GPA2.11b (THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AS OF JUNE 2010)
Formerly AA3:Ch2
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
CC or NGO Name
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, Chennai, India (Recognition as WHO CC in progress)
Project title
Sound Chemicals Management for a Healthier Environment in South and Southeast Asia
Keywords
Chemical hazards, control banding, chemical inventories, chemical management, environmental monitoring, pesticides, environmental health
Project leader Email address
Mr. Sankar Sambandam srmcvels@yahoo.com
Kalpana Balakrishnan ; kalpanasrmc@vsnl.com
Partners (of the CC Network)
NIOSH, FIOH Germany
Other partners
GTZ Convention Project Chemical Safety . VEPA (Vietnam Environment Protection Agency)/ Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) . University of Plymouth, Plymouth Marine Laboratories (PML), UK Possible other partners: respective institutions in countries without CC (especially Tamil speaking such as Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia)
Funding
Collaboration between SRMC, GTZ, VEPA/DONRE and PML funded by EU commission grant, total project budget: 507.360,00 EUR Additional collaboration with further CCs and other institutions will need funding
To support local stakeholders in the development and implementation of an environmentally sound and sustainable management of industrial chemicals and pesticides in urban areas. To achieve high environmental standards in towns and cities through the exchange of best-practice, expertise and information between the European Union and Asia. To assist counterparts in India, Vietnam and eventually other Asian countries in the development of capacities for risk assessment, environmental monitoring and control for the reduction of chemical pollution. To focus on transport, storage and trade of pesticides, as well as transport, storage and handling of industrial chemicals in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To facilitate establishment of an environmental monitoring system with rapid, simple and cost-effective techniques
Project outcome(s) and deadline(s) for
completion of the
project
New concepts and approaches for sound chemicals management issues integrated into sustainable development strategies. Concepts and methods for chemical safety introduced in selected areas. Introduction of measures for the safe and efficient use of industrial chemicals in SMEs. Establishment of environmental monitoring systems in local institutions
Target group and/or
beneficiaries
All enterprises, especially those where expertise and resources are missing such as SMEs. Employees due to improved working conditions. Community by protection of environment and natural resources
Summary of the
project (max 100 words)
The project will contribute to the reduction of chemical contamination in urban areas as well as to the initiation of a dialogue between the main stakeholders on chemical safety. Environmental monitoring and risk assessment instruments will be introduced and implemented. Target groups include officials from municipalities, plant protection services and government environment agencies, universities, SMEs, pesticide formulators, distributors and dealers. Activities focus on transfer of best
practices through strategy workshops and technical training courses on environmental monitoring, risk assessment, the development of policies for transportation and storage management of chemicals as
well as introduction of chemicals management methodology in SMEs.
Dissemination
WHO/ILO documents, publications in respective journals, university studies, training workshops Funded by EU: project
website, training manuals in English, Tamil, Hindi and Vietnamese, standard procedures of environmental monitoring
Impact (global or
regional)
Regional for Asia
Progress on Project (max 100 words)
Within the last year four training workshops have been conducted on Implementation of the GTZ Chemical Management Guide, Developing rapid assessment methods for screening industrial chemicals in environmental media, Risk assessment for industrial hotspots and Safe Transportation and Storage of Chemical respectively in both India and Vietnam. 6 industrial units have been co-opted for on-site implementation of the Chemical Management Guide. The first draft of the White Book has been compiled and is currently under technical review. A national workshop to finalize the contents of the white book will be held in October 2007. Two local laboratories are piloting the routine use of the rapid assay methods. Experience with use of occupational risk management toolkits will be shared in a regional workshop on Control Banding Approaches.
