Hazards and regulations by industry

Wafer fabrication, chip packaging and test, cleanrooms and the tool and gas suppliers that support them. Processes run on a large inventory of reactive gases and acids, and tools are installed, moved and modified constantly.

Common hazards

• Corrosive chemical splash and vapor.
• Electrical work on energized tools.
• Hazardous energy during tool maintenance.
• Repetitive handling and awkward reach in cleanrooms.
• Slips and trips in subfab and service chases.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Pyrophoric silane and other reactive process gases.
• Toxic hydride gases such as arsine and phosphine.
• Hydrofluoric acid in wet processing.
• Laser and ultraviolet radiation from process tools.
• Oxygen displacement from nitrogen and cryogens.

Where Vantage usually starts

An exposure assessment of process and maintenance tasks, with gas detection and exhaust checks tied to each tool change.

Aircraft, spacecraft and component production: machining, composites, sealants, coatings and final assembly. Long production runs with recurring paint, fuel-tank and shutdown work.

Common hazards

• Machine contact and crush points.
• Noise from riveting, drilling and fabrication.
• Welding fume.
• Falls from aircraft stands and platforms.
• Heavy parts handling and awkward posture.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Hexavalent chromium from primers, plating and stainless work.
• Isocyanates in two-part coatings.
• Composite dust and epoxy sensitization.
• Fuel tank and fuselage entry.
• Combustible aluminum and titanium dust.

Where Vantage usually starts

A coating and welding exposure assessment, with a machine guarding and lockout review.

Industrial machinery, robotics, electronics assembly and precision equipment. Line changes and new automation are frequent, and safeguards often lag behind them.

Common hazards

• Moving machinery and pinch points.
• Unexpected startup and stored energy.
• Noise.
• Repetitive assembly and manual handling.
• Electrical maintenance.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Robot cell entry during setup and fault recovery.
• High-pressure hydraulic injection.
• Metalworking fluid mist and dermatitis.
• Metal powder in additive manufacturing.
• Laser cutting radiation and fume.

Where Vantage usually starts

A machine safeguarding and energy control assessment with prioritized corrective actions.

Surgical, diagnostic, imaging and laboratory equipment production, often in cleanrooms with tight process control.

Common hazards

• Solvent vapor and skin contact.
• Machine cutting and pinch points.
• Repetitive precision assembly.
• Unexpected startup during service.
• Material handling and storage.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Ethylene oxide where sterilization is done on site.
• Laser welding and marking.
• Cobalt-chrome and titanium finishing dust.
• Adhesive and acrylate sensitization.
• Ionizing radiation from imaging and test equipment.

Where Vantage usually starts

A production task exposure survey, with sterilant and ergonomics assessment where they apply.

Structural and sheet-metal fabrication, machine shops, foundries, plating and finishing.

Common hazards

• Welding and grinding fume.
• Noise from cutting, forming and grinding.
• Press and machine crush points.
• Stored hydraulic and mechanical energy.
• Heavy material handling.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Hexavalent chromium from stainless welding and coatings.
• Metalworking fluid aerosol.
• Combustible fine metal dust.
• Acid mist and cyanide in plating.
• Silica and lead in foundry work.

Where Vantage usually starts

A welding and machining exposure assessment with alloy-specific sampling.

Industrial chemicals, coatings, adhesives, resins and formulation. Batch work with frequent product changes.

Common hazards

• Toxic vapor and dust.
• Corrosive skin and eye burns.
• Flammable vapor ignition.
• Hazardous energy during maintenance.
• Drum and container handling.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Runaway or incompatible reactions.
• Isocyanate sensitization.
• Reactive and pyrophoric powders.
• Static ignition during solvent transfer.
• Reactor and vessel entry.

Where Vantage usually starts

A chemical exposure inventory and sampling plan, with process safety review where a covered process applies.

Sawmills, plywood and engineered wood, panel products, cabinetry, pulp and paper.

