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Setting priorities: Testing a tool to assess and prioritize workplace chemical hazards.
- Source :
- Work; 2021, Vol. 70 Issue 1, p85-98, 14p, 1 Diagram
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training is obligatory for Ontario workplaces. The purpose of this training is to help workers understand the health and safety issues associated with using chemicals, including how to understand the information contained in the Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) that come with all chemicals. However, many workers still do not know how hazardous workplace chemicals can be and they find it difficult to objectively determine the level of hazard posed by the chemicals they use. OBJECTIVE: A team of researchers, unions, and health and safety associations created a tool for Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSC) of small and medium-sized businesses to help them identify, assess and prioritize the health hazards posed by workplace chemicals using SDSs as the primary source of information. METHODS: The team recruited the JHSCs of six workplaces to pilot the usefulness of the Chemical Hazard Assessment and Prioritization (CHAP) tool. The CHAP tool helps workplaces rank their chemicals within one of five hazard levels using information contained in SDSs. RESULTS: Despite a difficult recruitment process, the participating JHSCs thought the CHAP process of assessing and prioritizing their workplace chemicals was useful. It raised their awareness of chemical hazards, increased their understanding of SDSs, and helped them prioritize their chemicals for improved control measures. CONCLUSIONS: Small and medium-sized businesses found the tool to be useful, but suggested that an electronic version would be easier to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- EMPLOYEE education
INFORMATION storage & retrieval systems in education
PILOT projects
WORK environment
INSTITUTIONAL cooperation
USER-centered system design
INDUSTRIAL safety
COMMITTEES
HUMAN research subjects
PATIENT selection
HAZARDOUS substance release
INTERVIEWING
SYSTEMS design
SURVEYS
CONCEPTUAL structures
QUALITATIVE research
BUSINESS
OCCUPATIONAL hazards
CHEMICAL safety
INFORMATION resources
RESEARCH funding
INTERPROFESSIONAL relations
INFORMATION storage & retrieval systems
PROFESSIONAL associations
EDUCATIONAL outcomes
DIFFUSION of innovations
SYSTEMS development
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10519815
- Volume :
- 70
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Work
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 152843821
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-205270