Control banding assessment of exposure of offset printing workers to organic solvents.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to assess the exposure of offset printing workers to hazardous substances in the rinsing processes of small-sized companies using a control banding method.


METHODS
We obtained half-year amounts of hazardous substances purchased through a questionnaire survey and the hazardous information from the safety data sheets (SDSs) and related literature.


RESULTS
The amount of petroleum kerosine and carbon hydride markedly increased in 2013 compared with that in 2010. In contrast, the amount of dichloromethane (DCM) decreased in 2013, and 1,2-dichloropropane (DCP) was not used in either 2010 or 2013. Mineral oil and xylene were allocated to Hazard Group D and judged to require Control Approach 3. In addition to DCM with Global Harmonization System's carcinogenic category 1, mildly treated mineral oil and solvent naphtha, allocated into Hazard Group E, are carcinogenic to humans and were judged to require Control Approach 4. There are two limitations of the control banding assessment: first, only limited and scarce hazard information could be obtained from SDSs, and second, safe-sided judgment for control technology for industrial hygiene.


CONCLUSIONS
Small-sized enterprises are encouraged to implement control banding assessment for hazardous substances and to access expert advice available from Regional Industrial Health Centers. Easy access to appropriate expert advice is important to compensate for the limited and scarce hazard information and safe-sided judgment for control technology for Control Approaches 3 and 4.
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Shinshu University School of Medicine.
Teruomi
T
Tsukahara
Hiroyuki
H
Miyauchi
Daisuke
D
Kuwada
Tomoko
T
Kikuchi
Yoko
Y
Tsuda
Yukie
Y
Yanagiba
Heihachiro
H
Arito
Tetsuo
T
Nomiyama
D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011327:Printing; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis*
D012997:Solvents