List of major outcomes already achieved by this project
The results of this project include:
(1) Two policy guidance documents, so called “white books”, for each country on chemical management in SMEs
(2) Improved understanding in chemical risk assessment methods for chemical transportation and storage issues in both countries
(3) Dissemination and application of improved methodologies for inventarisation of hazardous waste in more than 350 enterprises in Vietnam
(4) Incorporation of amendments into the legal framework on hazardous wastes in Vietnam
(5) Innovative and participatory chemical management training programme developed and pilot-tested in both countries
(6) Dissemination and adoption of sound chemical management practices in chemical intensive small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) contributing to their improved environmental, health & safety performance and increased productivity; 40 SMEs directly supported in implementation of improved chemical management practices, 25 in Vietnam and 15 in India
(6) 100 local trainers trained in chemical management methodologies to support SMEs in both countries in the future; 10 master trainers trained in Vietnam and 8 in India
(7) Training methodology for SMEs anchored with one institution in each country
(8) SME’s training guide translated into three local languages (Vietnamese, Hindi, and Tamil)
(9) A network of local trainers to guarantee the anchorage of the training methodologoly of chemical management for SMEs established in 10 Vietnamese institutions
(10) Ten case studies of improved practices in Vietnamese companies prepared, describing situation before and after implementation of chemical management. These case studies were compiled and will serve as reference to other SMEs in Vietnam
(11) Biomarker methodology to be used as a cheaper and effective alternative to chemical environmental assessment methods pilot-tested and demonstrated in both countries. A “white book” not originally foreseen in this area, was compiled and made available on the project’s website
(12) Existing network of laboratories working in environmental monitoring reinforced in both countries
(13) Biomarker methodology anchored in one institution in each country
(14) A network of key stakeholders in the chemical safety sector established in both countries
(15) Stakeholder dialogue on chemical safety in SMEs initiated in both countries
(16) In India and Vietnam “environmental monitoring” workshops were introduced; fruitful discussions with more than 35 key stakeholders (in both countries) took place in the sector
(17) A strategy for awareness raising on chemical safety topics developed in Vietnam
(18) Recommendations for modification of hazardous waste classification developed to improve Vietnamese existing waste list and its interpretation
(19) Local waste consultants from both countries supported and guided in different project activities such as developing criteria for classification of hazardous waste, commenting on the Vietnamese draft technical guidelines for co-processing and the products, on the white books on chemical safety, on the strategy for an awareness raising campaign in the field of chemical safety in Vietnam, on comments to the hazardous waste legislation in India, on training aspects for chemical safety in SMEs, and on conceptualisation of the biomarker approach
(20) Specific recommendations formulated in India for improvement of legislation on hazardous waste; these comments have been submitted in December 2008 to the competent Indian authorities
(21)Project website established (http://www.chemicalmanagement.org) to allow for wider dissemination of documents on chemical and waste management as well as project results.
List of additional major outcomes expected from this project by 2012
SRU-EHE and CECT: To offer trainings/workshops on a self-sustaining base.
GTZ will continue its support in the area of chemical safety in both countries according to partners’ priorities and capacities
PML is considering the possibility of new activities within the two countries and in China and is looking for financial resources.
GTZ has presented in February 2009 a new proposal on Improvement of Chemical and Hazardous Waste Management in Small- and Medium scale Enterprises to the SWITCH Program to upscale the experiences under this project and expand the concept to other countries.
GTZ will support UNITAR for training in the globally harmonised system for classifcation and labelling of chemicals (GHS) in Vietnam, during 2009.
In India: SRU-EHE will be assigned the role of a Competence Centre for Chemical Management, aiming at SMEs and specific sectors, and risk assessment techniques; staff will function as trainers for further dissemination.
In Vietnam CECT / VEPA will be assigned the role of a Competence Centre for Chemical Management, aiming at SMEs and specific sectors, and risk assessment techniques; staff will function as trainers for further dissemination.
The biomarker training component of this project has been replicated to provide environmental management tools in Costa Rica, Brazil, Thailand, Ukraine and Rumania. It is being tested now in South China.
In Vietnam, VEPA and CETADS are working on establishing a network for environmental monitoring activities.