Common hazards

• Wood dust.
• High noise.
• Saw, chipper and conveyor contact.
• Unexpected startup during cleanup.
• Log, board and roll handling.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Combustible dust deflagration.
• Formaldehyde from resins.
• Kiln and dryer heat.
• Pulping chemicals and hydrogen sulfide.
• Chip bin, silo and digester entry.

Where Vantage usually starts

A dust and noise assessment, with a housekeeping and lockout review.

Meat, seafood, produce and dairy processing, bakeries, breweries, wineries, beverage plants and refrigerated storage.

Common hazards

• Unguarded machinery.
• Unexpected startup during sanitation.
• Wet-floor slips.
• Repetitive cutting and lifting.
• Sanitation chemical splash and vapor.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Ammonia release from refrigeration.
• Carbon dioxide in fermentation and cellar areas.
• Flour and sugar dust explosions.
• Tank and silo entry.
• Flour and enzyme sensitization.

Where Vantage usually starts

A sanitation and refrigeration task review with monitoring and lockout training.

Fuel storage and distribution terminals, pipelines, marine fueling and bulk liquid handling.

Common hazards

• Fire and explosion.
• Tanker and vehicle traffic.
• Slips on wet and oily surfaces.
• Pump and line energy.
• Heat and weather exposure.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Benzene during tank cleaning, sampling and maintenance.
• Hydrogen sulfide in some products and tanks.
• Tank entry.
• Static discharge during loading.
• Over-water access at marine transfer points.

Where Vantage usually starts

A terminal task exposure survey and contractor work planning.

Indoor and greenhouse cultivation, trimming, extraction and product manufacturing. Agricultural, chemical and electrical hazards share one building.

Common hazards

• Repetitive trimming and awkward posture.
• Pesticide and fertilizer handling.
• Electrical systems for grow lights and climate control.
• Heat and humidity in grow rooms.
• Slips and trips around irrigation.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Carbon dioxide enrichment and leaks.
• Butane and propane extraction fires.
• High-pressure CO2 extraction systems and ethanol vapor during solvent recovery.
• Mold and other bioaerosols.
• Ozone and ultraviolet from odor and pest control.

Where Vantage usually starts

A grow-room and extraction exposure assessment, with gas detection and a fire code review for extraction rooms.

Metal, electronics, plastics and construction-debris recycling and material recovery facilities. The incoming material changes daily.

Common hazards

• Vehicle and pedestrian collisions.
• Dust.
• Baler, shredder and conveyor entanglement.
• Noise.
• Manual sorting and lifting.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Lithium battery fires.
• Lead, cadmium and other metals from electronic waste.
• Silica from concrete and debris.
• Sharps and biological material in mixed waste.
• Combustible dust from shredded feed.

Where Vantage usually starts

An exposure survey built around the incoming material, with a machine and energy control review.

Vessel construction, dry-dock repair and barge and fishing-fleet maintenance. Shipyard work has its own OSHA standards, separate from general industry.

Common hazards

• Welding and cutting fume.
• Falls from staging and vessels.
• Noise.
• Suspended loads and rigging.
• Temporary power.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Confined and enclosed spaces that need testing before entry and hot work.
• Abrasive blasting dust with silica or lead.
• Hot work near fuel tanks.
• Marine coating solvents and isocyanates.
• Work over water.

Where Vantage usually starts

A shipyard exposure assessment and confined-space program support.

Container, bulk, grain, auto and break-bulk terminals plus longshoring aboard vessels. Mixed employers share the same terminal.

Common hazards

• Vehicle and pedestrian collision.
• Falling or shifting cargo.
• Noise.
• Falls at docks and access ways.
• Manual handling.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Fumigated containers and oxygen-deficient holds.
• Engulfment and dust in grain and bulk cargo.
• Crane loads and vessel movement.
• Diesel exhaust and carbon monoxide in holds and sheds.
• Falls into water.

