The Ptential Rle f Industrial Hygienists and the Health Hazard Evaluatin (HHE) Prgram at NIOSH in Biaersl Expsure Assessments Nancy Clark Burtn, PhD, MPH, MS, CIH Senir Industrial Hygienist Clinical Labratry Imprvement Advisry Cmmittee (CLIAC) meeting April 16, 2015
Outline Descriptin f Industrial Hygiene Overview f Health Hazard Evaluatin Prgram Examples f Health Hazard Evaluatins Dealing with Biaersls Rle in Identifying Ptential Biaersl Expsures
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
Industrial Hygiene1 Part science, part art Industrial hygiene is the applicatin f scientific principles in the wrkplace t prevent the develpment f ccupatinal disease r injury Requires knwledge f chemistry, physics, anatmy, physilgy, mathematics
Typical Industrial Hygiene Rles Cnducting scientific research t prvide data n pssible harmful cnditins in the wrkplace Develping techniques t anticipate and cntrl ptentially dangerus situatins in the wrkplace Advising and participating in the develpment f gvernment regulatins Investigating and examining the wrkplace fr hazards and ptential dangers Ensuring that wrkers are prperly trained and fllwing health and safety prcedures Making recmmendatins n imprving the health and safety f wrkers
Prfessinal Organizatin American Bard f Industrial Hygiene (ABIH), www.abih.rg, independent rganizatin that administers certificatin prgrams fr industrial hygiene prfessinals CIH, Certified Industrial Hygienist Examinatin Requires maintenance f certificatin
What Credentials are required t becme a Certified Industrial Hygienist? Pssess a bachelr s degree in bilgy, chemistry, physics, engineering, industrial hygiene r safety frm a reginal accredited cllege r university Cursewrk in industrial hygiene, txiclgy, measurements and cntrls 4 years minimum f IH experience Prfessinal references Pass examinatin given by ABIH 7
Cde f Ethics established by ABIH Pririty t prtect health and safety f peple Accept respnsibility fr their actins Practice with fairness and hnesty See http://www.abih.rg/dwnlads/abihcdef Ethics.pdf
Industrial Hygiene In summary, the scpe f industrial hygiene is: Anticipatin, Recgnitin, Evaluatin, and Cntrl f Hazards r Agents
NIOSH AND THE HHE PROGRAM
Occupatinal Safety and Health Act f 1970 t assure s far as pssible healthful wrking cnditins fr every man and wman in the natin. Occupatinal Safety and Health Administratin (OSHA) Regulatry Agency Natinal Institute fr Occupatinal Safety and Health (NIOSH) Research Agency
Differences: OSHA and NIOSH OSHA [DOL] Regulatins Enfrcement Citatins OSH ACT 1970 CDC/NIOSH [DHHS] Research, Surveillance, and Educatin Wrksite Evaluatins Recmmendatins OSHA: Occupatinal Safety and Health Administratin DOL: Department f Labr DHHS: Department f Health and Human Services
What Des NIOSH D? Occupatinal health research and surveillance Educatinal and reference materials Health hazard evaluatins (HHEs) Respiratr testing and certificatin Emergency respnse Much, much mre. 13
What Is a Health Hazard Evaluatin? Wrksite investigatin in respnse t a request frm emplyees, emplyers, unins, r gvernment agencies Determine whether harmful expsures, prcesses, r cnditins exist and/r cause injuries r illnesses
What Types f Hazards Are Evaluated in a HHE? Chemical expsures OSHA Act f 1970 Bilgical expsures Physical hazards MSHA Act f 1977 Radilgic Nise Heat Equipment safety Ergnmic issues Wrk rganizatin/jb stress issues
The NIOSH HHE Branch: Many Disciplines
Benefits f a Health Hazard Evaluatin Prvide current health hazard data t emplyers and emplyees Identify prblems and ffer wrkplace slutins Generate expsure and human txicity data Identify research gaps
Hw D We Get Requests? Wh can request an HHE? 3 current emplyees Unin Management Technical assistance requests Other gvernment agencies Lcal, state health departments
HHE Site Visit Activities Observe prductin prcesses and emplyee wrk practices Cllect air and surface samples Privately interview emplyees Cnduct medical tests r physical examinatins f emplyees Evaluate expsure cntrls Review reprts f injury and illness and expsure recrds Use f smke tubes t check ventilatin system Measuring nise at an animal shelter