NOTIFICATION OF COMPLETION OF PROJECT June 2010
GPA2.11b
Center Name
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India
Project Deliverables
Concepts and methods for chemical safety introduced in selected areas. Introduction of measures for the safe and efficient use of industrial chemicals in SMEs. Establishment of environmental monitoring systems in local institutions
Completion date
Completed December 2009
Outcomes (ie: materials developed, delivered/disseminated, audience, number trained/disseminated)
A White Book on “Sound Chemical Management for SMEs” was successfully prepared and disseminated to major local stakeholders including regulators and industry associations
A GTZ Chemical Management Guide was translated in two local languages with suitable customization and distributed to nearly 80 local enterprises.
Impact (policy change, programs sustained, reduction in injuries or illnesses)
The white book recommendations were communicated to the Ministry of Environment and Forests Govt. of India in response to their call for modifications in the Hazardous Waste Management Rules.
Nearly 20 new units have approached the CC for assistance with better chemical inventory management and handling
Several enquiries following the web hosting of the manual for PPE recommendations from local units
The project methodology was adopted by the German GTZ to prepare guidance documentation the CTC phase out programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India
Barriers to completion
None
Other
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA2.15p
Formerly AA3:As1
CONTRIBUTING PROJECT Title
Bakers allergy and asthma - Risk Management Toolkit
GPA Objective
GPA Objective 2 : Protect and promote health at the workplace
Responsible CC or NGO Name
Occupational and Environmental Health Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
No
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project
Dr Monika Rauf-Heimsoth, Research Institute of Occupational Medicine of the Berufgenossenschaften (BGFA), Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
Tim Meijster, TNO/ IRAS (institute of Risk Assessment), Univ of Utrecht, Netherlands
Summary of the project
Exposure to flour dust in bakeries is one of the most common causes of occupational asthma worldwide. Bread production has moved from large sale industrial bakeries to supermarkets and small scale traditional bakeries. Most of these bakeries have limited access to technology-informed interventions and relevant information to reduce the risk of bakers developing occupational allergies and asthma. The aim of this project is to evaluate different approaches in reducing exposure to flour dust in supermarket bakeries and in the process develop a risk management toolbox appropriate for supermarkets. The second aim is to develop a training manual for the use of this risk management toolbox.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
All bakery enterprises – especially those located in supermarkets and SMME’s
Events-opportunities for furthering the project
None at this stage
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
Recommendations for dust control in low income settings.
Indicators of achievement (impact)
Reduced flour dust exposures and incidence of baker’s allergy and asthma
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
Training manual, Prototype lid for bakery mixer
Public health impact
Global
Funding source(s)
Partial funding has been secured from the National Research Foundation (THRIPP) and the Medical Research Council in South Africa
Dissemination
WHO/ILO documents; university academic instruction; worker and industry meetings
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
2.13a
New Project
CONTRIBUTING PROJECT Title
Development of an advanced model for regulatory exposure assessment (Advanced REACH Tool - ART)
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
Responsible CC or NGO Name
TNO, Zeist, The Netherlands
Project leader
Dr Erik Tielemans
erik.tielemans@tno.nl
Network partners
Dr Martie van Tongeren, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), UK
Martie.van.tongeren@iom-world.org Dr Nick Warren, Health and Safety Laboratories (HSL), UK
Nick.Warren@hsl.gov.uk
WHO Regions involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
N/A
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
N/A
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project
Dr Thomas Schneider
National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NRCWE)
Denmark
tsc@arbejdsmiljoforskning.dk Dr Martin Tischer
Bundesanstalt fur Arbeidsschutz und Arbeidsmedizin (BAUA)
Germany
tischer.martin@baua.bund.de Dr Hans Kromhout
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS)
The Netherlands
h.kromhout@uu.nl
Summary of the project
The Advanced REACH Tool (ART) is an advanced, higher tier exposure model, for exposure assessments used for chemical safety assessment under REACH in Europe. Accurate exposure assessment is essential for chemical risk assessments and hence safe use of chemicals. ART incorporates a mechanistic model of exposure and an exposure measurement database from a wide variety of exposure scenarios and substances. Exposure estimates will be obtained using a Bayesian process combining the results of the model with analogous measured exposure data from the database. ART is currently being developed for inhalation exposure, but will in future also include dermal and ingestion exposure.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Immediate: Industry (manufacturer and importers of chemical agents and downstream users) and regulators (ECHA, REACH competent authorities).
