Until 30 June : Symposium Abstract and Presentation Video Submission
Notification of symposia review results sent to each moderator on May 10.
Please refer to the technical guideline for details of next step.
Expanding Occupational Safety and Health for Disabled Workers
ModeratorThomas Fuller(Illinois State University, USA)
Session Description
Occupational hygiene for persons with disabilities includes vocational rehabilitation and workers compensation under law, but in-house compliance programs preventing discrimination based on disability must go beyond addressing workplace injuries in order to obey the law. According to the United Nations convention on preventing discrimination against persons with disabilities (2006), and the laws of over 100 nations, people deserve reasonable accommodations to help them work regardless of their disability. Sound occupational health policy and industrial hygiene practice must therefore embrace a whole new realm of concerns to meet the special needs of people with disabilities who might have been shut out of these economic and social opportunities a century before, regardless of the type or cause of the disability. This will now include those individuals affected by COVID-19 and subsequent associated disabilities, including workers whose disabilities were not caused by occupational transmission. This session will describe various types of disabilities and potential workplace solutions. It will explore the best practices that provide meaningful help to workers with disabilities, without regard to the cause of disability. Success stories of good industrial hygiene practice will be used to showcase how positive approaches can make big differences in people's lives by improving diversity, fairness, and workplace health and safety without sacrificing productivity.
Identification of Known, New and Emerging Work-Related Diseases
ModeratorYogindra Samant(Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, Norway)
Co-ModeratorLode Godderis(University of Leuven, Belgium)
Session Description
Work-related exposures are preventable. Traditionally, many work-related diseases have taken long time to be identified, prevented and then recognized as compensable. Asbestos for example is a case in point. Effective prevention is a concern for policy makers globally as it has direct impact on productivity, compensation costs and work-related sickness absence. Despite identification of many occupational causes of diseases identifying work-related diseases and causal factors remains a challenge.
Objective of the symposium is to provide better understanding of systems and methods for identification of known, new and emerging work-related diseases.
Importantly, some known work-related disease might well be new or emerging because of new work-process or new products that are made with old known hazardous substances. Then you also have diseases that are attributed to completely new exposures at work that not have been documented before.
In this symposium, we will be providing examples from different systems for identifying work-related diseases, both known, new and emerging. The expected outcome of the symposium would be to enhance the collective understanding of researchers, policy makers and practitioners on how we together could identify known, new and emerging work-related disease and prevent them in an efficient and timely manner.
The International Cooperation is a key component to improve Occupational Hygiene worldwide. During this symposium we will discuss tremendous partnership happening in Asia, with the Asian Network in Occupational Hygiene (ANOH), in Europe with the European Network in OH, in South America with the PanAm association, in Africa with OSHAfrica and in many other parts of the world. This local collaboration is part of the orientation IOHA is taking to increase knowledge and qualification in OH. The profession of Occupational Hygienist is still to be more understood and the cooperation between countries is essential. We will discuss about regulations differences in various countries which influences the profession of OH and the promotion of occupational health. We will also discuss IOHA partnership with major international organizations like ILO, WHO, ISSA, IEA, IRPS and other collaborators such as Workplace Health Without Borders.
ANOH Session I: COVID-19 cluster outbreaks among workers in Asia-Pacific countries
ModeratorDerek Miller(New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society, New Zealand)
Session Description
Backgrounds
Usually, social activities, workplaces, and hospitals requiring mass gathering indoor and frequent contact have accounted for the largest portion of confirmed outbreaks. The workplaces and occupations with frequent exposure to infection could be essential for society, which might be same in all countries. Unlike occupational hazard, the risk of infectious disease including COVID-19 is not originated from workplaces. Workers infected outside can transmit the virus to co-workers and residents. The level of legal duty that employers have to take should be determined in order to control risk of infectious disease. There is considerable expertise in the occupational hygiene and exposure science communities that can help employers and workers to contain and delay the spread of COVID-19.
Objectives
The aims of this symposium are to compare legal regulation taken among some Asia and Pacific countries in protecting workers from COVID-19 epidemic, to identify major occupational groups with mass outbreak of COVID-19 infection by country and to discuss global cooperation for risk assessments to manage this new risk.
ANOH Session II: Protecting workers from COVID-19 infection risk in Asia-Pacific countries
ModeratorYu-Wen Lin(Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan)
Session Description
Backgrounds
Usually, social activities, workplaces, and hospitals requiring mass gathering indoor and frequent contact have accounted for the largest portion of confirmed outbreaks. The workplaces and occupations with frequent exposure to infection could be essential for society, which might be same in all countries. Unlike occupational hazard, the risk of infectious disease including COVID-19 is not originated from workplaces. Workers infected outside can transmit the virus to co-workers and residents. The level of legal duty that employers have to take should be determined in order to control risk of infectious disease. There is considerable expertise in the occupational hygiene and exposure science communities that can help employers and workers to contain and delay the spread of COVID-19.
Objectives
The aims of this symposium are to compare legal regulation taken among some Asia and Pacific countries in protecting workers from COVID-19 epidemic, to identify major occupational groups with mass outbreak of COVID-19 infection by country and to discuss global cooperation for risk assessments to manage this new risk.