NIOSH Rights in the HHE Right f entry - we can get int wrkplaces Access t recrds maintained by the emplyer r third party pertinent t HHE ( but we always get medical cnsent) Cnduct private and cnfidential interviews with emplyees Require emplyee representatin at meetings and walk-thrugh
Emplyee Rights T private and cnfidential interviews T chse t wear NIOSH sampling devices T chse t participate in medical tests Access t all interim and final reprts
Emplyee Representative (Unin) Rights T accmpany NIOSH during walk-thrugh T attend pening and clsing meetings T cnvey additinal infrmatin related t the HHE request (privately if requested) T receive cpies f all reprts
Emplyer Rights T btain cpy f HHE request T btain verbal accunts abut NIOSH plans, prcedures, findings T accmpany NIOSH during walk-thrugh T bserve investigative prcedures T identify trade secrets and have inf safeguarded by NIOSH T have NIOSH fficers cmply with all safety and health rules T receive cpies f all reprts
225 HHE Requests in FY 2014 Whlesale and Retail Trade, 6% Agriculture, Frestry & Fishing, 1% Cnstructin, 1% Transprtatin, Warehusing & Utilities, 7% Healthcare & Scial Assistance, 13% Manufacturing, 10% Mining, 1% NA, 2% Oil & Gas Extractin, 0.40% Services, 54% Public Safety, 6%
Reasns fr an Expsure Assessment Determine magnitude/significance f health hazards Identify expsure surces Regulatry cmpliance Evaluate need fr r effectiveness f expsure cntrls Determine need fr PPE Measure task r prcess-specific expsures Prvide expsure data fr epidemilgy studies, surveillance, r ther research
Risk Management Gal Ensure that n wrker has excessive expsure
What Types f Recmmendatins Are Made? Eliminatin/substitutin Engineering Cntrls Prcess cntrl Enclsure and/r islatin f emissin surce Ventilatin Administrative Cntrls Wrk practices Cmmunicatin Medical care Medical surveillance Medical fllw up Mnitring expsures Persnal prtective equipment
When Can an HHE Help? Illnesses f unknwn cause Old prblems, new setting New methds, ld setting New expsures in wrkplaces Expsure t unregulated agents
Examples f Prir HHEs dealing with Varius Bilgical Hazards Cxiella burnetti (Q Fever) Mycbacteria tuberculsis Yersinia pestis Influenza Severe acute respiratry syndrme (SARS) Campylbacter infectin In summary, the HHE prgram is available t lk at expsures in the wrkplace.
BIOAEROSOL SAMPLING
Biaersls Definitin airbrne particles that cntain living rganisms r were released frm living rganisms
Aersl Size Range Bacteria Viruses Clumps 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 Particle Diameter (mm)
Purpse f Biaersl Sampling Verify and quantify the presence f biaersls Identify surces Mnitr the effectiveness f cntrl measures Assess human expsure
Selectin f Analysis Methd Availability f sampling methds Cst and length f time fr analysis Sensitivity and specificity Expected characteristics f the biaersl f interest
Main Principles Fr Biaersl Sampling and Analysis SAMPLING PRINCIPLE FILTRATION IMPACTION COLLECTION MEDIUM FILTER GLASS SLIDE LIQUID AGAR PLATE ANALYSIS PRINCIPLE MICROSCOPY IMMUNOASSAY CHEMICAL PCR CULTIVATION
Air Sampler Selectin Specific agents r indicatrs f interest Methd f analysis t be used Desired infrmatin t be btained Cncentratins Species identificatin Particle size
Air Sampler Selectin (cnt d) Expected range f biaersl cncentratins Pssible cnstraints n sample cllectin High r lw biaersl cncentratins Temperature extremes and air mvement Access t electrical pwer and nise
In summary, biaersl sampling requires knwing what agent yu are lking fr in rder t determine expsures.
Questins? Cntact Infrmatin Dr. Nancy Burtn 1090 Tusculum Ave, MS R-11 Cincinnati, OH 45226 (513) 841-4323 nburtn@cdc.gv NIOSH Disclaimer The findings and cnclusins in this presentatin are thse f the authrs and d nt necessarily represent the views f the Natinal Institute fr Occupatinal Safety and Health