The Industrial Hygiene (IH) office is tasked with anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling a wide range of environmental factors in the workplace.  The various factors may cause sickness, impaired health, and discomfort among the workers at NCI-Frederick.  The IH office’s main objective is to eliminate any potential exposures to hazardous chemicals or physical factors through the use of engineering controls, administrative procedures and material substitution, along with the proper use of personal protective equipment (ppe).

• Respiratory Protection Program
• Hearing Conservation Program
• Asbestos Project Management
• Forklift Training
• Indoor Air Quality/Odor Complaints
• Ergonomics
• Accident Investigations
• Exposure Monitoring
• Heat Stress
• Shop and Animal Facility Safety Evaluations
• Animal Facility Inspections
• Aerial Platform Training
• Glove Protection
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• NCI-Frederick EHS Operations and Compliance Manual
• Other Links

There are currently 237 participants enrolled in the Respirator Protection Program (RPP).  There are 3 elements that need to be completed before a person is considered to be fully enrolled in a program and able to wear a respirator: medical clearance (completing questionnaire), training, and fit testing.  An employee needs to have their supervisors written approval to be added or removed from the respiratory protection program.  EHS can provide hazard assessments if workers are concerned about the level of a contaminant in their area.  Please contact x7335 or x7299 regarding any further information.

• Respiratory Surveillance Form 
• Respiratory Removal Form

NCI- Frederick  EHS Operations and Compliance Manual   C-11 Respiratory Protection

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Hearing Conservation Program

There are currently 50 participants enrolled in the Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) at NCI-Frederick.  If an employee is enrolled in the program then they must complete the following: baseline audiogram conducted by Occupational Health Services (OHS) medical services and inital and refresher Hearing Conservation training.

Facility wide noise surveys and dosimetry have been collected every three years, and all “high noise areas”, greater than 85 dBA, should be labeled and identified.  All participants need supervisor signature to add or remove them from this program.  Please contact x7335 regarding any further information.

• Hearing Conservation Addition Form
• Hearing Conservation Removal Form

NCI-Frederick EHS Operations and Compliance Manual C-9 Hearing Conservation

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Asbestos Management

The Industrial Hygiene collects bulk samples and will send it to an accredited laboratory for further analysis.  Please contact either x7335 or x7299 with any further questions regarding asbestos issues at NCI-Frederick.

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Forklift Training

Employees that will utilize a forklift to perform job duties are required to attend an initial classroom training session.  Any initial users will also be required to complete a hands-on-testing session.  All employees are then required to complete a refresher hands-on-test every three years.  It is noted that new employees who have had training at previous jobs are still required to attend and complete it at NCI-Frederick.

*If an accident occurs while using a forklift, retraining on an individual basis may be deemed necessary.   Please contact x7335 or x7299 with any further questions.

Forklift Safety Guidelines

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Indoor Air Quality/Odor Complaints

If you believe that you are experiencing issues with either an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) or odor complaint, please contact x1451. EHS personnel will respond to the issue and determine if further sampling will need to be performed. *Any temperature related issues, please place a trouble call x1068 for FME personnel to further investigate.   EHS can determine if further sampling should be conducted.

What type of tubing do you use with your Bunsen Burner ?

What is that smell from the Floor Drains?

ASHRAE link   http://www.ashrae.org

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Ergonomics

Please contact x1451 to set up an appointment time for an individual to visit your workstation and conduct an ergonomic evaluation.  It is also highly recommended that if you are experiencing pain regarding the situation, please seek medical assistance at x1096.  EHS can recommend chair vendors for office and laboratory settings.

*EHS has a few chairs and other ergonomic products for trial purposes in Building 426, Room 133.  Please contact either x7335 or x7299 for further information regarding chair vendors.

Information on Ergonomic Office Chairs Vendors

For information on ergonomic laboratory equipment, such as pipettes, contact x5376 or x7299. EHS will loan ergonomic pipettes on a trial basis to anyone who is interested.

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Accident Investigation

All employees who have an accident or even a near-miss accident should report it to OHS at x1096.  EHS may contact the injured employee for a further investigation to help prevent other employees from having the same situation.

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Exposure Monitoring

Please contact either x57299 or x7335 if you would like air monitoring to be performed at your work location.

*Please be aware that it might take a few days, as some sampling media will need to be ordered from an accredited laboratory before any sampling can be conducted.

NCI-Frederick EHS Operations and Compliance Manual:   C-10 Chemical Exposure Hazard Assessment

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Heat Stress Monitoring

Every summer EHS conducts heat monitoring by placing a heat stress monitor tester in an outside location in diirect sunlight.  By doing this, EHS monitors for any high heat levels regarding the FMEP personnel who may be performing their job tasks outside.  If the heat stress levels do get high enough, a work/rest regime should be implemented at this point.  OHS has the liquid, Sqwincher, available to any employees that deem it necessary, if needed.  Please contact x7335 or x7299 if you have any further concerns about your work area heat levels.

*Please note that inside Building 1050, the Warehouse, have, on loan from EHS, a heat stress monitor for use during the summer months.

Safetygram for Heat Stress

Work regime schedule

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Shop Inspections- IH personnel inspect the FMEP shops on an annual basis.

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Animal Facility Inspections

IH personnel assist Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) members every six months on animal facility inspections at NCI-Frederick.

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Aerial Platform Training

Workers who will be working on aerial platforms need to receive initial training and then a hands-on-refresher every three years.

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Glove Selection

Glove Selection http://www.chemrest.com/

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NCI-Frederick  EHS Operations and Compliance Manual

C-1 Chemical Hygiene Plan
C-6 Employee Right-To-Know
C-9 Hearing Conservation Program and Noise Control
C-10 Chemical Exposure Hazard Assessment and Control
C-11 Respiratory Protection Program
C-13 Lab Ventilation Management Program

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Other Useful Links and Websites

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