Industrial Hygiene
What industrial hygiene standards are enforced in Wisconsin?
Currently the 2010 version of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, Title 29 CFR are enforced along with Wisconsin Administrative code, Chapter SPS 332 Public Employee Safety and Health.
How do you interpret an OSHA standard?
Section means the entire specific standard, e.g. 1910.132. Paragraph means part of the section, e.g. 1910.132(a)
How do you know whether the general industry standards contained in 1910 or the construction standards in 1926 apply to a particular situation?
The construction standards (29 CFR 1926) apply if employees are performing construction tasks such as remodeling, painting, adding on or new construction. At the beginning of most standards you will find a “scope and application” section which identifies the workplace, equipment or conditions for which the standard applies. The definition section of a standard can also be helpful.
What if I have questions concerning industrial hygiene standards?
Please email DSPSSBSafetyAndHealthTech@Wisconsin.gov.
What conditions in my workplace will require compliance and with which standards?
Below is a partial list of some conditions and the applicable standards which may apply to your workplace.
Condition | Health Standard or Code |
Injury/Illness - All public sector employers | SPS 332.205, Call DSPS to report a fatality, or 3 or more hospitalizations; Yearly reporting of all occupational injuries/illnesses is required through DSPS Online Injury and Illness Reporting System |
Hazardous Chemicals | 1910.1200 Hazard Communication |
Confined Spaces, e.g. tunnels, sumps ventilation ducts | SPS 332.28 & 29; 1910.146 Permit Required Confined Space |
Noise - levels above 85 dBA for an 8 hour time weighted average | 1910.95 Occupational Noise Exposure |
Workplace Hazards - All workplaces are required to determine if hazards are present, or likely to be present. Where hazards cannot be controlled by engineering, work practices or administrative controls, employers are required to select Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | 1910.132 Personal Protective Equipment, general requirements 1910.133-138 Specific type of PPE, e.g. eye protection, respirators, footwear |
Blood or other body fluids - If there is a reasonable anticipation that employees may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials during the performance of their duties. For example, a school’s football coach would be included in a bloodborne pathogens program. | 1910.1030 Bloodborne Pathogens |
Respiratory Protection - if employees are required to wear respiratory protection, or you allow employees to voluntarily wear respirators | 1910.134 Respiratory Protection Standard |
Laboratory Chemicals - if employees work with hazardous chemicals in a laboratory setting, e.g. chemistry labs, wastewater treatment plant labs | 1910.1450 Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in a Laboratory |
Eyewash and Emergency Showers - if work processes, or areas have corrosive or other hazardous chemicals that can cause irreversible eye or body injuries, e.g. acids or strong salts | SPS 332.30 Medical Services and First Aid |
Air Contaminants | 1910.1000; 1910.1096 Ionizing Radiation |
Exhaust Ventilation - laboratory fume hoods, welding or paint spraying booths | SPS 332.24 & 1910.94 General Ventilation SPS 332.26 Spray Finishing Using Flammable and Combustible Materials; 1910.107 Spray Finishing 1910.252 Welding |
Chemical Spills - if you have employees who may be first on the scene of an accident involving hazardous chemicals or employees who are required to clean up chemicals spills as part of their job duties | 1910.120 Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response |