Distant: Workers
Events-opportunities for furthering the project
REACH: Registration and Beyond: Exposure Scenarios and safe handling advice; 2nd European Workshop & Conference. 30 September-1 October 2009. Brussels
X2009 Sixth International Conference on Innovations in Exposure Assessment. August 17-20 2009, Boston, US
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
Fully validated and operational ART for inhalation and dermal exposure. Made freely available on the web.
Beta version for the ingestion exposure model.
Indicators of achievement (impact)
Acceptance of ART by wider scientific community and use of ART by industry and regulators.
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
December 2010 – Full ART (inhalation) made available on the web.
December 2011 – Full ART (dermal) made available on the web.
December 2012 – Beta version of ingestion model.
Public health impact
Improved risk assessment for occupational exposure to chemicals, resulting in improved health of the EU workforce.
Funding source(s)
Dutch Government.
Health and Safety Executive (UK)
CEFIC – European Chemical Industry Council
AFSSET – Agence francaise de sécurité sanitaire de l’environment et du travail (France).
Dissemination
National and International Scientific and Professional Conferences
ART website.
Please indicate whether this is:
New project June 2010
GPA2.11q
CONTRIBUTING PROJECT Title
Work plan project number (to be added by WHO)
Stoffenmanager 4.5: New and Extended
GPA Objective and Action
GPA 2 To promote and protect health at the workplace.
11. …the assessment and management of health risks at the workplace should be improved by: defining essential interventions for prevention and control of mechanical, physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial risks in the working environment. Such measures include also integrated management of chemicals at the workplace, elimination of second-hand tobacco smoke from all indoor workplaces, improved occupational safety, and health-impact assessment of new technologies, work processes and products at the design stage.
12. …protecting health at the workplace also requires enacting regulations and adopting a basic set of occupational health standards to make certain that all workplaces comply with minimum requirements for health and safety protection, ensuring an appropriate level of enforcement, strengthening workplace health inspection, and building up collaboration between the competent regulatory agencies according to specific national circumstances.
15. …work on creating practical tools for assessment and management of occupational risks, recommending minimum requirements for health protection at the workplace, providing guidance on development of healthy workplaces, and on promoting health at the workplace
Priority Initiative
GPA 2.1 Develop practical toolkits for the assessment and management of occupational health and safety risks (chemical, physical and biological focus)
CC TNO Quality of Life in Hoofdorp, the Netherlands, IOHA
WHO Regions involved in this CONTRIBUTING project (contact name and email)
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project (contact name and email)
Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
Henri Geron, Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employability, hgeron@minszw.nl
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project (contact name, organization and email)
Michel van Wijk, BECO, wijk@beco.nl
Frans de Beer, Dutch Labor Inspectorate, fdbeer@minszw.nl
Albert Hollander, TNO Quality of Life, a.hollander@tno.nl
Summary of the project (max 100 words)
The first version of Stoffenmanager website was launched in 2003 as a risk banding tool aimed at SME working with hazardous substances. Since then the inhalation exposure model was calibrated and evaluated allowing the Dutch Labor Inspectorate to formally approve of Stoffenmanager as a tool through with Dutch SME may comply with occupational hygiene legislation.
