Our team at CIH Enterprises, Inc. are industrial hygienists and toxicologists specialists who most commonly provide support through the on-site incident command structure during active response situations. They are also involved in addressing exposure and health related issues after the initial active emergency response phase ends, as well as in emergency response planning. Our team is senior in nature with CSP, CIH, toxicologists, geophysics, chemists, and retired government regulators.
The following provides examples of what industrial hygienists and toxicologists can do related to chemical-related emergency planning, preparedness, and response:
Industrial Hygienists
Industrial hygienists in the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s Incident Preparedness and Response Working Group have developed a “White Paper” on “Industrial Hygienists’ Role and Responsibilities In Emergency Preparedness and Response.” This white paper contains the following summary and notes the following initiatives. At CIH Enterprises, Inc. our team members have been AIHA members for decades and continue to be active members.
As industrial hygienists we play a significant role in protecting the lives of our nation’s response personnel, its support staff, and the surrounding community. industrial hygienists’ technical expertise in occupational and environmental health and safety issues are applicable to a variety of natural disasters, hazardous chemical, biological or radiological releases, and terrorism events. Industrial Hygienists can effectively identify and control risks during Pre-Planning, Emergency Response, and Consequence Management Phases of an incident.
Through the appointed Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Task Force, we as AIHA members will focus the on the following objectives:
- Identify educational and training opportunities, through its Professional Development Courses, Symposiums, and Distance Learning venues, involving critical EPR tasks related to IH functions.
- Advise and develop alliances with organizations related to Emergency Planning and Response (e.g., local AIHA Sections, Local Emergency Planning Committees, National Fire Protection Association).
- Recommend EPR tasks, critical to the development of health and safety guidelines for both its members and outside response organizations, to the appropriate AIHA Technical Committees.
Our AIHA members have been director levels inside of AIHA Accredited Laboratories since the 1980s and have been founders of numerous corporations that have approached Industrial Hygiene and Safety and Health from an innovative perspective.
Toxicologists
Our team evaluates routinely the work of Toxicologists working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine do the following:
- Provide technical expertise and site-specific support in addressing the health issues presented by emergency or acute release events and threatened releases of hazardous materials.
- Coordinate agency toxicology and environmental medicine activities with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Toxicology Program (NTP), and other appropriate Federal, State, local, or public programs.
- Establish minimal risk levels (MRLs) for hazardous substances. An MRL is a scientific estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse non-cancerous health effects over a specified duration of exposure.
- Provide substance-specific consultations (toxicological expertise) to state and federal agencies as well as to the general public.
- Develop and apply a program of computational toxicology research to enhance traditional approaches.
The following provides links to information for use by industrial hygienists and toxicologists who may be called on to provide assistance for chemical emergencies.
Exposure assessments
- Tools for modeling and measuring chemical exposures during emergencies
- Setting up of exposure zones and site entry procedures and making shelter-in-place recommendations
- Using exposure assessments to assign PPE requirements
Health Effects Information
- Information on the effects of chemical exposures include: rapid Rrsponse Iiformation and detailed information sources
- Serving as a liaison with medical professionals during both the pre-hospital and hospital phases regarding the nature of the exposures and potential health effects to better inform treatment
- Provide
information and support for communications regarding post emergency health
effects issues
Environmental Control Strategies
Planning Support
Other Helpful Resources
- What is an Industrial Hygienist?
- Resource Guide to Careers in Toxicology
- Incident Preparedness and Response Working Group
- Incident Preparedness and Response Working Group “White Paper” on “Industrial Hygienists’ Role and Responsibilities in Emergency Preparedness and Response”
- AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)
- Workplace Safety & Health Topics – Emergency Preparedness & Response
- Protective Action Criteria for Chemicals