Introduction:

The recognition of chemical hazards to which workers are exposed is often a core job duty of an occupational health nurse. This module will give occupational health nurses a fundamental knowledge of the physical forms of chemical hazards, the ability to evaluate exposure limits, an understanding of biological exposure indices, and a review of the health effects and exposure sources of common chemicals.

This module is part of the 19-module OHN Prep Course Package.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the physical forms of chemical hazards.
• Compare and contrast the different occupational exposure limits.
• Be able to explain how Biological Exposure Indices assists occupational health professionals manage risk.
• Know where to extract relevant information from Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
• Become familiar with respiratory and dermal personal protective equipment.
• Understand different chemical hazards and hazard classifications.

Lecturer:

• Cynthia Elwood, BS, PhD, CIH, is the owner and Principal Industrial Hygienist at Associates in Occupational + Environmental Health, an industrial hygiene and safety consulting firm. She has provided consulting services for 32 years in the fields of employee exposure assessments, retrospective occupational disease investigations, indoor air quality, local exhaust ventilation, development of comprehensive safety and health programs, and academic and professional education.

The University of Colorado College of Nursing is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. A maximum of 1 contact hour is available for this course. For questions about contact hours, please email nursingce@ucdenver.edu.

This course covers topics outlined in the ABOHN Candidate Handbooks for COHN and COHN-S.

Criteria for Successful Completion: You must fully complete this module and all assessment questions, along with the OHN Prep module survey.

Conflicts of Interest: No individuals in a position to control content for this activity has any relevant financial relationships to declare.

Commercial Support: There is no commercial support being received for this event.

Expiration date for Enduring Materials: Origination Date: May 1, 2020 through Expiration Date: May 1, 2022

Joint Providers: This activity is being jointly provided by the University of Colorado College of Nursing Office of Continuing Education, The Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health and The Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health has partnered with the The Johns Hopkins Education and Research Center for Occupational Safety and Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health to deliver continuing education to occupational health nurses.