ABPM Occupational Medicine key terms

The ranked order of workplace interventions by effectiveness: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. Higher tiers protect all workers without relying on individual behavior.

Physical changes to a workplace, process, or equipment that reduce hazard exposure at the source, such as ventilation, enclosures, or machine guarding. They function independently of worker behavior.

Work practices and policies that reduce hazard exposure by changing how or when work is done, such as job rotation, training, or scheduling. They depend on worker and supervisor compliance.

Devices worn by a worker, such as respirators, gloves, or hearing protection, that reduce exposure at the individual level. It is the least reliable control because fit and consistent use vary.

A capture system that draws contaminated air away from a source before it reaches the worker's breathing zone, such as a hood over a bench. Effectiveness depends on capture velocity and hood placement.

A regulatory or advisory airborne concentration, averaged over a stated time, that is considered acceptable for most workers. Examples include OSHA PELs, NIOSH RELs, and ACGIH TLVs.

The legally enforceable workplace airborne exposure limit set by OSHA for a substance. It is often based on older data and may be less protective than newer advisory limits.

A nonregulatory airborne exposure guideline published by ACGIH, reflecting the level believed tolerable for most workers over a working lifetime. It is advisory, not legally enforceable.

An exposure metric that averages airborne concentration over a specified period, commonly an 8-hour work shift, to compare against full-shift limits. It accounts for varying concentrations during the shift.

A ceiling-style limit on average airborne concentration over a brief period, typically 15 minutes, intended to prevent acute effects. It applies in addition to full-shift limits.

Measurement of a substance or its metabolite in a worker's biological specimen, such as blood or urine, to estimate absorbed dose. It integrates all routes of exposure, including skin absorption.

A reference value for a biological marker, usually in urine or blood, corresponding to exposure at the airborne exposure limit. It guides interpretation of biological monitoring results.

A planned program of health evaluations, testing, and record review for workers exposed to specific hazards, intended to detect adverse effects early. It is required for certain OSHA-regulated exposures.

A structured account of a patient's job tasks, exposures, protective equipment, and symptom timing relative to work. It is the core clinical tool for identifying work-related illness.

The judgment that a condition is caused, aggravated, or materially contributed to by workplace exposures or conditions. It guides reporting, workers' compensation, and prevention efforts.

A case of disease or injury whose occurrence signals a failure of prevention and warrants investigation of workplace or community conditions. Examples include a single case of lead poisoning or silicosis.

A fibrotic lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica, often from mining, sandblasting, or stone cutting. It is irreversible and prevented by dust controls and respiratory protection.

A group of lung diseases caused by accumulation of inhaled mineral dusts and the lung's reaction to them, including silicosis and coal workers' disease. Most are irreversible and prevented by exposure control.

Diffuse interstitial fibrosis caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, typically after years of high exposure. It raises risk of mesothelioma and lung cancer and is prevented by exposure control.

A malignant tumor of the pleura or peritoneum strongly associated with asbestos exposure, often decades after exposure. It can occur with relatively low cumulative exposure and has poor prognosis.

Asthma caused or worsened by workplace exposures, either through sensitization to an allergen or irritant effects. It is identified by symptom timing with work and confirmed with serial peak flow or challenge testing.

An agent that induces an immune-mediated response so that later exposures trigger reactions at lower concentrations, such as isocyanates or latex. Sensitized workers may need removal from exposure.

Skin inflammation from workplace contact with irritants or allergens, producing redness, scaling, and itching on exposed areas. Irritant forms are more common than allergic forms.

Permanent sensorineural hearing loss from chronic loud noise exposure, initially affecting higher frequencies and later speech frequencies. It is prevented by noise controls, hearing protection, and audiometric monitoring.

Measurement of hearing thresholds by frequency, used in baseline and periodic workplace screening to detect early noise-induced changes. Significant threshold shifts trigger follow-up and prevention review.

Back pain or injury related to workplace physical demands such as lifting, bending, or whole-body vibration. Prevention emphasizes ergonomics, load reduction, and safe work design.

The design of work tasks, tools, and environments to fit human physical and cognitive capacities, reducing strain and injury. Good ergonomics addresses force, posture, repetition, and recovery time.

Scheduling workers through different tasks to reduce sustained exposure or repetitive strain on any one body region or hazard. It is an administrative control requiring careful task design.

Physiologic strain from working in hot environments, ranging from heat exhaustion to heat stroke. Prevention includes acclimatization, hydration, rest breaks, and monitoring of environmental heat.

Physiologic adaptation over days of repeated heat exposure that improves sweating and cardiovascular response and reduces heat illness risk. New workers should build exposure gradually.

A check that a tight-fitting respirator seals to a worker's face, performed with qualitative or quantitative methods before use and periodically. It ensures the assigned protection factor is achievable.

A written workplace program covering hazard assessment, respirator selection, fit testing, medical evaluation, training, and maintenance. It is required when respirators are used to control exposure.

The requirement to inform and train workers about chemical hazards through labels, safety data sheets, and training. It supports informed handling and emergency response.

A standardized document describing a chemical's hazards, safe handling, exposure controls, and emergency measures. It is provided by the manufacturer and must be accessible to workers.

A health assessment before job assignment to determine whether a worker can safely perform essential duties with or without accommodation. It should not be used to screen out workers unfairly.

A determination that a worker can safely and effectively perform required job tasks, considering health status and job demands. It may be assessed at hire, periodically, or after illness or injury.

A structured process enabling an injured or ill worker to resume work safely, often through modified duties or gradual hours. Early return reduces disability and lost productivity.

A no-fault insurance system that pays medical costs and wage replacement for work-related injury or illness. It generally limits employee lawsuits against employers in exchange for defined benefits.

A U.S. law prohibiting employment discrimination based on disability and requiring reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals. It restricts when medical inquiries and exams may be required.