Chemical Risk Assessment & Exposure Monitoring Basic Elements / Characterisation Update December 2010 - Information provided subject to the 'Conditions for Sharing Materials and Advice' - - Information provided subject to the 'Conditions for Sharing Materials and Advice' -

Objectives At the end of this training session you will: Be able to define what basic characterisation means Know the elements of the basic characterisation process Be able to complete a basic characterisation of the hazardous substances you have on your site

Basic Characterization: Definition A “Comprehensive qualitative evaluation of the workplace designed to recognize potential exposures of each worker”. i.e. A process to identify the hazardous substances in use in the workplace and workers potential exposure. The purpose of the basic characterization is to have a complete inventory of workers, tasks, agents, and potential exposures.

Basic Characterization: Minimum Elements Comphrensive list of chemical agents /hazardous substances The chemical inventory. Health effects associated with exposure to each agent / substance The Occupational Exposure Limits /TLV for each substance List of activities or unit operations performed with these agents / hazardous substances List of workers or job titles in the workplace where each substance is used / present. Similar Exposure Group (SEG) A group of workers having the same general exposure profile for the agent(s) being studied because of similarity and frequency of tasks they perform, the materials and processes with which they work, and the similarity of the way they perform the tasks

Basic Characterization: Example of minimum requirements Agent/Hazardous Substance Bromoperidol Toluene Health Effects Toxic, Neuroleptic Harmful, J&J ‘O’ Carcinogen, Reproductive Effector R63. Ototoxic, Visual damage Absorbed through the skin OEL / TLV OEL 3 mcg/m3 STEL 10 mcg/m3 PBOEL-HHC 3B OEL 20ppm Sk Tasks / Activities Unit operations Processes used in………… Unit operations: Charging to reactor, Offloading centrifuge, Loading & unloading dryer QC Lab analysis ……….. Charging to centrifuge ……………………….. QC Lab analysis ……… SEG - Workers potentially exposed Production Operators Waste treatment operators Maintenance QC Analysts

Recap The purpose of the basic characterization is to have a complete inventory of Chemical agents / hazardous substances Health effects OEL / TLV’s Tasks / activities or unit operations List of workers or job titles - SEG Basic Characterization – a process used to identify the agents handled by every employee in the workplace. Remark December 2010: parts of the basic characterisation will be covered when following the RBEAP-approach. It’s in any case very important the site has a complete inventory of all chemicals used on site.