Status of exposure assessment and diffusive sampling approaches for VOCs in Korea
ModeratorSeung-Hyun Park(Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
Diffusive or passive sampling approaches have been long applied to monitor workers’ exposure to volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) at work. Compared with pumped or active sampling methods, the diffusive approaches have strengths such as non-pump operation, light weight, less intrusion, easy transportation, simple handling, etc. Currently, a number of diffusive samplers are commercially available while there are still limitations or controversies in applications due to high cost as well as incapability of changing uptake rate and/or irregular environmental conditions.
Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) launched a program entitled as ‘A program providing information on chemicals exposed to workers’ since the year of 2020. VOCs sampled using diffusive samplers in workers are analyzed at KOSHA and the results are informed to the workers across the country. Moreover, in line with the program, research activities have been conducted over years as well.
The objective of the symposium is to share information on what and how diffusive sampling approaches for VOCs have been addressed over years and will be applied in Korea in the near future. In the symposium, the first speaker will share research experiences taken in the stages of a multiple-year project developing a chamber to test diffusive samplers for VOCs at KOSHA. The second will present key findings in development of a new type of diffusive samplers for VOCs at an IH Laboratory. And the third will share an approach on how KOSHA used diffusive samplers to monitor exposure to VOCs in workers across the country.
Global Chemical Management at Workplaces: SDS Regulations, GHS Implementation, and Hazard Communication
ModeratorEun-ah Cho(3M Korea, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
For the sake of the workers’ and environmental health and safety, chemicals are managed in various ways internationally. In this symposium, global regulations of SDSs, global GHS implementation, and Hazard Communication Standards will be mentioned and discussed. The objectives of this symposium are to comprehend the current status of global regulations on SDS, GHS implementation, and hazard communication and to discuss gaps, concerns, and future direction on global chemical management policies at workplaces. This symposium will be helpful especially for the policy makers, Industrial Hygienists, chemical manufacturers, and downstream users of the chemicals because it will give them global perspectives and practices of all the policies and its implementations and the insights for the future direction. Thru this learning and discussion, it is expected to implement global policies or amendment of the current policies for the worker and environmental health and safety.
Institutional Improvement Suggestion on Chemical Management for preventing workplace hazardous chemical exposure in Korea
This session will discuss the institutional improvement of chemical management at the workplace to prevent workers’ chemical exposure in Korea. Main Aspects of Occupational hygiene practices on chemical management in workplace has directly reflected the requirement of Korean Occupational Safety and Health Act(KOSHAct)
In the presentation 1, through the impact study on inspection method and the requirements on chemical management based on KOSHAct at workplace, the better institutional method shall be addressed to prevent hazardous chemical exposure of workers.
At the presentation 2, through the review of the current regulation on chemical management in KOSHAct, the additional institutional measures shall be addressed including not only exposure control but also prohibition and restrictions on use in Korea.
In the presentation 3, the case study shall be introduces on the effective hazardous chemical management program for small-medium sized firms.
In the presentation 4, the more effective institutional method of chemical exposure assessment shall be suggested with comparing the current occupational exposure regulation in Korea.
In this symposium, the audience shall have some implications for legal and institutional measures to prevent the chemical exposure by understanding Institutional Improvement Suggestion on Chemical Management in Korea.
AIHA: Pivoting in Times of the Pandemic
ModeratorJohn Mulhausen(AIHA, USA)
Session Description
This session will highlight key strategies adopted by AIHA from the start of the pandemic. These include development of our Back to Work Safely initiative aimed at small businesses across 27 different industry sectors, creation of other COVID-19 related publications, and cross-collaboration with allied associations. Spanish translation of all COVID materials has been accomplished to assist native Spanish speaking colleagues throughout the Americas. Other international highlights will also be discussed.
Occupational Hygiene aspects in the Pharmaceutical Industry 2
The objective of this symposium is to cover specific topics of Industrial Hygiene in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Importance for theory, policy, research, and/or practice
Developing, implementing and supporting an Industrial Hygiene program in a Pharmaceutical Industry creates specific challenges and requires therefore specific expertise to fully understand the broad range of hazards, related risks and exposure evaluation. During this symposium new insights and case studies will be shared by Senior Industrial Hygienists and Occupational Toxicologists with an extended level of experience supporting Global Pharmaceutical Companies. This will help the Occupational Hygienist working at a Pharmaceutical Company to stay up to date and to connect with peers dealing with similar challenges in this environment.
Expected outcomes
The various use of the terms and their inconsistent definitions of highly hazardous or highly potent drugs in the companies and by the regulators may impact pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as stakeholders downstream, such as health care personnel. We will address the issues with the NIOSH hazardous drugs list and recent attempt by the EU commission to generate a similar list and how they are being addressed by pharma. Important results of a recent scientific study performed on the use of the IOM dust sampling head to evaluate the exposure to Active, Pharmaceutical Ingredients will be shared. In addition, 2 recent case studies will be presented: Monitoring results of drug product exposure during reconstitution powder for oral solution and Enzymes Exposure Assessment. The last 2 presentations will focus on controlling the exposure. A new online tool, which uses exposure modelling based on the Advanced Reach Tool to assign control banding strategies, will be shared for the first time. Finally an overview of Personal Protective Equipment Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry will be presented.
