Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the.hazard.of.inhalation,.many.of.these.materials.may.act.as.skin.irritants.or.
may.be.toxic.by.absorption.through.the.skin..Chemicals.can.also.be.ingested.
although.this.is.not.usually.the.principal.route.of.entry.into.the.body.
.
2..
Physical hazards
.include.excessive.levels.of.nonionizing.and.ionizing.radi-
ations,.noise,.vibration,.and.extremes.of.temperature.and.pressure.
.
3..
Ergonomic hazards
. include. improperly. designed. tools. or. work. areas..
Improper.lifting.or.reaching,.poor.visual.conditions,.or.repeated.motions.in.
an.awkward.position.can.result.in.accidents.or.illnesses.in.the.occupational.
environment..Designing.the.tools.and.the.job.to.be.done.to.it.the.worker.
should.be.of.prime.importance..Intelligent.application.of.engineering.and.
biomechanical.principles.is.required.to.eliminate.hazards.of.this.kind.
.
4..
Biological hazards
. include. insects,. molds,. fungi,. viruses,. and. bacterial.
contaminants. (sanitation. and. housekeeping. items. such. as. potable. water,.
removal.of.industrial.waste.and.sewage,.food.handling,.and.personal.clean-
liness.can.contribute.to.the.effects.from.biological.hazards)..Biological.and.
chemical.hazards.can.overlap.in.some.cases.
These.health-related.hazards.can.often.be.dificult.and.elusive.to.identify..A.com-
mon. example. of. this. is. a. contaminant. in. a. building. that. has. caused. symptoms. of.
illness.. Even. the. evaluation. process. may. not. be. able. to. detect. a. contaminant. that.
has.dissipated.before.a.sample.can.be.collected..This.leaves.nothing.to.control.and.
possibly.no.answer.to.what.caused.the.illness.
Health.hazards.also.present.a.problem.in.that.some.can.cause.acute.effects,.while.
others.can.lead.to.chronic.disease.at.some.time.much.later..This.chapter.cannot.cover.
all.the.potential.causes.and.risks.of.occupational.illness,.but.it.does.review.some.of.
the.most.common.health-related.risks.in.the.workplace.
AsBestos
Asbestos. was. a. widely. used,. mineral-based. material. that. is. resistant. to. heat. and.
.corrosive.chemicals..Typically,.asbestos.appears.as.a.whitish,.ibrous.material.that.
may.release.ibers.that.range.in.texture.from.coarse.to.silky;.however,.the.airborne.
ibers.that.can.cause.health.damage.may.be.too.small.to.see.with.the.naked.eye.
An.estimated.1.3.million.employees.in.the.construction.and.general.industry.face.
signiicant.asbestos.exposure.on.the.job..Heaviest.exposures.occur.in.the.construc-
tion.industry,.particularly.when.removing.asbestos.during.renovation.or.demolition..
In. the. past,. employees. were. also. likely. to. be. exposed. during. the. manufacture. of.
asbestos.products.(such.as.textiles,.friction.products,.insulation,.and.other.building.
materials).and.during.automotive.brake.and.clutch.repair.work.
Exposure.to.asbestos.can.cause.asbestosis.(scarring.of.the.lungs.resulting.in.loss.
of. lung. function. that. often. progresses. to. disability. and. to. death),. mesothelioma.
(.cancer. affecting. the. membranes. lining. the. lungs. and. abdomen),. lung. cancer,. and.
cancers.of.the.esophagus,.stomach,.colon,.and.rectum.
The. U.S.. Occupational. Safety. and. Health. Administration. (OSHA). has. issued.
revised.regulations.covering.asbestos.exposure.in.general.industry.and.construction..
Both.standards.set.a.maximum.exposure.limit.and.include.provisions.for.engineering.
