The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety now is available on-line and free.  It provides the German recommended exposure limits with documentation for chemicals used in Germany and many other countries.  The MAK-values are daily 8-hour time-weighed average values and apply to healthy adults. Substance-specific acceptable peak concentrations, including the highest possible duration of such peaks, [...]]]>

The MAK Collection for Occupational Health and Safety now is available on-line and free.  It provides the German recommended exposure limits with documentation for chemicals used in Germany and many other countries.  The MAK-values are daily 8-hour time-weighed average values and apply to healthy adults. Substance-specific acceptable peak concentrations, including the highest possible duration of such peaks, are defined. If the substance can be taken up through the skin, this is indicated.  The MAKs have been collected and evaluated by the Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area – part of the DFG, the German Research Foundation.  The MAK values are similar to the ACGIH TLVs and documentation.

You can find the publication HERE

Source: Wiley Online Library

TestAmerica is hosting a free webinar on “Improving the Quality of Industrial Hygiene Air Sampling Data Through Proper Field Practices” on September 20.  The webinar will be presented by Mike McGee, CIH and will provide a basic overview on improving the quality of IH data and avoiding common pitfalls.

TestAmerica is hosting a free webinar on “Improving the Quality of Industrial Hygiene Air Sampling Data Through Proper Field Practices” on September 20.  The webinar will be presented by Mike McGee, CIH and will provide a basic overview on improving the quality of IH data and avoiding common pitfalls.

Variability in sampling data can result from: the skill level and attention of the person performing the sampling, equipment and sampling media, variability of air sampling flow/sampling rate, recording sampling time accurately, environmental factors, documentation, the representativeness of the samples collected, variation in contaminant concentration during sampling, and transportation of samples from the field to the laboratory.

Topics will include:

• Sources of field variability
• Why air volume is only half of the equation
• What you should know about air sampling pump calibration
• Field data collection accuracy and adjustments
• Field data documentation
• Pitfalls to avoid

Register for the webinar HERE.

Source: TestAmerica

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals is a system for standardizing and harmonizing the classification and labeling of chemicals.  The GHS provides 3 basic elements for classification and labeling:

AIHA recently released the free IH Calculator LITE  app, a calculator that aids industrial hygienists in performing OH&S calculations quickly and efficiently on their mobile device.  Topics include: Noise, Heat Stress, Ventilation, Exposure Assessment and is complimented with a range of conversions such as volume, distance, pressure, temperature, TLVs, and more.  The app is currently only [...]]]>

AIHA recently released the free IH Calculator LITE  app, a calculator that aids industrial hygienists in performing OH&S calculations quickly and efficiently on their mobile device.  Topics include: Noise, Heat Stress, Ventilation, Exposure Assessment and is complimented with a range of conversions such as volume, distance, pressure, temperature, TLVs, and more.  The app is currently only available on Apple products (iOS).

Source: AIHA

Multiple organizations have adopted laboratory hood safety standards to determine the effectiveness of a hood in limiting occupational exposure.  One such measure of determining the effectiveness of the hood is by measuring the speed of air entering the hood (i.e. the face velocity).  While face velocity is not the only test method [...]]]>

Multiple organizations have adopted laboratory hood safety standards to determine the effectiveness of a hood in limiting occupational exposure.  One such measure of determining the effectiveness of the hood is by measuring the speed of air entering the hood (i.e. the face velocity).  While face velocity is not the only test method for determining if a hood has the ability to adequately contain the contaminants (see ANSI/ASHRAE 110-1995 Method of Testing Performance of Laboratory Fume Hoods), it is the only performance standard cited by the following organizations.