The Opportunities for Women Practitioners in Bridging Gaps in Occupational Hygiene Development
ModeratorNorhazlina Mydin(CIH. CPIH, Malaysia)
Session Description
Background
United Nation Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 on Gender Equality stated that it is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
There has been progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality. Despite these gains, many challenges remain particularly with the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak exacerbates existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere – from health and the economy, to security and social protection.
Women play a disproportionate role in responding to the virus, including as frontline healthcare workers and carers at home. Women’s unpaid care work has increased significantly as a result of school closures and the increased needs of older people. Women are also harder hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19, as they disproportionately work in insecure labour markets. Nearly 60% of women work in the informal economy, which puts them at greater risk of falling into poverty.
What about the role of women in health and safety sector ?
The last HSE Insights Survey from recruitment consultancy Acre in 2018 revealed that the gender split ratio in the HSE field at that point was at 3:1 in favour of males, while the pay gap was 18%. The employment rate for women in the EU is approximately 62% versus 75% for men, yet the World Economic Forum predicts the gender gap won’t close entirely until 2186.
There is the perception that the safety sector is an old boys’ club, made up of middle-aged men adorned in high-visibility jackets, wielding a clipboard and prohibiting workers from doing things. In fact, safety is not about stopping people from doing things, but about managing risks so that people can do things safely, and there are many women who are flourishing in safety and several who have made a huge impact.
To change this perception and the gender landscape of the sector, it is important that women who work within it gain the praise and promotion they deserve and build networks with other women in safety to promote the sector. As seen with other male-dominated careers — engineering, finance and construction — an equally passionate drive is needed to encourage girls still in education to consider embarking on a career in health and safety.
Reflecting on the broader aspect of health, safety and environment (HSE) and specific on Occupational Hygiene, there is a greater needs to explore further how women have been making changes and what are the future growth for women in this field ?
Expected Outcome:
This symposium will provide an opportunity to listen to women leaders in the area of Occupational Hygiene on their perspective, experience and vision on what we can do taking gender-sensitive approach to Occupational Hygiene. These include role of women, taking gender issues in risk assessment, involve women in OSH decision-making, promotion of Occupational Hygiene among women and few others.
Development of Population Exposure Methodology Using Exposure Assessment Advancement (Eye-of-Horus Exposure Study)
Exposure assessment remains a major weakness in Environmental Health Science. Due to the financial and logistical cost of personal monitoring, most epidemiologic studies have relied on surrogate estimates of exposure, usually assigned to the home location of study participants. The errors in these exposure assignments can bias attempts to assess the adverse health effects of environmental stressors toward the null. This session will provide a commentary on the impact that ubiquitous and participatory sensing will have on exposure assessment in Environmental Health. We will build on a developed framework and review novel developments in sensing that will lead to more precision in exposure assessment than has been possible in the past. Ubiquitous and participatory sensing offer tremendous promise for improved exposure assessment and increased confidence in the results of health effects assessments in Environmental Health research. Protection of personal privacy, analysis of the voluminous data generated by the sensors, and integration with other emerging methods from molecular epidemiology represent critical areas for research and development. The following subjects will be presented;
1. Advancement of Exposure Assessment in Lifetime and Construction of Surveillance System in Environmental Health
- Wonho Yang, Daegu Catholic University
2. Measurement and calibration of low-cost sensor for air quality monitoring in local area
- Jeong il Lee, Korea Testing & Research Institute
3. Development of wearable lung sound collection device and analysis algorithm for environmental health effect monitoring
- SungChul Seo. Eulji University
4. Analysis of The Concentration of Particulate Matter Indoors and Outdoors by Season According to the Type of Residential Facilities in a Metropolitan Area
- Chulmin Lee, Seokyong University
5. Monitoring missing data imputation strategies for environmental hazardous factors
Occuapational Health Issues in Semiconductor Industry Symposium 3
-- Science, struggling of the victims, role of the professionals and NGOs for unveiling risks in the Semiconductor industry in Korea
Occupational health issues have emerged in all countries which have semiconductor industry. Although there have been many epidemiological studies related to occupational diseases, the causal link for most diseases has not been clearly identified. In Korea, patients with suspected occupational diseases and the result of decades of efforts by NGOs have been recognized and rewarded for occupational diseases. In this long struggling process, Patients and NGO developed their own bottom-up science that collected evidence from their factories and connected this evidence with the claims of counter-experts. This will be a good example of “undone science,” which investigated the relationship between the unknown disease and the semiconductor industry. This symposium will highlight the roles of patients, NGOs, scientists and will discuss the legal aspects, academic aspects, and the roles of NGOs until semiconductor-related occupational diseases are recognized in Korea.
Identification and Management of Hexavalent Chromium Dust Exposure on Gas Turbines in the LNG Industry
ModeratorWill OCallaghan(AIOH - Full Member and COH, Australia)
Session Description
Will O’Callaghan, Occupational Hygienist, Santos Ltd.
Objectives
Case study of the management of exposure to Hexavalent Chromium (CrIV) found in the combustion products deposited onto the “hot” sections of turbines used in the oil and gas industry for LNG production. The case study outlines how the issue was identified and managed on one LNG facility to minimise the risk of exposure to maintenance workers.
Methods
· Review of current industry information regarding the presence of Hexavalent Chromium on the combustion section of turbines used in the production of LNG.
