Chemical risk assessment in a chemical laboratory based on three different techniques

Abstract

Received: November 2016, Accepted : February 2017 Background: The use of chemicals is essential in education resulting in exposure to these pollutant in a variety of chemical and research laboratories. Chemical contaminants in chemical laboratories are in different forms and chemical exposure risk assessment is important for choosing appropriate controls in protecting the health of operators, experts and students. For risk assessment in chemical exposures, several techniques were introduced that their use should be assessed. This research was done with the aim to introduce the most appropriate technique in chemical risk assessment by using three chemical risk assessment techniques. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive research done in one chemical laboratory. This research had been defined in several stages: in the first phase, the list of solid and liquid chemicals were prepared and full physicochemical properties of substances as well as toxicity and health risk of them were collected. Finally Chemical Risk Management Self-Assessment Model (Chem-SAM), University Of Wollingong (UOW) risk assessment and semi-quantitative risk assessment method (SQRA) methods were used and compared. Results: There was significant difference between SQRA methods and UOW technique while no significant difference was observed between SQRA methods and Chem-SAM model. Conclusions: All three techniques are simple, but the results were similar in SQRA methods and Chem-SAM model, so these two methods can be replaced in chemical risk assessment. In order to control the identified risks, this research has recommended programs, control measures, improving local exhaust ventilation systems, personal protective equipment and training of personnel.

Chemical risk: state of the art of chemical substances exposure assessment

“…Compiled the data indicated by each methodology, a statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (Version 20.0, IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA) and a graph was drawn with the Excel software. The main conclusion of the research is that the three methodologies presented similar results on the level of risk of exposure at the evaluated site [21].…”

“…Among the chemical risk assessment methods are; the British model COSHH Essentials, the French model from the Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS) [15], Chemical Risk Management (CHARM) [14], Stoffenmanager, ECETOC TRA Targeted Risk Assessment, Advanced REACH Tool (ART) [16], New Approach Methodologies (NAM) [17], Critical Task Exposure Screening (CTES) [18], Artificial Intelligence for Chemical Risk Assessment [19], Lung function tests [20], SQCRA Method [ 31] [33], PBPK Model for Modified Ethanol [20], Chem-SAM, UOW and SQCRA Methods [21], Chemical Health Risk Assessment (CHRA) [22], Exposure to Ultrafine Particles [23], Application of PBPK models in support of derivation of toxicity reference values for 1,1,1-trichloroethane [24], Assessment of hazards and risks of industrial chemicals in the occupational context in Europe: some current problems [25].…”

“…Chem-SAM, UOW and SQCRA methods S. Karimi Zeverdegani, et al [21] made a comparison of the risk assessment in a chemical laboratory using three different methodologies; the Chemical Risk Management Self-Assessment Model (Chem-SAM), the University of Wollingong (UOW) Risk Assessment method and the Semi-Quantitative Chemical Risk Assessment (SQCRA) method. During fieldwork, information was collected regarding chemical toxicity, exposure, risk controls, chemical reactions, etc.…”

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Occupational Safety and Health Among Laboratory Workers in OSHMS Certified and Non-Certified Public Universities in Malaysia

“…CLASS Regulation 2013 provide guidelines on the classifications of hazards, packaging of chemicals and the hazard communication of chemicals used in an organisation while the USECHH Regulation 2000 provides guidelines on the standard of chemical exposure, the requirement for personal protective equipment and the requirement for monitoring including chemical exposure monitoring, medical surveillance and health surveillance (13). It is noted that the usage of chemicals in the academic field exposes not only laboratory staff but students to chemical hazards (28) and improper handling of these chemicals can result in mishap in the laboratory (19). It is also important for laboratory workers to be educated Bivariate Analysis (Chi-square test was used except when cells have expected frequencies of less than 5; this was replaced with Fisher's Exact Test) *p-value is significant at 0.05 gone through any process by a third party to assess its compliance to the OSH standards that is available in Malaysia.…”

Occupational exposure to welding gases during three welding processes and risk assessment by SQRCA method

“…A review by Antonini et al detailed a number of occupation related adverse health effects in welders, such as lung disease and possible neurological disease (5). Chemicals have different toxicity, and risk assessment of chemicals determines the risk levels that they present to users (6). Several studies, generally performed in large companies and focusing on atmospheric exposure of welders to particulate matter and metals, have characterized the main determinants of external exposure to be the welding process, ventilation, working in confined spaces, and the composition of consumables (7,8).…”