• OSHA - General air flow should not be turbulent and should be relatively uniform throughout the laboratory, with no high velocity or static areas (194, 195); airflow into and within the hood should not be excessively turbulent (200); hood face velocity should be adequate (typically 60-100 lfm)
• NIOSH - The current consensus of the literature is that the average face velocity for a laboratory chemical hood should be in the range of 80–120 ft/min
• Cal OSHA - The exhaust system shall provide an average face velocity of at least 100 feet per minute with a minimum of 70 fpm at any point, except where more stringent special requirements are prescribed
• ANSI/AIHA Z9.5-2003 – Design face velocities for laboratory chemical hoods in the range of 80-100 fpm (0.41-0.51m/s) will provide adequate face velocity for a majority of chemical hoods. Hoods with excellent containment characteristics may operate adequately below 80 fpm (0.41 m/s) while others may require higher face velocities. It is, therefore, inappropriate to prescribe a range of acceptable face velocities for all hoods. Room and operator dynamics have significant effects on hood performance at low face velocities. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of dynamic challenges on hood performance so that standard operating procedures and user restrictions can be established. Operating a hood below 60 fpm (0.30 m/s) is not recommended since containment cannot be reliably quantified at low velocities and significant risk of exposure may be present
• ACGIH – Industrial Ventilation manual recommends 80-100 fpm depending on various conditions, including air distribution, proximity to foot traffic, etc.

The Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing support HUD’s vision to reduce hazards in housing in a cost-effective manner while protecting the health of children.  TheGuidelines apply to lead hazard evaluation and control in all federally associated housing. This second edition of the Guidelines replaces the 1995 edition, with its lead-based paint inspection chapter [...]]]>

The Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing support HUD’s vision to reduce hazards in housing in a cost-effective manner while protecting the health of children.  TheGuidelines apply to lead hazard evaluation and control in all federally associated housing. This second edition of the Guidelines replaces the 1995 edition, with its lead-based paint inspection chapter revised in 1997.

These Guidelines can be used by those who are required to identify and control lead paint hazards, as well as property owners, landlords, and child-care center operators.  They offer helpful advice on renovations in older housing, lead-based paint inspections and risk assessments, and where to go for help.  The Guidelines also outline what users have to do to meet requirements and recommendations; identify training – and if applicable, certification – required for people who conduct the work; and describe how the work should be done.

The Guidelines complement regulations that have been issued by HUD, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and policies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While compliance with the Guidelines is not required by law, a Federal, State, or local statute, regulation, legal agreement or other document may require that the Guidelines, or certain parts, be followed.

Source: HUD.gov

The state of Washington is offering some invaluable online safety and training courses on their website.  Topics include:

You can find the courses and modules on [...]]]>

The state of Washington is offering some invaluable online safety and training courses on their website.  Topics include:

• Accident Investigation
• Safety Checklists
• HAZCOM
• Ergonomics
• Fall Protection
• Janitorial Services
• Job Safety / Hazard Analyses
• Lockout / Tagout
• Noise
• Process Safety Management (PSM)
• and much more

You can find the courses and modules on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website.

OHShub.com:  When did you decide to take the CIH exam?

Examinee:  I decided in 2003 to make it a goal of mine to obtain the CIH certification.

OHShub.com: [...]]]> OHShub.com interviews recent successful examinees of the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) exam administered by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH).  The resultant text is as follows:

OHShub.com:  When did you decide to take the CIH exam?

Examinee:  I decided in 2003 to make it a goal of mine to obtain the CIH certification.

OHShub.com:  When did you obtain certification?

Examinee:  I actually obtained certification in May 2010.

OHShub.com:  What is your current career field and how do you feel it prepared you?

Examinee:  Currently I am in the consulting field.  I feel that it (i.e. being a consultant) prepared me by having the ability to complete a multitude of traditional IH projects.  The great thing about being a consultant is that there is always something new and fresh in meeting the needs of the client, which exposes you to a variety of the traditional “IH rubrics”.

OHShub.com:  How long had you been in the IH/Safety career field when you sat for the CIH exam?

Examinee:  Less than 10 years.  I believe it was actually 9 years.  While you can take the test after 5 years, I have always personally regarded the CIH designation highly.  I felt that it was important and wanted to have a certain “skillset” prior to sitting for the exam.

OHShub.com:  Are you saying that you did not just want to have a “certification” but wanted to be able to exemplify the characteristics of most CIH’s in the field?

Examinee:  Exactly.  That is precisely my thoughts and feelings.

OHShub.com:  What was/is your work/career-life like?

Examinee:  I consider myself very fortunate to have a very well qualified mentor (who is a CIH) and excellent IH support staff around me.  Personally, I feel that it would have been much more difficult to obtain such a high level IH skillset without those continuing resources.

