MODULE 2

SYLLABUS

• Chemical hazards - Dust, fumes, vapour, fog, gases; Methods of

Control.
• Biological hazards - Classification of Biohazardous agents–
bacterial agents, viral agents, fungal, parasitic agents, infectious
diseases, control of biological agents at workplaces.
• Noise, noise exposure regulation and control.
 NOICE POLLUTION

• Noise pollution refers to any unwanted or disruptive sound that affects the health,
productivity or well-being of people.

• Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common occupational hazard

• Hearing loss from noise is slow and painless; you can have a disability before you
notice it

• Preventable
 Common Sources of Noise Pollution at Work:

• Industrial machinery (e.g., compressors, grinders, drills)

• Construction activities (jackhammers, heavy equipment)
• Office equipment (printers, air conditioning, phones)
• Transportation (nearby traffic, airports, railways)
• Human noise (loud conversations, shouting, crowded spaces)
• Call centers or open-plan offices (multiple people talking
simultaneously)
 NOISE POLLUTION
• Side effects of noise
– Loss of hearing
– Stress
– Accidents
– Behavioural effects
– Negative impact on health
– Reduced productivity - difficulty concentrating, increased errors and reduced
performance
– Sleep disturbances
 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEARING LOSS

• Ringing / buzzing in the ears

• Difficulty with high pitched sounds
• Problems with conversing with others
• Inability to hear consonants MSDS
• Raising the volume on the TV / radio
 HEARING LOSS

•Temporary Hearing Loss

- Results from short term exposure to noise
- Hearing returns when away from the noise
•Permanent Hearing Loss
- Results from exposure to a moderate or high level of noise over
a long period of time
 HEARING PROTECTION

Engineering controls
Administrative controls
Personal Protective Devices
 ENGINEERING CONTROLS

Engineering controls to reduce noise at its source.

• Enclosing noisy machinery, or motors, or moving them away from workers
whenever possible
• Controlling vibration by damping or by tightening, lubricating, or isolating
vibrating parts
• Replacing loud machines with quiet machines
• Installing sound barriers or sound- absorbing materials
 ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS

• Decreasing the exposure time

• Limiting the number of personnel exposed
• Arranging a work shift system
 DAILY ALLOWABLE EXPOSURE TIMES TO NOISE

• Noise levels and how long a person can be exposed without hearing protection
before there is damage to the ear.
• Noise Level Allowable Exposure Time
85 decibels 8 hours
90 decibels 4 hours
100 decibels 1 hour
105 decibels 30 minutes
110 decibels 15 minutes
115 decibels 0 minutes
 SELECTION OF HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES

• Hearing protection devices are selected according to:

– Employee comfort
– Level of noise exposure
– Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of device
– Type of work being performed
– Environmental conditions

Employee may select hearing protection from a variety of suitable hearing

protectors provided by employer.
 Noise Exposure Regulation
• Noise exposure regulations are rules and standards set by
governmental or occupational safety agencies to protect people from
harmful levels of noise
• Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): Maximum allowable noise level
over a specific time period
– These limits are often expressed as Time-Weighted Averages
(TWAs), meaning the average noise level over a specific time period (e.g.,
an 8-hour workday).
 Noise Exposure Regulations
• Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules
• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration):
- OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for occupational noise exposure is 90 dBA
for an 8-hour TWA
• NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
- NIOSH recommends a lower exposure limit of 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA
• WHO (World Health Organization):
- The WHO also recommends 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA for occupational noise
exposure.
• EU Directive 2003/10/EC:
- Specifies upper and lower exposure action values at 85 dB(A) and 80 dB(A)
respectively for the daily noise exposure level.
 Noise Exposure Regulation
Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
The regulation define:
• Permissible noise levels by area type
• Time-based limits (day / night)
• Responsibilities of industrial and commercial units
• Legal procedures for complaints and enforcement
• Time: specific decibel limits for day (6 AM – 10 PM) and night (10 PM
– 6 AM).
• Zone categories:

Area Category Day Limit (dB) Night Limit (dB)

