Unit IV Journal

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School

Columbia Southern University *

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Course

ENV 6302

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Health Science

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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docx

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Ernest Mungong Unit IV Journal Consider that an employee within a company-sponsored (OSHA required) medical monitoring program for your industry has just had an annual work physical and now reports to have pulmonary stress, hearing damage, and elevated blood lead (Pb) concentrations that were not previously reported on the employee’s pre-employment exam. As a result, the human resources manager has asked you to help determine what work-related variables may have contributed to the employee’s impacted health. What variables would you need to consider from within the work system, and what questions would you need to ask the worker to consider from within the worker’s area of residence? How would you attempt to delineate the air quality impacts from the employee’s work system and home? Poor air quality can result from different sources, such as industrial, commercial, residential, transportation and manufacturing plants. As a company that emits various Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and exempt solvents (ES), there should be some monitoring program to ensure employees are protected from poor air quality through personal sampling equipment or air quality models. It is essential to monitor air quality in any workplace to determine new pollutant-related environmental effects of pollution sources. The air quality model is also used to determine compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs) and the extent of emissions reductions necessary to achieve standards in an area that is not in compliance with a NAAQS. The National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Air Toxics provisions of clean legislation regulates air toxics, from sources such as localized exposures. In North America, activities of this nature are regulated to ensure workers are protected from exposure and the chronic effects of relatively low-level exposures. Considering the case of one employee whose annual work physical reports indicating "pulmonary stress, hearing damage, and elevated blood lead (Pb) concentrations," which was never reported prior pre- employment exam, an assessment of the work system needs to be conducted to determine what work-related variables may have contributed to the employees impacted health. Poor air quality can result from pollutants that can cause serious long-term health effects and others with less toxic substances that can also impact health in high concentration and exposure time. Verifying the safety data sheets (SDS) information is

critical, including inspection of the workplace where the worker has been performing their tasks. Inspecting the workplace is to ensure there is an adequate ventilation system and making sure there is no dust buildup. Questions to ask the worker would verify if they were wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) while carrying out their task. Questions about the worker's age, lifestyle, and gender can be asked to determine the health impact. Hearing damage could have resulted from sound energy transmitted through the air environment. The worker will be asked how long they have been performing the set task and how often they take breaks during their daily work hours and over the time they were employed. An attempt to delineate the air quality impacts on the employees is to ensure the use of proper personal protective equipment, such as a facial mask and soundproof earmuffs. Measuring air quality in decibels (dB) will determine how air quality impacts the worker. Regarding the worker’s residence, the worker may have had some exposure at home, which is somehow less than the exposure in the workplace. One could ask a question such as, is there anyone in the household who smoke and if there are any mold elements in the home? With this information gathered and the workplace data (measurement), the worker's consent is required as a legal requirement to enter their home to collect air samples which will be analyzed. According to the company policy, these requirements must be met, without which accurate information regarding the worker’s condition cannot be confirmed. It is, however, a difficult task to perform.

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