What does the term "abatement" refer to?

The term "abatement" specifically refers to the act or process of reducing or otherwise controlling something, particularly in the context of environmental health and safety. In occupational hygiene, abatement is commonly used to address the reduction of pollutants or hazardous materials in the workplace, aiming to protect workers' health and enhance safety.

By engaging in abatement practices, companies can implement strategies to minimize exposure to harmful substances, thereby improving overall workplace conditions. This can include methods such as ventilation, the use of personal protective equipment, or changes to processes that generate pollutants.

The other options, while related to occupational hygiene, do not define "abatement." Evaluating workplace hazards focuses on identifying risks rather than reducing them, increasing productivity pertains to efficiency improvements with no direct link to abatement, and documenting exposure levels is a means of tracking data, which also does not involve the reduction of hazards.