Protection of workers from occupational health hazards is crucial to maintaining a company's productivity, worker morale, and minimizing personal liability. CTEH^®'s industrial hygiene team is capable of providing a wide variety of industrial hygiene services using state-of-the-art equipment.

Our industrial hygiene department is managed by Mr. Brett Tarkington, a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH). Mr. Brett Tarkington has more than 15 years of experience in the industrial hygiene field and has been involved in numerous projects for the railroad, chemical industry, power companies and other industries.

Industrial Hygiene Services

• Known/unknown chemical quantification
• Work process evaluation
• Engineering control design
• Indoor air quality complaint evaluation
• Scientific and regulatory research
• Review and preparation of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Ventilation evaluation and design
• Program Development
• Respiratory protection
• Hearing conservation
• Hazard communication
• Heat stress
• Cold stress
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Confined space entry
• Health and safety plan
• Emergency response
• Preparation and response to litigation
• Health and safety training

Industrial Hygiene Experience

CTEH^® has been involved with a wide range of industrial hygiene related projects for railroads, chemical companies, power companies, and other industries. Included below is a partial list and brief description of past industrial hygiene projects performed by CTEH^®:

Coal Burning Power Plants - Two coal burning power plants applying for the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) asked CTEH^® to perform a qualitative exposure assessment of their facilities to identify potential workplace hazards, assess the potential for risk to the workers, and rank the exposures by job position and identify the need for additional sampling/monitoring data.

Oregon Steel Mills, Fontana, CA - Copper concentrate contaminated steel bars during transport to the Oregon Steel Mills. Workers welding were overcome with fumes and went to the emergency room. The steel mill notified the railroad that they would close down the mill because of fear of metal fume fever. CTEH^® industrial hygienists traveled to the steel mill, met with claims and steel mill officials and explained that removal of visible copper concentrate would remove the risk to employees of the mill. CTEH^® also obtained medical data for the workers who were overcome by fumes during welding operations and disseminated toxicological data on copper concentrate to mill employees who were concerned about there health and safety.

Noise Monitoring at Local Industrial Facility - CTEH^® industrial hygienists, with oversight provided by our CIH, conducted an extensive noise study at a local industrial facility. The study was conducted on ten employees working at the facility while performing their normal duties. The study included octave band analysis of various processes and a noise contour was developed for several buildings within the facility. The study was conducted to assist the facility with the management of their hearing conservation program in accordance with OSHA’s Occupational Noise Exposure Standard (29CFR 1910.95).

Nationwide Diesel Exhaust Sampling in Cabs of Locomotives - A CTEH^® team consisting of industrial hygienists, environmental scientists, environmental chemists, a certified industrial hygienist, and information specialists conducted extensive studies of diesel exhaust constituents in the cabs of locomotives as they conducted their runs. Team members used both real-time and integrated (laboratory) air sampling methods to monitor constituents of diesel exhaust including polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and elemental carbon. CTEH^® team members collected air sampling data on approximately 15 train runs across the United States and compiled the data into a central database for future use.

Hydrogen Sulfide Investigations at Rendering Facilities - CTEH^® industrial hygienists and our certified industrial hygenist continue to conduct extensive air sampling for hydrogen sulfide in rendering facilities. CTEH^® has worked with our client to insure that proper personnel air monitoring is being conducted and that OSHA standards are being followed. Additionally, CTEH^® has designed a customized, secure, web-based application to track and summarize the large amount of air data that is generated daily within the facility.

Welding Fumes During Rivet Busting - CTEH^®’s CIH performed personal air sampling for lead during rivet busting activities on a bridge over the Mississippi River. The results of this project confirmed the need for respiratory protection during rivet busting.

Asbestos Air Sampling at Railroad Car Shop - CTEH^® industrial hygienists and our CIH performed personal and area air sampling for asbestos during gasket removal activities in a railcar repair shop. The results of this project assisted the railroad's industrial hygiene department to make informed decisions for protecting the workers.

Indoor Air Quality Investigation at Railyard Office - A CTEH^® industrial hygienist investigated employee concerns related to visible mold growing on surfaces in a railyard office building. The investigation included identifying the types of mold, collecting air samples for mold analysis inside and outside the office building, delineating the extent of the mold growth, and writing remediation specifications that were used by the client to safely and effectively remove the affected areas.

Pigeon Dropping Evaluation – A CTEH^® industrial hygienist investigated a hump tower where numerous pigeons were nesting. The investigation included collecting air samples and swab samples for Cryptococcus neoformans. The results of the sampling assisted the client in making informed decisions related to worker health protection.

Industrial Hygiene Assessments

CTEH^® industrial hygienists are qualified to completely assess worker protection needs and perform detailed analyses. Hazard assessments include recognition of hazards, identification and quantification of specific exposures, development of control measures to reduce or eliminate potentially hazardous exposures, and verbal and written communication of the survey results.

As a part of the industrial hygiene exposure assessment, CTEH^® industrial hygienists compare health hazard assessment data with our clients' occupational health programs to determine that the scope, content, training, and documentation for these programs are consistent with recognized industry practices and government regulations.

Based on the result of the assessment, we will develop programs that will meet OSHA and other requirements. Additionally, we routinely conduct training, auditing, or periodic program follow-up.

Indoor Air Quality

CTEH^® has extensive experience conducting indoor air quality investigations for insurance companies, law firms, and private individuals. We are equipped to investigate both chemical and biological exposure problems and have successfully completed over 300 projects. We have included a brief summary of some of our projects below:

• CTEH^® investigated concerns and collected biological samples at a 250+ apartment complex with thirty-four building crawl spaces in Fort Worth, Texas, for a major real estate finance broker. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the following: the cause and extent, if any, of mold growth; whether the air and surfaces in the facility were contaminated with mold; and the scope of any necessary remedial activities. CTEH^® prepared a detailed estimate of the cost required to remediate the mold in accordance with RSMeans® Cost Guides and procedures. Due to CTEH^®'s extensive work on this project, the real estate transaction was successfully completed in a two-week period.
• CTEH^® investigated houses for molds and fungus related to water claim events for major P&C insurers (State Farm, Germania, and Farm Bureau). CTEH^® industrial hygienists collected source and air samples in accordance with manufacturer’s procedures and submitted samples to an AIHA accredited microbial laboratory for analysis. CTEH^® prepared reports documenting sampling activities, results, and detailed recommendations on nature and extent of cleanup consistent with New York City and EPA guidelines.
• CTEH^® industrial hygienists performed air sampling for viable airborne microbiological contaminants in a hospital patient wing. The work included collecting airborne molds and fungi on agar plates using an Andersen® Viable Particulate air sampler, incubating samples, and having microbiologists determine species of air contaminants.
• CTEH^® industrial hygienists investigated an office area where workers were complaining of allergic symptoms related to a strange odor. The investigation included a thorough inspection of the office suite, heating/AC systems, sampling for carbon dioxide, humidity, temperature, volatile organic compounds, and dust.
• CTEH^® industrial hygienists investigated a house for formaldehyde contamination from off-gassing associated with new building construction. A report was prepared detailing sampling procedures and sampling results.
• CTEH^® industrial hygienists investigated a strange odor in a house. It was determined that the odor was not related to biological contamination, but was related to a deteriorating sunscreen. CTEH^® assisted the landlord with handling health concerns of tenants and communicating technical information from the sunscreen manufacturer.