1. 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' -

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.