Where Vantage usually starts

A terminal task assessment, traffic review and targeted monitoring.

Distribution centers, fulfillment, cold storage and third-party logistics. High throughput and a large share of new and temporary workers.

Common hazards

• Forklift and pedestrian collision.
• Repetitive picking and lifting.
• Slips, trips and blocked aisles.
• Falling stored material.
• Heat and cold.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Trailer creep and dock separation.
• Rack damage and collapse.
• Conveyor entanglement during jam clearing.
• Lithium battery charging.
• Carbon monoxide from fuel-powered equipment.

Where Vantage usually starts

A warehouse safety baseline covering forklift traffic, ergonomics and new-hire training.

Aircraft maintenance and overhaul, airline line maintenance, fueling and airport ground operations. OSHA or FAA jurisdiction depends on the activity.

Common hazards

• Noise from aircraft and ground equipment.
• Falls from stands and wings.
• Aircraft and vehicle movement.
• Solvent and cleaner exposure.
• Manual handling.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Fuel tank entry.
• Aircraft jacking and support.
• Chromate coatings and paint stripping.
• Jet exhaust and carbon monoxide.
• Hydraulic and pneumatic stored energy.

Where Vantage usually starts

A maintenance task exposure survey and targeted safety coverage.

Freight rail, transit agencies, bus and truck fleets and their maintenance shops. Rail work also falls under Federal Railroad Administration rules.

Common hazards

• Rolling stock and vehicle strikes.
• Welding fume.
• Unexpected startup during maintenance.
• Falls into service pits.
• Noise and heavy parts.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Diesel exhaust in maintenance buildings.
• Third rail and overhead traction power.
• Asbestos in older brakes and gaskets.
• Oxygen-deficient pits and tanks.
• Lift and stand failure.

Where Vantage usually starts

A shop exposure baseline with an energy control and vehicle traffic review.

General contractors and trades building plants, campuses, data centers and manufacturing expansions, through startup and commissioning.

Common hazards

• Falls from edges and openings.
• Struck-by equipment and material.
• Temporary electrical systems.
• Silica from cutting, drilling and grinding.
• Trench collapse.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Confined spaces during commissioning.
• Crane lifts and heavy equipment setting.
• Energized commissioning with multiple energy sources.
• Hot work beside operating processes.
• Overlapping trades in the same area.

Where Vantage usually starts

Project safety coverage and task-based IH support with a defined scope.

Road, bridge, tunnel, utility, rail and airport work. Crews are spread out and site conditions change daily.

Common hazards

• Traffic and equipment strikes.
• Excavation collapse.
• Silica from earthwork and concrete.
• Falls at bridges and structures.
• Noise and vibration.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Underground utility strikes.
• Sewer and manhole atmospheres.
• Drowning during work over water.
• Asphalt fume and burns.
• Wildfire smoke and heat during outdoor work.

Where Vantage usually starts

A field hazard assessment, silica monitoring and short-term project safety support.

Plant shutdowns, renovation, equipment removal and building demolition.

Common hazards

• Falls through openings and from structures.
• Silica from concrete demolition.
• Falling debris.
• Equipment collision.
• Noise.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Asbestos in existing materials.
• Lead paint.
• Structural instability during removal.
• Live utilities and retained energy.
• Residual chemicals in tanks and piping.

Where Vantage usually starts

IH exposure support and project safety planning, with licensed abatement contractors where required.

Homes, rentals, hotel rooms, vehicles and commercial spaces contaminated by methamphetamine manufacture or use, or by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Where a state has a cleanup rule, it sets the cleanup standard and requires certified consultants and contractors. Most state standards cover methamphetamine only; fentanyl standards are few or still being written.

