Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Services

Introduction

The University is committed to protecting its employees from environmental hazards that arise out of or during the course of employment.

The industrial hygiene program deals with the recognition, evaluation, and control of environmental health hazards. Environmental health hazards may include conditions which cause legally compensable illnesses, or any conditions in the work environment that impair the health of employees to the extent that they lose work and/or efficiency.

The program provides industrial hygiene surveys and monitoring to identify hazards, inspections, and other information necessary to control the recognized health hazards.

Occupational Health Hazards

Measures are provided for the control of hazards such as:

1. Chemical (NC OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1000) – Liquids, dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases. The three routes of entry into the body being inhalation, skin absorption, and ingestion.
2. Physical – Non-ionizing radiation, noise, pressure, vibration, illumination, and temperature extremes.
3. Biological – Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and insects.

Record Keeping

Records of all survey results and employee exposures are maintained at the Environment, Health and Safety Office. Record keeping is particularly important in the area of occupational health hazards where the effects of exposure may not be apparent for several years, and delayed litigation results. Records of exposure monitoring, employee training programs, and medical examinations are maintained.