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.

Modules currently available include:

IDLH’s are published by NIOSH and “refers to the acute respiratory [...]]]> 3M Corporation put together a respiratory protection guide (download link at end of this article) that contains a wealth of information for OH&S professionals including:

• Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) levels
• Odor Thresholds
• Occupational Exposure Levels (OELs)
• Respiratory Protection Selection Guide

IDLH’s are published by NIOSH and “refers to the acute respiratory exposure that poses an immediate threat of loss of life, immediate or delayed irreversible adverse effects on health, or acute eye exposure that would prevent escape from a hazardous atmosphere.”

With reference to odor thresholds it should be noted:

The method of defining and determining odor thresholds varies widely, thereby giving rise to a significant range of reported odor thresholds for many substances. Individuals may also respond differently to the same odor. At a given concentration, one person may smell and recognize the odor, while another person may barely notice it. The odor thresholds reported in the literature are typically determined for a single constituent, with no other chemicals present in the air. The single constituent situation rarely occurs in the workplace. Therefore, caution must be exercised in using these numbers.

Referenced OELs are based upon ACGIH’s TLVs, except where noted in the chart.

You can download the document here (3M Respirator Selection Guide (430)).

Source: 3M Corporation

Of the 297 respondents, nearly three quarters were male.

Age followed [...]]]> The results are in from OHShub.com‘s 2010 Occupational Health & Safety Salary Survey.  300 Occupational Health and Safety Professionals responded to the survey request for information pertaining to career length, certifications, salary, geographic location, etc.  The results are as follows:

Of the 297 respondents, nearly three quarters were male.

Age followed a typical bell curve with the majority of respondents being between 35-60 years of age.

The majority of respondents were employed in the OH&S career field for 7-35 years.

With most working from an office.

Geographically, 69% of the respondents were from the US.

And those respondents outside the US were primarily from the EU.

Studying for the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Exam? Check out OHShub.com’s Bookstore for Study Materials.

Respondents worked in a variety of industries, primarily manufacturing.

With companies being primarily privately owned.  Self ownership represented 7% of the respondents.

Respondents were well certified, with 254 certifications being held by the 297 respondents.  Nearly 50% of the respondents did not hold a certification.

Dual certifications were also numerous, with 31 respondents holding the CIH and CSP designation, 16 holding the CIH and some other designation, and 19 holding the CSP and some other designation.  Note:  Individuals that do not hold a dual certification (i.e. CIH or CSP only) are also represented in this chart.

OH&S Professionals are well educated, with 91% of respondents hold a college degree.

The top 3 degrees held for respondents were as follows:

Average annual salaries were as follows, with 70% of yearly bonuses/financial benefits being $10,000.00 USD or less:

Salaries can be further broken down by the following certifications obtained and career lengths.

Over a quarter of the respondent’s companies had experienced some sort of downsizing in the OH&S departments, with typical cutbacks of 10-15%.

It should be noted that the results are only as good as the information received.  OHShub.com does not maintain any identifying information for the respondents nor was any attempt made to verify the information received.  Questions or comments about this survey and the results of the survey can be directed to admin at ohshub dot com.  Results from this survey may not be reproduced in any manner without the explicit written consent of OHShub.com.

The Canadian Occupational Safety webzine recently published an article regarding the types of returns companies can expect from early ergonomic intervention.  The purpose of the article was to “to show the business case for using ergonomic and accessible design early in the design/build, move, renovation and/or purchase phase” and their numbers sound convincing. [...]]]>

The Canadian Occupational Safety webzine recently published an article regarding the types of returns companies can expect from early ergonomic intervention.  The purpose of the article was to “to show the business case for using ergonomic and accessible design early in the design/build, move, renovation and/or purchase phase” and their numbers sound convincing.  Jane Sleeth, managing director and consultant with Optimal Performance Consultants, stated that the cases they have worked on have shown significant ROI when sound ergonomic principles are used in the early stages of workplace/work-process design.

Most importantly are the numbers discussed.  Sleeth states that,

Over the last 20 years, we found that businesses that use ergonomics and human factors at the initial phase of purchasing, design, move and/or build projects save anywhere from 15 percent to as high as 700 percent in follow up consulting fees, modifications and retrofits, as well as additional capital purchase costs.

To view the article, visit the COS website HERE.

AIHA recently conducted a survey to assess the attitudes pertaining to the profession of the membership base. Highlights include the following:

Survey is now closed.  Results to be posted soon.

This officially unofficial survey (18 quick questions) will provide compensation information gathered from survey information received voluntarily from individuals holding the CIH certification, as well as those with the CSP, CHMM certifications and/or the designation of ASP. Additionally, we invite practicing health [...]]]>

Survey is now closed.  Results to be posted soon.

This officially unofficial survey (18 quick questions) will provide compensation information gathered from survey information received voluntarily from individuals holding the CIH certification, as well as those with the CSP, CHMM certifications and/or the designation of ASP. Additionally, we invite practicing health and safety professionals (including EHS practitioners) who do not have one of the aforementioned certifications/designations (or have a different certification/designation) to contribute to the survey. The larger and more relevant the survey population, the better the survey results!

Upon completion of the survey period, OHShub will compile the data and post the results and related statistics on our website. All entries are anonymous and no identifying data will be stored. While we do not guarantee the accuracy of the survey results, we ask that all contributors answer the questions as complete and accurate as possible. For questions or comments, please contact us.

