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Currently featured in the June/July 2020 Synergist
Respiratory Sensitizers
Strategies to Address Occupational Asthma Caused by Respirable Allergens
Respiratory sensitization leading to occupational asthma (OA) is growing in prevalence worldwide. This article describes where sensitizers can be found, how respiratory and dermal sensitization differ, the symptoms and characterization of OA, and approaches to assessing and controlling exposures to respiratory sensitizers.
The Marijuana Dilemma
Drugs in a Drug-Free Workplace
Marijuana is legal for medical use in 33 states and the District of Columbia, but the federal status of cannabis hasn’t changed. Companies subject to the Drug-Free Workplace Act must prohibit the use of controlled substances in the workplace. How can employers reconcile the legality of cannabis in many states with the need to comply with drug-free workplace policies?
Hazardous Drugs in Veterinary Medicine
USP <800> Raises Awareness of an Obscure Concern
The recent promulgation of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapter 800 standard has led to increased interest in preventing exposure to hazardous drugs in veterinary medicine providers. The potential for exposure to hazardous drugs, and the challenges related to minimizing it, are quite similar in veterinary and human healthcare settings.
Features from the May 2020 Synergist
COVID-19 and the Industrial Hygienist
FAQs on Practicing IH in a Pandemic
The authors draw from their experiences on the front lines, their work with healthcare professionals caring for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients, and their knowledge and experience to answer frequently asked questions about disease transmission, controls, and the skills necessary for a successful response.
Transition Space
Anteroom Ventilation Design for Pharmacies Compounding Hazardous Drugs
Pharmacies that mix drugs and other ingredients to prepare patient-specific doses use engineering controls to maintain the high level of cleanliness necessary to prevent contamination of the product. An innovative design for pharmacy anterooms can help manage the need to contain hazardous drugs within the compounding space while also preventing the airborne infiltration of contaminants.
Navigating Electrical Hazards
Considerations for Hazardous Locations in General Industry
Industrial hygienists often need to work in or around unfamiliar locations that may present electrical hazards. These locations fall under OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.307, Hazardous (Classified) Locations, of Subpart S, Electrical. This article provides basic information about the classification of these hazardous spaces, commonly referenced standards, and other sources of information.