Industrial 75 70
Commercial 65 55
Residential 55 45
Silence Zone* 50 40
Silence zones: defined as an area comprising not less than 100 metres around hospitals,
educational institutions, courts and religious places or any other place which is declared
as such by the competent authority

•Hospitals
•Educational institutions
•Courts
 NOISE MEASUREMENT

• Noise is measured using calibrated Class 1 or Class 2 Sound Level Meters (as per
IEC standards). Readings are typically taken:
• At the property boundary
• Continuously for 30 minutes or more
• On weekday and weekend basis
 SELECTION OF HEARING
PROTECTION DEVICES

• Hearing protection devices are selected according to:

– Employee comfort
– Level of noise exposure
– Noise reduction rating (NRR) of device
– Type of work being performed
– Environmental conditions

Employee may select hearing protection from a variety of suitable hearing

protectors provided by employer.
 TYPES OF HEARING
PROTECTION DEVICES

• Ear muffs
• Foam insert earplugs
• Semi-aural earplugs
 EAR MUFFS

Advantages Disadvantages

• More protection at higher • Higher cost

frequencies than earplugs • Eye glasses can interfere
• Various NRRs available with ear muff seal
• Durable, long lasting • May be uncomfortable in hot
• Can be fitted on hard hat environments
• Reusable • Must be cleaned before use
by another worker
FOAM INSERT EARPLUGS

Advantages Disadvantages

• More protection at lower • Hands must be cleaned

frequencies than muffs before inserting earplugs
• Various NRRs available • Improper insertion reduces
• Inexpensive; disposable NRR value
• Can be custom molded for
individual worker
• Reusable plugs are available
 SEMI-AURAL CAPS

Advantages Disadvantages

• Various NRRs available • Improper insertion reduces

• Easy to insert effectiveness
• May be used several times • More expensive than ear
• Ideal for people going in and plugs
out of noisy areas • Typically have lower NRRs
than plugs or muffs
 FIT, USE, AND CARE OF HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES

• Employer must ensure proper initial fitting

• Employer must supervise the correct use of hearing protectors
• Hearing protectors must be replaced as necessary at no cost to employee, contact
your supervisor
• Hearing protection devices must be cleaned and stored according to the
manufacturer’s specification\
 AUDIOMETRIC TESTING

• Monitors employee’s hearing over time

• Baseline audiogram must be performed within first 6 months of work exposure (
8 hour TWA ≥ 85 dBA)
• Annual audiograms are required each year after baseline audiogram
• Employer must pay for the cost of each required audiogram
 WHY DO AUDIOMETRIC TESTING?

• Obtain a Baseline Audiogram for future comparison

• Identify occupational hearing loss
• Identify Standard Threshold Shifts (STS)
 NORMAL VS NOISE-INDUCED
AUDIOMETRIC TESTING

.
Legal Penalties and Non-Compliance Impact
• Noise pollution is regulated under multiple laws, including:
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
• Indian Penal Code (Section 268 – Public Nuisance)
• Motor Vehicles Act (for horn-related violations)
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
Dust, Fumes, Vapour, Fog, Gases
 CHEMICAL HAZARDS
• Industrial chemicals can be hazardous for many reasons – paints, glues,
disinfectants etc.
• All hazard possibilities must be taken into account when using and
storing chemicals.
• The degree of hazard associated with a particular chemical will depend
on:
- The routes of entry
- The physical properties of the substances
- Work practices
- The nature of the exposure
- Combined exposures
- The susceptibility of workers
- Toxicity
 DUSTS
• Dusts consist of particles of solid matter which may be produced during
mechanical processes like grinding, blasting, milling etc.

• The term “dust” is also commonly used for particles which have been
precipitated from the gas phase and deposited on a surface.

• It generally consists of particles in the atmosphere that come from

various sources such as soil, dust lifted by wind, pollution etc.

• particles size 1 -100 μm.