This project entails further development of the Stoffenmanager website (www.stoffenmanager.eu) by:
Implementing the GHS/CLP legislation
Development of first version of a risk prioritiziation tool for nano particles
Improvement of the REACH module
Improved user friendliness of the skin risk module
Allignment with the ECHA Chesar tool
The Stoffenmanager is being developed by Arbo Unie (Henri Heussen), BECO (Michel van Wijk) and TNO Quality of Life (Maikel van Niftrik)
Prioritization, evaluation and management of health risks posed by inhalation and dermal exposure to hazardous chemicals.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
SME working with hazardous substances
Events-opportunities for furthering the project
An annual meeting for the Occupational Research Conference at Guadalajara, Mexico.
A meeting with the Network Iberoamerican of Occupational Risk Psychosocial (RIPSOL) in Argentina and Ecuador (2011).
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
Release of version 4.5. of the website (Oct 2010)
Publications
Indicators of achievement (impact)
Amount of registered users is 20.000 in 2012 (currently 11.000)
Regular user evaluation indicating a customer satisfaction of 4 out of 5.
A SME user of Stoffenmanager is able to:
generate a complete and reliable risk inventarisation and evaluation of x % of its substances, and
interpret the results of the evaluation in a correct manner by comparing the exposure inhalation with a relevant threshold value, and
Apply correct control measures based on the outcome of the risk evaluation.
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
Sept 2010 – company evaluation of beta version of STM 4.5.
Oct 2010 – release of STM 4.5.
First half 2011 – report conclusions on customer evaluation
Public health impact
Health improvement of worker exposure to hazardous substances.
Illness prevention due to reduced inhalation and skin exposure to hazardous substances
Funding source(s)
Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment
Dissemination
Scientific papers
ECHA REACH Guidance document
Publications in HSE magazines
Through Stoffenmanager newsletter
Presentations and workshops at national and international (scientific) meetings
Professional one-day courses
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
(to be assigned by WHO)
New project June 2010
GPA2.11r
PROJECT Title
Stoffenmanager Construction Toolkit
GPA Objective (e.g. GPA5) and GPA Action (e.g Action 28)
GPA Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace.
11. …the assessment and management of health risks at the workplace should be improved by: defining essential interventions for prevention and control of mechanical, physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial risks in the working environment. Such measures include also integrated management of chemicals at the workplace, elimination of second-hand tobacco smoke from all indoor workplaces, improved occupational safety, and health-impact assessment of new technologies, work processes and products at the design stage.
12. …protecting health at the workplace also requires enacting regulations and adopting a basic set of occupational health standards to make certain that all workplaces comply with minimum requirements for health and safety protection, ensuring an appropriate level of enforcement, strengthening workplace health inspection, and building up collaboration between the competent regulatory agencies according to specific national circumstances.
15. …work on creating practical tools for assessment and management of occupational risks, recommending minimum requirements for health protection at the workplace, providing guidance on development of healthy workplaces, and on promoting health at the workplace.
Priority Number (e.g. 5.3) and Area (if applicable) e.g Agriculture
GPA 2.1 Develop practical toolkits for the assessment and management of occupational health and safety risks (chemical , physical and biological focus)
This project also contributes to other GPA Priorities (List them, if applicable).
GPA1.1, GPA3.1,GPA 3.2, GPA5.3
Responsible CC or NGO Name
IOHA
Project leader(s)
(contact name and email address)
Dave Zalk (IOHA envoy)
zalk1@llnl.gov
Henri Heussen (IOHA envoy)
henri.heussen@arbounie.nl
Network partners (CC name, country, email)
TNO
WHO Regions involved in this project (contact name and email)
Country ministries involved in this project (contact name and email)
External partners for this project (contact name, organization and email)
- Arbouw (spee@arbouw.nl)
- Arbo Unie
Summary of the project (max 100 words)
A web-based internet tool was developed (www.stoffenmanagerbouwnijjverheid.nll, Dutch only) for assessing chemical exposure and identifying controls. With a starting grant from the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and employment the tool was completed for tilers and plasters. Advice for carpenters, bricklayers, joiners, and sealant applicators will be integrated in 2010
This toolkit provides customized advice to prevent exposure to hazardous substances in the construction industry.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Construction workers and employers
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
Advice for carpenters, bricklayers, joiners and sealant applicators integrated into existing toolkit in 2010.