Common hazards

• Residue on walls, HVAC, carpet and fixtures.
• Sharps and biological material.
• Hidden chemicals and containers.
• Structural damage and poor housekeeping.
• Mold and water damage in vacant properties.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Methamphetamine residue absorbed into porous materials.
• Fentanyl and analog powders that are hazardous in small amounts.
• Corrosive and flammable precursor chemicals.
• Iodine, phosphorus and solvent residues from manufacture.
• Contamination spread through ductwork to other units.

Where Vantage usually starts

A preliminary assessment and sampling plan, worker protection for the cleanup crew and clearance sampling, under the state consultant certification where one is required. Decontamination is performed by certified contractors.

Drilling, completion, well servicing, production sites and gas processing plants. Crews move between remote sites and work long rotations.

Common hazards

• Struck-by and caught-between on the rig floor.
• Vehicle travel to remote sites.
• Falls from derricks and tanks.
• Hazardous energy and high-pressure lines.
• Heat, cold and fatigue.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Hydrogen sulfide in sour gas and produced water.
• Hydrocarbon vapors and oxygen deficiency during manual tank gauging.
• Respirable silica during hydraulic fracturing.
• Naturally occurring radioactive material in scale and sludge.
• Fire and explosion at the wellhead.

Where Vantage usually starts

A site exposure assessment for hydrogen sulfide, silica and tank vapors, with gauging and gas detection procedures.

Power generation, substations and power lines, plus water and wastewater treatment.

Common hazards

• Electrical contact.
• Falls from structures.
• Vehicle and equipment strikes.
• Hazardous energy during maintenance.
• Heat and outdoor exposure.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Arc flash.
• Hydrogen sulfide and oxygen deficiency in vaults and wet wells.
• Chlorine and treatment chemicals.
• Wildfire smoke during restoration work.
• High-pressure steam and water.

Where Vantage usually starts

A utility task review, selected monitoring and qualified safety staffing.

Battery, solar, wind and hydrogen manufacturing, installation and operation. New equipment and chemistry often arrive before site programs do.

Common hazards

• Electrical shock.
• Falls during installation and service.
• Heavy equipment and material handling.
• Chemical exposure.
• Stored energy.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Battery thermal runaway.
• Electrolyte decomposition gases including hydrogen fluoride.
• Hydrogen leaks and ignition.
• High-voltage DC arcs.
• Nacelle access and rescue.

Where Vantage usually starts

A commissioning hazard review and training, with specialists added for advanced electrical or process scope.

Biologics, diagnostics, therapeutics and contract research and manufacturing. Research tends to grow faster than the written programs.

Common hazards

• Chemical vapor and splash.
• Sharps.
• Repetitive pipetting and microscope work.
• Electrical equipment.
• Slips around lab equipment.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Biological aerosols and containment failure.
• Cryogen burns and oxygen displacement.
• Potent compound exposure.
• Bioreactor pressure and vessel entry.
• Centrifuge failure and aerosol release.

Where Vantage usually starts

A laboratory risk review and chemical hygiene plan support.

Acute care, clinics, labs, central sterile processing, facilities and construction inside occupied buildings.

Common hazards

• Patient handling.
• Bloodborne pathogens.
• Disinfectant exposure.
• Workplace violence.
• Slips and falls.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Hazardous drug exposure.
• Waste anesthetic gas.
• Ethylene oxide and other sterilants.
• MRI magnetic field and projectile hazards.
• Airborne infection and respirator program gaps.

Where Vantage usually starts

A department-level exposure review with respiratory protection or ergonomics program support.

University, government and private research labs, often with lasers, radiation sources and new materials.

Common hazards

• Laboratory chemical exposure.
• Sharps and biological material.
• Repetitive bench work.
• Electrical equipment.
• Compressed gas cylinders.

Hazards specific to this industry

• Experimental agents with unknown hazards.
• Class 3B and 4 lasers.
• Radioactive materials used under an NRC or state license.
• Cryogens.
• Nanomaterials without established limits.

Where Vantage usually starts

A laboratory task risk assessment with chemical hygiene and fume hood review.