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You are Here :: Home :: Workplace Safety :: Industrial Hygiene Services |
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::. Industrial Hygiene Services and ProgramsThe Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) identifies, evaluates and recommends controls of environmental factors arising in or from the NIH workplace in order to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses. Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air QualityIndoor environmental evaluations on the NIH campus, and at the Poolesville facility, are conducted by DOHS personnel with Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations (ORFDO) Building Engineers. For privately owned, off-campus facilities, the DOHS conducts indoor environmental evaluations with ORFDO Facility Managers, with the assistance of building property owners. Indoor environmental concerns are initially referred to the Building Engineer and Facility Manager, since most concerns can be alleviated through the use of simple environmental controls. On-campus, all odor complaints must immediately be reported to the NIH Fire Department. Their response is discretionary. Comprehensive indoor air quality surveys are conducted at the request of Building Engineers and Facility Managers only after the use of environmental controls, or adjustments in the building's operations and maintenance plan have failed to achieve positive results. Comprehensive surveys are also conducted at the request of OMS healthcare professionals with specific medical guidance. Biological Safety Cabinets, Chemical Fume Hoods and Other Primary Barrier EquipmentThe Technical Assistance Branch of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety provides various services regarding certification, maintenance, and decontamination of specific primary barrier equipment. Chemical fume hoods and other ventilation systems known as local exhaust ventilation systems or LEVs (down draft tables and sinks, slot hoods, and canopy hoods) are certified when installed and on an annual basis. The certification of these systems includes inspection, adjustment, and verification of air flow velocities and direction. Another type of primary barrier equipment is the biological safety cabinet. Most types of these cabinets at the NIH provide product, environmental, and personnel protection. Biological safety cabinets are maintained and certified according to the National Sanitation Foundation Standard 49, which is the accepted standard for the biological safety cabinet industry. Various tests are performed to verify air flows, air filter integrity, containment of contaminated cabinet air, and that the cabinet is safe to operate regarding other cabinet operational features. Whenever cabinets are to be moved, internal repairs are to be made, or when filters are to be replaced, these' cabinets must be decontaminated. To arrange for decontamination contact the DOHS Technical Assistance Branch at (301) 496-3353 or (301) 496-3457. Services are provided for other types of primary barrier equipment, such as, vertical clean benches, cage change stations, animal racks, and animal isolators. Purchasing Biological Safety CabinetsAll purchases of biological safety cabinets for any reason and in any quantity, whether by NIH researchers or contractor supplied, require prior clearance from the Division of Occupational Health and Safety per NIH Manual Chapter 6307-3/26307-3 Special Clearance and Other Acquisition Procedures. The clearance is required to determine that the selected biological safety cabinet is appropriate for the research being conducted and can be supported by the NIH Facilities where it is to be installed. For more information, contact the Technical Assistance Branch at 301-496-3457. There is a limited need for Class II Type B Biological Safety Cabinets at the NIH. In addition, Class II Type B Biological Safety Cabinets require very specific installation and operating conditions to function correctly. The majority of facilities at the NIH cannot support them and they are not recommended for installation. For more information, contact the Technical Assistance Branch at 301-496-3457. Biological Safety Cabinet Stocking ProgramThe Technical Assistance Branch of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety keeps in stock a limited number of Class IIA2 biological safety cabinets for purchase by NIH researchers. Four and six foot biological safety cabinets are available. Any other BSCs such as a Class II, Type A2 three foot or five foot or a Class II, B1 or B2 cabinets of any size are not held in stock and the end user must wait 8 to 10 weeks for delivery. Contact the Technical Assistance Branch at 301-496-3457 for information on ordering procedures, current prices and availability of units. Safety Shoe ProgramThe Technical Assistance Branch of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) administers the NIH Safety Shoe Program. This program has been established to protect NIH employees from possible foot injuries due to occupational foot hazards. Any NIH employee who is at risk of foot injury on the job can obtain safety shoes upon approval of the individual's supervisor. At present, most shoes are purchased from a vendor who comes to the NIH campus twice a month. All safety shoes made available to NIH employees meet the general requirements for impact and compression resistance required by the ASTM Standard F2412-05. Employees requiring safety footwear must bring a completed "Request for Safety Footwear, NIH-1980," (Link to Safety Shoe Form attached) to the DOHS Safety Shoe Program Manager in Building 13, Room 3K-04. This form must have the supervisor’s signature and indicate the type of shoe required by that particular employee. NIH employees are authorized to obtain a new pair of safety shoes when the current shoes are no longer serviceable (generally about every 12 months). Any medical conditions requiring special footwear for an individual must be documented by a private physician or by the NIH Occupational Medical Service. For more information on the Safety Shoe Program contact the DOHS Technical Assistance Branch at (301) 496-3353. Hearing Conservation ProgramPurpose: To promote hearing conservation through advocating the engineering out of loud noise, and when the noise cannot be engineered out, the recommendation of the proper use of hearing protective devices and other precautionary measures to protect one’s hearing. Eligibility: All NIH employees whose potential noise exposure equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted-average of 85 dBA are eligible for participation in this program. Employees are identified by their supervisors overseeing work areas that have significant noise emission levels. In accordance with OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.95, Occupational Noise Exposure, the NIH has established a Hearing Conservation Program (HCP). The Technical Assistance Branch (TAB) of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) is responsible for the HCP program. The Occupational Medical Service (OMS) is responsible for the medical surveillance aspect of the program, which includes audiometric testing. All