ADOA - Risk Management

Each agency shall develop and implement: "An industrial hygiene program that encompasses an existing or potential health hazard within an agency or that agency personnel may be exposed to during the course of work. The program shall include a documented survey of agency facilities and work practices to identify areas of concern such as noise, air contamination, ergonomic factors, lighting and confined spaces. The program shall include procedures to notify employees of health hazards, medical monitoring when applicable, and personal protective equipment requirements including training, fit testing, and care."

Definition: Industrial hygiene encompasses the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of chemical, physical or biological stresses arising in or from the workplace that may cause sickness, impaired health or significant discomfort and inefficiency among workers. These risks may include chemical exposures, hazardous noise exposure and exposure to bloodborne pathogens.	Guidelines and Criteria: An agency Industrial Hygiene Program must include the following program elements (as applicable): Hazard Communication Laboratory Safety (Chemical Hygiene) Hearing Conservation Confined Space Entry Handling and Disposing of Hazardous Waste Back Protection Ergonomics Asbestos Management Building Air Quality Chemical Exposure Assessment Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protection Bloodborne Pathogens Protection Tuberculosis Protection
How do I know which, if any, of the listed program elements apply to my agency?	The above listed program elements may, or may not, apply to your agency operations. Determining which program elements apply will involve a comprehensive assessment of your agency operations. The agency Loss Prevention Coordinator is a good place to start. The Coordinator should *assist* agency supervisors and managers in conducting an assessment of their work areas and processes to determine if the above programs need to be developed. It is critical that the area supervisor/manager be involved in the process to ensure that all operations and tasks that may require the implementation of a program are identified.
If we determine that a program element is not applicable to our agency, is there any documentation to that effect required?	Yes. If an agency determines, after conducting an assessment of the work area, that a particular program element is not applicable to the agency, the agency must document how the determination of non-applicability was made and why the element is not applicable.
What should the initial workplace "needs assessment" focus on?	When determining which industrial hygiene program elements must be established, the work place assessment should focus on the following: Chemicals that workers use in the operations or tasks that they perform. Are workers using hazardous chemicals on a routine basis to perform a certain job task? If the answer is yes then the agency must develop a Hazard Communication Program with site specific procedures developed for the work being done. Potential health risks workers may be exposed to during the scope of their job performance. Are workers exposed to noise levels that could result in hearing loss? Are workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens during their routine job tasks? Are workers exposed to extreme heat or cold temperatures that may effect their health? Are workers repeatedly exposed to ultraviolet rays (sun) during the course of their job tasks? Are workers exposed to inhalation hazards such as excessive dust, chemical vapors or other irritant that would require the use of a respirator to protect the worker? Are workers entering confined spaces to perform job tasks? Are work areas and job procedures evaluated to identify potential back or repetitive motion injury producing tasks? Do workers perform tasks in a laboratory using potentially hazardous chemicals? If the assessment identifies a potential in any of the above mentioned areas then programs must be implemented to protect the worker from the potential hazards.
Is assistance available in identifying what program elements may be applicable to my agency?	Yes. Risk Management has Industrial Hygienists available that can assist managers and supervisors in identifying potential hazards and guiding agencies on the establishment of program elements.