O-118 AIHA EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT STRATEGY AND THE USE OF STATISTICAL METHODS TO EVALUATE INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE EXPOSURES

Introduction and methods The American Industrial Hygiene Association has developed an exposure assessment strategy and has emphasized the use of statistical methods for the evaluation of industrial hygiene sampling data. Results They have found that professional industrial hygienists have typically underestimated exposures, and encourage the use of both heuristics and mathematical methods to reduce professional bias. To support statistical analysis, they have provided free online analytical tools, and free online training. Discussion The strategy is an iterative approach, starting with simpler qualitative measures and advancing to more complex quantitative measures as necessary. The qualitative tools can be easily used by observation, and the quantitative tools can be implemented when industrial hygiene sampling can be conducted. Conclusion This presentation will review the strategy, then introduce and discuss the various tools available. By using a structured approach, and statistical analytical tools, industrial hygienists will be able to make more accurate exposure assessments. This will help identify elevated employee exposures, allow proper control targeting, and reduce the overall burden of occupational illness and disease.