Module 2:

2-A EVALUATION OF RISKS AND HAZARDS

WORK ENVIRONMENT
MEASUREMENT

BESO SAFETY TRAININGS & CONSULTANCY SERVICES

DOLE Accredited OSH Training Organization: No. 1030-061721-127

thebesoproject@gmail.com #AngatAngEpektibo
 OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the module, participants will be able to:

• Discuss Work Environment Measurement (WEM) and

its importance in evaluation the hazards in the
workplace and monitoring of exposure of workers.
• Comply with industrial hygiene-related OSHS
provisions and other issuances, laws and guidelines.
• Explain the Threshold Limit Values (TLV) and its
importance in evaluating workers’ exposure.
 CONTENTS

• Definition of Work Environment Measurement (WEM)

• Rule 1070 of Occupational Safety and Health Standards

(OSHS)

• Department Order No. 160-16 – Guidelines on the

Accreditation of Consulting Organizations to Provide
WEM Services

• Purpose and Types of Work Environment Measurement /

Monitoring

• Evaluation of Health Hazards

 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE

Industrial Hygiene Principles: Safe Work Environment and Safe and Healthy Workers,
therefore protecting workers via improving the work environment condition, and preventive
approach to eliminate and reduce the occurrence of occupational illnesses.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(DEFINITION)

WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT

“ Refers to the sampling and analysis carried out in

respect of the atmospheric working environment and other
fundamental elements of working environment for the
purpose of determining actual conditions therein.
”
– OSHS Rule 1077.02
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(PURPOSE)

• To determine the extent of exposure to harmful levels of physical and

chemical agents as well as hazardous materials present in the
workplace.

• To evaluate both actual and potential exposures to environmental

hazards encountered by workers.

• To set inspection priorities based on regional assessment of work

environment assessment (WEA) data.

• To utilize obtained measurements for recommending appropriate

control measures in the workplace in order to minimize the exposure
levels, if not to eliminate the hazards.

• To provide policy formulators with WEA data which will be used for
improvement of Philippine Standards and other issuances.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(IMPORTANCE)

Reasons for conducting work measurement/monitoring:

• evaluating the degree of employee exposure to hazardous

materials on the job

• identification of the tasks or processes that could be sources

of peak exposures

• evaluation of the impact of process changes and control

measures

• compliance with occupational and environmental regulations

 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(PARAMETERS)

WEM PARAMETERS

• Ammonia
• Chlorine
Chemicals
• Formaldehyde
• Cyanide

• Mercury
Other chemicals
• Phenol

• Heat stress
• Illumination
Physical hazards • Noise
• Vibration
• Temperature/humidity

Dust Asbestos
Organic solvents Heavy metals
Acids Gases
Source: OSHC website
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(OSHS RULE 1077 ON WEM REQUIREMENTS)

• WEM shall include temperature, humidity, pressure,

illumination, ventilation, and concentration of substances and
noise.
• 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 the enforcing authority.

The employer shall exert efforts to maintain and control the

working environment in comfortable and healthy conditions
for the purpose of promoting and maintaining the health of
his workers.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(OSHS RULE 1077 ON WEM REQUIREMENTS)

• Be performed periodically as may be necessary but not

longer than annually.

• Be performed by the safety and medical personnel who have

taken adequate training and experience in WEM (internal
monitoring). Note: Internal WEM also requires calibrated
industrial hygiene equipment.

• In the event of inability to perform the WEM, the employer

shall commission the Bureau/Occupational Safety and Health
Center (OSHC)/Regional Labor Office concerned and other
institutions accredited or recognized by the Bureau, to
perform the measurement.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(D.O. 160-16 ON WEM GUIDELINES)

Prohibition in the Practice of WEM

• Establishments shall only seek WEM services from

accredited WEM Providers. Otherwise, the WEM shall not
be regarded as compliant with Rule 1077 (Working
Environment Measurement) of the OSHS.

• No person or organization shall be allowed or hired to

provide WEM services unless the requirements of this
rule are complied with.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(AIR SAMPLING DEFINITION)

AIR SAMPLING
• The process of quantifying or determining the concentration of
contaminants using sampling and analytical techniques that require
standard sampling equipment (IH Equipment), technique and strategy.

• The sampling can be done into two air sampling methods:

– Direct Measurement – use of industrial equipment for immediate

result of measurement.

– (Indirect) Integrated Sampling – using a sampling train basically,

consist of sampling medium, tubing and air sampling pumps. (two
types: active sampling, and passive sampling)
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(AIR SAMPLING TECHNIQUES)

• Air sampling can be conducted for long or short periods depending upon
what type of chemical hazards.

