Exposure Recognition and Control
Doug Noble
Industrial Hygiene is the "art and science" devoted to anticipating, identifying, evaluating, and controlling workplace hazards, particularly as these relate to human exposures to chemicals, and physical and biological agents. These hazards may take the form of gases, vapors, aerosols, dusts mists, fumes, noise, vibration, heat/ cold, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and biological agents (i.e., molds, bacteria, viruses). Industrial hygiene aspects are integral to several EHS programs at Penn State; however, personnel exposures to many of these agents may vary across Penn State's operations. These may range from agent exposures in nanomaterial research and materials engineering, to construction, maintenance, arts, laboratory design/start-up/operation/de-commissioning, and varied clean-up actions. The industrial hygiene program seeks to identify, assess, and control these varied exposures across the Penn State system.
Program Applicability
The Exposure Recognition and Control program applies to:
- Faculty, staff, students, and researchers who may be exposed to chemical, physical, or biological hazards during university activities.
- Work units and operations where hazardous materials, processes, equipment, or environmental conditions are present.
- Supervisors and managers responsible for evaluating workplace hazards and ensuring appropriate controls are in place.
This program supports exposure assessment and control activities across laboratories, shops, maintenance operations, field work, clinical environments, and other university settings.
Program Requirements
Hazard Recognition—work units and supervisors are expected to:
- Identify potential health and safety hazards associated with job tasks and work processes.
- Evaluate how employees may be exposed through inhalation, skin contact, ingestion, or physical interaction.
- Request assistance from EHS when specialized exposure assessments or monitoring are needed.
Exposure Control Measures—when hazards are identified, exposure controls should be implemented using the hierarchy of controls, including:
- Engineering controls (e.g., ventilation, enclosure, isolation)
- Administrative controls (e.g., procedures, work practices, scheduling)
- Personal protective equipment (PPE), when other controls cannot fully eliminate exposure
Training and Awareness:
- Employees must receive job‑specific training related to hazards and required control measures.
- Supervisors must ensure employees understand safe work practices and proper use of controls and PPE.
Program Support:
- EHS provides guidance, evaluations, and recommendations to support effective exposure recognition and control.
- Documentation and follow‑up may be required depending on the hazard, regulatory requirements, and risk level.
Documents and Forms
- Penn State EHS – 3D Printing Health & Safety Guide
- The Penn State EHS – 3D Printing Health and Safety Guide should be referenced by Penn State work units for guidance and direction in planning, design and installation of 3D printer/systems.
- Penn State EHS Liquid Nitrogen Cryogen SOP
Additional Resources
Health Effect Resources
- National Toxicology Program - Report on Carcinogens - Periodic report regarding carcinogenic properties and classification of chemicals.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine - TOXNET/Hazardous Substance Data Bank - Toxicology data information and summaries for various hazardous and toxic agents.
Nanomaterials
Website Resources