Discuss with your classmates your preferred method for performing a job hazard analysis (JHA) for health hazards. Include the reason you prefer the method to other methods. If you have never performed a JHA, review the summaries of the different JHAs in this week’s required reading and give your opinion as to which method you believe would provide the best information about health hazards in a workplace with which you are familiar.
UNIT III STUDY GUIDE
Anticipation of Hazards
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit III
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
5. Explore health hazards in the workplace.
5.1 Identify health hazards in an occupational setting.
5.2 Identify primary routes of exposure for health hazards.
Course/Unit
Learning Outcomes
5.1
5.2
Learning Activity
Unit Lesson
Article: Job Hazard Analysis
Webpage: Guidance for Hazard Determination for Compliance With the OSHA
Hazard Communication Standard
Article: Ionizing Radiation
Unit III Homework Assignment
Unit Lesson
Article: Job Hazard Analysis
Article: Ionizing Radiation
Article: Occupational Safety and Health Standards: Toxic and Hazardous
Substances (Standard No. 1910.1200 App A)
Unit III Homework Assignment
Required Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2002). Job hazard analysis. Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3071.pdf
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2012). Occupational safety and health standards: Toxic and
hazardous substances (Standard No. 1910.1200 App A). Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10100
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Hazard communication. Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/hazcom
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1996). Ionizing radiation (Standard 1910.1096). Department
of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1096
Unit Lesson
The first step in protecting workers from health hazards is to identify what hazards may be present. This
involves two of the four principles of industrial hygiene: anticipation and recognition. The principles of
anticipation and recognition are closely related and are often combined into one activity. In fact, many
textbooks on industrial hygiene discuss the two topics under the term recognition. Anticipation and recognition
involve identifying possible health hazards in a work environment, determining the most likely route(s) of
exposure, and evaluating the most likely health effects of exposure.
OSH 4303, Industrial Hygiene
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In strict terms, anticipation is a process used to identify health hazards presentUNIT
in the
workplace
and the
x STUDY
GUIDE
potential exposure route(s), and recognition further defines the health hazardsTitle
regarding their potential
effect(s) on the worker.
Health hazards the industrial hygienist might have to identify include chemical, biological, physical, and
ergonomic hazards. Some health hazards are readily apparent. For example, acetone on a rag is being used
to wipe paint residue off a surface. Acetone is a readily identifiable health hazard for this task, and it could
easily result in exposure through inhalation or dermal routes, and though less likely, through ingestion.
The industrial hygienist may require more knowledge and analysis for other hazards. Lets say there is a
compound containing several solvents that is subjected to heat that could produce several products of
combustion. The routes of exposure for this type of operation may be fairly evident, but additional
investigation would be required to identify all potential health hazards.
Many industrial and construction settings include the use of devices that may incorporate ionizing radiation
sources. This hazard may not be as readily apparent as other health hazards and may require more
advanced knowledge to identify. OSHA has an ionizing radiation standard, 29 CFR 1910.1096. Ionizing
radiation includes alpha rays, beta rays, X-rays, neutrons, high-speed electrons, high-speed protons, and
other atomic particles, but does not include sound/radio waves, visible light, ultraviolet light, or infrared light
(OSHA, 1996). There are many naturally occurring sources of ionizing radiation in our daily lives including
cosmic radiation and radon gas. Ionizing radiation sources may be fairly evident in health care settings where
imaging devices like X-ray machines are commonly used. Some of the sources of ionizing radiation in
industrial and construction industries may not be as evident. Some of the commonly used devices that may
be identified as ionizing radiation hazards in these industries are typically related to measurement devices
such as X-ray devices for checking MIG weld strengths and devices for measuring the thickness of materials.
Some types of welding like electron beam welding can produce ionizing radiation during the welding process.
Another important evaluation in the recognition phase would be for possible acute or chronic health effects.
Acute health effects are typically related to short-term exposures to chemicals that produce immediate or
nearly immediate symptoms. A common example is the use of solvents that produce dizziness, headaches, or
nausea. Simply removing the person from the exposure can alleviate most acute health effects.
Chronic health effects typically require long-term continuous or repeated exposures, resulting in lasting or
recurring effects. An example of a chronic effect is an employee diagnosed with asbestosis after being
exposed to asbestos fibers while installing insulation in a shipyard for 20 years. Some health hazards typically
produce acute health effects. Acetone is a good example, with central nervous system (CNS) effects after
acute exposures to higher concentrations. Other health hazards produce primarily chronic health effects.
Asbestos is a good example. It has no identified acute effects but can result in several forms of cancer and
changes in pulmonary function. Some health hazards can produce both acute and chronic health effects;
benzene is a good example. It can produce acute symptoms related to the CNS and respiratory systems and
chronic outcomes related to bone marrow depression and leukemia. The industrial hygienist must know the
differences in potential acute and chronic health effects associated with hazards to anticipate and recognize
health hazards in the work place.
