Chemical exposure risk assessment: The city example of Istanbul province

Today, thousands of people use chemical substances that are harmful to human health for various purposes in industrial facilities, and employees can be exposed to these chemicals by inhalation, skin or ingestion. If the chemicals are not used in a controlled manner, various health problems, occupational diseases and labor losses may occur. Chemical exposure risk control is possible through an assessment of the chemical exposure risks included in our national legislation. This study's aim is to determine the risk control measures by conducting chemical exposure risk assessment in workplaces in different sectors. For this purpose, the COSHH method, which can be applied in almost every workplace, has been analyzed for the risks of chemical exposure in three small and medium sized workplaces operating in the main organized industrial zones in Tuzla, Başakşehir and Ümraniye districts of Istanbul. As a result of the analysis, it was found out that the chemicals with a risk degree of 4 in 2 workplaces and a risk degree of 3 in 1 workplace were in the majority. At the same time, dust, gas, heavy metal, etc., personal chemical exposure measurements with health monitorig and biological monitoring results of the employees determined on the basis of department in terms of monitoring of chemical exposure were examined. Consequently, it was found that there were parameters exceeding or very close to the limit values in 2 workplaces. As conclusion, in all three workplaces, the mistakes made in practice have been revealed and suggestions have been made about substitution, engineering measures, administrative measures and use of personal protective equipment related to the control of chemical exposure.