OHShub.com
Health & Safety at the Center of Our World

Take the 2010 Occupational Health & Safety Salary Survey

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings was published in September 2004. In Appendix A of the Alert, NIOSH identified a sample list of major hazardous drugs. The list was compiled from infor-mation provided by four institutions [...]]]>

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings was published in September 2004. In Appendix A of the Alert, NIOSH identified a sample list of major hazardous drugs. The list was compiled from infor-mation provided by four institutions that have generated lists of hazardous drugs for their respec-tive facilities and by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) from the American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information (AHFS DI) monographs. This update adds 21 drugs to the original list in the 2004 Alert. These additions are new drugs or existing drugs that had new warnings from 2004 to 2007.

To download a copy of this document, click HERE (NIOSH Alert: List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs Used in Healthcare (474)).

Source: NIOSH.gov

Five popular Scaffolding interpretations from OSHA (29CFR1926.450, Subpart L).

Question 1: When may the space between scaffold planks or between scaffold planks and uprights exceed one inch in width?

Answer: The relevant standard, 29 CFR §1926.451(b)(1)(i), states:

Each platform unit (e.g., scaffold [...]]]> For information on fall protection, see OHShub.com’s Post , Fall Protection Guidelines.

Five popular Scaffolding interpretations from OSHA (29CFR1926.450, Subpart L).

Question 1: When may the space between scaffold planks or between scaffold planks and uprights exceed one inch in width?

Answer: The relevant standard, 29 CFR §1926.451(b)(1)(i), states:

Each platform unit (e.g., scaffold plank, fabricated plank, fabricated deck, or fabricated platform) shall be installed so that the space between adjacent units and the space between the platform and the uprights is no more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide,except where the employer can demonstrate that a wider space is necessary (for example, to fit around uprights when side brackets are used to extend the width of the platform).  (Emphasis added).

In addition, 29 CFR §1926.451(b)(1)(ii) states:

Where the employer makes the demonstration provided for in paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section, the platform shall be planked or decked as fully as possible and the remaining open space between the platform and the uprights shall not exceed 9 ½ inches (24.1 cm).  (Emphasis added).

Question 2: Scenario: Employees are on a supported scaffold during erecting and dismantling. While on the scaffold they are using 100% fall protection by being tied off at all times. Under this scenario is there a requirement to have guardrails when on the scaffold’s wooden planks?

Answer: No. Section 1926.451(g)(2) states in part:

… the employer shall have a competent person determine the feasibility and safety of providing fall protection for employees erecting and dismantling supported scaffolds. Employers are required to provide fall protection for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds where the installation and use of such protection is feasible and does not create a greater hazard.

In this scenario fall protection is already being used. There is no additional requirement to have guardrails.

Question 3: Do the OSHA standards prohibit tying off to a scaffold?

Answer: No.

It is OSHA’s position that scaffolding can function as a suitable anchorage for fall arrest systems when the scaffolding section so used is erected and braced such that the criteria of §1926.502(d)(15) are met. This applies whether the scaffold is partially built (i.e., being erected or disassembled) or completely built.

Question 4: Are employees required to wear fall protection while erecting or dismantling scaffolds?

Answer: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) policy has been to require fall protection whenever employees are exposed to hazardous conditions meeting the criteria as defined in OSHA Instruction STD 3-3.1, entitled “Fall Protection in Construction: 29 CFR 1926.28 and 105(a)” (copy enclosed). A recent court case involving Spartan Rigging Corporation and Atlantic Rigging Corporation, as outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health Reporter, supports our position that OSHA require at times the use of guardrails or safety belts in dismantling scaffolds. In summary, the Court decided that the absence of fall protection to employees working at intermediate levels of scaffolds posed a hazard capable of serious physical harm or death. Tying employees off could be achieved in a matter of seconds and the wearing of safety belts in dismantling of scaffolds was feasible and did not pose a greater hazard than not wearing them.

Question 5: “I teach a six-day program on scaffolds. In that course, I stress to the participants that their successful completion of the program will not assure their status as a “competent person” under Subpart L — Scaffolds. Conversely, an advertisement for a one-day scaffolding class that I read in a scaffolding magazine indicates that participants who pass that course will have met OSHA requirements for a competent person designation. Can such a claim be valid?”

Answer: The standard does not specify particular training requirements for competent persons. Instead, it defines a competent person in terms of capability.

Thus, successful completion of a course does not, alone, necessarily establish an individual as a “competent person” for a number of reasons. By its terms, the definition of a “competent person” compels the employer to select an employee based upon his or her capability to identify hazards. The course may not be sufficiently comprehensive with respect to the information needed to meet the knowledge requirement in the definition. Remember that the type and extent of the knowledge will vary with what is necessary to successfully perform the task required of the competent person in the standard. Also, the course may not adequately test the employee’s understanding of the course material.

Finally, the definition of a competent person requires the individual to have the authority to take prompt corrective action. No course can provide that authority, since it can only be provided by the employer.

The latest CIH exam prep questions have been posted to OHShub.com. You can find these 30 questions covering a wide range of IH topics HERE.

Also, don’t forget to check out OHShub.com’s newest publications to assist you in your CIH exam prep and/or in your practice of industrial hygiene. You can [...]]]>

The latest CIH exam prep questions have been posted to OHShub.com. You can find these 30 questions covering a wide range of IH topics HERE.

Also, don’t forget to check out OHShub.com’s newest publications to assist you in your CIH exam prep and/or in your practice of industrial hygiene. You can find the shop at ohshub.com/shop or by clicking HERE.