In industrial hygiene, anticipation refers to ...

• A. Proactively identifying hazards before they affect workers.
• B. Reacting after incidents.
• C. Training on PPE.
• D. Auditing compliance.

Answer: (A)

In industrial hygiene, anticipation means looking ahead to identify potential hazards before workers are exposed. This proactive mindset involves predicting where exposures could occur, assessing risks before they manifest, and planning controls in advance so problems don’t arise. It comes into play whenever a new chemical, process, or task is introduced, so you evaluate possible exposure routes, identify who might be at risk, and decide on engineering controls or administrative measures before production or activities proceed.

This differs from reacting after incidents, which is about addressing harm after it happens, and from training on PPE or auditing for compliance, which are reactive or broader management activities rather than the forward-looking identification of hazards. Proactively identifying hazards before they affect workers best captures the essence of anticipation.