Dissemination plan
Funding source(s)
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
A web-based internet tool was developed (www.stoffenmanagerbouwnijjverheid.nll, Dutch only) for assessing chemical exposure and identifying controls
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
Inclusion of control banding principles and approaches in standards and legislation of range of countries. Brazil, Chile, China, Germany, Korea, India, Portugal, The Netherlands, Ukraine, UK, USA, Vietnam
List of additional outcomes expected by 2016
2009-2012 Work Plan
New project June 2010
2.11s
PROJECT Title
Stoffenmanager Paint and Printing Ink Manufacturing Industry Toolkit
GPA Objective (e.g. GPA5) and GPA Action (e.g Action 28)
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
11. …the assessment and management of health risks at the workplace should be improved by: defining essential interventions for prevention and control of mechanical, physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial risks in the working environment. Such measures include also integrated management of chemicals at the workplace, elimination of second-hand tobacco smoke from all indoor workplaces, improved occupational safety, and health-impact assessment of new technologies, work processes and products at the design stage.
12. …protecting health at the workplace also requires enacting regulations and adopting a basic set of occupational health standards to make certain that all workplaces comply with minimum requirements for health and safety protection, ensuring an appropriate level of enforcement, strengthening workplace health inspection, and building up collaboration between the competent regulatory agencies according to specific national circumstances.
15. …work on creating practical tools for assessment and management of occupational risks, recommending minimum requirements for health protection at the workplace, providing guidance on development of healthy workplaces, and on promoting health at the workplace.
Priority Number (e.g. 5.3) and Area (if applicable) e.g Agriculture
Priority 2.1 Develop practical toolkits for the assessment and management of occupational health and safety risks (chemical, physical and biological focus)
This project also contributes to other GPA Priorities (List them, if applicable).
Responsible CC or NGO Name
IOHA
Project leader(s)
(contact name and email address)
Dave Zalk (IOHA envoy)
zalk1@llnl.gov
Henri Heussen (IOHA envoy)
henri.heussen@arbounie.nl
Network partners (CC name, country, email)
TNO
WHO Regions involved in this project (contact name and email)
Country ministries involved in this project (contact name and email)
External partners for this project (contact name, organization and email)
Dutch Painting and Printing Ink Manufacturing Organisation
- Dutch trade unions
- Arbo Unie
Summary of the project (max 100 words)
(www.stoffenmanagerverfendrukinktindustrie.nl, Dutch only) for assessing chemical exposure and identifying controls. The sector specific activities were linked to the EU-sector organisation (CEPE) REACH use descriptors and these descriptors were built in. Users were trained by the train the trainer principle. Further implementation will take place by providing a helpdesk, a yearly user evaluation day and updating the tool in line with regulatory changes.
This project will guide (SME) users of this self-assessment tool towards a validated safe use of chemicals in the paint and printing ink production industry.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
SMEs in paint and printing ink production industry
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
Dissemination plan
Funding source(s)
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
Inclusion of control banding principles and approaches in standards and legislation of range of countries. Brazil, Chile, China, Germany, Korea, India, Portugal, The Netherlands, Ukraine, UK, USA, Vietnam
List of additional outcomes expected by 2016
Continuous funding of the sector organisation to keep the tool up to date
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
(to be assigned by WHO)
2.11t
PROJECT Title
Development of Toolkits for Safe Solvent Use in Industry Sectors Involved with Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC) Phaseout
GPA Objective (e.g. GPA5) and GPA Action (e.g Action 28)
GPA Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
11. …the assessment and management of health risks at the workplace should be improved by: defining essential interventions for prevention and control of mechanical, physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial risks in the working environment. Such measures include also integrated management of chemicals at the workplace, elimination of second-hand tobacco smoke from all indoor workplaces, improved occupational safety, and health-impact assessment of new technologies, work processes and products at the design stage.
