NIOSH has made available a draft document about Control Banding on its Web site for public review and comment. The document, entitled Qualitative Risk Characterization and Management of Occupational Hazards (Control Banding [CB]): A Literature Review and Critical Analysis, describes the evolution and concepts of control banding, a qualitative approach for assessing and managing hazards associated primarily with chemical exposures in the workplace. The comprehensive literature review is intended to inform employers, workers, safety and health practitioners, and other audiences about the concepts of control banding and to stimulate further dialogue about its potential usefulness in the United States by providing the appropriate background information and resources.

Background Summary

As background to the topic of control-focused chemical hazard strategies, NIOSH recognized that the number of chemicals in commerce is far greater than the number of occupational exposure limits (OELs, roughly 1000). Setting additional OELs for new and existing chemicals, and monitoring to ensure exposures are maintained below the OELs, are important but resource intensive activities. In addition, if the majority of chemical substances in commerce have no established OELs, employers and workers often lack the necessary guidance on the extent to which occupational exposures should be controlled.

Consequently, to fill this gap, control banding evolved as an approach to address these challenges, drawing upon mature knowledge and practices in occupational hygiene practice regarding exposure assessment, chemical hazard assessment, and control technology options. The conceptual basis for control banding is a framework for the grouping of chemical exposures according to similar physical and chemical characteristics, intended processes/handling, and anticipated exposure scenarios (amount of chemical used and how workers would be exposed). In this context, control banding is not meant to reduce the need for OELs, but to serve as a supplemental risk management tool.

The promise of such a qualitative risk assessment and management approach is further increased given appropriate consideration for evolving developments in international chemical commerce, including the globally harmonized system of classification and labeling of chemicals (GHS), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed-rulemaking for the Hazard Communication standard, and European Union regulations (i.e., Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances, or REACH). These and other factors are discussed in the document, which evaluates the state-of-the-science of control banding as reflected in research and practice. Information was gleaned from the published scientific literature, proceedings of recent international workshops, symposia, and conferences to ensure a broad and comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Among the conclusions, NIOSH indicates that control banding is a potentially valuable tool for risk management of some chemical agents and other occupational hazards. However, additional research and validation efforts, described in the document, are needed to ensure appropriate application and effective results.

Qualitative Risk Characterization and Management of Occupational Hazards (Control Banding [CB]): A Literature Review and Critical Analysis - DRAFT	ControlBandingRevAnalysisDRAFT.pdf (862KB; 160 pgs)
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Public Comment Period

Contact Person for Technical Information:

Thomas J. Lentz, Ph.D., Lead Health Scientist, NIOSH, CDC
Robert A. Taft Laboratories
4676 Columbia Parkway, MS C-32
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45226-1998
Telephone (513) 533-8260
E-mail TLentz@cdc.gov

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET on July 11, 2008

To submit comments regarding this draft publication, please use one of these options:

• Send NIOSH comments using this online form
  
  
• Send comments by email.
  
  
• Fax comments to the NIOSH Docket Office: 513-533-8285
  
  
• Send by Mail to:
  NIOSH Mailstop: C-34
  Robert A. Taft Lab.
  4676 Columbia Parkway
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45226

NIOSH Draft Documents for Public Review