OHShub.com:  Personally, how many hours do you think you studied in preparation for the CIH exam?

Examinee:  Great question.  But one that I thought about many times after many months of studying.  I’d imagine that I studied somewhere in the range of 700-800 hours in all.  Granted, this was over a few years.  However, over the final year leading up to the exam, the final breakdown was probably somewhere in the range of:

• > 12 months out = 120 hours
• 12 – 6 months out = 200 hours
• 6  - 3 months out = 200 hours
• 3 – 1 months out = 120 hours
• < 1 month out = 60-90 hours

OHShub.com:  How would you breakdown your study time?

Examinee:  By…

Reading & Studying:

• White Book
• NSC Fundamentals Book
• AIHA IH Reference & Study Guide

Completing:

• UNC Comprehensive IH Review
• Burton Elemental Industrial Hygiene Review

Practicing:

• OHShub.com CIH Exam Prep Questions
• BowenEHS Free Study Questions
• DataChem Software

OHShub.com:  What did you think of OHShub.com’s CIH Exam Prep Questions?

Examinee:  Is this a loaded question?  Actually, the questions in OHShub.com’s resources very closely represented the questions presented in the CIH exam.

OHShub.com:  How about DataChem’s software?

Examinee:  Being a statistical “nerd”, I actually kept stats on the accuracy of the questions I got correct while practicing with DataChem.  While using the software, over the course of approximately 2000 questions, I achieved approximately 71%.  While this number may not translate exactly to the CIH exam, I can tell you that I did score higher, as an average, over the rubrics on the CIH exam.  And, I passed the CIH exam on the first attempt.  Therefore, I tell you this because I feel that if you can study intensely, then prior to taking the CIH exam work DataChem and score > 70%, I’d feel comfortable in telling you that you should pass the exam.

OHShub.com:  Hasn’t DataChem been acquired by another company?

Examinee:  Yes, I believe it has been acquired by another laboratory group.  However, if you have considered the CIH exam in the last 15+ years, you have heard about “DataChem” and their software.

OHShub.com:  What can you tell us about the exam?

Examinee:  It is 250 questions, broken up into 2 parts (125 questions each part) of 3.5 hours each (i.e. 7 hours for the full exam).  When you end the first section, you have exactly one hour to get back into the exam room to start section 2 or else your time starts automatically.  So, prepare for lunch (e.g. have somewhere close-by to pick up lunch, bring a packed lunch, etc.).

You are now given pencil and paper, instead of the whiteboards that were given a few years back.  Much more conducive to IH’s who want to work out problems and reference equations/examples later on.  Believe me, you will repeat formulas, question-types, etc. throughout the exam (i.e. so keep up with past equations).

Based upon the exam that I completed, I walked out and compiled the following:  Of the 250 questions, I answered approximately:

• 30-35 equations (10-12 ventilation, 7-10 noise, 5 radiation, 1-2 asbestos, 3 parts per million, 2 mg/m3 conversion to ppm)
• 10 TLV guide questions
• 15 Toxicology questions
• 8-10 mold questions
• 3-5 ethics questions
• 0 history questions
• 5-8 workplace hazard questions
• 3 heat stress questions
• 5-8 chemistry questions
• 5 ventilation questions
• 5 noise questions
• 5 minimum sample volume (MSV) questions / sampling time
• 5 fan questions
• 3 fan type questions
• & whole lot of other questions that I can not remember exactly

OHShub.com:  Generally, would you say that the equations you encountered were difficult IH equations?

Examinee:  Absolutely not.  On the exam that I completed, very few of the equations needed were complicated.  Probably the most difficult dealt with contaminant generation and resultant concentration.  Radiation, noise, etc. equations were of the more “simple” variety.

OHShub.com:  What was the portion of the exam that created the most anxiety?

Examinee:  Actually, you may be suprised.  But, when you complete the exam and you press submit after section 2, the computer delivers a pause of approximately 60-90 seconds.  Very heart wrenching.  At that time, you find out if you passed (or not, I presume).

OHShub.com:  Any parting words?

Examinee:  Study hard, don’t take it lightly, and have faith!  While only 35-40% on average, in recent years, have passed the exam, you can do it!  Prepare, prepare & prepare some more!  It is well worth it!