CONTROL OF

WORK
ENVIRONMENT
Objectives:
At the end of the session, the participants will be able
to:
• Acquire basic knowledge in identifying and
evaluating these hazards; and,
• Recommend appropriate measurement and
controls to improve the workplace.
• Each day millions of workers in our
country enter a battlefield, but they fight
no enemy and conquer no territory. No
borders are in dispute.
• The war they are fighting is against the
potential poisonous chemicals they work
with and adverse working conditions that
place serious mental and physical stress
upon them.
• The battlefield is the Philippine
workplace, and the casualties of this war
are higher than those of any other in
nation’s history.
• refers to the determination of
environmental stresses and their
hazardous effects on worker’s health
through direct measurement of hazards.
Purpose of WEM:
•Determine magnitude of harmful
environmental agents
•Physically check the environment through
measurement
•Predict harmfulness of new facilities, raw
materials, production processes and
working methods
• Monitor worker’s exposure to harmful
substances
• Evaluate the effectiveness of
environmental control measures
adopted to improve the workplace
• Maintain favorable environment
conditions
Types of Environmental Monitoring:
1. Personal Monitoring – is the
measurement of a particular employee’s
exposure to contaminants. The measuring
devise 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 devise is placed
close to the breathing zone of the worker.
2. Area/Environmental Sampling –is the
measurement of a contaminant concentration
in the workroom. The measuring devise 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.
3. Biological Monitoring – involves the
measurement of changes in the
composition of body fluids, tissue or
expired air to determine absorption of a
potentially hazardous material. Examples
are measurement of lead and mercury in
blood or in urine.
 Luxmeter Sound level meter Psychrometer
(Illumination) (noise) (relative humidity) Anemometer
(air movement)

Vibration analyzer Wet bulb thermometer Gas detector Geiger counter

(vibration) (temperature) (hazardous gas) (radiation)
Sample WEM Equipment 12
Comparison of measurement results to
different Standards

13
1. Threshold Limit Values- Time-Weighted
Average (TLV-TWA) is the time-
weighted average concentration for a
normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour
workweek to which nearly all workers
may be repeatedly exposed, day after
day without adverse health effects.
2. Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL)
Is the maximum concentration to which
workers can be exposed continuously for 15
minutes without suffering from any of the
following:
•Irritation
•Chronic or irreversible tissue damage
•Narcosis (unconsciousness) of sufficient
degree to increase the likelihood of
accidental injury, impair self-rescue or
materially reduce work efficiency.
3. Threshold Limit Values- Ceiling (TLV-C)
Is the concentration that should not be
exceeded during any part of the working
exposure. For example the noise permissible
exposure based on Occupational Safety and
Health Standards (OSHS) should not be
exceeded.
 NOISE EVALUATION DATA:
Instrument Used ___________________ Model _______________
Type of Noise ( ) Continuous ( ) Impact or Impulse
Weather Condition _______________________________

Diagram

Measuring Sampling Noise No. of REMARKS

Point- Time Level Workers
Work HH:MM (dBA) Exposed
Process

18
 ILLUMINATION EVALUATION DATA:
Weather Condition _______________Instrument Used ___________________
Natural Light Sources_________________ Model _______________

Diagram

Measuring Sampling Illumination No. of REMARKS

Point- Time Level Workers
Work HH:MM (lux) Exposed
Process

19
 Workplace Environment Assessment

Sketch of Worksite and location Various locations in the

of measuring points
workplace where
measurements were
A C made in an area
where workers are
N
B closest to the source of
hazards as indicated
A- Production Area
by letters. Compass
B- Punch Press Area
C- Painting Area
indicates direction.
N- Magnetic North

20
A1
A1 A2 B1 C1
A1 B1 C2
A5
A1B1
A3 A4 B2 C3

Production Area Punch Press Area Painting Area

Illumination Level = 350 lux

Noise Level = 110 dBA
Airflow = 40.1 m/min.

21
 1. Engineering Control
2. Administrative Control
3. Personal Protective Equipment Control
• It is the primary and most effective control
measure recommended for the minimization or
elimination of hazards.
• This includes changes in the work processes or
work environment with the objective of controlling
the health hazard either by eliminating the
responsible agents or reducing them to levels
believed not harmful to health as well as
preventing them from coming into contact with
workers.
1. Discontinuation of the process
A process, which utilizes, produces or
leads to the formation of the harmful
agent may be discontinued, or a certain
agent banned.
2. Replacement of Materials Used
•Substitution of materials can be very
effective way of controlling a hazardous
exposure and it may or may not involve a
change in the work process.
•The possible alternative should be
investigated and factors such as
technological and economic feasibility, as
well as availability of the substitute material in
the market should be considered.
3. Modifications in the process and/or Equipment
Modifications in processes, operation or equipment
should be undertaken to:
•Reduce contaminant generation
•Eliminate or decrease the formulation of
undesired products
•Eliminate or minimize physical contact
between the worker and the hazardous agents
4. Maintenance of equipment
Well-maintained, well-regulated products
and equipment usually give off less
contaminants
5. Isolation
Harmful agents can be isolated in order
not come into contact with the workers.
This can be achieve by interposing
between the agent and the worker, a
barrier or shield, distance or time.
6. Supply or extraction
It is the process of supplying or removing
(air) by natural or mechanical means to
and from any space.
These are the control measures that can be
readily implemented by the management:
•Rotation of job assignments
•Adjusting work schedules
•Maintenance, good
housekeeping
•Education of supervisors
•Emergency response training
•Employee information
• The worker can be isolated from the hazardous
environment by means of personal protective
equipment.
• The use of personal protective equipment is a
control directed to the receiver. This control is
considered as the last resort and in some cases
temporarily used while pertinent engineering
control is not yet implemented.
 DEVICE AMOUNT OF NOISE
REDUCTION
Ear plugs
• Cotton wool 8 dB
• Waxed cotton 20 dB
• Molded acrylic 18- 25 dB
• Mass-produced rubber 18 dB
plugs
Ear muffs
• Heavy 40 dB
• Medium 35 dB
• Light 25 dB
PPE samples are:

34
• DOLE. 2006. Occupational Safety & Health Standards.
Philippines.
• Goetsch. 1996. Occupational Safety & Health. USA.
• Grimaldi & Simonds. 2004. Safety Management. USA.
• National Safety Council. 1988. Accident Prevention Manual for
Industrial Operations. USA.
• Niño, et al. 1992. Industrial Safety. Philippines.
• PEME Consultancy.
THE END