Health hazard anticipation and recognition also require the industrial hygienist to be familiar with the work
practices in the facility itself. The most common way an industrial hygienist learns about work practices and
health hazards is through a job hazard analysis (JHA). JHAs are not unique to the IH field. Safety
professionals also use JHAs to identify workplace hazards that can cause catastrophic injuries or death.
Many different types of JHAs have been developed over the years. OSHA (1970a) requires employers to
perform hazard assessments for specific situations such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in
the workplace in 29 CFR 1910.132(d). Although OSHA requires a written hazard assessment for the use of
PPE, the regulation does not require the use of any specific JHA. Some types of JHAs developed over the
years are more conducive to health hazard identification while others are more conducive to safety hazard
identification. JHAs used for safety hazards include hazard and operability study (HAZOP), hazard
identification (HAZID), failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), fault tree analysis (FTA), human error
analysis (HEA), and technique of operations review (TOR). These JHA methods are typically not the most
effective methods for analyzing health hazards.
OSH 4303, Industrial Hygiene
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Traditionally, hazard assessments for health hazards involve some type of simple
similar
to the one
UNITchecklist
x STUDY
GUIDE
the industrial hygienist
in this example JHA. The checklist will show each step of an operation, and then
Title
identifies any health hazards potentially associated with those steps.
Another important tool for identifying health hazards is the safety data sheet (SDS) required by 29 CFR
1910.1200: the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom). The well-known material safety data sheet
(MSDS) became obsolete with the passage of the revised HazCom standard. The SDS contains valuable
information when you are evaluating health hazards. In particular, Section 2 of the new Globally Harmonized
System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) includes information about the classification of
a compound. The information on health hazards comes from Appendix A of 29 CFR 1910.1200 (OSHA,
1970b). For more information, access the appendix in the required reading section of this unit. Appendix A
defines health hazards in ten different classifications based on the effects: acute toxicity, skin
corrosion/irritation, serious eye damage/irritation, respiratory or skin sensitivity, germ cell mutagenicity,
carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity with a single exposure, specific organ
toxicity with repeated or prolonged exposure, and aspiration hazard (OSHA, 1970b). Knowing how a chemical
is classified in one or more of the classifications in Appendix A will assist the industrial hygienist in evaluating
the health hazard. In particular, the classification will help to identify health hazards that can cause either
acute or chronic health effects.
Appendix A further defines compounds by placing them in categories within the classifications. The placement
within a category can assist in determining which health hazards have the highest potential for harm. This
information will further assist the industrial hygienist when he or she is performing the risk assessment
discussed in later units.
Section 11 of the SDS, Toxicological Information, can also be a useful source for evaluating a health hazard.
This section of the SDS provides information about certain chronic effects like mutagenicity and
carcinogenicity. The section may also contain information about dose-response relationships and acute and
chronic effects.
This introduction to the concepts of anticipation and recognition highlights the complexity of the industrial
hygiene field. Anticipating and recognizing health hazards requires an understanding of job hazard analysis,
toxicology, epidemiology, and chemistry.
References
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1970a). Occupational safety and health standards: Personal
protective equipment (Standard No. 1910.132). Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9777
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1970b). Occupational safety and health standards: Toxic and
hazardous substances (Standard No. 1910.1200 App A). Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10100
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (1996). Ionizing radiation (Standard 1910.1096). Department
of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1096
Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
The practice of industrial hygiene is not limited to the United States. The following article shows the process
used in India to identify health hazards associated with e-waste recycling.
Annamalai, J. (2015). Occupational health hazards related to informal recycling of e-waste in India: An
overview. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 19(1), 61-65.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=https://libraryresources.columbia
OSH 4303, Industrial Hygiene
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southern.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=103439927
UNIT x STUDY GUIDE
&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Title
Appendix B to the OSHA Hazard Communication standard contains a non-mandatory approach to identifying
hazards for personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2014). Occupational safety and health standards:
Nonmandatory compliance guidelines for hazard assessment and personal protective equipment
selection (1910 Subpart 1 App B). Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/lawsregs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910SubpartIAppB
NIOSH offers a program in which employers can request a health hazard evaluation (assessment) at their
facility. NIOSH publishes a brochure summarizing their health hazard assessment procedure.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (n.d.). Health hazard evaluations (HHEs) request.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/request.html
The following article shows the process used by a group of industrial hygienists to anticipate and recognize
health hazards associated with a specific process, in this case, hydraulic fracturing in the oil industry.
Wattenberg, E. V., Bielicki, J. M., Suchomel, A. E., Sweet, J. T., Vold, E. M., & Ramachandran, G. (2015).
Assessment of the acute and chronic health hazards of hydraulic fracturing fluids. Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 12(9), 611-624.
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=http://www-tandfonlinecom.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/doi/pdf/10.1080/15459624.2015.1029612
OSH 4303, Industrial Hygiene
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