Industrial Hygiene Flashcards

When conducting personal air monitoring, the sampling device should be positioned:

Answer: Within 12 inches of the nose and mouth (breathing zone)

Personal air samples must be collected in the breathing zone — within 12 inches of the nose and mouth — to accurately represent the air a worker actually inhales.

Which instrument is most appropriate for real-time monitoring of oxygen levels in a confined space?

Answer: Direct-reading electrochemical oxygen meter

A direct-reading electrochemical oxygen meter provides immediate, continuous measurement of oxygen levels, which is essential for confined space entry decisions.

Under OSHA's Noise Standard, the action level that triggers a Hearing Conservation Program is:

Answer: 85 dBA TWA

OSHA requires employers to implement a Hearing Conservation Program when worker noise exposures equal or exceed 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA — the action level.

A noise dosimeter reading of 100% corresponds to exposure at:

Answer: 90 dBA for 8 hours

A 100% noise dose equals exactly the OSHA PEL of 90 dBA for 8 hours; any reading above 100% indicates an overexposure.

Wipe sampling in industrial hygiene is primarily used to assess:

Answer: Surface contamination with hazardous substances

Wipe (surface) sampling quantifies contamination on work surfaces with substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, or biological agents.

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is primarily used to evaluate:

Answer: Heat stress risk to workers

WBGT is the most widely accepted occupational index for assessing heat stress, as it accounts for humidity, radiant heat, and air movement simultaneously.

In air sampling, the minimum quantifiable concentration (MQC) represents:

Answer: The lowest concentration that can be reliably quantified by the analytical method

The MQC is the lowest airborne concentration that can be reliably and accurately quantified using the specific sampling and analytical method employed.