Two general sampling techniques:

• GRAB SAMPLING – collection of air samples over a short

period of time

• INTEGRATED SAMPLING – collection of air samples over a

longer period of time

• The trained Industrial Hygienist or Sampling Technician based on

Department Order No. 160-16 may decide to collect two types of
sampling:

• PERSONAL SAMPLE
• AREA SAMPLE
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHY SAMPLE THE AIR?)

TO KNOW:

• WHICH substance is the worker exposed?

• HOW MUCH substance is the worker exposed?
• WHEN does the exposure happen?

• Forms the basis for prevention measures.

An air sample requires three basic measurements:

1) amount of pollutant collected;
2) flow of air through the medium, and;
3) the run time in minutes.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(DESIGNING THE SAMPLING STRATEGY)

• To accurately measure airborne contaminant levels, a

sampling strategy must be devised.

• Preparation of a sampling strategy needs to take into

account the following basic questions:

– WHAT TO SAMPLE
– WHERE TO SAMPLE
– WHOM TO SAMPLE
– WHEN TO SAMPLE
– HOW TO SAMPLE
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHAT TO SAMPLE)

• Do we sample ALL the contaminants? Answer is NO

• We prioritize based on the following:

– Inherent toxicity of the chemical agent
– Quantities used and generated
– Number of workers exposed
– Anticipated duration and concentration of exposure
– Confidence in the engineering controls
– Anticipated changes in the process or controls
– Threshold limit value
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHERE TO SAMPLE)

WHERE TO SAMPLE

Decided based mainly on the following:

• working position of workers suspected to have high concentration of
contaminant
• near the source of the contaminants
• in processes and equipment/machineries

• For PERSONAL sampling, sampling media is placed on person near

breathing zone (~10-inch radius from employees’ nose).

• For AREA, sampling 50-150 centimeters above the floor to prevent

particulates accumulated on the floor from being taken into a collecting
device.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHERE TO SAMPLE – PERSONAL SAMPLING)

PERSONAL SAMPLING
• give the best estimate of worker’s exposure
• sampling train is worn by individual in breathing zone
• the breathing zone is defined as being within a 30 cm radius of nose and
mouth
• usually done during a specific time period, often an 8-hour shift or a 15-
minute period

Employee carries
the sampling
apparatus while
performing
job/task for
duration of shift.
WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHERE TO SAMPLE – PERSONAL SAMPLING)
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHERE TO SAMPLE – PERSONAL SAMPLING)

Personal sampling for welding fumes. Personal noise dosimeter.

(chemical hazards) (physical hazard)
WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHERE TO SAMPLE – PERSONAL SAMPLING)
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHERE TO SAMPLE – AREA SAMPLING)

AREA SAMPLING
• Sampling apparatus is placed in the area in which a toxic agent is
generated.
• Good for source evaluation (oriented towards machines, equipment or
areas rather than persons).
• May not represent worker’s exposure.
• Often, it is placed in a location that represents a worst-case
scenario exposure.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHEN TO SAMPLE)

• In every shift/normal working hour

• When there is change in process, equipment or raw material
• Upon installation of control devices
• Compliance to OSH standard

Time of Measurement
• Ideally, when normal operation takes place, when there is modification
or changes in process, machines or raw material and in every
shift/during normal working hour.
• Do not measure during break time and times when machines are idle or
not operating.
• Further, measurement should start at least one hour after start-up
time.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(WHOM TO SAMPLE)

Do we sample ALL workers? Ideally, YES but it

is impractical.

Selecting employees to sample, two approaches:

1. Group workers based on similarity of expected

exposure.

2. Select workers with highest risk.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(HOW TO SAMPLE)

Sampling and Analytical Methods

• Use accepted Industrial Hygiene (IH) sampling method

that has been validated by a professional IH organization
(e.g. NIOSH, OSHA, USEPA, etc.).

• This is to ensure that both the sampling and analysis

methods are reliable and produce reproducible
results.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(HOW TO SAMPLE)

HOW LONG TO SAMPLE

SAMPLING TYPES DURATION

Full-shift Samples • usually 7-8 hours, or shift duration (TLV-TWA)

Short-term Samples • usually 15 minutes (TLV-STEL)

Task-based Samples • duration of task, usually 1-8 hours (TWA or STEL)

Grab Samples • instantaneous readings, usually seconds (TLV-C)

• Real-time or Grab Sampling are usually taken for short periods of time
to indicate peak airborne concentrations.
• Integrated Sampling consists of one or a series of samples taken for the
full or partial duration of the time averaging period.
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(HOW TO SAMPLE)

EQUIPMENT USED FOR REAL-TIME OR GRAB SAMPLING

KWIK DRAW PUMPS DETECTOR TUBES MULTI-GAS METER

(gases/vapors) (gas) (gases)
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(HOW TO SAMPLE)

