CHAPTER 18PHILOSOPHY AND MANAGEMENT OF ENGINEERING CONTROL
PAMELA GREENLEY and WILLIAM A. BURGESS
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bldg. 56‐235, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139‐4307
18.1 INTRODUCTION
This chapter will cover the engineering methods widely used to minimize adverse effects on health, well‐being, comfort, and performance at the workplace and in the community. Major attention will be given to controls for chemical airborne contaminants, although many of the control principles are also applicable to biological and physical hazards. Brief case studies will illustrate the applications of the techniques. The target for control may be a hand tool, a piece of equipment or device, an integrated manufacturing process such as an electroplating line, or a complete manufacturing facility in a dedicated building such as a foundry.
The critical zones of contaminant generation, dispersion, and exposure are shown in Figure 18.1. Ideally the goal is to design each element of the process to eliminate contaminant generation. If it is impossible to achieve this goal and a contaminant is generated, the second defense is to prevent its dispersal in the workplace. Finally, if we fail in that defense and the material released from the operation results in worker exposure, the backup control is collection of the air containing the contaminant by exhaust ventilation. When engineering controls are not feasible or as a supplement to them, personal protective equipment such ...