Control banding
Encyclopedia
Control banding is a qualitative or semi-quantitative risk assessment
and management
approach to promoting occupational health and safety. It is intended to minimize worker exposures to hazardous chemicals and other risk factors in the workplace and to help small businesses by providing an easy-to-understand, practical approach to controlling hazardous exposures at work.
The principle of control banding was first applied to dangerous chemicals, chemical mixtures, and fumes. The control banding process emphasizes the controls needed to prevent hazardous substances from causing harm to people at work. The greater the potential for harm, the greater the degree of control needed to manage the situation and make the risk “acceptable.”
A single control technology or strategy is matched with a single band, or range of exposures (e.g. 1-10 milligrams per cubic meter) for a particular class of chemicals (e.g. skin irritants, reproductive hazards).
Here is an example of four control bands developed for inhalation
hazards.
In the United Kingdom
, the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) has developed a comprehensive control banding model called COSHH Essentials (COSHH
stands for control of substances hazardous to health.)
The use of control banding strategies has become very popular in the pharmaceutical industry where early stage development compounds may have little or no toxicology data.
Risk assessment
Risk assessment is a step in a risk management procedure. Risk assessment is the determination of quantitative or qualitative value of risk related to a concrete situation and a recognized threat...
and management
Risk management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
approach to promoting occupational health and safety. It is intended to minimize worker exposures to hazardous chemicals and other risk factors in the workplace and to help small businesses by providing an easy-to-understand, practical approach to controlling hazardous exposures at work.
The principle of control banding was first applied to dangerous chemicals, chemical mixtures, and fumes. The control banding process emphasizes the controls needed to prevent hazardous substances from causing harm to people at work. The greater the potential for harm, the greater the degree of control needed to manage the situation and make the risk “acceptable.”
A single control technology or strategy is matched with a single band, or range of exposures (e.g. 1-10 milligrams per cubic meter) for a particular class of chemicals (e.g. skin irritants, reproductive hazards).
Here is an example of four control bands developed for inhalation
Inhalation
Inhalation is the movement of air from the external environment, through the air ways, and into the alveoli....
hazards.
| Band no. | Hazard Group | Exposure Concentration | Control Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skin and eye irritants | <1–10 mg/m3 dust, or >50 to 500 ppm vapor Vapor A vapor or vapour is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical point.... |
General ventilation Ventilation (architecture) Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality... and good industrial hygiene practices. |
| 2 | Harmful on single exposure | >0.1 to 1 mg/m3 dust or >5 to 550 ppm vapor | Local exhaust ventilation |
| 3 | Severely irritating and corrosive | >0.01 to 0.1 mg/m3 dust or <0.5 to 5 ppm vapor | Process enclosure, an engineering control |
| 4 | Very toxic on single exposure, reproductive hazard, sensitizer | <0.01 mg/m3 dust or <0.5 ppm vapor | Seek expert advice |
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the Health and Safety Executive
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom. It is the body responsible for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare, and for research into occupational risks in England and Wales and Scotland...
(HSE) has developed a comprehensive control banding model called COSHH Essentials (COSHH
COSHH
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 is a United Kingdom Statutory Instrument that states general requirements on employers to protect employees and other persons from the hazards of substances used at work by risk assessment, control of exposure, health surveillance and...
stands for control of substances hazardous to health.)
The use of control banding strategies has become very popular in the pharmaceutical industry where early stage development compounds may have little or no toxicology data.
Limitations of Control Banding
Control banding is not without limitations and still requires professional knowledge and experience to verify that the control measures specified have been properly installed, maintained, and used. Controls should be validated prior to use by either using substance specific industrial hygiene methods or performing surrogate monitoring.External links
- NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Control Banding
- COSHH Essentials
- International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA): Control Banding
- BAuA: Easy-to-use control scheme for hazardous substances (EMKG)
- BAuA: EMKG-Expo-Tool for Exposure Assessment (Workers)
- Stoffenmanager
- Chemwatch - Control Banding Risk Assessment Tool