· Review of maintenance records, specifically photos of turbine overhauls, to identify potential discolouration on the component over time.
· Wipe sampling
o OSHA wipe sampling method W4001
o Swab sampling for indicative presence of chromium i.e. “ChromateCheckTM”
· Personal and area sampling using NIOSH sampling method 7605
Results
· The presence of Hexavalent Chromium was confirmed through wipe samples collected, i.e. up to 83µg using OSHA W4001. Subsequent indicative swab sampling measures have been used to test for the presence of hexavalent chromium and importantly after cleaning processes to verify it has been effective.
· A Hygiene Risk Assessment (HRA) was developed for the maintenance task which outlined the controls for managing exposure (critically testing and PPE requirements for cleaning).
· Cleaning regime developed and updated into the maintenance procedures for turbines as critical hold points.
· Active sampling (NIOSH 7605) has confirmed the presence of airborne hexavalent chromium dust at approximately the workplace exposure standard when disturbed. Not enough samples were collected to be deemed statistically significant.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Based on the review and sampling conducted, there is potential for exposure to hexavalent chromium during turbine maintenance activities in the oil and gas industry for LNG production. The contaminant is a product of combustion which deposits onto the “hot” section of the turbine
A controls-focused approach using a hygiene risk assessment has been successful onsite to raise awareness of the risks and the required controls. These resources have been instrumental to influence maintenance procedures that employees use at the work front and critically input hold points for swab sampling, PPE requirements, cleaning of surfaces (including verification surfaces are adequately clean) as well as waste disposal requirements.
Further quantification on the exposure potential is required, including:
· Air sampling to determine potential inhalation risks,
· Urinalysis to quantify skin absorption potential.
Exposures, Controls and Respiratory Health in Coffee Workers
ModeratorMohammed Virji(CDC/NIOSH, USA)
Session Description
Coffee processing is common throughout the world. Workers in this industry are exposed to complex mixtures of gases, dusts, and vapors including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, coffee dust, allergens, alpha-diketones, and other volatile organic compounds. Adverse respiratory health outcomes such as respiratory symptoms, decreased pulmonary function, asthma, and obliterative bronchiolitis can occur among exposed workers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted health hazard evaluations at 17 small- to medium-sized coffee processing facilities. Objectives were to understand the burden of respiratory abnormalities, exposure to alpha-diketones from flavorings and natural sources, risk of adverse respiratory health effects related to exposures, and options for exposure mitigation. Full-shift, task-based, and instantaneous air samples for diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione were collected and engineering controls were evaluated. Medical surveys included questionnaire, spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and biomarkers of respiratory health. Exposures above the NIOSH recommended exposure limits were measured for many production and non-production jobs and tasks. Participants (n=384) reported irritation and respiratory symptoms, and 5% of workers had abnormal spirometry with one worker diagnosed with obliterative bronchiolitis. This comprehensive research aimed at understanding the burden and risk of adverse respiratory health outcomes among coffee processing workers and identifying effective strategies to mitigate exposures.
Occupational Heat Stress: sustainable solutions and adaptation strategies provided by the HEAT-SHIELD project
ModeratorLars Nybo(University of Copenhagen, Denmark)
Session Description
This symposium will present results from field studies across European workplaces with seasonal heat stress providing overview on sustainable solutions, prevention strategies and their integration into appropriate heat alert and guidance. We will provide overview on the HEAT-SHIELD (EU-funded) inter-sectoral approach and how heat action plans may translate into practice for occupational hygienists. Based on analyses and testing of adaptation strategies across five key industries representing in- and outdoor occupations, the consortium of meteorologists, physiologists and occupational health professionals have been working together to tackle occupational heat stress from forecasting to implementation of effective and feasible solutions. Participants in the symposium will get 1) a short overview on the HEAT-SHIELD interdisciplinary approach, 2) knowledge from field studies on counter-measures to minimize heat stress, 3) how to use these results in practice as occupational hygienist, 4) perspective on climate change effects on workers in the future and how this may influence trends in the management of occupational heat stress. The presentations in the symposium will be given by thermal physiologists and occupational health specialists from the HEAT-SHIELD project with special focus on providing the participants with relevant information on effective solutions and their integration to local heat action plans and practice.
How to build health and safety cultures in the laboratories - Efforts will continue!
ModeratorSaravanan Gunaratnam(National University of Singapore,, Singapore)
Session Description
Building a positive health and safety culture in Universities is very challenging given how diverse the activities and profile of staff and students on campus. To support the sharing of best practices with regards to building a positive health and safety culture in Universities, leading universities in Asia have come together to organize the Asian Conference on Safety & Education in Laboratory (ACSEL) on an annual basis. The conference provides an opportunity for the exchange of knowledge on risk management and education in academic lab settings. Since the Ehime declaration in 2013, ACSEL has covered a wide range of topics and built an unique networking among safety professionals and researchers. This symposium will present the current activities with regard to safety training in higher education settings, biological and chemical risk management practices, comparisons of laboratory-safety related policies, institutions, and legal frameworks among counties participating in the ACSEL. This session will showcase the accomplishments of the ACSELs and share the current activities and strategies for the way forward. Industrial health professionals will benefit from this session in terms of laboratories as workplaces and emerging concerns that they need to care about.
