From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde
The Prevention Technician in the Environment and Workplaces (PTEW) is a health professional who works in the identification, assessment, and management of risk in living and working places. The PTEW implements specific corrective actions at reducing exposure levels to chemicals such as formaldehyde....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.960921/full |
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| author | Fabio Pattavina Malgorzata Wachocka Federica Tuti Federica Boninti Riccardo Santi Roberta Grossi Patrizia Laurenti Patrizia Laurenti |
| author_facet | Fabio Pattavina Malgorzata Wachocka Federica Tuti Federica Boninti Riccardo Santi Roberta Grossi Patrizia Laurenti Patrizia Laurenti |
| author_sort | Fabio Pattavina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Prevention Technician in the Environment and Workplaces (PTEW) is a health professional who works in the identification, assessment, and management of risk in living and working places. The PTEW implements specific corrective actions at reducing exposure levels to chemicals such as formaldehyde. The aim of this report was to update the formaldehyde risk assessment document (RAD). The risk assessment process was divided into three steps as follows: (1) preliminary data collection, (2) an on-site visit to identify the use patterns and process, and (3) application of the algorithm to calculate the exposure levels of healthcare workers. In addition, with the introduction of closed-circuit systems, 23 devices were evaluated to identify possible airborne dispersion of formaldehyde. The algorithm was applied in 31 hospital units and the results allowed us to classify the staff in two levels of exposure for each hospital unit; healthcare workers were classified as “exposed” or “potentially exposed.” Most of the HCWs are categorized as potentially exposed, and only workers working in laboratories are considered to be exposed. The results showed that devices must be used properly according to the user manual. To increase the level of worker safety, we have proposed to introduce closed-circuit safe handling systems and keeping the duration and intensity of exposure at the lowest possible levels according to the “ALARA” principle. The assignment of the Italian PTEW is to achieve excellence in the levels of health and safety of patients and hospital workers by pursuing a shared mission: improving the quality of public health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:09:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7127012dc74c4d62a1622bb8ecb2d0eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:09:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7127012dc74c4d62a1622bb8ecb2d0eb2023-04-14T04:52:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-04-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.960921960921From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehydeFabio Pattavina0Malgorzata Wachocka1Federica Tuti2Federica Boninti3Riccardo Santi4Roberta Grossi5Patrizia Laurenti6Patrizia Laurenti7Hygiene Hospital Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyHygiene Hospital Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyMinistry of Health, Rome, ItalyHygiene Hospital Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyHygiene Hospital Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyHygiene Hospital Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyHygiene Hospital Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, ItalyLife Sciences and Public Health Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyThe Prevention Technician in the Environment and Workplaces (PTEW) is a health professional who works in the identification, assessment, and management of risk in living and working places. The PTEW implements specific corrective actions at reducing exposure levels to chemicals such as formaldehyde. The aim of this report was to update the formaldehyde risk assessment document (RAD). The risk assessment process was divided into three steps as follows: (1) preliminary data collection, (2) an on-site visit to identify the use patterns and process, and (3) application of the algorithm to calculate the exposure levels of healthcare workers. In addition, with the introduction of closed-circuit systems, 23 devices were evaluated to identify possible airborne dispersion of formaldehyde. The algorithm was applied in 31 hospital units and the results allowed us to classify the staff in two levels of exposure for each hospital unit; healthcare workers were classified as “exposed” or “potentially exposed.” Most of the HCWs are categorized as potentially exposed, and only workers working in laboratories are considered to be exposed. The results showed that devices must be used properly according to the user manual. To increase the level of worker safety, we have proposed to introduce closed-circuit safe handling systems and keeping the duration and intensity of exposure at the lowest possible levels according to the “ALARA” principle. The assignment of the Italian PTEW is to achieve excellence in the levels of health and safety of patients and hospital workers by pursuing a shared mission: improving the quality of public health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.960921/fullCancerogenformaldehiderisk assesmenthazard identificationalgorithm |
| spellingShingle | Fabio Pattavina Malgorzata Wachocka Federica Tuti Federica Boninti Riccardo Santi Roberta Grossi Patrizia Laurenti Patrizia Laurenti From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde Frontiers in Public Health Cancerogen formaldehide risk assesment hazard identification algorithm |
| title | From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde |
| title_full | From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde |
| title_fullStr | From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde |
| title_full_unstemmed | From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde |
| title_short | From hazard identification to risk assessment: The role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde |
| title_sort | from hazard identification to risk assessment the role of the prevention technician in the carcinogenic risk assessment for formaldehyde |
| topic | Cancerogen formaldehide risk assesment hazard identification algorithm |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.960921/full |
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