Environmental Health & Industrial Hygiene Flashcards

Which sequence correctly represents the industrial hygiene process?

Answer: Anticipation → Recognition → Evaluation → Control

The industrial hygiene process begins with Anticipation (predicting potential hazards), then Recognition (identifying existing hazards), Evaluation (measuring exposure), and Control (implementing corrective measures).

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is the standard tool used to evaluate which occupational health hazard?

Answer: Heat stress in outdoor and indoor environments

WBGT is a composite temperature index incorporating dry bulb temperature, natural wet bulb temperature, and globe temperature to assess heat stress risk for workers.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation produced during welding operations is classified as which type of radiation?

Answer: Non-ionizing radiation

UV radiation from welding is non-ionizing radiation because it lacks sufficient energy to remove electrons from atoms, unlike X-rays or gamma rays which are ionizing.

Which air sampling approach is most appropriate for comparing a worker's exposure to an 8-hour time-weighted average occupational exposure limit?

Answer: Full-shift personal breathing zone sampling

Full-shift personal sampling captures the worker's breathing zone exposure across the entire work period, which is the appropriate method for comparing to 8-hour TWA occupational exposure limits.

Why is local exhaust ventilation (LEV) generally preferred over general dilution ventilation for controlling chemical exposures?

Answer: LEV captures contaminants at or near the source before they disperse into the work environment

LEV removes contaminants at the point of generation before they can enter workers' breathing zones, making it far more protective than dilution ventilation which disperses contaminants throughout the space.

Which combination of ergonomic risk factors most significantly increases the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)?

Answer: Repetitive motion combined with awkward posture and high force exertions

The combination of repetitive motion, awkward posture, and forceful exertions creates cumulative trauma that dramatically elevates MSD risk, as each factor compounds the others.

OSHA's Respirable Crystalline Silica standard (29 CFR 1910.1053) establishes a PEL of how many micrograms per cubic meter for general industry?

Answer: 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA

OSHA's silica PEL is 50 µg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA for general industry, a significant reduction from previous limits due to the serious risk of silicosis and lung cancer.