Dust control measures
• Spraying construction and demolition sites with water
• Preventing the spreading of dust onto adjacent roads.
• Dust in unpaved surfaces may be suppressed by mechanical methods
including
– Paving or laying down gravel
– Stabilizing the surface with water, vegetable oils or other dust
suppressants
– Using water misters to suppress dust that is already airborne
 FUMES
• Fumes are dispersions of solid matter in air, which is formed in thermal or
chemical processes.
• Generally formed when a material is vaporized by high heat and then
condenses.
• Thermal processes can yield fumes in two ways:
− by condensation from the vapour phase, from high-temperature
processes like welding
− by incomplete combustion of organic material and release of impurities
that it contains (examples: soot and fly ash).
• particles size < 1 μm.
 VAPOURS

• The gaseous form of a material normally in a liquid or solid state at

normal room temperature and pressure.
GASES

• Formless fluids usually produced by chemical processes involving

combustion or by the interaction of chemical substance.
FOG
• Suspension of tiny liquid droplets in air
• Fog is a visible aerosol with tiny water droplets suspended in the air at or
near the Earth's surface.
• Water droplets or other liquids like oil in industrial settings
• particles size < 1 - 10 μm
 FOG
• Fog can be considered a type of low-lying cloud, usually resembling stratus
• It is heavily influenced by nearby bodies of water, topography, and wind
conditions.
• fog has affected many human activities, such as shipping, travel, and warfare
• Fog forms when the difference between air temperature and dew point is less than
2.5 °C (The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled to become saturated
with water vapor)
• Fog commonly produces precipitation in the form of drizzle or very light snow.
Visibility effects
• Depending on the concentration of the droplets, visibility in fog can range from the
appearance of haze, to almost zero visibility.
• Many lives are lost each year worldwide from accidents involving fog conditions on
the highways, including multiple-vehicle collisions
• The aviation travel industry is affected by the severity of fog conditions.
• Safe operations are difficult in thick fog, and civilian airports may forbid takeoffs and
landings until conditions improve.
• A solution for landing returning military aircraft developed in World War II was
called Fog Investigation and Dispersal operation (FIDO). It involved burning
enormous amounts of fuel alongside runways to evaporate fog, allowing returning
fighter and bomber pilots sufficient visual cues to safely land their aircraft. The high
energy demands of this method discourage its use for routine operations.
 MIST
• Mists are dispersions of liquids in gases, in particular in air.
• They are formed
– during condensation from the vapour phase
– during chemical processes (example: oil mist)
• After sedimentation, the liquid particles of mists lose their particulate form, unlike
undissolved solid particles which generally retain their form.
• Particle size <10µm
• For isometric particles with diameters d < 0.5 μm, the deposition in the respiratory
tract is caused by diffusion.
 FIBERS
• Solid particles with increased aspect ratio. (length to width ratio)
• Due to the special proportion, these will be suspended in air for
longer periods causing health hazards by inhalation
 HEALTH HAZARD
• Acute toxicity • Specific target organ toxicity – single
• Skin irritation exposure
• Serious eye damage/eye irritation • Specific target organ toxicity –
• Respiratory or skin sensitization repeated exposure
• Germ cell mutations • Aspiration hazard
• Carcinogenicity • Bio hazardous infectious materials
 CONTROLLING CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE
• Reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals whenever possible.
• Separate storage for hazardous chemicals
• Maintain adequate ventilation systems to reduce concentrations of airborne
chemicals.
• Practicing good personal hygiene (e.g. washing hands) and maintaining regular
workplace cleaning routines.
• Using personal protective equipment
• Introduce administrative controls to minimize exposure to chemicals (e.g. work
shift for different jobs or locations.)
• Providing warning signs
• Maintain equipment in good order to prevent leaks and breakdowns that may
release toxic substances
• Providing proper Information, Instruction & Training for
workers on possible hazards in the industry
• Having a recovery or emergency plan in case of an accident
 MSDS DATA SHEET
• Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) provides basic information
on a material or chemical product.
• Describes the properties and potential hazards of the material,
how to use it safely, and what to do in an emergency.
 MSDS DATA SHEET
1. Product information: Name , Manufacturer, Supplier, emergency contact
number
2. Hazardous ingredients: Lists any harmful chemicals in the product and their
potential health or safety risks.
3. Physical data: appearance, colour, odour, pH, viscosity etc.
4. Fire and exposure hazard data: Explains the risk of fire or explosion and how
to safely extinguish it if it occurs.
5. Reactivity data: chemical properties, chemical stability, and chemical which
may react with them item
 MSDS DATA SHEET
1. Toxological properties: Possible health effects
2. Preventive measures: Safe handling, storage, and protective equipment to
avoid accidents
3. First aid measures: steps to take if someone is exposed to the product through
skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
4. Preparation information: who is responsible for preparing the data sheet
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

