Assess Risk. Urgent, immediate. Serious, needs resolving quickly. Less serious, can be dealt with as soon as possible

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1 A Simple Workplace Based Approach To Dermal Risk Assessment and Risk Management Helen Packham Enviroderm Services, UK A Simple Workplace Based Approach To Dermal Risk Assessment and Risk Management Risk assessment in perspective A qualitative approach Workplace situations Hierarchy of risk management solutions Risk management problems and possible solutions Control through PPE What is a Risk Assessment? Assess... Source:- to estimate the size or The Concise Oxford Dictionary quality of... Estimate... an approximate judgement of... Judgement... an opinion... A risk assessment is our opinion of a given situation Tools for dermal risk assessment THINK! LISTEN!? LOOK! ASK! Assess Risk Urgent, immediate Serious, needs resolving quickly Less serious, can be dealt with as soon as possible Not serious, needs to be dealt with, but when convenient Insignificant - no action required Calculate Risk Risk Rating = Hazard Rating x Exposure Rating x Probability

Risk management problems and possible solutions Control through PPE What is a Risk Assessment? Assess... Source:- to estimate the size or The Concise Oxford Dictionary quality of... Estimate.

2 Hazard The intrinsic properties and ability to cause harm Sensitizer Irritant Systemic toxin Hazard One way of approaching this could be to assign a rating value, e.g. Health effect from dermal exposure. Irreversible Acute, potentially lethal Acute, serious Chronic, potentially lethal Chronic serious Acute, minor Chronic, minor. Reversible Acute, potentially lethal Acute, serious Acute, minor Chronic, serious Chronic, minor Hazard rating Assess effect of Exposure Hazard Form Concentration Life, volatility etc. Bioavailability Mixtures, contaminants, changes in use Exposure Extent Duration Location Frequency The what if factor But what if a truck drives past Assess effect of Exposure Ambient conditions Temperature Humidity Open/restricted Control measures Present Operational Effectiveness Safeguards

Reversible Acute, potentially lethal Acute, serious Acute, minor Chronic, serious Chronic, minor Hazard rating Assess effect of Exposure Hazard Form Concentration Life, volatility etc.

3 Chemical Hazard Rating Irreversible, acute, potentially lethal Reversible, acute, potentially lethal Irreversible, acute, serious Reversible, acute, serious Irreversible, chronic, potentially lethal Reversible, chronic, serious Irreversible, chronic, serious Reversible, acute, minor Irreversible, acute, minor Reversible, chronic, minor Irreversible, chronic, minor Take the most significant hazard rating for application into the formula and for assessing exposure, unless exposure to a less hazardous chemical is particularly severe. Extent Duration Frequency Location Light Short Seldom Hands Medium Medium Occasional Arms Heavy Long Regular Torso Extreme Continuous Frequent Face Probability will range from 0, with 0 being exposure virtually excluded and being actual, observed exposure. Formula is: Risk = hazard rating x exposure rating x probability Form completed by: On: Assess effect of Exposure People Numbers involved/exposed Duration in location Frequency in location Awareness and attitude Supervision History Reported incidence and prevalence of skin problems Observed incidence and prevalence of skin problems Skin health monitoring and results Workers tell you what they think they do It may not be what they actually do Extent of exposure Light Medium Heavy Extreme The following factors should be evaluated Frequency of exposure Seldom Occasional Regular Frequent Classify Exposure Adding these together will give you an exposure rating Duration of exposure Short Medium Long Continuous Location of exposure Hands Arms Torso Face Probability What is the potential for exposure to occur Reliance upon PPE Local exhaust ventilation failing Spillage when decanting chemicals Virtually excluded Improbable but possible Possible Highly probable Actual exposure normal Consistent Approach Activity/Location: Description: Chemicals used: 3 5 Ratings are: Exposure: Probability: Calculate risk rating: Hazard rating x Exposure rating = x Dermal Risk Assessment Total exposure rating (sum of above): Probability = Risk rating EnviroDerm Services, 000 3

hazard rating for application into the formula and for assessing exposure, unless exposure to a less hazardous chemical is particularly severe.

4 Calculate Risk Risk Rating = Hazard Rating x Exposure Rating x Probability Risk Rating > <50 Action priority Urgent, immediate Serious, needs resolving quickly Less serious, deal with as soon as possible Not serious, can be dealt with as convenient Insignificant, no action required Further action You may wish to consider specialist advice. National organisations Occupational Physician Topic Specialist Introduce Controls Concentrate upon controlling the process, not the person. Strategy for risk management. Design workplace and equipment to eliminate exposure. Select chemical(s) for minimum hazard 3. Install engineering controls. Provide handling equipment 5. Establish safe working procedures. Control exposure with personal protective equipment 7. Minimise effect by limiting exposure and monitoring effect. Capstan Lathe Suffering from dermatitis on one hand. Due to de-fatting effect of the metalworking fluid. Capstan Lathe Solenoid valve - the fluid is redirected to tank every time the machine was stopped

National organisations Occupational Physician Topic Specialist Introduce Controls Concentrate upon controlling the process, not the person. Strategy for risk management.

5 Paint sprayer Paint sprayer Controlling the process Developing solutions requires an understanding of the process. Usually requires a team approach involving production and design engineers. May need supplier involvement It will require a knowledge of what equipment and methods are available. Control of exposure using PPE Personal protective equipment = last resort. Engineering controls should always take precedence. Relies upon the individual to use it correctly Effectiveness of Personal Protective equipment can vary widely depending upon conditions of use Usually fail-to-danger Usually the most expensive answer. Ways in which gloves can fail Misuse Degradation Physical damage Permeation Assessing the Safe Maximum Use Time (SMUT( SMUT) ) for chemical protective gloves is complex! There are many factors which affect how long a glove may be used with safety. Decrease B T T Degradation High temperature Mechanical damage Mixtures Abrasion Flexing and stretching Ageing Poor maintenance Increase Volatility Intermittent contact Incomplete contact Low temperature Mixture strength Frequent glove washing 5

Engineering controls should always take precedence.

6 Risk Assessment and Management is never finished Monitor system to: Ensure your workers are remaining healthy Detect any changes that may occur, that could affect your risk assessment or control measures. Questions?

healthy Detect any changes that may occur, that could

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Background The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 applies to employers, employees in all employments and to the self employed. The Act contains provisions for improving