Risk assessment: inhalation, skin, fire and calculation

The tabs

• Inhalation Risk: the risk of breathing in vapour, mist or dust.
• Dermal Risk: the risk through the skin.
• Fire & Explosion: the risk of fire or explosion during this work.
• Quantitative: a calculation of the exposure to one substance, compared with the limit value.

'Assessment status' shows per tab whether an assessment is 'Needed', 'Not needed' or 'Recommended', with the reason. An assessment that is not needed can still be carried out.

Assessing a route

1. 1Open the product from the worklist with 'Assess', or continue from the screening to the route the outcome names.
2. 2Check the input. What comes from the SDS or the screening is marked 'From SDS' or 'From screening'. The exposure follows the screening: change it there.
3. 3Fill in anything still missing. The verdict appears as soon as every field is filled.
4. 4Read the verdict, 'Why this verdict' and the advice.
5. 5Click 'Save Assessment'.
6. 6If the result is High or Very high, record what is done with 'Record measures'.

What the levels mean

• Low: the basic measures are enough, good working practice and hygiene.
• Medium: technical measures, such as extraction at the source.
• High: a closed system or a comparable solution; record which measures are taken.
• Very high: ask an expert for advice and first check whether the product can be replaced.

The advice per level follows the EMKG method, in plain language. Below it is the hierarchy of controls: tackle the source first, then technical and organisational measures, and personal protective equipment only as the last step. That order is required by law (Directive 98/24/EC, Art. 6; in the Netherlands the Arbowet Art. 3 and Arbobesluit Art. 4.4).

Extraction, ventilation and PPE do not lower the risk level. They are recorded as measures; the level stays, so it remains clear why the measure is needed.

The calculation: Quantitative

For inhalation, the exposure can be calculated per substance with the Tier-1 model ECETOC TRA. A limit value belongs to a substance, not to a mixture; so first choose which substance from the SDS is assessed.

1. 1Open the Quantitative tab and choose the substance.
2. 2Describe the activity: the process category (PROC), industrial or professional use, ventilation, local exhaust ventilation, duration and the concentration in the product.
3. 3Check the limit value. Chemspark takes it from section 8.1 of the SDS, or your organisation's house exposure limit when one is set. If the SDS gives no limit value, enter one yourself.
4. 4Read the result and save the assessment. The product page and the worklist show the calculation as 'Passes' or 'Does not pass'.

When to calculate?

The calculation is recommended, never required: a qualitative assessment with recorded measures is also a valid way to complete it. Chemspark recommends it after an in-depth screening outcome and for long work. The calculation shows how close the exposure comes to the limit value.

If the calculation stays below the limit value, record that as the measure 'Quantitatively supported'. If it goes above, take extra measures or have the exposure measured.

Saved assessments

A saved assessment stays as it was saved. If the screening or the product data changed since then, Chemspark says so, with the level based on the current data and a 'Recalculate' button.

When the input of an assessment changes, saving with 'Update Assessment' creates a new version; a change to the notes alone is kept in the same version. Every change goes into the Logbook.

Gases and confined spaces

For a gas and for work in a confined space, Chemspark gives no inhalation level: record an expert judgement in the screening. For a gas, skin contact and fire & explosion can still be assessed.