The Industrial Hygiene Program provides services to anticipate, recognize, evaluate and control health and safety hazards in teaching and research areas across all Clemson University campuses. This includes conducting chemical and physical hazard assessments, coordinating the Respiratory Protection, Hearing Conservation and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Programs, conducting chemical and noise monitoring and assisting with accident investigations. We also provide consultative and review services of regulatory requirements for general safety, evaluate engineered safety devices, and provide guidance during new building or lab construction. Below you will find additional information and resources.
Ergonomics is the practice of fitting the job task to the individual, which can help prevent work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Examples of musculoskeletal injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and low back pain. The goal of the Ergonomics Program at Clemson University is to help departments and employees identify risk factors that can contribute to the development of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and provide solutions and guidance to eliminate or reduce these risk factors. Designing a work environment to fit the worker often increases productivity and efficiency best physically while reducing discomfort and fatigue.
OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200, requires employers to provide information and training to employees regarding hazardous chemicals in the workplace and the properties of these chemicals. This program provides information so that a worker understands how to properly handle, store, and protect themselves during normal use or upon accidental release. Hazard Communication applies to all faculty, staff, interns, students, coops, apprentices, trainees, and all other temporary, part time, and full-time workers on any CU campus with the exception of those working in a lab area which are covered by the Chemical Hygiene and Lab Safety Plans.
OSHA developed the Hearing Conservation Standard 29 CFR 1910.95 to protect workers against the effects of noise exposure. The principal objective of the Clemson University Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) is to prevent permanent noise-induced hearing loss resulting from on-the-job noise exposure. The Hearing Conservation program not only provides noise assessments of a job task and work environment, but it also provides workers with the training, hearing screening, and proper hearing protection devices for their work environment.
Clemson University is committed to providing a work environment that is free of recognized hazards. Good Indoor air quality (IAQ) describes the indoor air environment that protects the health and addresses the comfort of building occupants. CU Facilities is responsible for maintaining and operating each CU building in the condition which they are designed to operate that provides for adequate indoor air quality. OES works in partnership with CU facilities to provide resources for the CU community on IAW and to address any concerns of the occupants.
Respirators offer additional protection when other controls prove insufficient to reduce an individual’s exposure to airborne hazards to within safe levels. Under federal OSHA requirements, respirators may only be worn after an individual has been medically cleared, completed respiratory protection training, and been fitted for a respirator. Training and fit testing must be renewed annually.
OSHA implemented two standards with the purpose to lower workers exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Crystalline silica is toxic to humans when inhaled because of the damage caused to the tissues in the lungs. Due to the nature of various work tasks, OSHA finalized two written programs which are OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.1153) and OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for General Industry Standard (29 CFR 29 CFR 1910.1053). Select the link below to learn more about these two OSHA standards.
Listed below are direct links to the pages of the OES program areas which include program specific content and training. These links can also be found in the menus at the top any OES web page.