…health hazards associated with exposure to

biological agents
 BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
• Biohazard – organisms or products of organisms that present a risk to humans
• A bio-hazardous agent is a biological agent which may induce an infection, allergy
or toxicity
• Include bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and biological toxins
• Commonly encountered in settings such as hospitals, laboratories,
biotechnology firms, waste management facilities, agriculture food
processing plants etc.
• Workers can be exposed through direct contact with infected materials,
inhalation of aerosols, accidental injuries or contact with contaminated
surfaces.
• The severity of the risk depends on the type of organism, the mode of
transmission and the nature of the work
 BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
• In the workplace, exposure to biological agents (like bacteria or viruses) can happen
in two ways:

• Intentionally – when an employee works directly with biological materials as part of

their job, such as in a laboratory or research setting.
Example: A lab technician handling bacteria for research.

• Unintentionally – when an employee is accidentally exposed to biological hazards

during their normal work duties.
Example: A nurse or healthcare worker getting exposed to a disease while caring for
a patient.
 FACTORS AFFECTING INFECTION AND EXPOSURE

[Link] of biological agent

2. Modes of transmission include contact (direct, indirect or through animals/insects)
and airborne transmission.
3. Route of entry into the body
4. Exposure dosage
5. Immune system strength
6. Duration of exposure
7. Individual’s health condition - Skin disorders, immune system, vaccination allergy,
work practices
 BIOLOGICAL AGENTS - Classifications

• The classifications systems is based on whether:

– The agent is pathogenic to humans
– The agent is hazardous to employees
– The agent is transmissible to community
– Effective treatment is available
 BIOLOGICAL AGENTS- Classifications

• Grade 1: Unlikely to cause human disease to employees

• Grade 2: Cause disease, hazardous to exposed employee,
unlikely to spread
• Grade 3: Cause disease, hazardous to exposed employee,
chances to spread to community – effective treatment available
• Grade 4: Cause disease, hazardous to exposed employee,
chances to spread to community – effective treatment not
available
 BIOLOGICAL AGENTS- Classifications
Risk Group Organism Common Disease Name
None (non-pathogenic; lab model
Bacillus subtilis
organism)
RG1
Lactobacillus acidophilus None (beneficial probiotic bacterium)

Salmonella enterica Salmonellosis (food poisoning)

RG2
Staphylococcus aureus Skin infections, food poisoning

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB)

RG3
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Syndrome)

Ebola virus Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

RG4
Marburg virus Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever
 CLASSIFICATION OF BIOHAZARDS

• Microorganisms • Allergens
– Examples: viruses, bacteria, – Examples: from higher plants
fungi, protozoa, algae – Reactions: Dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma
– Reactions: infection, exposure, • Protein Allergens
allergic reactions – Examples: vertebrate animals (urine,
• Arthropods feces, hair, saliva, dander)
– Examples: crustaceans, arachnids, – Reactions: allergic reactions
insects • Parasites
– Reactions: skin inflammation, – Examples: ticks, hookworms,
allergic reactions, systemic pinworms
intoxication, transmission of
infectious agents – Reactions: skin reaction, inflammatory
response, allergic reaction
 COMMON BIOLOGICAL AGENTS

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Fungi
• Parasites
• Biological toxins
 BACTERIA
•Single-celled microorganisms that can live in diverse environments.
•Some are harmless or beneficial, while others cause disease by invading tissues,
releasing toxins, or triggering immune responses.
•Examples:
•Salmonella → food poisoning
•Mycobacterium tuberculosis → tuberculosis
•Workplace risk include Exposure in healthcare, labs, food industries.
 VIRUSES
• Small infectious agent which replicate only inside living cell of an organism

