To protect the health and safety of employees and the surrounding community, many businesses must invest in industrial hygiene. What is industrial hygiene? According to the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), it is “a science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention, and control of those environmental factors or stresses arising in or from the workplace which may cause sickness, impaired health and well being, or significant discomfort among workers or among citizens of the community” (source). Whether you own an industrial, manufacturing, or warehouse facility, EWI can assist you with the necessary cleaning services. We have the specialized machinery and safety equipment required to thoroughly clean your space and ensure that you’re in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Although they tackle problems on a larger scale, industrial hygienists deal with health and safety challenges that many everyday people must face: air quality, emergency response planning, hazardous and toxic agents (pesticides, asbestos, radon gas, etc.), hazardous waste management, exposure to chemicals and lead, and more. Committed to protecting people’s health and safety, these professionals are typically scientists or engineers who have studied industrial hygiene and have experience in the industry.
Industrial hygienists work hard to predict, recognize, evaluate, and control health and safety hazards, which include physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic issues. Once a hazard is anticipated or spotted, it must be addressed to eliminate or lessen its impact. By anticipating problems before they arise, industrial hygienists can prevent workplace illnesses and injuries.
Industrial hygienists may conduct scientist research to produce data on the possible harmful conditions and develop techniques to control the situation. In addition, upon assessing a facility, a hygienist may make recommendations to improve the safety of workers and the surrounding community. This might include training and/or educating employees about job-related risks and ensuring they’re properly following health and safety procedures.
OSHA STANDARDS FOR INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a U.S. federal agency that regulates workplace safety and health, has set standards regarding industrial hygiene. These requirements affect over six million American workplaces, and OSHA works with state partners to implement safety and health programs in those partners’ states.
OSHA hires industrial hygienists and sends them to evaluate facilities. The hygienist monitors the facility’s environment and produces data to determine if any hazards are present or may soon be present. He or she checks that all OSHA standards are being met.
To ensure that you’re in compliance with OSHA standards and prepared for an impromptu observation by an industrial hygienist, it is important that you and your employees stay up to speed on OSHA’s requirements regarding industrial hygiene. Most employers are required to implement industrial hygiene in the workplace in some form. Your environmental consultant should have knowledge on operating machinery and tools safely, using and disposing of hazardous chemicals properly, and protecting employees of the facility and people in your community and beyond.
CONTACT ENVIRONMENTAL WORKS
If you need to schedule an industrial cleaning, contact Environmental Works, Inc. (EWI) today. We offer a variety of industrial services, and our reliable cleaning team is professionally trained and can accommodate your business’s unique needs and schedule. We will plan and put into action industrial cleaning solutions that will enhance your business’s efficiency and productivity.
EWI offers all of the following industrial hygiene services:
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
CLEANING
MAINTENANCE
SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT
To learn more about EWI’s industrial cleaning services, contact us online or call 417-890-9500 for more information.
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