Engineering controls as an intervention to reduce worker exposure

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Industrial Hygiene
• Environmental Science

Background:

• The hierarchy of controls in industrial hygiene prioritizes engineering controls (e.g., ventilation) over administrative controls.
• Exhaust ventilation is a common but problematic method for controlling airborne contaminants, particularly in small enterprises.
• Existing definitions of substitution are too narrow for comprehensive exposure reduction strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a broader definition of substitution, termed 'process change,' within the hierarchy of controls.
• To highlight the advantages of process change for reducing worker exposure to hazardous substances.
• To discuss the practical application and challenges of process change through case studies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of industrial hygiene control strategies.
• Conceptual expansion of the 'substitution' principle to 'process change.'
• Analysis of case studies illustrating process change implementation.

Main Results:

• Process change encompasses a wider range of modifications than traditional substitution.
• This approach offers significant potential for reducing worker exposure.
• Case studies demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of implementing process change.

Conclusions:

• Process change should be emphasized as the primary engineering control in industrial hygiene.
• This strategy is particularly relevant for addressing the unique challenges faced by small businesses.
• Adopting process change can lead to more effective and sustainable worker protection programs.