• Living non-cellular entities

•Infect cells and disrupt normal functions, often killing the cells or causing immune
reactions.
•Examples:
•Influenza virus → flu
•Ebola virus → hemorrhagic fever
•Workplace risk: Healthcare, research labs, and any place where human samples or
animals are handled
•Viruses can often be prevented through vaccines
 RICKETTSIAE
• Bacteria-like but smaller
• Are obligate parasites
• Transmitted to humans via bloodsucking arthropods (fleas, ticks & lice) or
through the air
• Responsible for typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever
 FUNGI
• Diverse group including yeasts and molds; can live on plants, animals, or organic
material.
• Most fungi are harmless to humans and some are edible.
• Other fungi can be infectious and may lead to life-threatening diseases.
• Fungal infections often affect the lungs, skin or nails. Some infections may also
penetrate the body to affect organs and cause whole-body infections.
• Examples of fungal infections include:
– Athlete’s foot: itching, scaling or cracking of the skin
– Ringworm: reddish, itchy, scaly rash usually on the skin and scalp
– Thrush: caused by the fungus Candida albicans which can infect the mouth,
stomach and urinary tract.
 PARASITES

• Parasites are organisms that live in or on another organism and benefit

by getting nutrients at the expense of their host.

• Parasites can be found in many different body sites, for example in the
blood, liver, digestive system, brain and even the eyes.
•Examples:
•Plasmodium species → malaria
•Giardia lamblia → intestinal infection

•Workplace risk: Healthcare, agriculture, food processing.

 BIOLOGICAL TOXINS
• Biological toxins are poisonous substances produced naturally by living
organisms such as bacteria, plants, or animals.

• Unlike infectious agents (like bacteria or viruses), toxins are not living but
can cause severe harm or disease when they enter the body.
– They disrupt normal cellular functions, often by blocking essential biochemical processes.

– Can cause cell death or damage specific organs.

– Some toxins trigger strong immune responses leading to inflammation or allergic reactions.

– Effects can be local (skin irritation) or systemic (affecting the nervous system, muscles, or
organs).
 BIOLOGICAL TOXINS
Source Example Toxin and Effect/Disease
Botulinum toxin (Clostridium botulinum) — causes botulism
(paralysis)
Bacterial toxins
Tetanus toxin (Clostridium tetani) — causes tetanus (muscle
spasms)
Ricin (from castor beans) — severe poisoning affecting multiple
organs
Plant toxins
Aflatoxins (produced by molds on crops) — toxic and carcinogenic
effects
Snake venom — causes tissue damage, paralysis, or death
Animal toxins
Scorpion toxin — causes severe pain and neurological symptoms
 CONTROL OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AT WORKPLACES

a) All premises used by workers, and the equipment of such premises, should be
properly maintained and kept clean, and should have sufficient and suitable
ventilation, natural or artificial or both, supplying fresh or purified air.
b) A sufficient supply of wholesome drinking water shall be made available to
workers.
c) Sufficient and suitable washing facilities and sanitary conveniences shall be
provided and properly maintained.
d) Biological containment: prevent and reduce exposure potentials and their
consequences, and identify the chain of transmission, by using, substitute
organisms or procedures that can inactivate the biological agent, resulting
in reduced replicability, infectivity, transmissibility and virulence.

e) Emergency plans: Where the accidental release of biological agents could

pose a significant risk to workers’ health or the environment, a plan should
be drawn up detailing the emergency actions to be taken to minimize these
risks.
f) Physical containment: provide additional protection by means of primary and secondary
physical containment
g) Work restrictions: keep as low as possible the number of workers exposed or likely to be
exposed; limit the workload and restrict work to as few worksites as possible, according
to sector or type of activity, so that there are few risk areas.
h) Operational protection: minimize exposure by enforcing safe working techniques (for
example, preventing aerosol generation, and applying good laboratory practices, among
others).
i) Hazard minimization: carry out a combination of measures to reduce the consequences
of exposure should it occur (for example, emergency procedures, contingency plans,
health and medical surveillance or vaccinations to reduce the consequence of
inadvertent exposure).