Experimental Application of Semi-Quantitative Methods for the Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Research Laboratories

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of some chemical risk assessment semi-quantitative methods and also to identify potential bias or differences originated by applying different methods to the same activities.

Methods

We collected the data related to the chemical agents used in three different activities of three laboratories of an Italian university; the methods we compared were: MoVaRisCh, COSHH Essentials, LaboRisCh and Datarisch.

Results

The input parameters requested by each method are shown for each activity and for each used chemical. We collected the results obtained since the application of the four different tools in three tables. The use of some chemicals (especially of the activity n° three) shows a not irrelevant risk for the users.

Conclusion

Our findings show that COSHH Essentials, MoVaRisCh and Datarisch tools are consistent in the identification of a risk level; the small differences are related to risk rating, to be considered in relation with the specific structure of the method applied. The differences detected in the risk rating may be overcome by applying, for each working activity we want to assess, two or more different semi-quantitative tools. This strategy can allow to reduce the exposure to chemicals of the workers.

Keywords:

• chemical risk
• work exposure
• chemical exposure
• construction industry

Acknowledgments

The study group is composed of technical and academic staff of the University of the Studies of L’Aquila: A. Civisca.

Disclosure

Prof. Antonio Paoletti is now retired and is a former professor at Occupational Medicine, Università degli studi dell’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy. The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

The study has been conducted by using some human and technical resources of the Università degli studi dell’Aquila. For this reason no funds have been specifically used.