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Industrial Hygiene Exposure Estimation Accuracy: An Investigation of Micro-Environmental Factors Impacting Exposure

Eturki, Mohamed
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2378-048X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1563273672613013

Abstract Details

2019, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Industrial Hygiene (Environmental Health).
The goal of the exposure assessment process is to accurately define the exposure distribution for workers over a certain period of time in order to identify the resulting potential risk to employees’ health or well-being. The main objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of local environmental factors on occupational exposure with the consideration of different contaminants and to determine the impact of these factors on the performance of different direct reading instruments. Overall, this dissertation consists of three studies (A-C). In study A, the current occupational health risk assessment methodologies that have been developed to assess human health risks in the petroleum refining industry are outlined and compared. Three general categories of health risk assessment methods that have routine use in the petroleum sector include process safety management, quantitative exposure and risk assessment management tools, and qualitative risk ranking tools. Published health assessment methods for oil and gas, and, chemical industries lack transparency, often have unclear validation, and the majority of the available methods are too complicated and time intensive for routine scenario assessment use. In study B, four micro-environmental factors, wind speed and direction, distance to the emission source, and worker posture were investigated in a laboratory simulation. Methane was used in a simulated setting of an oil refinery maintenance task involving replacing a blind in a 4-inch line. Gas concentration was measured at the breathing zone (BZ) with the Gas-Rover. This simulation study suggests that the local environmental factors have a significant effect on the level of gas concentration at the worker BZ. Air blowing from the side direction reduced average concentrations by the most significant percentage (96%) compared to the baseline, followed by the front direction (68%) then the swirled air movement by (63%) reduction level. Air blowing from the back-airflow direction reduced methane concentrations by the lowest rate (46%) when compared to baseline, but the percentage of reduction was still statistically significant. In study C, the impact of the micro-environmental factors on the BZ concentration in a refinery task was tested using three different gases and different direct reading instruments to 1) determine the effects of micro-environmental factors on different airborne contaminants, and 2) evaluate the performance of three different direct reading instruments (DRIs) under the effect of the micro-environmental factors. There was a significant difference among the three gases concentrations measured at the BZ, specifically, between Methane and SF6, and Propane and SF6. Overall, this research project contributes to the scientific field by generating original data on the level of effect that workplace micro-environmental factors pose on worker exposure to airborne contaminants in the oil and gas industry. The results of this study will help industrial hygienists and safety specialists to have more understanding of the effect of local environmental factors on the exposure, which consequently will enhance the accuracy of their assessment of workers’ exposure and lead to more accurate control decisions.
Kermit Davis, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Susan Arnold, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Thomas Lentz, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Michael Maier, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Marepalli Rao, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
71 p.
Occupational Safety
Health Risk Assessment; Airborne Chemicals; Exposure Assessment; Micro-Environmental Factors; Exposure Estimation Accuracy; Petroleum Refinery Exposure

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Eturki, M. (2019). Industrial Hygiene Exposure Estimation Accuracy: An Investigation of Micro-Environmental Factors Impacting Exposure [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1563273672613013

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Eturki, Mohamed. Industrial Hygiene Exposure Estimation Accuracy: An Investigation of Micro-Environmental Factors Impacting Exposure. 2019. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1563273672613013.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Eturki, Mohamed. "Industrial Hygiene Exposure Estimation Accuracy: An Investigation of Micro-Environmental Factors Impacting Exposure." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1563273672613013

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1563273672613013
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© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.