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ACGIH - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Inc.
Definition
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, Inc.(ACGIH), is an organization open to all practitioners in industrial hygiene, occupational health, environmental health, or safety. Their web site is https://www.acgih.org/.
Industrial hygiene deals with the protection of the health of those involved in industry. This classifies it as a form of preventative medicine.
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Additional Info
ACGIH publishes over 400 titles in occupational and environmental health and safety. They are most famous for their Threshold Limit Values publication which lists the TLV's® for over 700 chemical substances and physical agents, as well as 50 Biological Exposure Indices (BEI's®) for selected chemicals.
There was considerable controversy concerning the regulatory implications of TLV's, and the ACGIH was sued by a manufacturer's association in December 2000. See the links below for more information.
Despite the name of the organization, government funding does not support the ACGIH. Research into and the publication of documents related to TLVs are supported through volunteer efforts and crowd funding. However, there are significant overhead expenses (including preparation for legal challenges) that need to be met to maintain this resource. In that regard, the ACGIH's Foundation for Occupational Health & Safety (FOHS) was set up as a charitable 501(c)(3) corporation to support these efforts. Tax-deductible donations to the FOHS help ensure the continued existence of scientifically-based ACGIH® TLVs and BEIs.
Books Available
NOTE: We may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links in the following list:
- "2021 TLV's and BEI's", Spiral Bound, 2021. Estimated price $49.95. Info and/or order .
- "2021 Guide to Occupational Exposure Values", Spiral Bound, 2021. Estimated price $76.95. Info and/or order.
- "Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene, Sixth Edition", Hardcover, 2012, 1,248 pages. Estimated price $150.85. Info and/or order .
- "Supervisors' Safety Manual, Eleventh Edition", Textbook Binding, 2018. Estimated price $172.23. Info and/or order .
- "Occupational Safety and Health for Technologists, Engineers, and Managers (9th Edition)", Hardcover, 2018, 752 pages. Estimated price $143.99. Info and/or order .
- "Safety Culture: An Innovative Leadership Approach", Paperback, 2019, 659 pages. Estimated price $145.50. Info and/or order .
SDS Relevance
You will most commonly see the term ACGIH mentioned in Section 11 (toxicological information) of a Safety Data Sheet with respect to Threshold Limit Values. Such exposure values can provide terrific guidance as to the hazards and risks posed by a particular chemical. Always be sure to read your SDS for such information before using that material for the first time...and then take the appropriate steps to keep your exposure as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
The ACGIH or any member thereof is a good resource when you have questions or concerns about occupational and environmental health.
Further Reading
- ACGIH's TLV®/BEI® Position Statement developed mostly as a result of the TLV lawsuit.
- Another perspective on the TLV® suit.
- Courses, Webinars & Symposia sponsored by ACGIH.
See also: AIHA, ASSE, ASTM, Threshold Limit Values (TLV)