Industrial Hygiene Professionals in Puerto Rico Help Protect Workers in America’s Most Hazardous Jobs

Every year, thousands of U.S. workers are exposed to serious, sometimes fatal, hazards simply by reporting to their jobs. In 2023 alone, 5,283 workplace fatalities were recorded nationwide. When fatality rates are measured per 100,000 workers, the risks become even more apparent. Occupations such as logging, commercial fishing, aviation, refuse collection, and roofing consistently rank among the nation’s most dangerous, with hazards that include falls, transportation incidents, confined spaces, excessive noise, airborne contaminants, and struck-by events.

“Too often, serious workplace hazards are accepted as unavoidable when they don’t have to be,” said Harry Peña, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Industrial hygiene allows us to identify risks, quantify exposures, and put proven controls in place to prevent injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.”

Industrial hygienists are trained to evaluate chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic hazards that may not be immediately visible. Through site assessments, air and noise monitoring, exposure evaluations, and analysis of medical surveillance data, these professionals convert hidden dangers into actionable information employers can use to reduce risk.

For example, in construction and other high-risk industries, industrial hygiene strategies may include monitoring diesel exhaust and respirable crystalline silica, testing confined-space atmospheres prior to entry, measuring and controlling excessive noise, improving ventilation to reduce airborne contaminants, and implementing ergonomic solutions to help prevent musculoskeletal disorders and crushing injuries. When paired with effective training, proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and written safety procedures, these measures can significantly reduce both immediate injuries and long-term occupational illnesses.

Zimmetry Environmental supports these efforts by offering comprehensive industrial hygiene services, including air sampling, noise monitoring, hazard assessments, and regulatory compliance assistance for Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Administration (PR OSHA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. The company also provides employee training, written exposure control plans, and engineering recommendations designed to reduce workplace risks.

In addition, Zimmetry recently sponsored an educational video highlighting the critical role industrial hygiene plays in protecting America’s workforce. The video is available at: https://youtu.be/O1QwZ8i6m44

For more information on Zimmetry Environmental’s industrial hygiene services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005, or email info@zimmetry.com.

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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