Key California Regulations for Industrial Hygiene Practices

California places a high priority on worker safety and that includes industrial hygiene. State-level regulatory bodies like Cal OSHA are famous for having EHS compliance standards that are even stricter than federal ones. California’s workplace safety regulations regarding industrial hygiene focus on ensuring that workers are not exposed to hazardous chemicals due to bad EHS practices on the part of employers.

In this article, we define and discuss the concept of industrial hygiene, the key Californian regulations that govern it, and the best practices to follow to maintain proper industrial hygiene as an employer. Lastly, we discuss how CDMS industrial hygiene services can help your business stay EHS compliant. 

Understanding Industrial Hygiene in California

Industrial hygiene is the science of anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and controlling workplace conditions that may cause injury or illness to workers. It involves identifying and mitigating hazards such as chemical, physical, biological, or ergonomic risks to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.

Industrial hygiene is important for a variety of reasons. The main goal is to protect workers’ health. The nature of risks to workers’ health will ultimately depend on the industry they’re in. Some workers may require specialized personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Others may require ergonomic training to use proper posture or equipment when working.  The table below shows how industrial hygiene can protect workers in various industries. 

Here is a list of other benefits of industrial hygiene:

1. Ensures regulatory compliance. It helps companies adhere to laws and regulations, avoiding fines and legal issues.
2. Improves productivity. A safe work environment leads to fewer accidents, reducing downtime, lost work hours, and lost efficiency.
3. Reduces healthcare costs. Practicing industrial hygiene prevents work-related illnesses, which in turn lowers medical expenses and insurance claims.
4. Enhances company reputation. Promoting worker safety fosters trust and improves the organization’s public image. 

California is one of the largest states in the US. As a matter of fact, if it were its own country, California would be the fifth-largest economy in the world. A huge part of this economic power relies on the manufacturing (11.8%) and trade, transportation, and utilities sectors (14.5%).

These are heavy industries that pose high risks to the health of workers. Therefore, the numerous workers in these industries would benefit heavily from the proper enforcement of industrial hygiene. 

Key California Regulations for Industrial Hygiene

California’s industrial hygiene regulations are governed primarily by Cal OSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration), which enforces workplace safety laws to protect workers. Key regulations include the following: 

1. Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). This is the primary legal framework that addresses occupational safety standards, including permissible exposure limits (PELs) for chemicals, noise control, ventilation, and respiratory protection.

2. The Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). All employers are required to have an IIPP, which includes identifying and addressing workplace hazards.

3. Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). This standard ensures workers are informed about chemical hazards in the workplace, including labeling and safety data sheets (SDS).

4. Heat Illness Prevention. This regulates outdoor work conditions to protect employees from heat stress.

5. Ergonomics Standard. This standard is designed to prevent repetitive motion injuries by requiring employers to reduce ergonomic risks. This includes proper training of workers on the best ergonomic postures and ways of working, as well as ergonomic engineering designs for equipment and safety. 

These regulations aim to safeguard worker health by minimizing exposure to occupational hazards.

Best Practices to Consider for Industrial Hygiene

Considering the heavy emphasis that the state of California and Cal OSHA place on industrial hygiene, employers should develop an industrial hygiene culture that becomes part of the company’s business ethic. Here are seven best practices that your company  should follow for industrial hygiene to ensure a safe workplace:

1. Workplace Analysis. Regularly inspect and assess work environments to identify potential hazards. This helps prevent harmful exposures and accidents.
2. Hazard Identification. Detect physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic risks through systematic evaluation, ensuring appropriate protective measures are in place.
3. Control Measures. Implement engineering, administrative, and work practice controls to mitigate hazards. This may include improved ventilation or altering work processes to reduce exposure.
4. Use of PPE. Ensure employees use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as respirators and gloves, when necessary.
5. Health Surveillance. Monitor worker’s health regularly to detect early signs of overexposure and implement corrective measures.
6. Training and Education. Provide continuous education to workers on hazard recognition and safety procedures.
7. Regulatory Compliance. Stay up-to-date and compliant with OSHA regulations to avoid legal and financial repercussions while ensuring worker safety.

These practices support a safer, more compliant workplace and foster a culture of health and safety.

Conclusion

Industrial hygiene means putting in place measures to ensure the safety of workers who work in dangerous industrial environments. Workers on average spend up to eight hours a day at work. This type of constant exposure to risks may have severe long-term effects.

Employers should pay special attention to creating work environments that make workers feel safe and that objectively protect their health through industrial hygiene. CDMS has years of experience and expertise in providing industrial hygiene services. Get in touch with one of our experts today to see how we can help build and maintain a consistently high industrial hygiene standard in your workplace—Get Our Industrial Hygiene Services!