An industrial hygienist identifies exposures, problems, tasks, and risks of the workplace by performing a (an)
A) Hazard assessment
B) Administrative analysis
C) Environmental analysis
D) worksite analysis
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A) Hazard assessment.
Explanation:
An industrial hygienist plays a critical role in safeguarding the health and safety of workers by identifying potential hazards in the workplace. One of the primary methods for achieving this is conducting a hazard assessment. This assessment involves a systematic evaluation of the workplace to recognize existing or potential risks that could harm workers’ health. The purpose of the hazard assessment is to identify any conditions, tasks, or processes that might lead to exposure to harmful substances, physical agents, or ergonomic risks. The identified hazards are then addressed through control measures, which may include engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and training.
The hazard assessment process generally includes the following steps:
- Identification of Hazards: This involves recognizing the various types of hazards that may be present, including chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic risks.
- Evaluation of Exposure: After identifying potential hazards, the hygienist evaluates how workers might be exposed to these hazards. This can be done through sampling air, surfaces, or monitoring workers’ exposure to particular substances or conditions.
- Risk Assessment: The likelihood of harm resulting from the hazard is assessed, and the severity of the potential consequences is considered.
- Control Measures: Based on the assessment, the hygienist suggests methods to mitigate or eliminate the hazards, whether by eliminating the source, engineering controls (such as ventilation), or administrative controls (such as changes in work processes).
While worksite analysis (D) might seem relevant, it refers to a broader evaluation of the overall conditions and processes at the workplace, and does not specifically focus on hazard identification and risk assessment like a hazard assessment does. Therefore, hazard assessment is the most appropriate tool used by industrial hygienists to identify risks and hazards in the workplace.