Construction of an Exposure Matrix Using a Risk Assessment of Industries and Processes Involving Dichloromethane

Abstract

A reduction in risk of occupational exposure to chemical hazards within the workplace has been the focus of attention both through industry initiatives and legislation. The aims of this study were to develop an exposure matrix by industry and process, and to apply this matrix to control the risk of occupational exposure to Dichloromethane (DCM). The exposure matrix is a tool to convert information on industry and process into information on occupational risk. The exposure matrix comprised industries and processes involving DCM, based on an exposure database provided by KOSHA (the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency), which was gathered from a workplace hazards evaluation program in Korea. The risk assessment of the exposure matrix was performed using Hallmark risk assessment tool. The results of the risk assessment were indicated by a Danger Value (DV) calculated from the combination of hazard rating (HR), duration of use rating (DUR), and risk probability rating (RPR) of exposure to the chemical, and were divided into four control bands which were related to control measures. The applicability of the risk assessment of the exposure matrix was evaluated by a field study, and survey of the employees of the exposure matrix groups. Among 45 industries examined, this study found that greater attention should be paid to two industries: the manufacture of other optical instruments and photographic equipment, and the manufacture of printing ink, and to one process among 47 examined, the packing process in the manufacture of printing ink, because these were regarded as carrying the highest risk. This tool of a risk assessment for the exposure matrix can be applied as a general exposure information system for hazard control, risk quantification, setting the occupational exposure limit, and hazard surveillance. The exposure matrix includes workforce data, and it provides information on the numbers of exposed workers in Korea by agent, occupation, and level of exposure and risk.

Review and Improvement of Chemical Hazard Risk Management of Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency

“…By using the developed method with the data of the target enterprises, it was confirmed that risk level 1 for all phases (i.e., the recommendation to maintain the control level) occupied the highest percentage in the quantitative risk assessment results. Existing studies on workplace environments in Korea also showed that the rate of excess concentration determined via work environment monitoring, the rate compared to the OEL, and the detection rate of carcinogens were all low [41][42][43][44][45].…”

Comparison of chemical risk assessment methods in South Korea and the United Kingdom

“…Furthermore, according to results of working environment measurements in car manufacturers, which uses a host of different chemicals, carcinogen like benzene were barely detected 31,32) . For example, the working environment measurements for workplaces utilizing dichloromethane showed that 25.4% of workplaces had undetectable levels, 50.5% of workplaces had exposure levels of less than 10%, and 17.8% of workplaces had exposure levels of less than 50% 33) . For COSHH Essentials, CMR chemical substances are typically assessed as high risk because of the immediate allocation of a high hazard grade, regardless of the exposure level.…”