[Occupational chemical risk: elements for a diagnostic in Spain]. / Riesgo químico laboral: elementos para un diagnóstico en España.

BACKGROUND: Lack of information and accurate knowledge about the properties of chemicals and the exposure derived from its use; hinder health and safety measures to protect exposed workers. The aim of this study is to identify the elements that will help us draw a balance of chemical hazards in Spain and register the most dangerous chemicals at the workplace (by sector or field of activity). METHODS: Study of secondary sources, identification of risk perception by workers' representatives and study of the approach on chemical risk in risk assessments. The last step is to set up a Chemical Exposure Database arranged by industrial sectors. RESULTS: Great volumes of production and consumption of chemicals, generalization of exposure, but insufficient data on specific use; little information is provided on specific dangerous factors of commonly used chemicals; chemicals are barely identified in risk assessments. High levels of exposure in industrial sectors; damage is not adequately registered; there are difficulties in risk perception. Set-up of a preliminary database on exposure by sector of activity. CONCLUSIONS: Data is collected; information sources and procedures, which allow a forecast of chemical risk, are identified. A database on exposure by sector of activity is developed (to be checked and enhanced as new evidence is found).

[Bibliografic resources on chemical risk administration and prevention]. / Recursos bibliográficos sobre gestión y prevención del riesgo químico.

BACKGROUND: The documentation produced by public and private institutions in relation to the chemical risk constitutes an essential tool for prevention. The objective of this research is to locate and to revise the documents related to the management of the prevention of chemical risk focus to PYMES in Spain from 1995 to 2004. METHODS: The methodology carried out for the selection of the bibliographical materials has been the consultation of automated databases and Web pages. RESULTS: 812 documents have been identified. Most corresponds to grey literature. The thematic more frequent has been the security and the most frequent objective of the papers has been the prevention. Most of the documents go to the technical sector. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that although that there is a great diversity of documents in Spain dedicated to the prevention of chemical risk it seems convenient: 1) to increase their diffusion, 2) to pay attention to the communication of the risks, 3) to investigate and to translate the research in good practice.

Riesgo químico laboral: elementos para un diagnóstico en España / Occupational chemical risk: elements for a diagnostic in Spain

Fundamento: La falta de información junto a la ausencia de unconocimiento preciso de las propiedades intrínsecas de cada agentequímico y de la exposición derivada de un uso concreto dificultan engran medida la prevención de los trabajadores expuestos a los riesgosgenerados por la presencia de estos productos en los puestos de trabajo.El objetivo del presente estudio es identificar los elementos quepermitan efectuar un diagnóstico de la situación del riesgo químicoen España y la realización de un inventario de sustancias peligrosasutilizadas en el lugar de trabajo por sectores y/o actividades de producción.Métodos: Análisis de las fuentes secundarias, identificación dela percepción del riesgo entre representantes de los trabajadores yanálisis del tratamiento que recibe el riesgo químico en las evaluacionesde riesgo. Por último se establecen las bases de una Matriz deExposición a sustancias químicas por sectores de producción.Resultados: Grandes volúmenes de producción y consumo deagentes químicos, generalización de la multiexposición, pero sindatos sobre su uso concreto, con poca información sobre la peligrosidadintrínseca de las sustancias utilizadas y escasa identificación enlas evaluaciones de riesgo. Amplia exposición en los sectores de producción con subregistro del daño a la salud y dificultades en la percepción del riesgo. Elaboración provisional de una matriz de exposición por sectores de producción.Conclusiones: Se obtienen datos y se identifican fuentes deinformación y procedimientos de análisis que permiten elaborar undiagnóstico de situación ante riesgo químico laboral. Se obtiene unamatriz inicial de exposición por sectores de producción (susceptiblede revisión y ampliación en función de la evidencia)

Background: Lack of information and accurate knowledgeabout the properties of chemicals and the exposure derived from itsuse; hinder health and safety measures to protect exposed workers.The aim of this study is to identify the elements that will help usdraw a balance of chemical hazards in Spain and register the mostdangerous chemicals at the workplace (by sector or field of activity).Methods: Study of secondary sources, identification of risk perceptionby workers' representatives and study of the approach onchemical risk in risk assessments. The last step is to set up a ChemicalExposure Database arranged by industrial sectors.Results: Great volumes of production and consumption of chemicals,generalization of exposure, but insufficient data on specificuse; little information is provided on specific dangerous factors ofcommonly used chemicals; chemicals are barely identified in riskassessments. High levels of exposure in industrial sectors; damageis not adequately registered; there are difficulties in risk perception.Set-up of a preliminary database on exposure by sector of activity.Conclusions: Data is collected; information sources and procedures,which allow a forecast of chemical risk, are identified. A databaseon exposure by sector of activity is developed (to be checkedand enhanced as new evidence is found)

Recursos bibliográficos sobre gestión y prevención del riesgo químico / Bibliografic resources on chemical risk administration and prevention

Fundamento: La documentación producida por las institucionespúblicas y privadas en relación al riesgo químico constituye unaherramienta esencial para la prevención. El objetivo de este trabajoes localizar y revisar los documentos sobre gestión de la prevenciónde riesgo químico dirigido a PYMES en España desde 1995 hasta2004.Métodos: La metodología seguida para la selección de los materialesbibliográficos ha sido la consulta de bases de datos automatizadasy páginas web.Resultados: Se han identificado 812 documentos. La mayoríacorresponde a literatura gris. La temática más frecuente ha sido la deseguridad y el objetivo más frecuente del trabajo/documento es laprevención. La mayoría de los documentos se dirigen a los técnicosprevencionistas.Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que si bien seestán publicando en España una gran diversidad de documentosdestinados a la prevención de riesgo químico parece conveniente:1) incrementar su difusión; 2) prestar atención a la comunicaciónde los riesgos, 3) investigar y traducir la investigación en buenasprácticas

Background: The documentation produced by public and privateinstitutions in relation to the chemical risk constitutes anessential tool for prevention. The objective of this research is tolocate and to revise the documents related to the management of theprevention of chemical risk focus to PYMES in Spain from 1995 to2004.Methods: The methodology carried out for the selection of thebibliographical materials has been the consultation of automateddatabases and Web pages.Results: 812 documents have been identified. Most correspondsto grey literature. The thematic more frequent has been the securityand the most frequent objective of the papers has been the prevention.Most of the documents go to the technical sector.Conclusions: The results suggest that although that there is agreat diversity of documents in Spain dedicated to the prevention ofchemical risk it seems convenient: 1) to increase their diffusion, 2) topay attention to the communication of the risks, 3) to investigate andto translate the research in good practice