Document Detail


Engineering controls as an intervention to reduce worker exposure.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8728129     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The implementation of controls to reduce worker exposure should be considered the ultimate goal of any successful industrial hygiene program. The industrial hygiene literature has consistently described a hierarchy of controls, consisting first of the engineering controls (substitution, isolation, ventilation), and followed by administrative controls (personal protective equipment, worker education, scheduling etc.). Recently, exhaust ventilation has been the most popular form of engineering control technology for controlling exposure to airborne contaminants. The use of ventilation to control exposures is not without its problems, however, and many of these problems potentially are more severe in smaller companies. This paper proposes a new emphasis on the first control in the hierarchy, substitution. Historically, substitution has meant the substitution of a hazardous chemical or process by one that is less so. This definition is too restrictive; because of this, it is proposed instead to use the term process change, defined as the use of any process modifications that serve to reduce worker exposure. The advantages and disadvantages of the process change approach are discussed and are illustrated with case studies.
Authors:
M J Ellenbecker
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of industrial medicine     Volume:  29     ISSN:  0271-3586     ISO Abbreviation:  Am. J. Ind. Med.     Publication Date:  1996 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-09-13     Completed Date:  1996-09-13     Revised Date:  2006-02-27    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8101110     Medline TA:  Am J Ind Med     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  303-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell 01854, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Air Pollutants, Occupational
Air Pollution / prevention & control
Carcinogens / adverse effects
Cost Savings
Engineering
Hazardous Substances / adverse effects
Health Education
Humans
Ink
Intervention Studies
Laundering / methods
Massachusetts
Metals
Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
Occupational Exposure*
Occupational Health
Printing / methods
Protective Devices
Safety Management*
Solvents / adverse effects
Tetrachloroethylene / adverse effects
United States
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Ventilation
Work
Workplace*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Air Pollutants, Occupational; 0/Carcinogens; 0/Hazardous Substances; 0/Metals; 0/Solvents; 127-18-4/Tetrachloroethylene

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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