European Proposal for Core Information for the Storage and Exchange of Workplace Exposure Measurements on Chemical Agents

Abstract

Results of occupational exposure measurements on chemical agents are affected by a whole host of factors, including measurement duration, location of measurement, and measurement strategy. The information recorded with those results is additionally influenced by regulatory and company policies and individual preferences. The provision of adequate qualifying information with exposure measurements aids interpretation and increases the value of the data. Where organizations wish to share information, standard definitions of qualifying information are essential. This is especially true if the information is to be entered into a computerized database for long-term use. This article presents a proposal for core information to meet these aims. The core information is defined by the Working Group on Exposure Registers in Europe (WG) as “the minimum set of data elements which should form the basis of workplace exposure databases on chemical agents, so as to help towards validation, harmonisation and exchange of information on workplace exposure data.” The WG identified ten key categories of information: premises, workplace, worker activity, product, chemical agent, exposure modifiers, measurement strategy, measuring procedure, results, and reference. Thirty-four data elements forming the core information are placed in the appropriate key categories. The key categories and the data elements are given definitions to minimize misunderstanding. The information requirements aimed at facilitating the process of data exchange are also presented.