EQUIPMENT USED FOR INTEGRATED SAMPLING

 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(SAMPLING EQUIPMENT – HIGH VOLUME)

ACTIVE SAMPLING FOR MIST

ACTIVE SAMPLING FOR

ORGANIC SOLVENT

ACTIVE SAMPLING FOR PARTICULATES

WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(AIR SAMPLING DEVICES)
WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(AIR SAMPLING MEDIA)
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES)

Analytical Equipment Sample

• Gas Chromatograph • Solvents

• High Performance Liquid
• Inorganic chemicals
Chromatograph
• Atomic Absorption
• Metals
Spectrophotometer
• X-ray Diffractometer • Mineral dust
• Phase Contrast Microscope • Asbestos fibers
• Acids and Other
• UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
Chemicals
 WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
(ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES - EQUIPMENT)

GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROPHOTOMETER

X-RAY DIFFRACTOMETER UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETER

INTERPRETATION OF
RESULTS
 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS

What will you do

with the results
of measurements
 EVALUATION OF RESULTS OF WEM

• The results of measurement are evaluated to

determine whether or not they represent actual
health hazards.

• Results are compared with the OSH Standards.

 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
(HYGIENE STANDARDS FOR CHEMICAL AGENTS)

COUNTRY/UNION –
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS (OELs) ORGANIZATION/GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES
Threshold Limit Value (TLV) DOLE, Philippines

Threshold Limit Value (TLV) ACGIH, USA

Permissible Exposure Levels (PELs) OSHA, USA

Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) NIOSH, USA

Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels (WEELs) AIHA, USA

Workplace Exposure Standards (WES) New Zealand

Occupational Exposure Standards (OES) Australia

Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) UK

Maximum Allowable Concentrations (MAC) Russia

Maximale Arbeeitsplatz-Konzentration (MAK) Germany
Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Value (OELVs) Europe
 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
(THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES – TLVs)

THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES (TLVs)

• refer to time weighted concentrations for an 8-hour workday and a

total of forty-eight (48) hours work of exposure per week

– Occupational Safety and Health

Standards (OSHS)

• refer to airborne concentrations of chemical substances and represent

conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be
repeatedly exposed, day after day, over a working lifetime, without
adverse health effects.

– American Conference of Governmental

Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
(THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUES – TLVs)

• TLV - TIME WEIGHTED AVERAGE (TWA)

• TWA concentration for a conventional 8 hour exposure or 40 – hour
work week

• TLV – SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE LEVEL (STEL)

• Concentration to which workers exposed at a given time. Example: 500
ppm (15 mins peak)

• TLV - CEILING
• Concentration that should not be exceeded during any part of the
working exposure. Example: Hydrogen Chloride TLV-C = 500 PPM

If any of these TLV types are exceeded, a potential

hazard from that substance is presumed to exist.
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(TLV FOR AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS - OSHS)

Table 8: Threshold Limit Values for Airborne Contaminants

Substances ppm* mg/m3**
Ammonia 50 30
Benzene 25 80
Carbon Monoxide 50 55
Chlorine 1 3
Chromium - 1
Copper Fume - 1
Formaldehyde (ceiling) 5 6
Hydrogen Sulfide 10 15
Iron Oxide Fume - 10
Lead - 0.15
Manganese (ceiling) - 5
Mercury (skin) - 0.01
Nitric Oxide 25 30
Toluene 100 375
Zinc Oxide Fume - 5
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(TLV FOR MINERAL DUSTS – OSHS TABLE 8a)

Substance mppcf* mg/m3

Silica:
Crystalline
• Quartz (respirable) (250a) / (%SiO2 + 5) (10 mg/m3) / (%SiO2 + 2)
• Quartz (total dust) - (30 mg/m3) / (%SiO2 + 3)
Use ½ the value calculated from the
• Cristobalite
count or mass formulate for quartz
Use ½ the value calculated from the
• Tridymite
formulate for quartz
• Amorphous, including natural 80 mg/M
20
distomaceous earth %SiO2

Silicates (less than 1% crystalline silica:

• Mica 20
• Soapstone 20
• Talc (non-asbestos form) 20(b)
• Portland cement 50
• Graphite (natural) 15

Inert or nuisance particulates

• Respirable fraction 15
• Total dust 50
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(TLV FOR HUMAN CARCINOGENS)

HUMAN CARCINOGENS – RECOGNIZED TO HAVE

CARCINOGENIC POTENTIALS (OSHS TABLE 8d)
CArsenic trioxide 0.05 m/m3
CChromite ore (processing chromite) as Cr 0.05 mg/m3
CNickel sulfide (fume and dusts) as Ni 1.00 mg/m3
CParticulate
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as
0.20 mg/m3
benzene solubles

