To begin, I wish to give the reader some idea of what I hope accomplish in this presentation and, perhaps more importantly, what I do not intend to do. First, what I will do. I will discuss some of the problems that are encountered when starting a new industrial hygiene program. A new facility gearing up for operation encounters circumstances that require new action. By the same token, modifications to an existing facility, such as the introduction of new processes, or new materials, etc., will necessitate the implementation of a new industrial hygiene program. It is also very possible that there may be an existing facility that has never had an industrial hygiene monitoring program and has discovered that it needs one. The overriding questions in all of the situations described above are often the same, however: Where should we start? Where should we spend our money? What is the most important thing to do?
Next, I will discuss a rational, objective way to approach this problem that will help identify clear workplace health objectives; assure that you can find your way through the maze of distracting and confusing demands; keep you on the track toward your goals; and help avoid some of the pitfalls that will be encountered on the way. Finally, I will present an actual case study where a industrial hygiene sampling and monitoring program was set up for one of my clients. The program enabled the company to evaluate its health exposures and implement the control measures that would be most effective and efficient in the long run. It provided the client with the assurance that its employees were adequately protected at work, and that the company was in compliance with state and federal standards.
Now, what I won't do. I do not intend to describe the selection of specific methods to sample for occupational heath risks. Much has already been published on various sampling procedures. The variety of methods that may be employed to obtain acceptable results are far beyond the scope of this presentation. For those who would appreciate some guidance in this direction, I have included some valuable resources in the reference section. Neither will I attempts to evaluate specific risks for their relative severity, although I will provide some examples of where this was done in illustrative case studies later in this presentation. True accuracy can only be attained if each risk must be examined in the context of the environment in which it is located.
The problem, and also the solution, are somewhat akin to the difficulty encountered by an Eskimo hunter who has just brought his latest catch home for dinner. How can he and his family possibly eat a whale? The answer is deceptively simple, but it gets lost in the immediate exigencies of the situation. Often the urgency to "Do something! Do anything!" overwhelms the more important question of "Exactly what must be done?"