Exposure assessment tools for occupational safety and health regulations: state of the art and directions for the future
ModeratorHenri Heussen(Cosanta BV, Netherlands)
Session Description
Purpose
To show the current status and future issues of development and implementation of exposure assessment tools.
Importance
Exposure assessment tools are widely used in the EU and beyond in regulatory risk assessments for industrial chemicals and process that generate hazardous substances in workplaces. The global occupational hygiene community will never be able to collect sufficient numbers of exposure measurements to obtain exposure estimates for all workplaces. Exposure models which err on the side of caution can help in a tiered chemical management approach to prove which work scenarios are safe and unsafe. Potentially unsafe work scenarios should then be studied to clarify the true risk by e.g., release and personal exposure measurements and / or biological monitoring. To follow this principle successfully, the models used need to be externally validated through a cyclic of continuous model improvement. The integration of sensor data will create new possibilities. Furthermore the tools need to be implemented at company level in a sustainable way.
Expected outcomes
- participants will have the latest overview of currently available exposure and risk assessment tools used in the EU and beyond; both on state of the art and future developments
- participants will understand how these tools can be used in a tiered business wise chemical management approach
Promotional Video Clip
NOISE CONTROL ENGINEERING IN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS
Noise is a common and relevant pollutant that affects the health and wellness of population exposure. This symposium aims to promote an interdisciplinary cross-fertilization between academic scientists, researchers and consultants by sharing solutions, experiences, projects, good practices and cutting-edge developments around acoustics and noise control engineering. It is also expected to provide a platform to discuss about the more recent innovations, trends, concerns and challenges in this field. It is proposed that the symposium addresses topics such as novel measurements techniques, signal processing, passive and active noise control, source identification and numerical analysis, among others.
Driving Sustainable IH Solutions from Capability Building to Technical Controls - PETRONAS Experience
ModeratorRina Ronaldin(PETRONAS, Malaysia)
Session Description
The hierarchy of controls is commonly applied as a guide in risk management. In most cases, three of the most feasible controls are related to engineering, administrative and PPE. In addition, although PPE are the most widely used control, they are the least robust of these controls due to its reliance on human performance for effectiveness. Hence, is the traditional approach on risk management sustainable?
Where sustainability is key, the concept needs to be embedded into the overall risk management framework. How can a company manage its health risks more sustainably? What kind of control environment needs to be established to achieve that? How can we leverage on capability, technology and system to sustainably control our risks to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)?
This session is about PETRONAS’ journey in driving the development of strategies that ensures compliance and good practices in managing health risks to ALARP in a sustainable manner, with the ultimate goal of protecting our employees’ health.
Sampling and Analytical Challenges in Meeting Ever- Lower OELs for Metals and Metalloids
ModeratorSteven Verpaele(Nickel Institute, Belgium)
Session Description
Occupational exposure limit values for metals and metalloids are decreasing, especially for metals or metalloids identified as carcinogens or sensitizers. Increasingly, size-specific sampling fractions (e.g. inhalable and/or respirable) are prescribed by regulation. These very low OELVs bring challenges to the measurement methods. All portions of these methods, including sampling, sample dissolution and the analytical methods themselves must be optimized dramatically in order to attain lower method detection limits while maintaining high data quality. For sampling, this is requiring new high flow samplers for inhalable and respirable fractions. For laboratory analysis, techniques must consider sensitivity, reagent purity and solubility issues for metal compounds. Some of the current standardized methods may no longer be adequate for ever-lower elemental OELVs.
The learning outcomes of this symposium are:
1. Understand the growing challenges in trace-level sampling and analysis for metals and metalloids
The objective of this symposium is to cover specific topics of Industrial Hygiene in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Importance for theory, policy, research, and/or practice
Developing, implementing and supporting an Industrial Hygiene program in a Pharmaceutical Industry creates specific challenges and requires therefore specific expertise to fully understand the broad range of hazards, related risks and exposure evaluation. During this symposium new insights and case studies will be shared by Senior Industrial Hygienists and Occupational Toxicologists with an extended level of experience supporting Global Pharmaceutical Companies. This will help the Occupational Hygienist working at a Pharmaceutical Company to stay up to date and to connect with peers dealing with similar challenges in this environment.
Expected outcomes
The various use of the terms and their inconsistent definitions of highly hazardous or highly potent drugs in the companies and by the regulators may impact pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as stakeholders downstream, such as health care personnel. We will address the issues with the NIOSH hazardous drugs list and recent attempt by the EU commission to generate a similar list and how they are being addressed by pharma. Important results of a recent scientific study performed on the use of the IOM dust sampling head to evaluate the exposure to Active, Pharmaceutical Ingredients will be shared. In addition, 2 recent case studies will be presented: Monitoring results of drug product exposure during reconstitution powder for oral solution and Enzymes Exposure Assessment. The last 2 presentations will focus on controlling the exposure. A new online tool, which uses exposure modelling based on the Advanced Reach Tool to assign control banding strategies, will be shared for the first time. Finally an overview of Personal Protective Equipment Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry will be presented.
