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ESTABLISHING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS IN YOUR WORKPLACE
This guidance manual was developed to assist workplaces with limited resources to comply with the regulation in Manitoba and to protect the health of all workers. Risks are divided into three levels:
- Conditions where risk to workers is low and action not likely.
- Conditions where there is a risk to workers and basic steps are described that can be implemented by the safety committee
- Conditions where risks are difficult to define and professional help should be obtained.
CAUTION
The TLVs were written for use by persons trained in the discipline of industrial hygiene. This manual will assist safety committees to address some of the problems in the workplace and to identify when professional help is needed. Specific areas where professional help may be needed are when potential risks are difficult to identify, or where more complex solutions are needed to treat specific concerns or economic issues.
EFFECT OF DRUGS ON WORKPLACE EXPOSURES
TLVs are guidelines not specification standards. As professionals we must apply them in the context of our workplaces. Among other things we must take into account age and health of workers when applying them. Related to these factors is prescribed medication and over-the-counter medication usage. Medications may contain workplace materials or result in the same metabolites. This may affect routes of entry for workplace chemicals or rates of metabolism. As a guideline or performance standard, the professional is expected to take into account effects such as those from medications. Failure to do so could result in increased susceptibility to workplace materials. Being aware of conditions such as the potential effect of drugs on workplace exposures will help the occupational hygienist to address atypical reactions in the workplace when exposure monitoring shows exposures to be acceptable. When used properly as guidelines TLVs are a tool to help the occupational hygienist to protect all workers.
For additional guidance about when you need an occupational hygienist go to:
http://www.eliasconsulting.ca
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