Evaluating Workplace Health Exposures

Under the OSH Act, employers are required to identify and evaluate health hazard(s) in their workplaces, which includes exposures to air contaminants, chemicals, biological and physical hazards.

More than 6 million workplaces in the U.S. are covered by OSHA’s permissible exposure limits (PEL) established for over 500 chemicals listed in tables Z-1Z-2, and Z-3.  Most of OSHA’s exposure limits are 8-hour time-weighted averages (TWA), however, there are short-term exposure limits (STEL) based on 15 minute exposures, ceiling or peak limits that should never be exceeded, and skin designations that limit skin contact.  State implemented OSHA programs can often have exposure limits that are more stringent than Federal OSHA.

Employers must perform exposure assessments for each employee on the basis of one or more personal samples that reflect the exposures of employees on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area, or employee(s) who are expected to have the highest exposure.

Common workplace exposures consist of:

  • Air Contaminants (dusts, fumes, mists, aerosols, fibers)
  • Chemicals (solids, liquids gasses)
  • Biological (fungi, viruses, bacteria, bloodborne pathogens)
  • Physical (noise, vibration, illumination, temperature, ionizing / non-ionizing radiation, ergonomics)

KSV Group can assist your company with anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace health exposures by:

  1. Reviewing your chemical inventory and comparing against OSHA, ACGIH, or NIOSH exposure limits, as well as evaluate your processes to identify potential exposures.
  2. Performing quantitative risk assessments or sampling to determine exposure levels.
  3. Evaluating current engineering controls, work practices, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, and make recommendations to improve worker protection.
  4. Training management and workers on the recognition, prevention, and control of workplace health exposures.

KSV Group provides comprehensive health, safety and environmental consulting services (OSHA, EPA, MSHA, DOT) including regulatory compliance, risk evaluation and management, process safety, industrial hygiene, non-destructive testing, training, management systems, and staffing solutions.   

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