Course: OCCHYG Occupational Hygiene
The entire course series includes all courses listed on this page
Pricing
Entire course series: $450.00 (Includes all courses)
OCCHYG01 Fundamental Concepts and Principles
Occupational Hygiene is classically
defined as the science and art devoted to the recognition,
evaluation and control of those environmental factors and stresses,
arising in or from the work place that may cause illness, injury, or
discomfort. The main
concern of the hygienist is to protect the health of workers.
The profession of occupational hygiene draws from many
disciplines including physics, toxicology, medicine, engineering,
chemistry, agriculture, and ergonomics.
In practice, a hygienist may work as a member of a team,
specializing in one aspect of occupational hygiene, such as
engineering controls or ergonomics.
At the other end of the spectrum, a hygienist may be the only
employee responsible for all aspects of safety, health, and
environment. This course describes the basic principles of occupational
hygiene. Its main
purposes are to help you recognize hazards, understand the nature of
hazards and stressors in the workplace, and conduct a preliminary
walk-through survey.
OCCHYG02 Routes of Entry of Harmful Agents
Harmful agents can enter the body by three routes. They may be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. To understand how this can occur and the potential impact, it is necessary to have some understanding of physiology, anatomy, and toxicology. That is, we need to understand not only how the agent enters the body, we also need to understand the potential impact of the agent, and how it might elicit a response at the cellular level. This module describes the principle routes of exposure, the respiratory system, the digestive system, and skin; and explains relevant toxicology concepts. The human body maintains equilibrium under normal conditions. It is equipped with defense systems that serve well to protect against exposure to physical, biological, and chemical contaminants and stressors. To ensure that the body’s ability to protect itself is not overwhelmed, we must understand its defenses and limitations, and the modes of action of contaminants and stressors.
Noise is often described as unwanted and discordant sound. It can cause hearing damage, interfere with important warning signals in the workplace, reduce the quality and quantity of work, cause fatigue, and contribute to illness and disease through the effects of stress. Noise induced hearing loss is not reversible. When excessive noise levels are suspected, an employer should take steps to assess noise levels and employee exposure, reduce noise exposure, implement a hearing conservation program, and measure hearing. This course introduces the subject by discussing the physics of sound and the physiology of hearing. It was developed to provide learners with the tools needed to plan a hearing conservation program.
The word “particulate” actually refers to a particle of solid or liquid matter. Particulate matter is a suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in air, and includes dust, fog, fume, mist, smoke and sprays. Farming, mining, woodworking, welding, painting, construction, renovations, and composting are examples of industries and trades where exposure to particulate matter is a concern. Diseases such as asbestosis, farmer’s lung, and silicosis can result from exposure to particulate matter. The effects of exposure are dependent on factors such as the health of the worker, and the type of particulate, its airborne concentration, and the size of the particles. This course is designed to equip the learner with the necessary tools to identify the nature of the hazard and assess the potential risk to workers who may be exposed.
OCCHYG05 Temperature Extremes
Loggers, ranchers, farmers, and many others must work outdoors in cold temperatures in northern parts of the world. Other workers must face similar conditions indoors in freezer plants, meat and fish packing houses, and cold storage facilities. Those who work in hot industries such as glass manufacturing plants, steel mills, laundries, paper mills, and mines, may be faced with the dangers of burns, explosions, and spills of hot materials, as well as disorders resulting from heat stress. To stay healthy, a person must maintain an internal body temperature within a very narrow range around 37 °C. The ability to do so depends on environmental conditions such as the ambient air temperature, humidity, radiant heating, and wind velocity; and personal factors including acclimatization, physical fitness, and age. This course is designed to alert you to the signs of heat stress and hypothermia, and to familiarize you with assessment methods and control measures.
Decades of human/ machine interface in the workplace have revealed significant risk to the physical and psychological well-being of the employees involved. It is often the most repeated, daily tasks that can bring on the greatest discomfort and injury. Chronic discomfort reduces the productivity and quality of the work being done, as well as reducing the quality of working life enjoyed by the employee. These risk factors must be identified and effectively managed. This course is designed to train participants in the essentials of understanding ergonomic principles as they relate to the office environment. Although outside the immediate scope of this course, other life contexts (home/ recreation) will be enriched by using the core ergonomic principles acquired through this material.
Biological hazards are often referred to as “biohazards”. Biohazards are infectious agents that may be harmful to people or animals. They include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites, and can cause diseases like tuberculosis, anthrax, rabies, and tick fever. Some are unique to certain occupations or areas, and some, like the common cold, can pose a threat to the general population. Biological hazardous agents can be transmitted by inhalation, injection, ingestion, or physical contact. We sometimes hear the term “bioaerosols” in reference to indoor air quality. Bioaerosols are airborne particles that are living or originate from living organisms. This means that fragments, metabolites, and waste products that originate from living organisms are included. This course discusses biohazard classes, associated diseases, and at risk occupations. It also provides practical advice for those who investigate health concerns and indoor air quality problems.
A solvent is any material that is used to dissolve another material. The most common one is water. Unfortunately, water is an ineffective solvent for many substances used in industry; organic liquids or “solvents” must be used to dissolve organic materials. Organic is the term used to signify chemical substances that contain the element carbon. Organic solvents are used in all types of industries and products. To list a few examples, they are used in floor stripper, lens cleaner, furniture polish, paint thinner, dry cleaning products, and laboratory reagents. There are probably more than a million carbon-based, or organic, compounds. These are classified into groups according to their basic carbon structure. Often, manufacturers and suppliers refer to the chemical group, such as paraffin or ketone, when describing health effects or physical properties on a material safety data sheet or label. To gain some understanding of organic solvents and the risks they pose, it is a good idea to be familiar with the classification of organic compounds. By explaining how organic compounds are grouped, and describing health and safety risks associated with each group, this course endeavors to equip the learner with tools to identify and control solvent exposures at work.
The purpose of occupational hygiene is to prevent disease and discomfort by controlling hazards in the workplace. Every module of this course has discussed control measures for specific contaminants and physical hazards. There are work practice controls, engineering controls, and personal protective clothing and equipment. To select the most appropriate control, it is necessary to first understand the nature of the harmful substance or condition, and its routes of exposure. One must identify the contaminant source, its path to the worker, and the work habits of the employee. Engineering controls, such as local exhaust ventilation to draw contaminants out of the worker’s breathing zone, are the first line of defense. The best time to implement engineering controls is during the design phase of equipment or the workplace. After engineering controls, the next option is work practice controls. Through means such as good personal hygiene and housekeeping, exposure may be reduced. Use of personal protective equipment and clothing is the least preferred method for reducing exposure. It can be uncomfortable, add to the physical stress of the job, give a false sense of security if worn incorrectly, and interfere with communications. This course focuses on engineering controls and work practice controls.
OCCHYG10 Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment and clothing is the last line of defense. Its use is acceptable when engineering or administrative control measures are not practical, when controls are being instituted, or during shut-down for repair, maintenance, or an emergency. Personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) includes respirators, hearing protectors, and chemical protective clothing. To select the correct type of protective clothing or equipment, one must first understand the nature of the hazard, its potential magnitude, and the route of exposure. It is the employer’s responsibility to determine the need for PPE, select appropriate PPE, and ensure that employees are properly fitted and trained to correctly use and maintain their PPE. This course is designed to explain the fundamentals of selecting appropriate protective clothing and equipment.