INTRODUCTION CHRA
Scope
Under USECHH Regulation 2000, CHTH is defined as a chemical which is :
Listed in Schedule I and II in USECHH Regulation 2000
Classified in any hazard class specified under Health Hazards of First Schedule of Class Regulation 2013
Pesticide as defined under Pesticides Act 1974
Schedule waste listed in Schedule I in Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005
Purpose and Objectives CHRA
Purpose conducting CHRA is to enable decisions to be made on :
the necessity of exposure monitoring programme
the necessity of medical surveillance programme
induction and training of workers
appropriate control measures
Objectives CHRA
To evaluate the degree of exposure of workers to the CHTH, either through
inhalation, dermal or ingestion
To evaluate the adequacy of existing control measures
To identify the hazards posed by each CHTH use within the workplace
To recommend further appropriate control measures and prioritise actions to be
taken to prevent or reduce risks
Content CHRA
The risk to health created by the use and the release of chemicals from work processes
Measures and procedures required to control the exposure of a worker to CHTH
The degree of exposure to such CHTH
The measures, procedures, and equipment necessary to control any accidental
emission of a CHTH as a result of leakage, spillage, or process or equipment
failure
The nature of the hazard to health
The necessity for worker exposure monitoring programme
The method and procedures adopted in the use of the CHTH
The necessity for medical surveillance programme
The potential risks to a worker as a result of exposure to CHTH
The requirement for the training and retraining of workers
Assessment Strategies
Full Assessment
Simple Assessment
Select Assessor
Assessment Concept
Steps in CHRA
Competency of assessor
Specialist Advice
Duties of an assessor
Assessment Team
An occupational health doctor (OHD)
An engineer in related field
An experienced and knowledgeable member of the safety and health committee
An industrial/occupational health nurse
Supervisor of the work area
Make recommendations on the necessity to:
Without any delay inform the respective employer of the immediate danger discovered during the assessment process
Furnish and present his findings and recommendations to the employer within
one (1) month upon completion of the assessment report
Carry out assessment of health risks arising from the use of CHTH at the
workplace
An occupational health physician/doctor
A hygiene technician
An occupational/industrial hygienist
A toxicologist
an expert on the identification of hazards, exposure evaluation and control of health risks
a person who has expertise in
occupational medicine and medical surveillance programme
competent person on the inspection and testing of engineering control equipment and the exposure monitoring of airborne
chemicals
an expert on chemical toxicity
Determine Level of Risk
Evaluate Exposure from all Possible Routes of Exposure
Determine Degree of Hazard of CHTH in each Work Unit
Assess Adequacy of Existing Control Measures
Conclude Assessment
Divide into Work Unit
Gather Information
Identify Action to be Taken
Recommendation and Assign Action Priority (AP)
Prepare, Present and Submit Report
Risk
Exposure
Hazard
A chemical health hazard is
Potential of a chemical to cause harm or adversely affect health
of workers in the workplace
Adverse health effect ranges from fatality, permanent and serious
health impairment to mild skin irritation at the other end
Examples
Sodium cyanide is hazardous because a small amount of it can kill a person
Nitric acid is hazardous because it can cause damage to the part of body that is in contact with it
A worker is exposed to a chemical if there is a possibility of the chemical being inhaled; in
contact with the eyes or skin; absorbed through the skin; or being ingested
Example
A person working in stone quarry is exposed to silica due to his inhalation of the quarry dust
Likelihood of injury or harm arising from the use of hazardous chemicals
Example
The risk of a person getting silicosis is high if he is exposed daily to stone dust containing a high concentration of silica for a long period of time, without wearing suitable respirator
What is Risk ?
Risk = How x How bad x How much
How: Means how the chemical comes into contact
How bad: Refer to toxicity of the chemical
How much: Refer to the amount of the chemical coming into contact with the body
Risk = Hazard x Exposure
An alternative approach of CHRA and may be conducted if the CHTH is:
listed in the chemical register
not classified as carcinogenicity category 1; mutagenicity category 1; or respiratory sensitisation category 1
Can be conducted using :
Simple Risk Assessment and Control for Chemicals (SiRAC) method
Required information
Physical form
Boiling point or vapour pressure
Hazard classification (according to CLASS Regulations)
Operating temperature of the chemicals (where applicable)
Quantity used
Total duration of exposure to the chemicals
should be the first approach considered
2 types of assessment that can be conducted:
Site specific CHRA
Generic CHRA
should be conducted for each and every workplace where CHTH are used
done at representative locations which may be applied to all other locations in which the work activities are similar, with comparable levels of risk, and similar control measures
Have the ability to :
Understand the hazard classification as prescribed by the CLASS Regulations, Pesticide Act 1974 and the Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005
Observe the conditions of work and anticipate potential risk to health
Interpret the information in the SDS and labels as prescribed by the CLASS
Regulations and detailed out in the ICOP CHC
Communicate effectively with workers, contract workers, managers, specialists
and others
Draw all the information together in a systematic way to form valid conclusions about exposures and risks
Report the findings accurately to all parties concerned
conduct exposure monitoring programme
carry out a medical surveillance programme
control any accidental emission of a CHTH as a result of leakage, spillage, or process or equipment failure
institute a training programme for workers
make changes or institute a programme to control exposure of workers to
CHTH