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Zhazel Tesalona
[Email address]
Work Environment Measurement, or WEM, is a branch of Industrial Hygiene aimed at
evaluating levels of workers’ exposures from various physical and chemical hazards emanating
from workplace operations and recommending appropriate control measures for the
improvement of the working environment.
Industrial hygiene is the science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling
workplace conditions that may cause workers' injury or illness.
WEM is conducted through various sampling methodologies and/or direct measurement using
direct reading instruments to:
Determine the level of harmful substances (airborne contaminants) such as but not limited to
dust, mist, fumes, solvents and gases.
Measure the level of physical hazards generated from various operations such as noise, heat,
vibrations and radiation.
Assess the illumination levels in different work areas.
Evaluate the performance of the general and local exhaust ventilation installed.
WEM is a requirement for all operations. Rule 1070 – Occupational Health and
Environmental Control of the OSHS, prescribed WEM is also a mandatory requirement of ISO
9001 and OHSAS 18001.
• The employer shall maintain and control the working environment in comfortable and healthy
conditions for the purpose of maintaining and promoting the health of his workers
• WEM shall mean sampling and analysis carried out in respect of the atmospheric working
environment for the purpose of determining actual conditions therein
• WEM shall include temperature, humidity, pressure, illumination, ventilation, concentration of
substances and noise
• The employer shall carry out the WEM in indoor or other workplaces where hazardous work is
performed and shall keep a record of such measurement which shall be made available to
enforcing authority.
• Safety and health personnel shall have adequate training and experience in WEM
• The employer shall commission the BWC / OSHC / Regional Offices or other accredited
institutions
WORKPLACE HAZARDS
• Biological - bacteria and viruses that can cause health
effects, such as hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and Legionnaire’s
disease.
• Mechanical - Mechanical hazards are created as a
result of either powered or manual (human) use of tools,
equipment or machinery and plant. An example of a
mechanical hazard is: contact and/or entanglement with
unguarded moving parts on a machine.
• Electrical - An electrical hazard can be defined as a
dangerous condition where a worker could make
electrical contact with energized equipment or a conductor, and from which the person may
sustain an injury from shock; and/or, there is potential for the worker to receive an arc flash burn,
thermal burn, or blast injury.
• Chemical - any hazardous substance that can cause harm to your employees.
There are many types of Environmental Monitoring such as:
Personal Monitoring – the measurement of a particular employee’s exposure to airborne
contaminants. The measuring device is placed as close as possible to the contaminant’s entry
port to the body. For example, when monitoring an air contaminant that is toxic, the measuring
device is placed close to the breathing zone of the worker. The data collected closely
approximates the concentration of contaminants to which the worker is regularly exposed during
work hours.
Area/Environmental Sampling – the measurement of a contaminant concentration in the
workroom. The measuring device is placed adjacent to the worker’s normal workstation or at
fixed locations in the work area. This kind of monitoring does not provide a good estimate of
worker’s exposure but helps to pinpoint work areas with high or low exposure levels of
contaminants.
Biological Monitoring - involves the measurement of changes in the composition of body fluids,
tissue or expired air to determine the absorption of a potentially hazardous material. Examples
are the measurement of lead and mercury in blood or urine.
Industrial Hygiene Measurements (WEM procedures in the conduct of WEM)
• Plant “walk-through” / Ocular Survey –Identify the parameters / work environment hazards to
be measured –Decide on the need for measurement –Identify the subject worker and workplace –
Select the areas for measurement
• Calibration of Equipment
• Conduct of actual WEM
• Analysis of samples and evaluation of results
• Evaluate the existing control measures and recommend measures to improve the work
environment efficiently and economically
CONTROL - a process of conception,
education, design and implementation of
beneficial interventions and changes
carried out that reduces, minimizes,
eliminates, decreases or downgrade hazardous conditions. • The correct recognition and careful
evaluation of the hazards are extremely important and will constitute the basis of appropriate
control measures.
Hazard Prevention and Control
Effective controls protect workers from workplace hazards; help avoid injuries, illnesses, and
incidents; minimize or eliminate safety and health risks; and help employers provide workers
with safe and healthful working conditions. The processes described in this section will help
employers prevent and control hazards identified in the previous section.
To effectively control and prevent hazards, employers should:
Involve workers, who often have the best understanding of the conditions that create hazards
and insights into how they can be controlled.
Identify and evaluate options for controlling hazards, using a "hierarchy of controls."
Use a hazard control plan to guide the selection and implementation of controls, and
implement controls according to the plan.
Develop plans with measures to protect workers during emergencies and nonroutine
activities.
Evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls to determine whether they continue to provide
protection, or whether different controls may be more effective. Review new technologies for
their potential to be more protective, more reliable, or less costly.
Actions that can be done to prevent future accidents
Action item 1: Identify control options
Action item 2: Select controls
Action item 3: Develop and update a hazard control plan
Action item 4: Select controls to protect workers during nonroutine operations and emergencies
Action item 5: Implement selected controls in the workplace
Action item 6: Follow up to confirm that controls are effective
