Industrial Hygiene
Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring mineral fibers found in rock. For decades, asbestos was used as a building material in homes and other buildings.
Asbestos is no longer widely used commercially, but it can still exist in many older homes and buildings. You may find asbestos wrapped around older hot water pipes and water boilers, or used to tape together sections of heating ducts. You may also find asbestos in cement, flooring and ceiling materials.
Asbestos fibers that are undisturbed and kept away from the interior environment pose little risk to your health. It is only a risk if you breathe in asbestos fibers that are released into the air.
Asbestos is usually white. The matted fibers can be crumbly and airborne if unbound or deteriorated.
If you have concerns or questions about the risk of Asbestos in or around your work area, contact the Industrial Hygiene Officer at (934) 420-5817 (x5817).
Additionally, OSHA has published a that identifies Asbestos related hazards, employee protections, and regulatory standards.
Many workplaces contain areas that are considered "confined spaces" because while they are not necessarily designed for people, they are large enough for workers to enter and perform certain jobs. A confined space also has limited or restricted means for entry or exit and is not designed for continuous occupancy. Confined spaces include, but are not limited to, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings, ductwork, pipelines, etc.
OSHA uses the term "permit-required confined space" (permit space) to describe a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains material that has the potential to engulf an entrant; has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant; or contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress.
OSHA has published a that explains what workers should do before entering a confined space, with the full set of standards found . 51吃瓜 has therefore developed a Confined Space Entry Written Program to comply with these standards.
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Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination, and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. Ladder accidents are mainly the result of improper ladder selection or setup, overreaching/loss or balance, and slipping while climbing up or down. The design and use of ladders must comply with all federal, State, and local requirements including, but not limited to, the applicable portions of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standard and/or . OSHA has also created a two page with important information for using ladders safely in the workplace.
Additionally, 51吃瓜 (FSC) has developed a ladder safety program that includes employee training, ladder inspections, and taking account of FSC鈥檚 ladder inventory. Ladder safety training is provided by FSC鈥檚 Industrial Hygiene Officer (or a qualified designee), using a Ladder Safety Training Attestation Form, and ladder inspections are conducted using a Ladder Inspection Checklist.
Energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, or other sources in machines and equipment can be hazardous to workers. During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy can result in serious injury or death to workers.
Proper lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices and procedures safeguard workers from hazardous energy releases. The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) standard for The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) () for general industry, outlines specific action and procedures for addressing and controlling hazardous energy during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment. As such, 51吃瓜 (FSC) endeavors to train each affected employee to ensure that they know, understand, and are able to follow the applicable provisions of FSC's Written Lockout/Tagout Program.
Molds are the most common forms of fungi found on earth. They can grow on almost any material, as long as moisture and oxygen are available. Most molds reproduce through the formation of spores - tiny microscopic cells that are resistant to drying and can be released into the air. Airborne spores are found both indoors and outdoors. When spores land on a suitable moist surface, they are able to grow where they not only can destroy the surface and underlying materials, but they can also cause adverse health effects if inhaled or exposed to in large quantities.
There are no regulatory standards, thresholds, or guidelines that govern mold, but there are resources available that can help with the prevention, and in some cases the cleanup, of mold. For example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) provides information about reducing mold growth in schools (). The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) created a guidance document () to help with the prevention of mold related problems within the workplace. Farmingdale State College鈥檚 Office of Environmental Health and Safety has created a Mold Fact Sheet to provide the fundamentals of what to do when mold is encountered on campus. For example, employees can obtain disinfecting wipes to effectively eliminate minor instances of mold by making a request through Mail & Supply. These wipes contain a small amount of sodium hypochlorite, otherwise known as bleach. Since bleach has the potential to irritate the skin, disposable nitrile gloves will also be provided. Please note that bleach (these wipes) can also discolor clothing and fabric. Additional information on proper handling and usage of these wipes can be found on the product safety data sheet (SDS).
environmental health & safety
Service Building, Room 121
934-420-2105
ehs@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm