2. My experience
National Safety Award 2006
DOSH Safety Week 2008 at PWTC World OSH Day 2008 at PICC, Putrajaya
3. What is CHRA?
“Chemical Health Risk Assessment”
An assessment program in the scope
of employees’ health due to chemical
exposure
A standard method is used under
DOSH Gudelines
4. Purpose of CHRA
To identify the hazards posed by each
chemical substance used, stored, handled
or transported within the place of work
To evaluate the degree of exposure of
employees to the chemicals hazardous to
health, either through inhalation, skin
absorption or ingestion
5. Purpose of CHRA
To evaluate the adequacy of existing control
measures
To conclude on the significance of the
health risk posed by the chemicals
hazardous to health
To recommend further appropriate control
measures to prevent or reduce risks.
6. CHRA objectives
Identify the hazards
Evaluate the degree of exposure
Evaluate the adequacy of existing
control measures
Conclude on the significance
Recommend further control measures
7. CHRA Methodology
Data collection and documentation review
Review of chemical inventories and material safety
data sheets (MSDS)
Field observations of the work areas and job tasks
Employee interviews
Professional judgement and experience of the
Industrial Hygienists
Risk ranking using a 5 by 5 scale matrix
Using CHRA guidelines established by DOSH
8. Hazard on CHRA definition
The potential of a chemical to cause harm or
adversely affect health of people in the
workplace.
Chemicals hazardous to health is defined as :
Schedule I to USECCH Regulations 2000
Part B of the CPL Regulations 1997
Pesticide as in Pesticide Act 1974
Scheduled waste (First Schedule) to Environment
Quality (Scheduled wastes) regulations
1989/2005.
9. Risk
The likelihood that a substance will
cause adverse health effects or illness
in the conditions of its use.
Risk = Hazard x Exposure
Therefore, the risk assessment is conducted by making
evaluation on its hazard and how it is exposed,
through qualitative approach.
10. CHRA main concept
Risk = Hazard x Exposure
RR = √ (HR x ER)
RR : Risk rating (1-5)
HR : Hazard rating (1-5)
ER : Exposure rating (1-5)
11. Risk Matrix
Exposure Rating (ER)
1 2 3 4 5
1 RR=1 RR=2 RR=2 RR=2 RR=3
Hazard Rating (HR)
2 RR=2 RR=2 RR=3 RR=3 RR=4
3 RR=2 RR=3 RR=3 RR=4 RR=4
go ry 1
4 RR=2 RR=3 RR=4 at e
RR=4 RR=5
C
go ry 2
te
5 RR=3 RR=4 RR=4 RR=5 Ca RR=5
12. Why do CHRA?
Required under USECHH (Use and Standards
of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to
Health)
To let the management aware of current
condition of chemical risk.
To verify the status of the current practice and
the necessity for improvement .
13. How CHRA benefits company?
Management, as well as employees, will be
made aware on current condition, therefore
can make decision whether or not, to make
improvement.
Even though all USECHH regulations should
be complied accordingly, CHRA can be a
method to judge specifically the necessity of
complying. Therefore, can save cost on
general implementation.
14. Assessment
The assessment is divided into 3
phases:
Preliminary Visit and Document Review
Exposure report, training record, chemical SOP, chemical
accident record, equipment inspection record
Review of chemical inventories and CSDS
On Site Assessment
Field observation of the work areas and job
tasks
Employee interviews
CHRA Report Making
CHRA Result Presentation
16. Departmental preparation requirement
for CHRA assessment :
MSDS for all chemical used (copies)
Procedure/SOP in chemical handling
job
Chemical handler training record
(topics and schedule)
Brief process flow for each work unit
No of staff (female, male) for each
work unit
Interviewee for each work unit
