title: Influence of legal standards on the practice of industrial hygiene.
abstract: Prescriptive standards for the work environment affect the professional practice of industrial hygiene. Among the advantages are: legal requirements reinforce professional recommendations; penalties encourage abatement of hazards; compliance should ensure a safe and healthful environment; recordkeeping requirements will provide a basis for future action. Among the disadvantages are: rigid evaluation procedures, reporting format, etc., discourage professional judgment and development of new methods; professional reports become legal documents; single standards do not focus on the total environment.
mesh_terms: D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D014481:United States