The Industrial Hygiene Perspective
From the point of view of industrial hygiene, what are the hazardous work
processes? Within each process, what are the chemical exposures?
". . . the first step to be taken in a preventive program in
occupational health is the identification or recognition of potential health hazards.
Mastery of this process is based on thorough knowledge of industrial materials and
processes. Without this knowledge it is difficult for the surveyor to identify those
industrial processes that have the potential to cause occupational disease." [Burgess]
Linking Industrial Processes to Hazardous Chemicals: An Example
The following two tables, based on "Recognition of Health Hazards in
Industry" by William A. Burgess list the processes and chemical exposures for:
Metal Preparation (abrasive blasting);
Product Fabrication (forging, melting & pouring, machining, and
welding);
Finishing (electroplating and metal thermal spraying);
Exposures in Metal Preparation, Fabrication and Finishing:
Dusts and Metal Fumes
- Silica: Si
- Fluorides, Inorganic: Fl
|
- Nickel: Ni
- Cadmium: Cd
- Lead: Pb
- Chromium: Cr
- Manganese: Mn
|
- Beryllium: Be
- Cobalt: Co
- Aluminum: Al
- Barium, Soluble: Ba
- Zinc: Zn
|
| |
Si |
Fl |
Ni |
Cd |
Pb |
Cr |
Mn |
Be |
Co |
Al |
Ba |
Zn |
| Abrasive Blasting |
x |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Forging |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Melting & Pouring |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
x |
|
x |
| Metal Machining |
|
|
x |
|
|
x |
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
| Metallizing |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
| Electroplating |
|
|
x |
x |
|
x |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
| Welding |
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
| Gas Cutting & Welding |
|
|
|
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
Metal exposures depend upon the specific metals
used in the process.
Exposures in Metal Preparation, Fabrication and Finishing:
Gases, Vapors and Particulates
- Carbon Monoxide: CO
- Nitrogen Dioxide: NO2
- Ozone: O3
- Sulfur Dioxide: SO2
|
- Arsine: AsH3
- Cyanide: CN
|
- Hydrogen Sulfide: H2S
- Hydrogen Fluoride: HF
- Hydrogen Chloride: HCl
- Sulfuric Acid: H2SO4
|
- Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: PAH
- Metalworking Fluids: MWF
|
| |
CO |
NO2 |
O3 |
SO2 |
AsH3 |
CN |
H2S |
HF |
HCl |
H2SO4 |
PAH |
MWF |
| Abrasive Blasting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Forging |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
x |
| Melting & Pouring |
x |
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
| Metal Machining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
| Metallizing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Electroplating |
|
x |
|
|
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
| Welding |
x |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gas Welding/Cutting |
x |
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Revised May 30, 2018
  
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