The role for Occupational Hygienists

The requirement to utilise the supply chain to communicate ESs and control of risks from hazardous materials provides a route to help to improve occupational hygiene conditions for workers in workplaces of all sizes. In both the development of the ESs and their application by M/Is and DUs, REACH provides a challenging opportunity for occupational hygienists, and also for occupational hygiene as a profession to enhance its profile and status.

Occupational hygienists are well-placed to play a key role in REACH implementation.  Whether they work for a manufacturer, downstream user, government, or as consultants, all are likely to have some part to play and will have to adapt to the new requirements.

ESs under REACH are not a straightforward substitute for site specific risk assessment but professional occupational hygienists have the knowledge and skills to understand what is necessary for ESs, how they can be developed for M/Is and how they can be applied by DUs.  Occupational hygienists have technical expertise in, and access to, information on exposure data and RMMs necessary for the development and implementation of the worker health protection part of ESs, and they are therefore well equipped to play a key role for all those involved in the regulatory process and the supply and use of chemicals. 

Thus REACH places occupational hygienists in a prime and central position to help with effective implementation of the legislation at all points in the supply chain.  Members of BOHS recently had their say in our Official Response to the Defra discussion document on the Enforcement of REACH in the UK.

At the recent Australian Institute of Occupational Hygiene (AIOH) Annual Conference, Andy Gillies presented a session entitled 'The value of Occupational Hygiene in the implementation of REACH', which is available to download and use freely (though please acknowledge Andy Gillies/BOHS when using).

What is REACH?
The role of BOHS in REACH