Using the PEMEP Model to Navigate Occupational Hygiene Hazards in Your Workplace
Understanding occupational hygiene hazards can feel like putting together a puzzle. Many workplaces don’t know where to start, and it can seem like a daunting task. But these hazards can’t be ignored. For workplaces that want a clear starting point, the PEMEP framework is a practical place to begin.
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Process, Equipment, Materials, Environment, and People (PEMEP)
The PEMEP model can be used to characterize an occupational hygiene problem in your workplace and helping you make better judgements on what steps to take next. Examining each of the following factors is a good starting point:
Using PEMEP in Occupational Hygiene Assessments
Process:
Define how the work is done and identify where exposures might occur.
Equipment:
Understand how equipment, tools, and machinery influence exposure.
Materials:
Identify the materials being used, generated, or released
Environment:
Assess how the work environment modifies exposure potential.
People:
Understand who is exposed, how often, and for how long.
If you are unsure whether a task poses a potential risk, PEMEP gives you a structured way to start asking the right questions.
1. Start by understanding the work PROCESS
Look closely at how the work is done. Break down each task and consider when workers may be exposed to chemicals, noise, or other hazards. Think about setup, active work, and cleanup. Often, small details, like when materials are mixed or when a tool is cleaned, are where exposures occur.
2. Consider the EQUIPMENT and TOOLS used to perform the work
Once you’ve examined the process, look next at the tools and equipment involved. Some may generate dust, fumes, vapours, heat, or noise. For example, spray painting can result in higher exposure than using a roller to apply paint. Understanding which tools create the greatest risk helps focus your efforts on controls that make the biggest difference.
3. Review the MATERIALS you use
Review the materials and products used in each task. Safety Data Sheets are a key source of information, but don’t stop there. Also consider byproducts and building materials. Referring to government publications, research, legislation, and standards can also help you understand the hazards associated with those materials. Knowing what’s in use and how it behaves allows for better selection of engineering or administrative controls.
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4. Look at the ENVIRONMENT where the work is done
The work environment can have a major effect on exposure. Consider the size of the workspace, whether ventilation is natural or mechanical, and how air moves through the area. layout of equipment and the materials on walls, ceilings, and floors can amplify or absorb sound. These environmental factors often decide whether an exposure is well controlled or not.
5. Consider the PEOPLE doing the work
Finally, look at the people themselves. How long is the work day? Are there multiple shifts? Have workers received proper training and been fitted with the correct PPE? A simple layout plan or site sketch can help visualize where workers are positioned relative to processes and sources.
Using the PEMEP framework to characterize an occupational hygiene problem
Legal requirements are demanding, and non-compliance can interrupt production and damage a company’s reputation. Basic characterization using the PEMEP framework is an important first step that brings clarity and gives a better picture of potential risks to workers. At the end of the day, ensuring that workers are healthy is just as important as keeping them safe.
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