Promotional Video Clip
Control Banding as Risk Communication
ModeratorDavid Zalk(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/University of Illinois at Chicago, USA)
Session Description
This session will discuss Control Banding applications providing immediate benefits globally in achieving risk communication leading directly to the prevention of work-related risks. One speaker will discuss ongoing developments for the quantitative validation of Control Banding (CB) methods and how qualitative risk management can be successfully implemented through national programs and large industries as a result of its simplified communication of risk. A second speaker will provide an overview of GHS compliant SDSs can be utilized to protect workers from chemical health hazards, providing a simplified process that can be implemented in organizations without an occupational hygienist. A third presenter will provide information on Workplace Health Without Borders and how training and program implementation that provide easy to understand risk communication through applications that include CB can benefit the world of workers in the countries where prevention of work-related risks is most necessary. These three speakers presenting common applications of the benefits of qualitative risk assessment and management from many different perspectives will provide the audience a clear indication that CB as risk communication can be readily applied by any audience member, wherever in the world they may work, the size of industry they represent, or occupational hygiene specialty.
Exposure characterization for international programs in global burden of disease estimation and cancer hazard identification: needs and opportunities for collaboration
ModeratorThomas Fuller(Illinois State University, USA)
Session Description
The objective of this session is to highlight data gaps and collaboration opportunities related to exposure characterization in major international programs on cancer hazard identification and burden-of-disease assessment. Dr. Michael Brauer will present an overview of the approach used in the Global Burden of Disease study to assess burden arising from various risk factors, with an emphasis on the way exposure information is used. This theme will be explored further by Professor Tim Driscoll who will use occupational risk factors as the exemplar and focus on the challenges and opportunities for improving the exposure aspect of estimating the burden of disease arising from occupational exposures. The third talk, by Dr. Mary Schubauer-Berigan (head of the IARC Monographs on cancer hazard identification), will outline opportunities for collaboration by exposure scientists in the monographs, including identifying exposure experts and data, participating on working groups, and nominating agents for consideration. Dr. Daniel Middleton, lead exposure scientist in the IARC Monographs, will conclude the session with examples of notable data gaps in production, use, and occupational exposures for several recent monographs.
Case study of In-depth Work Environment Measurement and Assessment in Occupational Disease Epidemiology Investigation
ModeratorJee Yoen Jeong(Department of Occupational and Environment Health, Yong In University, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
We will introduce examples of working environment measurement and assessment of the unreported workplace routes of exposure to hazardous substances or how epidemiological investigations have been conducted to identify occupational diseases for new hazardous substances. The International Cancer Research Institute (IARC) reported that Cobalt metal with tungsten carbide has limited evidence in relation to lung cancer (2006). In Presentation 1, we present the results of exposure assessment for substances associated with lung cancer that are being exposed in a cemented carbide manufacturing process.
The operators of overhead traveling crane in steel mill factory perform work to transmit large electric furnace to an appropriate working process. Workers can be exposed to various dangerous substances, which are caused by high temperatures under various conditions during work, rising to the top of the plant. Therefore, the purpose of In Presentation 2, is to investigate the harmful factors exposed to crane operators.
In Presentation 3, pneumoconiosis occurs during the frying pan manufacturer process in Korea. Exposure was assessed for dust, metals, crystalline silica, and PTFE. The PTFE of the coating process was measured and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. It is believed that pneumoconiosis was caused by PTFE exposure.
Crystalline silica is a well-known lung cancer carcinogen and causes silicosis, a kind of pneumoconiosis, and is exposed in various sites including coal mines, stone processing such as granite, and construction sites.
For Presentation 4, we will show what kinds of artificial marble are used as luxury materials in kitchens and toilets in new apartments. In addition, the level of crystalline free silicate exposure in processing them will be presented, and the degree of crystalline free silica exposure level compared to existing natural marble processing will be presented.
Presentation 5 presents the results of identifying, measuring, and analyzing harmful substances through various advanced equipment such as PTR-Tof MS and traditional exposure assessment techniques in the cooking environment for identifying the causes of lung cancer of non-smoking female worker.
Promotional Video Clip
Overcoming Challenges in Chemical Exposure Assessment: From Field Work to Controls Implementation
ModeratorWan Sabrina Wan Mohamad(Malaysian Industrial Hygiene Association (MIHA), Malaysia)
Session Description
Understanding and overcoming the challenges in completing chemical exposure assessment, and controls implementation backed up with exposure monitoring data. This important for Industrial Hygiene professionals and practitioners to objectively use the data collected from exposure monitoring in making judgement about the risk and compliance level in making recommendation for improvement in workers' health protection. Lack of guidance and knowledge in data analysis is another challenge in interpreting the data obtained to enable practical recommendations to employers.
As practitioners there were many challenges in getting the right and useful data during field work as well. The objective of the symposium is to share the challenges faced by IH in getting the right data (observation and measurement results) and making practical recommendations based on the data obtained. Sharing to start from making strategic planning in data collection , continued with executing the planned strategy via field work (actual sampling work) and data analysis and interpretation. Speakers will share issues, challenges and bring to discussion ways to overcome those challenges for practitioners. Final sharing will be panel discussion/forum on making practical recommendations and improvement based on the data obtained.
It is hopeful that at the end of this session, participants reached understanding, ideas and way forward on overcoming the challenges from all sharing and discussion.
