Chapter 05 Table of Contents. View the entire chapter in a PDF format. Please use the pdf for printing.
Publication: January 2007, updated September 2007. For information about changes, please see the Revision History.

Chapter 05: Industrial Hygiene

Overview (1)

The discipline of industrial hygiene is concerned with identifying and controlling potential chemical, physical, and biological workplace hazards by evaluating processes and facility designs using the following steps:

1. Anticipation
2. Recognition
3. Evaluation
4. Control

Using pre-established and approved methods determined by the nature of the hazard, industrial hygienists take qualitative and quantitative measurements of potential hazards in the workplace. The results are compared to recommended exposure guidelines or consensus standards. If the results reveal a possible health hazard, industrial hygienists will recommend methods for controlling the hazard. These methods may include engineering controls and appropriate safety practices for personnel, such as the substitution of safer materials, or the use of ventilation and personal protective equipment.

This chapter describes the requirements of the industrial hygiene program and specifies how and when

• Industrial hygiene surveys are conducted
• Results are communicated to personnel
• Current and accurate calibration of industrial hygiene equipment is maintained
• Hazard control ventilation systems are checked
• Records are maintained

The industrial hygiene program was developed in compliance with federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations to keep exposure to contaminants below the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) or the threshold limit value (TLV) set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (see Section 4, "Definitions").

Hazards/Impacts

The diverse work environment at SLAC may involve various potential hazards, including exposure to hazardous materials and other elements such as noise or radiation. If over-exposed to such agents, personnel may suffer acute or chronic health problems. Exposures are kept to a minimum through the use of material substitution; proper use, handling, and storage; adequate ventilation and personal protective equipment; training; and periodic monitoring as described by this chapter.

Scope (2)

This chapter covers all industrial operations and workplaces at SLAC. Industrial hygiene staff survey the workplace for exposures to hazardous materials, carcinogens, noise, inadequate lighting, heat and cold stress, and non-ionizing radiation (such as ultraviolet, visible, infrared, radiofrequency, microwave, laser, and static magnetic fields).

Employees, university collaborators, users, scientists, fellows, students, and faculty are included in industrial hygiene surveys as needed to ensure a safe work environment. This chapter does not apply to SLAC casual visitors and subcontractors. Subcontractors must have and follow their own hazard analysis program.

Since the risks associated with different substances and activities vary, requirements for recognizing and dealing with them are described in the hazard-specific chapters of this manual (see Section 7, "References").

Implementation (8)

The requirements of this chapter will be implemented according to Industrial Hygiene: Implementation Plan [pdf].

continue to Standards (3)