12. …protecting health at the workplace also requires enacting regulations and adopting a basic set of occupational health standards to make certain that all workplaces comply with minimum requirements for health and safety protection, ensuring an appropriate level of enforcement, strengthening workplace health inspection, and building up collaboration between the competent regulatory agencies according to specific national circumstances.
15. …work on creating practical tools for assessment and management of occupational risks, recommending minimum requirements for health protection at the workplace, providing guidance on development of healthy workplaces, and on promoting health at the workplace.
Priority Number (e.g. 5.3) and Area (if applicable) e.g Agriculture
Priority 2.1 Develop practical toolkits for the assessment and management of occupational health and safety risks (chemical, physical and biological focus)
This project also contributes to other GPA Priorities (List them, if applicable).
WHO Regions involved in this project (contact name and email)
Country ministries involved in this project (contact name and email)
Ozone Monitoring Cell
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India
External partners for this project (contact name, organization and email)
GTZ-Proklima office of GTZ-India
Summary of the project (max 100 words)
Carbon Tetrachloride (CTC) an important class of ozone depleting substances is widely used as a solvent in many industrial sectors in India. Within the framework of the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol, the Governments of Germany and France have mandated GTZ-Proklima to provide technical assistance to CTC consuming industries in the India to phase out CTC. The SRU-WHO-CC provided assistance to GTZ for research and documentation on nearly 500 potentially hazardous substances that could be present in proprietary cleaning agents that were being considered as CTC substitutes. Following this SRU is conducting a systematic evaluation of exposures and identification of risks associated with selected CTC substitutes across a spectrum of client industries in order to provide specific recommendations for control in the respective industrial sectors using the chemical management toolkit approach.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
All industry sectors involved with CTC
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
Job-Hazard Profiles for 8 industry sectors
(December 2010)
Control Guidance Sheets for Solvent use (March 2010)
Dissemination June 2010
Dissemination plan
Through Training Manuals and web-hosting of Control Guidance
Funding source(s)
GTZ-India
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
Job-Hazard Profiles have been generated for 8 industry sectors that are involved in high volume CTC-use namely Oxygen, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Offset Printing, Jewelry, Electrical, Foundry, Textile and Metal Degreasing
Control Guidance for all processes involving solvents in these sectors has been prepared
Two dissemination workshops at the state and national level have been conducted
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
Development of a Training Module for routine administration by the Environmental Training Institute of the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board for area industries involved with CTC
List of additional outcomes expected by 2016
Area 2: Analytic diagnostic tools
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA2.11a
Formerly AA2:NP12
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
CC or NGO Name
INRS – FRANCE
Project title
New challenges and new methods in bio-monitoring
Keywords
Occupational toxicology, bio-monitoring, symposium, methods, urine sampling disposal, internet
To stimulate discussion and to disseminate information and new tools in bio-monitoring
Project outcome(s) and deadline(s) for completion of the project
1-Database on bio-monitoring methods and available laboratories;
2-Development of a urine sampling disposal for on-field use;
3-Organization of a scientific symposium in 2008
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Occupational physicians, industrial hygienists of most enterprises
Summary of the project
1-A database, accessible on the INRS website, is being developed and implemented in order to disseminate in France, but also in the French speaking countries, recommended bio-monitoring techniques for the surveillance of exposed workers;
2-An original disposal is being developed in order to take samples of urine in exposed workers on a medium which can be easily sent by ordinary mail to a laboratory for analysis of toxic metabolites( this tool will be useful for the bio-monitoring of workers who are far from laboratories);
3-Organization of a scientific symposium in order to have a large overview on the present and future bio-monitoring methods for the surveillance of workers exposed to traditional and emerging chemical risks.
Special attention will be assigned to simple bio-monitoring techniques, which can be used directly by occupational physicians.
Dissemination
1-Internet INRS Website
2-Marketting of a urine sampling disposal
3-Acts of the symposium
Impact (global or regional)
Global
Progress on Project
1. The database BIOTOX is available on the INRS website. It is updated annually (last update in July 2007). A paper publication (in French) is also available (INRS ED 791).