areas of the NIH where noise levels equal or exceed 80 dBA are identified. In areas where noise levels equal or exceed 85 dBA, "caution" signs are posted to warn employees and visitors to wear hearing protection. In addition, in those areas where the noise levels equal or exceed 85 dBA, employees who work in those areas are monitored to determine if their noise exposure equal or exceed an 8-hour Time-Weighted-Average (TWA) of 85 dBA. If this criterion is met the employees are eligible for inclusion into the HCP. The list of employees is forwarded to OMS for inclusion into the program, which makes them eligible for medical surveillance and other HCP measures. One element or measure of the NIH HCP is the annual training of employees. This training addresses, at a minimum, (1) the physical effects of noise and hearing loss; (2) hearing protectors selection, fitting, use, and care; (3) audiometric testing; and (4) the role and responsibilities of both employees and workers in preventing noise induced hearing loss. Read about the entire Hearing Conservation Program[PDF]Ethylene Oxide Surveillance ProgramIn accordance with OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.1047, Ethylene Oxide, the NIH has established an Ethylene Oxide (EtO) Surveillance Program. The Technical Assistance Branch (TAB) of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) maintains the Ethylene Oxide Program. For more information contact the TAB at (301) 496-3353. In health care and research settings, EtO is commonly used for sterilizing medical supplies and equipment. At room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure, it is a colorless gas with a characteristic ether-like odor. Ethylene oxide is both flammable and highly reactive. Acute exposures to EtO gas may result in respiratory irritation and lung injury, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. Chronic exposure has been associated with the occurrence of cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization. Potential EtO exposures at the NIH are typically associated with using EtO sterilizers or handling materials removed from the sterilizers. There are two types of EtO gas sterilizers used at the NIH:
All EtO sterilization facilities at the NIH are routinely surveyed to determine if the workers that operate the sterilizers and those that work in the immediate area are exposed to excessive levels of EtO. These surveys also serve to provide documentation of surveillance activities to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC). In evaluating employee exposures to EtO, the NIH complies with the exposure levels set by OSHA in 29 CFR 1910.1047. These are: 1.0 part per million (ppm) as an "8- hour time-weighted average", 5 ppm as a "short term exposure limit", and 0.5 ppm as an "action level". Laboratories using EtO that have not been evaluated should contact the DOHS, TAB to schedule an evaluation. Contact: Technical Assistance Branch (TAB) at (301) 496-3353 NIH Ethylene Oxide Surveillance Program Anesthetic Gas Surveillance ProgramThe NIH has established a surveillance program for various anesthetic gases in order to evaluate employee exposures. The program is maintained by the Safety Operations Support Branch of the Division of Occupational Health and Safety. The program operates by identifying and quantifying the exposure levels of workers potentially exposed to the various anesthetic gases (nitrous oxide, halothane, isoflurane and metophane) used at the NIH. Surveillance results provide information on the effectiveness of the controls that are being used to minimize employee exposures. In addition, these surveys provide documentation of surveillance activities to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). In evaluating employee exposures to waste anesthetic gases, the NIH uses a modification of the 1977 National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria. These criteria recommend the following time-weighted-average (TWA) exposure limits as measured over the period of anesthesia administration: a) halogenated anesthetics (isoflurane, halothane, metophane) 2 parts per million (ppm) when used alone, and 0.5 ppm when used in combination with nitrous oxide; b) nitrous oxide 25 ppm. Respiratory Protection ProgramThe NIH has established a Respiratory Protection Program in accordance with OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR, 1910.134). The program provides NIH-wide procedures for the proper selection, use and care of respiratory protective equipment, and is maintained by the Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS). The program covers all NIH employees with the exception of those working in the NIH Clinical Center and the Building 41A, Maximum Containment Laboratory (MCL). The Clinical Center provides administrative management for respiratory protection of personnel working with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the Clinical Center. The DOHS provides administrative management for personnel working in the MCL and has established specific requirements for the use of Positive Pressure Airline Suits (PPAS). Worksite evaluations, respirator selection, respirator training and fit testing are performed by DOHS. Medical clearance to wear a respirator is performed by the NIH Occupational Medical Service (OMS). Appropriate respirators are provided to employees by the NIH at no cost to the employee. Voluntary use of a NIOSH approved negative pressure, tight fitting respirator (e.g., class N-95 respirator) requires partial participation in the program. If DOHS determines that voluntary use will not in itself create a hazard, the supervisor must provide the employee with the written information provided in Appendix D, 29 CFR 1910.134, "Information for Employees Using Respirators When not Required Under the Standard", and the employee must be medically cleared to wear a respirator by OMS. Contact DOHS to schedule an appointment with OMS. Employees using dust/mist masks are not required to be included in the program. If you have any questions, contact the DOHS Technical Assistance Branch at 301-496-3353 Voluntary Use of NIOSH Certified RespiratorsAppendix D, 29CFR 1910.134 Mandatory Employee Information Respirators are an effective method of protection against designated hazards when properly selected and worn. Respirator use is encouraged, even when exposures are below the exposure limit, to provide an additional level of comfort and protection for workers. However, if a respirator is used improperly or not kept clean, the respirator itself can become a hazard to the worker. Sometimes, workers may wear respirators to avoid exposures to hazards, even if the amount of hazardous substance does not exceed the limits set forth by OSHA standards. If your employer provides respirators for your voluntary use, or if you provide your own respirator, you need to be sure that the respirator itself does not present a hazard. You should do the following:
Laser Safety ProgramThe Laser Safety Program focuses on high power laser users and provides information on laser safety engineering controls and work practices. Learn more about the Laser Safety Program [PDF] | ||
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