Additive Manufacturing for Occupational Hygiene: Processes, emissions, and exposures
ModeratorJohan du Plessis(North-West University, Occupational Hygiene and Health Research Initiative, South Africa)
Since the first publication on particle emissions from Material Extrusion (ME) type Fused Filament Fabrication 3-D printers in 2013, the number of articles related to particle and gas emissions and exposures associated with AM in workplace scenarios published per year has increased and reached a maximum of 16 in 2019. With time, studies on the various AM process categories has diversified beyond just the ME process category, with studies of five different AM process categories published in the last two years respectively. At the end of 2020, 45 such publications involving 22 countries was published. The objectives of the symposium are: (i) to introduce occupational hygienists (OHs) to the seven AM process categories, the particle and gas emissions and exposures associated with each category, and the anticipated health effects associated with exposure, (ii) to critically evaluate particle and gas exposure assessment strategies/methods used, and (iii) to suggest a harmonized exposure assessment strategy to be used by OHs. The symposium provides a platform to convey the current knowledge and understanding of AM emissions as an emerging occupational risk, how exposure assessments should be conducted by OHs and what is required to better our understanding of AM emissions and exposures.
Exposure assessment in the Exposome context- need for precise – broad-scope- external exposure assessment
ModeratorAnjoeka Pronk(TNO, Netherlands)
Co-ModeratorPeter Hoet(KU Leuven, Belgium)
Session Description
In understanding the impact of environmental factors on health, a fundamental shift from “one exposure-one disease” to a more holistic exposome research, has resulted in the European Human Exposome Network (EHEN, www.humanexposome.eu). The initiative comprises of 9 research projects, two of which focus extensively on occupational exposome - EXIMIOUS (www.eximious-h2020.eu) and EPHOR (www.ephor-project.eu). Both projects are involved in implementing/ developing exposome research tools, including but not limited to new exposure assessment methods for the external (sensors) and internal exposome (biomonitoring and omics). These tools will enable better joint characterization of the multiple exposures, such as Volatile Organic Substances (VOS), minerals, particles and metals, that construct our exposome and improve our understanding of the cause of many environmental and occupational diseases. This will ultimately improve disease prevention. Through this symposium, we will present the EXIMIOUS/EPHOR experience of developing and applying exposome tools (dermal patches, sensors and imaging techniques) for exposure assessment in the exposome context. By sharing our experience with the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA) community and we aim to increase awareness of ongoing activities in exposome research in the occupational health community. We also hope to stimulate discussions on how these methods/techniques can contribute to occupational health practice
OH Issues in the Semiconductor Industry Symposium 2
- Epidemiological Study and issues in the semiconductor Industry
ModeratorHyoung-Ryoul Kim(the Catholic University of Korea, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
Occupational disease issues have continued in the semiconductor industry since the mid-2000s. In Korea, two large-scale epidemiological studies were conducted on workers in the semiconductor industry. Despite several limitations, those studies have shown meaningful results and have had a significant impact in terms of prevention and compensation. The semiconductor industry has characteristics such as exposure to various chemicals, night work, and industries dominated by female workers, and there is a possibility that risks that we do not know will continue. This session would introduce epidemiological studies conducted in the semiconductor industry so far and discuss future research and prevention directions.
Occupational Hygiene in the Informal Recycling Sector
ModeratorJack Caravanos(New York University, School of Global Public Health, USA)
Session Description
The objectives of this symposium is to present growing trends, health risks and disease among informal workers in the recycling industry. The growing demand for increased recycling of plastics, batteries, electronics, paper and other consumer commodities has spawn industries in numerous global cities. Even food waste is collected and composted in urban areas which can present significant unintended consequences. Recently country shifts in the global recycling processing (namely China's discontinuation of importing plastics for high income countries) further stressing neighboring countries and introducing new occupational hazards. While the industry has grown, the worker health infrastructure, as well as regulations, lags behind. The occupational surveillance systems presently in place do not adequately address this workforce, which in low and middle income countries, can substantially outnumber the formal workforce.
This symposium will start by identifying the global challenges followed by country specific examples of recycling risks. Lastly, solutions that address occupational injuries and disease within the recycling sector will be presented.
Research & Development for farmers' health and safety
ModeratorYunkeun Lee(Wonjin institute of occupational and environmental health, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
The purpose of this symposium is to seek communication and international cooperation among international researchers in agricultural safety and health research and development.
Agriculture is internationally recognized as one of the three major occupational injury and disease-prone industries. However, in most countries, policies, research, and technology development for agricultural safety and health are very rare, being excluded from the national occupational safety and health system. In this situation, international solidarity and cooperation of experts related to agricultural safety and health, which are relatively few compared to other industries, are essential.
Through this symposium, we will share safety and health issues and solutions in the agricultural sector and promote international cooperation.
OH Issues in Semiconductor Industry Symposium 1
- Chemical and EMF hazards in recent semiconductor Industry
ModeratorChungsik Yoon(Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
The semiconductor industry has emerged in the late twentieth century as a brilliant contributor to all over the world but occupational and environmental health issues have been raised thereafter and concerns have persisted.
The purpose of this symposium is to discuss the health hazards of the chemicals and EMF in the recent semiconductor industry.
