The University of Kentucky is committed to providing work, study, research, and residential environments that are free from recognized hazards. Therefore, a rigorous program of industrial hygiene monitoring is in place to ensure the well-being of all persons at UK.
Monitoring is performed for a variety of substances. Hazards in the workplace encompass numerous environmental and physical stressors, which can include both chemical and physical hazards. Chemical hazards constitute a large percentage of occupational health hazards, whether in the form of vapor, gas, or mist which can be breathed into the lungs, or as solvents, which can cause skin irritation or be absorbed through the skin. Physical hazards include excessive levels of noise, nonionizing and ionizing radiation, vibration, and extremes of temperature and pressure.
The University of Kentucky Health & Safety (UKHS) Division performs frequent on-campus monitoring that takes a variety of forms. Reasons for performing monitoring include both of the following:
- Ensuring that engineering and administrative controls are adequate to protect personnel from exposures, and determining appropriate levels of personal protective equipment;
- Ensuring compliance with exposure limits established by regulatory agencies (e.g. OSHA, EPA), and agencies who publish best-practice recommendations (e.g. NIOSH, ACGIH).
