Control banding – a practical approach to judging control methods for chemicals

Abstract There is widespread concern over the risks, real or feared, from the rapidly increasing inventory of chemicals in commercial use. Many users of chemicals rely for their information on their supplier and safety data sheets (SDS). These summaries of properties are difficult for the average user to convert into practical control action. It is possible to take the classification data (the Risk Phrases) which are globally harmonised and link these directly to control advice given a knowledge of the process and purpose of the chemical- information immediately available to many. A level of control can be introduced, which although lacking the specific assurance of a professional hygiene and toxicological assessment does present sensible action. This approach has received widespread support by employers, workers and professional hygienists in the UK, and is now being taken forward in other countries, through the European Commission, and globally through ILO. Key words: control banding, safety data sheets, Risk Phrases, Occupational exposure limits Rezumat Există o îngrijorare generală referitoare la riscul, real sau închipuit, ce apare datorită creşterii numărului de substanţe chimice aflate în circuitul comercial. Mulţi utilizatori d