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Industrial Hygiene is the science of
anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling workplace conditions that
may cause worker injury or illness. Industrial hygienists use environmental
monitoring and analytical methods to detect the extent of worker exposure and
employ engineering, work practice controls, and other methods to control
potential health hazards.
Air monitoring and other
environmental samplings are conducted using NIOSH and OSHA methods when
available, supplemented by ASTM or EPA and other methods as necessary. Air
monitoring is conducted for comparison with established occupational exposure
limits such as the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) and American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values
(TLVs), or employer defined limits. From the regulatory standpoint, respiratory
exposure assessments are required by 1998 revisions to the OSHA respiratory
protection standard.
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