Which statement best describes the primary objective of industrial hygiene?

Which statement best describes the primary objective of industrial hygiene?

• A. Anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control workplace hazards to protect worker health
• B. Improve production efficiency
• C. Reduce labor costs
• D. Improve PPE compliance only

Answer: (A)

Industrial hygiene focuses on protecting worker health by anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards. This approach starts by anticipating what hazards could be present in a job (materials, processes, conditions). It then involves recognizing the hazards that actually exist in the workplace (chemical exposures, noise, heat, ergonomic risks). Next comes evaluating exposures, which means measuring or estimating how much and for how long workers are exposed and comparing those levels to health-based limits to assess risk. Finally, control measures are applied to reduce or eliminate exposure, following the hierarchy of controls—from eliminating the hazard or substituting a safer process, to engineering controls, administrative controls, and using PPE as a last resort. The primary aim is to prevent illness and injury, not just to improve efficiency, cut costs, or ensure PPE use alone.

Industrial hygiene focuses on protecting worker health by anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards. This approach starts by anticipating what hazards could be present in a job (materials, processes, conditions). It then involves recognizing the hazards that actually exist in the workplace (chemical exposures, noise, heat, ergonomic risks). Next comes evaluating exposures, which means measuring or estimating how much and for how long workers are exposed and comparing those levels to health-based limits to assess risk. Finally, control measures are applied to reduce or eliminate exposure, following the hierarchy of controls—from eliminating the hazard or substituting a safer process, to engineering controls, administrative controls, and using PPE as a last resort. The primary aim is to prevent illness and injury, not just to improve efficiency, cut costs, or ensure PPE use alone.