Industrial Hygiene

Keeping pace with the rapid introduction of new and potentially toxic substances and monitoring those substances already in existence demands professional expertise. Furthermore, new government regulations dictate that working areas must be closely monitored for potentially hazardous materials. Consequently, the need for industrial hygiene services continues to increase.

Industrial hygiene is that science and art devoted to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors or stresses, arising in or from the work place. These environmental stresses may cause sickness, impaired health, significant discomfort and/or inefficiency among our client’s workers or the public.

The categories of these stresses are chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic. Evaluation of the many environmental factors arising in or out of the workplace is done by an industrial hygienist using quantitative measurement of those physical, chemical, biological, and/or ergonomic stresses.

The industrial hygienist can prescribe control measures such as isolation of a work process, protective equipment for personnel protection, substitution of a less harmful material, engineering controls, or other recommendations.

Tiger Environmental Inc offers a wide range of industrial hygiene services, which include:

• Personal Air Monitoring
• Ambient Air Monitoring
• Wipe Samples for Contamination
• Heat and Cold Stress Surveys
• Lead Paint/Asbestos Management
• Noise Surveys

All air samples collected for the determination of pollutants are compared to established guidelines developed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), or those required by federal OSHA. Besides conducting these services, our professional consultants can evaluate a variety of management-supported programs in such areas as:

• Respiratory Protection
• Chemical Hygiene Plans
• Hazard Communication
• Biological Monitoring
• Confined Space Entry

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality concerns differ from industrial chemical exposures. The symptoms are often vague and the cause is not always apparent. After completing the initial baseline survey (Phase I) to identify the possible source, a number of specialized studies can be done to further isolate exposure.

Our consultants can conduct an indoor air quality profile for any suspected chemical or biological contamination (Phase II). Our affiliated laboratories use standard indoor air quality profiles to measure chemical air contaminants normally found within buildings. Another microbiological laboratory can quantify and determine the genera of fungi and/or bacteria through various media such as air or wipe samples.

Air temperature and humidity measurements can be obtained for thermal comfort assessments, along with ventilation measurements for air balancing and air distribution into occupied spaces. All temperature, humidity, and percent outdoor air measurements are compared to concensus standards developed by the American Society of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Engineers (ASHRAE).

If the HVAC air conveyance system needs to be cleaned because of significant levels of dirt, debris, or microbial contamination, TEI can verify the level of cleanliness by using air sampling techniques developed by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). Other air sampling and monitoring techniques are available depending upon the level of cleanliness required for the project.