1. Targeted Health Risk Assessment

A Targeted HRA is an estimate of the level of risk or opportunity that an operator will have health effects from coming into contact with chemicals, biological or other physical factors (heat, light, sound) by considering the level of exposure and the severity of the effects of a particular hazard type. In general, an HRA confirms preliminary risk assessment results when the risk reaches a significant level such that a decision is made to manage the risk.

The purpose of risk assessment

To be able to determine a more accurate level of risk
To plan and allocate budget for risk management
To use later for the purpose of monitoring employee health and work-related illnesses.
To communicate the risks to operators and related personnel
To implement the Safety, Occupational Health, and Working Environment Act B.E. 2554

The benefits of HRAs are cost savings and legal compliance, because they can help supervisors plan and manage risks appropriately. Also, they can be tools for managing work environment inspections and occupational health examinations according to risk factors.

The survey and measurement team consists of

Industrial hygienists
Occupational physicians
Occupational health nurses
Scientists

The report of the survey results and measurements includes

Exposure assessment results
Specific health risk levels
Risk management guidelines
An environmental monitoring plan
An occupational health checklist based on risk factors

2. Occupational Hygiene survey

This is a survey of the workplace intended to gather detailed basic information about the workplace, the operators, and hazards in the work environment in order to identify health hazards in the work environment(similar exposure group, SEG). Baseline health risk assessment

Objectives

To find and identify hazards in the work environment, addressing every production process, every area, and every job
To arrange an SEG of operators in the workplace, which will facilitate the planning of environmental and health monitoring management
To assess the Baseline HRA, which will lead to an assessment of the Targeted HRA and the development of a plan to effectively manage risks

When should a walk-through survey be performed?

At least 1 time per year
Whenever there are changes in the production process, chemicals used, procedures and working methods followed including control measures such as ventilation systems and others that may affect the operators’ exposure

The walk-through survey team consists of

Industrial hygienists
Occupational health nurses

The report of the survey results and measurements includes

Items that are harmful to health — physical, chemical, and biological.
SEG Arrangement
Baseline HRA
Suggestions for further action

3. Occupational Hygiene monitoring and exposure assessment

This is the measurement and sampling of the working environment to assess physical, chemical, and biological hazards using industrial hygiene tools such as the walk-through survey form, direct-reading measurement tools, air sampling kits for analysis of chemical concentrations and microorganisms suspended in the air, detection kits employing microbiological sampling of surfaces, and sound, light, and heat detectors that compare results with both local and international levels of OEL

Environmental monitoring plan

To comply with legal requirements
To assess operators’ exposure to risk factors for their health risk assessment
To evaluate the effectiveness of control measures
To detect sources of danger
To investigate diseases or illnesses contracted at work
To specify the source of any exposure that exceeds the OEL value

Hazards in the work environment that can gauge exposure

Chemical hazards: — Measuring chemicals in the air requires the use of standard tools and international methods such as NIOSH, OSHA, or MDHS, or direct-reading measurement tools that have been calibrated for consistency.
Physical hazards: Light, sound, and heat, with tools that are standard as required by law
Biological hazards: Fungi and bacteria, including Legionella bacteria, in the air and water and on surfaces. Samples are collected and analyzed by experts.

The report of the survey results and measurements includes

Measurement and analysis results
An interpretation of the results done by comparing them with legal standards and appropriate recommendation standards

4. Indoor Air Quality, IAQ: Bangkok IAQ Program

IAQ refers to air quality within and around buildings or premises, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of those living / staying in such buildings.

What are indoor air pollutants? How do they affect health?

Chemicals in the form of particles, gases, and vapors such as dust from traffic, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, etc.

Causing eye irritation and problems in the respiratory system
Problems in the nasal cavity tissue, respiratory mucosa, and pneumonia, causing the lungs to get less oxygen.
Asthma: people with chronic lung disease or asthma may develop more severe symptoms. In the long term, it can cause chronic bronchitis.
Causing cancer

Indoor pollution sources

Indoor sources include interior materials, furniture, floor coverings, walls, and office equipment such as photocopiers. For new buildings, pollution sources may include decorative materials and interior paint.
External sources include traffic, construction sites, and industrial facilities.
Inadequate cooling and ventilation systems may cause pollution in the building and bring pollution from outside into the building.

The benefit of having good IAQ is to increase the productivity of employees who have health problems due to poor IAQ, and to improve morale by ensuring employees that they have management’s attention.

When should air quality be measured?

An indoor air quality measurement should be performed every year
Whenever the building is renovated or repaired
Whenever there are complaints from employees about IAQ
Time duration needed to measure air quality: 1 – 3 days depending on the size of the area, cooling systems, ventilation systems, and the number of places needing measurement

IAQ standard to be used :

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62.1-2016 for office buildings
The ASHRAE HVAC Design Manual for Hospitals and Clinics, for hospitals

The survey and measurement team consists of

Industrial hygienists
Occupational physicians
Scientists

The report of the survey results and measurement includes

Indoor air quality measurement results cover biochemistry, ventilation rates, and the comfort index
dentify the sources and causes of the IAQ
Guidelines for prevention and control of IAQ problems.

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