Occupational Health Survey



Table of Contents

Introduction3

Industrial hygiene sample3

Respirable Silica Sampling Procedure3

Noise Exposure Sampling Procedure4

Sampling equipment and laboratory analysis5

Occupational Medical Surveillance Program6

Specific medical surveillance to be performed7

Conclusion8

References9

Occupational Health Survey

Introduction

Working in the mining industry is not as easy as it seems. Apart from the apparent hard work, there are health risks inherent in the job. Because of these, there is a need for the regulator of the industry as well as the companies operating in these fields to perform quality checks and ensure the health and well being of employees at work through occupational health surveys conducted at regular intervals. The underlying objective of this paper is to come up with Occupational Health Survey as the Corporate Industrial Hygienist. The aims of the survey will be as follows:

To evaluate the exposure level

To consider the health of workers at the company

In doing so the focus of the survey will remain on the presence of Respirable Crystalline Silica and noise on the working site.

Industrial hygiene sample

There are two samples that have to be drawn here. These include the samples for measuring the respirable silica and the sample for measuring noise exposure.

Respirable Silica Sampling Procedure

Respirable silica is part of the respirable dust category. This means that anything which is smaller than 10-microns in size will fall into this category. When it comes to mining, it is imperative to note here that silica is present in the earth's crust most abundantly in the crystalline form. During mining, exposure to it is very common. This type of dust is most commonly produced in blasting, cutting rock that contains silica, and drilling. One of the sampling methods would be the use of a personal sampling pump. We will be selecting the number of employees who will serve as the sample subject for the survey. These will be representative of the population. These employees will be given the personal sampling pump and will be guided on cyclone. The employees will be asked to use the pump during their shift (USHA, 2012).

Noise Exposure Sampling Procedure

Here too the employees selected for sample will be using the device for the whole shift. This would entail enrolling employees for HCP or Hearing Conservation Program. This devise will be used to gauge whether the level of noise is within the Permissible Exposure Limit. This is 90 dBA. In order to reinforce the validity of the results obtained through the Hearing Conservation Program, the sample will also use a Noise Dosimeter (CDC, 2002).

Sampling equipment and laboratory analysis

As stated earlier, the sampling equipment used is sampling pump. This pump will be calibrated to 1.7 liters per minute (LPM). This is essential for the cyclone to work properly. In order to connect the pump with the 10-mm nylon cyclone, we will be suing a tygon tubing apparatus. The lab analysis will be based on Pump Calibrations Procedure. The samples are collected in the form of train and they are then sent for analysis in the lab. This may be termed as post ...