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Currently featured in the May 2025 Synergist
Navigating Ethical Frameworks
What Would Batman Do If He Were an Occupational Hygienist?
Batman is a character defined by a strict moral code. But is his strict adherence to his ethical code always the best course of action? Much like Batman’s decisions have unintended consequences, so too can occupational hygienists’ strict adherence to eliminating all risks without considering practical implications such as cost or inefficient use of resources.
Industrial Hygiene Data Decision Making
How to Improve Success Rates
How many samples do we need to estimate exposure potential? This question confronts industrial hygienists when collecting data on worker exposures. Even seasoned IHs are often not able to make correct judgments with limited data. When we have just a few data points, we tend to underestimate the potential for an exposure limit to be exceeded.
Small Wonders
You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide from Unidentified Flying Particles (UFP)
Ultrafine particulate matter (UFP) has been a concern of industrial hygienists, air pollution control engineers, and public health professionals since the beginning of the 21st century. UFP are present in ambient air both indoors and outdoors from natural and anthropogenic sources. This article provides an overview of concerns and approaches for UFP.
Features from the April 2025 Synergist
Is Your Noise Dosimeter Lying?
The Challenge of Mixed Impulse-Gaussian Noise Environments
Your noise dosimeter isn't telling the whole story when it comes to impulse noise and auditory risk. To understand the full picture, it is necessary to review the measurement of pure impulse noise and examine strategies to measure mixed impulse-Gaussian environments.
Respiratory Protection Outside the Workplace
Protecting Those Without Respiratory Protection Programs from Inhalation Hazards
When the general population and workers without respiratory protection programs use respiratory protective equipment (RPE), they likely use it incorrectly, which means they aren’t receiving the maximum level of protection. After the events of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the entire population became familiar with RPE, this can no longer be ignored.
Shedding Light on Trucking
Health and Safety Challenges for Professional Drivers
Truck driving is a renowned profession in the logistics business. However, issues related to vehicle maintenance and recruitment, the adverse effects of long hours, poor working conditions, and inadequate pay put stress on drivers’ overall health. The medical literature on this issue has underlined the need to improve health and safety among drivers.