The first speaker will present the status of chemical substances used in 12 semiconductor workplaces in Korea and the characteristics of chemical substances, especially focus on trade secrets and health hazards. The second speaker will present the metals measured at the semiconductor plant. The third speaker will compare the exposure level of EMF in the semiconductor industry with other industries. These discussions will provide a guide for the future semiconductor industry to further develop while protecting the health of workers.
Participants will get information on the recent status of chemical use, EMF risk in the semiconductor industry and related companies will also have information to protect workers for sustainable development.
Advancing Occupational Hygiene Education Internationally on Three Fronts: 1) Formal Academic Program Development, 2) Philanthropic Grass-Roots Outreach and Collaboration, and 3) Structured Online Certificate Programs
ModeratorThomas Fuller(Illinois State University, USA)
Session Description
This session will discuss recent advances in occupational hygiene education and training on three different global fronts. One speaker will discuss the ongoing development of international consensus standards on curriculum for formal academic college and university programs. A second speaker will provide an overview of international non-profit organizations that have collaborated in developing and delivering occupational hygiene education in areas where there is limited availability of professional training. A third presenter will provide information on the University of Illinois Chicago online program for occupational hygiene training. Three speakers talking from three different vantage points will coincide on this one very essential topic of global occupational hygiene training and education.
Marginalized workers in the global economy: protecting child workers, slaves, migrants and workers in the informal sector
ModeratorMarianne Levitsky(Workplace Health Without Borders/ECOH, Canada)
Nearly 21 million people in the world are victims of forced labor and 152 million children perform child labor. Globally, there are over 214 million migrant workers, and the informal sector accounts for 60% of the world’s work force. These groups generally do not receive the same level of hazard protection afforded to workers in standard employment.
This symposium will explore conditions faced by these marginalized workers and what occupational hygienists can do to address them. The topic is important as a basis for policies and approaches to addressing health and safety problems of these groups. Expected outcomes are greater participant understanding of occupational hygienists’ responsibilities for marginalized workers, including the relevance of professional ethics and codes of practice. After hearing from two speakers, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and comment on the issues.
The first speaker will cover Occupational health challenges of informal work and child labour, citing examples from Workplace Health Without Borders’ international work. The second speaker will address Global Marginalized Workers and the Role of Occupational Hygienists in Identification and Protection, covering migrant and slave labour, and relevant standards and codes of practice.
Addressing the workforce capability and capacity for occupational hygienists in New Zealand
ModeratorDerek Miller(Health and Safety Association of New Zealand, New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society, New Zealand)
Session Description
To discuss how New Zealand has identified and developed solutions to address current workforce capability and capaicity issues in occupational hygiene.
This symposia will look at how gaps in the occupational hygiene workforce capability and capacity were identified nationally, and benchmarked against international models from similar sized countries.
Arising from this, a clear indication was identified for a need to improve the training opportunities which resulted in the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society (NZOHS) setting up a project with the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ) to deliver training utilising the International Certificate in Occupational Hygiene (ICertOH) system with Government financial support.
As part of the project a small working group was set up involving the NZOHS, HASANZ, Otago (NZ), Massey(NZ) and Edith Cowan (Australia) Universities to address tertiary education to Masters level. This has resulted in the triple badging of a degree that can be run in NZ without students leaving the country to train.
This symposium will be of interest to those looking at benchmarking the profession to identify gaps in the market. It will also be of interest to those who are looking for education solutions without having to send students overseas.
Occupational Health: Present and Future
Moderatorto be decided to be decided(to be decided, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
1) The objectives, purpose
With the industrial development at the national level, Asian countries have made economic development and played key roles in the global value chain. Importance of occupational health is also rising for protecting individual workers at the same time. In the symposium program, speakers will introduce their own country’s occupational health profile including system, regulation and experience.
2) Importance for theory, policy research, and/or practice
Occupational health policy is important not only for preventing occupational disaster and accident but also for the productivity and profitability of a country. As each country has developed its’ own policies considering working condition, culture and industries, the occupational health systems are different each other.
3) and expected outcome
By comparing each country’s policies, audiences can understand the current situation and feature of each country’s occupational health. In addition, speaker and audiences can share valuable experience and discuss the prospect of occupational health in Asian countries. This symposium can help creating decent work in occupational health aspect.
Date: 13th Sept.
Timetable
10:00-10:10 Welcome Address
10:10-11:30 Presentation and discussion
11:30-11:50 Wrap-up
11:50-12:00 Closing
Changes in the Occupational Safety and Health Policy for 40 Years in South Korea : Focusing on the role of policy actors and contextual factors in policy agenda setting and formulation
ModeratorMijin Park(Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health,Seoul National University, Korea, Republic of)
Session Description
Forty years have passed since South Korea Occupational Safety and Health Act(KOSHAct) was enacted. There has been many changes in the KOSHAct and related policy. This symposium was organized to explore and discuss how and why the KOSHAct and the related policy in South Korea has been changed over the four decades since 1981. In the presentation 1, through the review of changes in the recognized occupational diseases of Korea, lessons from the system change perspective shall be addressed. In the presentation 2, through the review of changes of in the perspective of seeing the causes and responsibilities of industrial accidents in accident investigation process, how to make the regulation change shall be addressed. In this symposium, the audience shall have some implication on the process for making new OSHAct policy by reflecting the relationship between the major safety accidents & occupational diseases/outrages and policy making in Korea.
