Chapter Twenty – INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND CONFINED SPACES
TRUE OR FALSE: Place T or F in the space provided.
_____1. A toxic substance is one that has a negative effect on the health of a
person or animal.
_____2. Chronic effects of toxic substances involve a sudden dose of highly
concentrated substance.
_____3. Many chemical and toxic substances used in modern industry are
ammable or combustible.
_____4. A con”ned space is any area with limited means of entry and exit
that is large enough for a person to “t into but is not designed for occupancy.
_____5. Con”ned spaces are hazardous because of the potential to trap toxic
and/or explosive vapors and gases.
_____6. Every workplace environment employs industrial hygiene specialists.
_____7. Asphyxiants are substances involving a sudden dose of highly
concentrated substance.
_____8. A key element of the Clean Air Act is its requirement that companies
use the maximum achievable control technology.
_____9. Employees need not be warned of chemical hazards by labels on
containers or safety data sheets (SDS).
_____10. A sick building is one that makes people sick when it becomes
infested with mold, mildew, spores, and other airborne micro-organisms.
_____11. The OSHA standard for nanoscale materials is 29 CFR 1910.113.
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Circle the letter before the correct answer.
1. Toxic effects are a function of several factors except:
A. Route of entry
B. Time of day
C. Level of exposure
D. Amount of dose
2. Which of the following is associated with chronic effects/exposures of toxic
substances?
A. Sudden dose
B. Severe
C. Little or no awareness of exposures on the part of affected workers
D. Cause immediate health problems
3. Before an entry permit is issued, a safety/health professional, should
A. Shut down equipment
B. Test the atmosphere
C. Ventilate the space
D. All of the above
4. Threshold limit values refer to airborne concentrations of substances and
represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may
be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effect. Which of the
following is not a way of expressing TLV’s?
A. Flash point
B. Time-weighted average
C. Ceiling
D. Short-term exposure
5. Examples of con”ned spaces include:
A. Vaults
B. Silos
C. Train compartments
D. All of the above
6. A particle smaller than about 2.5 micrometers and larger than about 0.1
micrometers is called:
A. Fine particle
B. Nanoparticle
C. Ultra”ne particle
D. Ionic particle
11. F
6. A
1. De”ne the term industrial hygiene.
2. Brie y explain the responsibilities of the modern industrial hygienist.
3. What is the role of the safety and health professional regarding industrial
hygiene?
4. List “ve OSHA requirements relating to industrial hygiene.
5. Brie y explain the typical categories of hazards in the workplace.
6. What are the most common routes of entry for toxic agents?
7. Describe the following types of airborne contaminants: dust, fumes,
smoke, mists, gases.
8. What factors should be considered in deciding whether to remove or
contain asbestos.
Is there evidence that the ACM is deteriorating? What is the
potential for future deterioration?
Is there evidence of physical damage to the ACM? What is the
potential for future damage?
Is there evidence of water damage to the ACM or spoilage? What is
the potential for future damage or spoilage?
10. Explain the following ways of dealing with asbestos in the workplace:
removal, enclosure, encapsulation.
11. What types of medical examinations should be required of employees
who handle ACMs?
12. Brie y explain the following concepts relating to exposure thresholds:
time-weighted average, short-term exposure limit, exposure ceiling.
13. List the most important considerations when evaluating hazards in the
workplace.
14. List “ve generic prevention and control strategies that can be used in
any workplace.
15. Give an example of a prevention/control strategy in each of the following
categories: engineering controls, ventilation, person protective equipment.
16. Explain “ve self-protection strategies employees can use in the
workplace.
17. How does NIOSH relate to industrial hygiene?
18. What is a toxic substance?
19. List the factors that determine the effect a toxic substance will have.
20. Describe the most common routes of entry for toxic substances.
21. Explain the mathematical expression of the dose-response relationship.
22. De”ne the following terms: dose threshold, lethal dose, lethal
concentration.
23. Differentiate between acute and chronic effects/exposures.
24. List and describe the various classi”cations of airborne toxics.
25. What is a carcinogen?
26. Describe the basic provisions of the OSHA’s Chemical Process Standard.
OSHA’s Chemical Process Standard – The standard requires
chemical producers to analyze their process to identify potentially
hazardous situations and to assess the extent of the hazard. Having done so
they must accommodate their knowledge in their emergency response
plans.
27. What is a threshold limit value? How much exposure to a toxic substance
is too much? How much is acceptable?
Guidelines that answer these questions for safety and health
professionals are developed and issued annually by the American
Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). These
guidelines are known as threshold limit values, or TLVs. Threshold limit
values refer to airborne concentrations of substances and represent
conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be
repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effects.
28. De”ne the following terms: time-weighted average, ceiling.
29. Explain the three NIOSH categories of respirators.
30. What is the “sick-building” syndrome?
31. Explain the major tenets of the OSHA Con”ned Space Standard.
32. Explain the various elements that should be included in an organization’s
con”ned space management policy.
33. Summarize the requirements of OSHA’s Hazard Communication
Standard.