2. A device to collect, transport and store urine samples, “URIPREL”, has been validated for six metabolites of substances (benzene, styrene, carbon disufide, PAH) and works are in progress for other substances (naphthalene, metals). A company has been contracted to market the device. At the same time, new analytical methods faster and easier to use have been developed and transferred to laboratories. The next step of the project aims to increase the number of applications and to develop reactive systems for an in-situ, semi-quantitative exposure assessment. The combined use of immunosorbents and molecular impregnated polymers for determination of traces of 3-hydroxybenzene, metabolite of B(a)P, has been studied.
3. The project to organize a symposium on biomonitoring has been postponed to 2010, an international event already took place in 2007 (7th International symposium on biomonitoring in occupational and environmental health, Beijing, September 2007).
List of outcomes already achieved by this project
List of additional outcomes expected from this project by 2012
2009-2012 Work Plan Number
GPA2.11f
New Project
CONTRIBUTING PROJECT Title
Development of analytical diagnostic tools for occupational isocyanate asthma
GPA Objective
Objective 2: To protect and promote health at the workplace
Institute and outpatient clinic for occupational and environmental medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Germany;
Email: Dennis.Nowak@med.uni-muenchen.de
WHO Regions involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
Global
Country ministries involved in this CONTRIBUTING project
Ministries of occupational and environmental affairs in Europe
External partners for this CONTRIBUTING project
Prof. Dr. Rainer Bischoff, University of Groningen, Analysical Biochemistra and Mass spectrometry center, Groningen, NL; Email: r.p.h.bischoff@rug.nl
Dr. C. Lemière, Hôpital de Sacré Coeur, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Email: catherine.lemiere@umontreal.ca
Prof. Dr. D. Bernstein, Chincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinatti, OH USA
Email: david.bernstein@cchmc.org
Summary of the project
Most frequent type of occupational asthma is the isocyanate asthma. Clinical diagnosis and differentiation of isocyanates as the cause of occupational asthma is difficult. The gold-standard test, specific inhalation challenge, is successfully used in our outpatient clinic. However with the increasing use of isocyanates worldwide a need for an efficient routine laboratory test has emerged.
Due to the unsatisfactory serological IgE tests based on poorly characterized isocyanate-albumin epitopes, the available tests recognize only small proportion of affected workers. In order to characterize biomarker of exposure in a larger population of occupationally exposed workers we will characterize the reaction products of isocyanates and albumin with a help of mass spectrometry analyses.
Target group and/or beneficiaries
Employer, worker representatives, OHS experts
Events-opportunities for furthering the project
Presentations of intermediate and final results at European and international scientific meetings. Initial meetings of CCs, national & international meetings on occup. and environm. health / follow up conferences on the topic as final events (EU)
Expected results of this project by 2012 (outcomes)
Implement the immunological assay for the diagnosis of patient samples. Recommendations for the prevention of occupational asthma based on biomonitoring screening
Indicators of achievement (impact)
Toolkit 1: characterise the kinetic conditions for the simulation of workplace exposure under laboratory conditions and implementation of the results for the patient analysis
Toolkit 2: characterise the isocyanate-serum-albumin epitopes from patient samples with mass spectrometry
Toolkit 3: develop a sensitive laboratory diagnostic method for the isocyanate asthma
Major Milestones (list up to three dates and milestones)
1. biomonitoring methods (2009-2010)
2. implementation of the antibody assay (2010-2011)
3. recommendations for the prevention of occupational asthma (2012)
Public health impact
Development of new diagnostic tools for occupational isocyanate asthma. Effective interventions to manage and prevent the risks.
Funding source(s)
German Research Council, DFG
Dissemination
The results in international journals. Papers to conferences, workshops, new electronic media, fact sheets and recommendations, use channels of the EASHW, websites of CCs, WHO, ILO