Occhealth Bulletin
24 August 2009
News review - August 2009
Category: Reviews
NIOSH unveils new chemical skin hazard strategy notation system
Last month, NIOSH released a new publication entitled ‘Current Intelligence Bulletin 61: A strategy for assigning new NIOSH skin notations’ outlining the changes to the ‘skin notations’ hazard identification system that is currently in place. The present system shows that upon contact with the skin, some chemicals can cause harmful effects on the biological systems of the body once absorbed. The new system will allow people to identify the specific effects that might be expected if a worker becomes exposed to a chemical thru skin contact. For example, direct effects such as skin irritation or skin corrosion, immune-mediated effects such as allergic dermatitis or asthma or systemic effects (effects on the rest of the body through complex biological systems). There will also be a notation for those chemicals whose exposure can be fatal thru extreme toxicity.
Chemicals will be assigned notations such as systemic (SYS), direct (DIR), and sensitizing (SEN). Multiple notations will be given to some chemicals where appropriate. For example, a chemical known to cause systemic toxicity and corrosion via direct skin contact will be assigned SK: SYS-DIR (COR). Furthermore, NIOSH intends to notate chemicals that do not cause any effects associated with skin contact, chemicals that have not yet been evaluated under the new framework and chemicals whose potential to cause harm thru skin contact is not yet known due to insufficient data about the chemical.
Thru this new strategy, NIOSH aims to improve understanding of the hazards and risks associated with skin exposure to chemicals which can in turn lead to enhanced preventative and protective risk management practices and controls. The full publication (pdf format) can be accessed here. If you would like to know more about the standards associated with skin exposure to chemicals then read the Examinetics, Inc Pathfinder resource titled ‘Dermal Exposure’.
‘Leading Workplace Change’ conference
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) will be facilitating its third national forum ‘Leading Workplace Change’ on March 8th & 9th 2010 in Canada’s National Capital Region (Gatineau, Québec). A mixture of speakers from trade unions, industry and academia will discuss participatory ergonomics, workplace violence, the internal responsibility system and training and knowledge transfer. The common underlying theme will be the importance of leadership roles in effecting workplace change. CCOHS has published details about the conference on their website: www.ccohs.ca/events/forumiii/.
NIOSH announces public review of Supplied Air Respirator standards paper
NIOSH has invited the public to review and comment on its concept paper outlining the proposed program to update the Supplied-Air Respirator (SAR) standard (under 42 CFR Part 84). NIOSH intends to update the standard to “promote improved performance and reliability of SAR”. To access the paper and find out how to voice your comments, click on the following link from the NIOSH website: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/review/public/083-B/default.html. The public comment period will last until October 19, 2009.
For further news from the world of occupational health, read our news review bulletins from the Examinetics, Inc. website (www.examinetics.com).