 Occupational Hygienists Develop and participate in education programmes –Use of monitoring data is important in getting over a message to the workforce Need to have the appropriate skills to undertake the above tasks –How do we develop these skills? –University & professional training

8. 8 Training Occupational Hygienists University post graduate programmes –Provide the theoretical understanding but not always the practical experience Professional training –BP/Petroskills/UOW pilot course to impart practical knowledge (October 2006) –Currently being developed into modular programme (first two modules available early 2007)

9. 9 Training Occupational Hygienists Certification –Professional societies/Accreditation bodies (BOHS/ABIH/AIOH) Mentoring –Overview by an experienced OH CES at Occupational Hygiene conferences

10. 10 Development of the Profession International Occupational Hygiene Association –Represents 25 associations in 23 countries –Co-operation in Occupational Hygiene Programme (establishment of local societies) –Accreditation of certification schemes –NGO status with WHO & ILO

11. 11 Links to Other Professions In the industrial environment there few (if any) professionals who are skilled in all aspects necessary to protect worker health Need for all professionals to work as a team to address issues

12. 12 Exposure Assessment Source: AIHA

13. 13 How can hygienists help here?

14. 14 Sydney Harbour Bridge Old paint containing lead Organic vapours Hand- arm vibration Noise

15. 15 Sydney Opera House Vapours from ceramic resins Noise

16. 16 Coal Mining Dust Noise Diesel emissions Hazardous substances Fungi Vibration

17. 17 Aluminium Smelter CTPV Heat stress Metal fumes

18. 18 Welding Welding fumes Toxic gases & vapours Radiation

19. 19 Sand Blasting Silica exposure Noise RPE

20. 20 Pipe Laying Welding fumes Heat stress UV radiation

21. 21 Aviation Industry Composites Cu Beryllium Hazardous substances Noise Confined spaces-fuel vapours

22. 22 Oil & Gas Industry Noise Hydrocarbons Hydrogen sulphide Heat stress

23. 23 Monitoring Programmes What are they? What programmes are effective? What actually is overexposure?

24. 24 What is Monitoring? Process of conducting measurement (s) of the concentrations of airborne contaminants. To estimate risk the following are required; 1)a reliable estimate of exposure 2)an exposure limit for the contaminant

25. 25 Occupational Exposure Limits Regulatory limits (HSE EH40, MAK) Professional societies - eg ACGIH (TLV list), AIOH - (DP & Heat Stress) Corporate limits

26. 26 Why Monitor Workplaces? To establish the level of risk of adverse heath effects in a workplace To meet regulatory or corporate requirements To develop appropriate control measures

27. 27 Why Monitor Workplaces? To measure the effectiveness of control measures For research purposes such as epidemiology To dispel anxiety

28. 28 Points to Consider For a health hazard to exist there has to be both a toxic agent and the possibility of exposure –Is monitoring warranted ? –Can the issue be resolved without monitoring? Need to know what you are looking for in order to develop an effective monitoring programme

29. 29 Points to Consider What is the overall intention of the monitoring programme? –Statutory or corporate compliance –Settlement of industrial issues –Ongoing risk management –Epidemiology

30. 30 Limitations of Data Single worker, single day samples: –Errors of space (location) and time –Validity to ”real” exposure questionable? Accounting for as many influencing factors as possible improves validity of result

31. 31 Statistically Based Monitoring What constitutes statistically valid monitoring and data treatment –Defined SEG’s –Predetermined sampling plan –Statistical treatment of data

32. 32 What is overexposure ? Which exposure standard should be used? –TWA, STEL, Ceiling (Peak) Which metric should be used? –GM, MVUE, 95%UCL, 95%ile –Significance based on toxicity

33. 33 How do we link all this together ? Hygienists need to –Decide what needs to be monitored –Decide how to monitor –Decide how to interpret the data –Decide how to present data to the workforce and management –Assist in the development of solutions

34. 34 Summary Occupational hygienists are part of a team necessary to protect worker health and all contribute to this goal They fill the role of identifying, measuring & controlling worker exposures There is a shortage of trained experienced hygienists but industry is moving to address this issue

35. 35 Acknowledgements Dr Nasser Al-Maskery University of Wollongong