Control of Worker Exposure

Abstract

s r ~ VER since passage of the OSH Act, there has been an undue emphasis on the part of the federal government S Fd r on the identification of workplace exposures at the expense of their control. Evaluation of worker exposures to chemicals and physical hazards may quantify the extent of problems but does nothing to help solve those problems. The new Administration would do well to institute aggressive activities aimed at reducing worker exposures. The five methods, in order of descending effectiveness, used to reduce worker exposure are: (i) substitution; (z) isolation of the worker from the hazard; (3) ventilation; (4) administrative techniques; and (5) personal protective equipment. The first three are concerned with modifying the source of the hazard, while the last two involve direct intervention with the worker and are thus inherently inferior to direct engineering solutions. In the recent past there has been a tendency to apply controls in a reverse order, least effective first: respirators first, then administrative controls, then ventilation, etc. The new Administration must remove the burden of protection from the worker and place it where it belongs. The expanded use of substitution and isolation, followed by improvements in ventilation system design and operation, must receive primary attention. This paper will discuss actions which can be taken in the first IOO days to encourage the use of effective source controls while removing the burden of protection from the worker. A great advantage of substitution is that it can solve several problems at once. The substitution of a non-hazardous chemical for a hazardous one has the following effects: (i) it eliminates the worker exposure; (z) it eliminates the potential water and air pollution problems; (3) it eliminates the need for hazardous waste disposal; and (4) it eliminates the potential for accidental release. Research on reduction in the use of toxic materials should be an immediate goal of several federal agencies.