Control banding

World Congress on Public Health, Istanbul
Control Banding

Chemical Risk Management is an area of health and safety currently being implemented in Europe through a strategy known as Control Banding designed by GTZ¹. GTZ is of interest to companies who want to gain cost savings and reduce risk in the workplace. By improving the management of chemicals, companies can lower production costs, improve product quality, reduce their environmental impact, and improve health and safety conditions for their workers.

This guide was developed as part of a modular training approach for small to medium sized enterprises, and is most beneficial for users of chemicals who lack resources and expertise for a sophisticated chemical management system. An assessment of the Chemical Risk Management approach has been initiated for the first time in the U.S. as a pilot project funded by OSHA² in partnership with KSHN³ and coordinated by NIOSH⁴. During a three-day training session in January of 2006, two student focus groups from EKU⁵ and MSU⁶ participated in conjunction with three local industries.

The training session introduced chemical management concepts, implemented onsite audit along with an action plan, utilizing the hazard band approach in assessing risk and appropriate control measures. During the onsite audit focus groups identified “hot spots” and gathered information to complete analysis of costs and risks. Utilizing MSDS⁷ along with the supplemental GTZ guidebook, focus groups linked the existing chemical information into risk “R-phrases” with classification into hazard bands and identification of appropriate control approaches. Along with “R-phrases”, “S-phrases” were added for proper safe handling of hazardous and chemical substances. The focus groups worked with the industries for two months assisting them in the completion of their action plans. The following month, the focus groups will conduct a post audit at their respective facilities to identify areas of improvement.