TLV for Asbestos – Source: Department Order No. 154-2016 – Safety and Health
Standards on the Use and Management of Asbestos in the Workplace
CAsbestos 0.1 fiber/cm3
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(PERMISSIBLE NOISE EXPOSURE - OSHS)

Duration per day Sound Levels, dB(A), slow response

8 hours 90

6 hours 92

4 hours 95

3 hours 97

2 hours 100

1 hour and 30 minutes 102

1 hour 105

30 minutes 110

15 minutes 115
*Ceiling value: No exposure in excess of 115 dB(A) is allowed.
Source: Table 8b Permissible Noise Exposure, Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS)
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(ILLUMINATION LEVELS – OSHS TABLE 8c)

Minimum Lighting Minimum Lighting

Area of Operation Area of Operation
Levels and Task (Lux) Levels and Task (Lux)

Color grading Automotive frame

Cutting cloth assembly
Fine assembly 2000 and above (200 Chemical laboratory
Fine machining foot candles) Core making
Finish inspection First aid station
Sewing cloth Foundry molding
500 (50 foot candles)
Medium quality machine
Accounting and benchwork
Chipping Metal pouring
Clay enameling and Planing
glazing Punch press
Coil winding and testing Rough Sanding
Drafting Rubber extrusion and tire
1,000 (100 foot
Electric motor insulating making
candles)
Grinding Shearing
Fine core making Sizing
Indexing references Sorting 500 (50 foot candles)
Inspection and assembly Spinning
Machine shop benchwork Stamping
Pattern making Welding
Transcribing handwriting Woodworking
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(HEAT STRESS EXPOSURE – ACGIH)

ACGIH Screening Criteria for TLV and Action Limit for Heat Stress Exposure (WBGT values in °C)
for 8-hour work day five days per week with conventional breaks

TLV (Acclimatized) Action Limit (Unacclimatized)

Allocation of Work in a
Work/Rest Cycle Light Moderate Heavy Very Heavy Light Moderate Heavy Very Heavy

75-100% 31.0 28.0 -- -- 28.0 25.0 -- --

50-75% 31.0 29.0 27.5 -- 28.5 26.0 24.0 --

25-50% 32.0 30.0 29.0 28.0 29.5 27.0 25.5 24.5

0-25% 32.5 31.5 30.5 30.0 30.0 29.0 28.0 27.0

Adapted from: 2017 TLVs® and BEIs® - Threshold Limit Values for Chemical Substances and Physical Agents and
Biological Exposure Indices. Cincinnati: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), 2017, p.
238.
 THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
(BIOLOGICAL EXPOSURE INDICES)
Chemical Agent Biological Exposure Index Reference Value
Acetone • Acetone in urine 100 mg/liter
Arsenic and soluble
• Inorganic arsenic metabolites in urine 50 g/g creatinine
compounds including arsine
• Phenol in urine 50 mg/g creatinine
Benzene
• Benzene in exhaled air 0.12 ppm
• Carboxyhemoglobin in blood 3.5%
Carbon monoxide
• Carbon monoxide in exhaled air 20 ppm
Lead • Lead in blood 30 g/dl
• Inorganic mercury in urine 35 g/g creatinine
Mercury
• Inorganic mercury in blood 15 g/liter
• Hippuric acid in urine
2.5 g/g creatinine
Toluene • Toluene in venous blood
1 mg/liter
• Toluene in exhaled air

• Trichloroacetic acid in urine 100 mg/g creatinine

• Trichloroacetic acid and trichloroethanol in urine
300 mg/g creatinine
Trichloroethylene • Free trichloroethanol in blood
• Trichloroethylene in blood
• Trichloroethylene in exhaled air 4 mg/liter

Xylenes • Methylhippuric acids in urine 1.5 g/g creatinine

Source: The Biological Exposure Indices: A Key Component in Protecting Workers from Toxic Chemicals, Michael S. Morgan,
Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 105, Supplement I - February 1997
questions
 KEY POINTS

• Employers shall exert effort to maintain, control and carry

out WEM to their workplace.

• Provisions of OSH Standards Rule 1077 and related

DOLE issuances must be complied with.

• The conduct of WEM through area or personal monitoring

is important to know the levels of exposure of the
workers to the different hazards in the workplace.

• Threshold Limit Value is defined and categorized into three:

Time Weighted Average, Short-term Exposure Limit
and Ceiling.
 KEY POINTS

• The levels of exposure should be compared with the

TLVs.

• Measured values must be within or should not exceed the

TLV to ensure health of the workers.

• Measured values in action level or has exceeded the

TLVs should be appropriately controlled.

• Other references or guidelines that are not specified in

the OSHS may be used to evaluate health hazards in the
workplace.
THAT WOULD BE ALL. THANK YOU!