Assessment of Occupational Health Risks for Maintenance Work in Fabrication Facilities: Brief Review and Recommendations.

Background: This study focuses on assessing occupational risk for the health hazards encountered during maintenance works (MW) in semiconductor fabrication (FAB) facilities. Objectives: The objectives of this study include: 1) identifying the primary health hazards during MW in semiconductor FAB facilities; 2) reviewing the methods used in evaluating the likelihood and severity of health hazards through occupational health risk assessment (OHRA); and 3) suggesting variables for the categorization of likelihood of exposures to health hazards and the severity of health effects associated with MW in FAB facilities. Methods: A literature review was undertaken on OHRA methodology and health hazards resulting from MW in FAB facilities. Based on this review, approaches for categorizing the exposure to health hazards and the severity of health effects related to MW were recommended. Results: Maintenance workers in FAB facilities face exposure to hazards such as debris, machinery entanglement, and airborne particles laden with various chemical components. The level of engineering and administrative control measures is suggested to assess the likelihood of simultaneous chemical and dust exposure. Qualitative key factors for mixed exposure estimation during MW include the presence of safe operational protocols, the use of air-jet machines, the presence and effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation system, chamber post-purge and cooling, and proper respirator use. Using the risk (R) and hazard (H) codes of the Globally Harmonized System alongside carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic classifications aid in categorizing health effect severity for OHRA. Conclusion: Further research is needed to apply our proposed variables in OHRA for MW in FAB facilities and subsequently validate the findings.

Participatory ergonomics for the reduction of musculoskeletal exposure of maintenance workers.

Exposure to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is a prevalent risk among those working in the maintenance of machinery and equipment for industry. Participatory ergonomics (PE) in the workplace embodies a solid strategy for the implementation of MSD prevention programs. This practical case describes a PE project implemented to improve MSD prevention strategies for the safety of maintenance workers. Experienced workers and maintenance workers employed in an Italian company for the industrial processing of wool have been actively involved in the risk assessment, in the proposal of improvement interventions and in the proposal of new preventive strategies. Ergonomic training and guidance helped the workers to have a proactive role in the prevention process. PE can help in the preventive management of critical activities of maintenance, through the empowerment of workers, the identification of targeted and feasible solutions and by using ergonomics as a basis for improving health and safety at work.

Archival infrastructure and the information backlog.

Embedded in the notion of the archive as knowledge infrastructure is the idea of a steady flow of information that resides within and moves through socio-technical systems. While there is exponential growth in the information transferred between the creator and the archive, the information flow between the archive and the user is often leaky-discontinuous and disrupted. There is a considerable interval between the time archival material are accessioned, processed, and made accessible for research. It is in this space that what archivists euphemistically call 'the backlog' comes into existence. What the backlog interrupts is the distribution and consumption end of the research process. As a concept and a reality, the backlog is a critical point of failure, carrying with it an ongoing and prevailing sense that 'deferred maintenance' has become the norm in the archive. In this article, focus is placed on framing and understanding the backlog as an infrastructural problem and on highlighting the conflict inherent in various forms of discourse seeking solutions to it.

Human biomonitoring after chemical incidents and during short-term maintenance work as a tool for exposure analysis and assessment.

Human biomonitoring (HBM) is frequently used for the analysis and assessment of exposure to chemicals under routine working conditions. In recent years, HBM has also been applied to monitor the exposure of the general population, and of emergency responders in the aftermath of chemical incidents. Two examples of targeted HBM programs in the chemical industry are described and discussed in this paper: (1) analysis and assessment of the exposure of firefighters and chemical workers after the spill of p-chloroaniline from a burning chemical barrel, and (2) biomonitoring of maintenance workers potentially exposed to benzene during regular turnarounds. The results of these investigations underline that human biomonitoring contributes substantially to comprehensive exposure analyses, human health risk assessments and communication. In addition, regular HBM surveillance and feedback can assist in the continuous improvement of workplace safety measures and exposure control. In conclusion, data on accidental or short-term exposure to hazardous chemicals are an important source of information for the further development of limit and assessment values, the validation of biomarkers and of targeted HBM programs for both routine monitoring and disaster management.