Industrial hygiene quantifies the impact a device, system, or site condition will have on both people and the environments they work and live in.
OSHA and AIHA work to enforce compliance with air contaminants, chemical hazards, biological hazards, physical hazards, and ergonomic hazards. Industrial hygienists are trained to recognize, evaluate, and act on these hazards with the help of rental equipment such as Gauss meters, radiation meters, and sound level meters.
- Air contaminants include dust, fumes, mist, aerosol, fiber, gas, and vapor.
- Chemical hazards include harmful chemical compounds which enter the human body through inhalation, absorption, or ingestion.
- Biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and any other living organism that can cause infections (such as working with animals).
- Physical hazards include electromagnetic radiation, noise, vibration, illumination, and temperature.
- Ergonomic hazards include excessive vibration/noise, eye strain, repetitive motions, heavy lifting problems, and improperly designed tools or work areas.
Once hazards have been identified, the industrial hygienist's job is to eliminate or control them. For example, a radiation meter can identify the effectiveness of preventative measures by taking measurements both before and after they were implemented.
Renting industrial hygiene equipment is more economic when the issue being identified and resolved is a single instance. Contact ATEC for great rates on products from leading manufacturers.