Korpi Anne, Lappalainen Sanna, Kaliste Eila, Kalliokoski Pentti, Reijula Kari, Pasanen Anna-Liisa
Department of Environmental Science, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland.
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2007;20(2):107-15. doi: 10.2478/v10001-007-0018-0.
In recent years, the prevalence of work-related asthma has increased. Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to occupational allergens and their avoidance and control in workplaces. However, risk assessment of occupational allergen exposure is difficult because the relationship between exposure concentration, sensitization, and symptoms has not been fully established. This paper introduces a systematic and comprehensive approach to assessing and managing allergen risks at workplaces.
This approach relies on the cooperation and active communication during the whole process between management, employees, and health care personnel, with the assistance of experts when needed. In addition to gathering background information, including allergic symptoms, through questionnaires addressed to the management and employees, hazard identification is also processed in the workplace through observations and measurements. The methods generally recommended to reduce allergen exposure are compared with those used in the workplace. The process is to be carefully planned and documented to allow later follow-up and re-evaluation.
The multi-faceted approach encompasses several risk assessment techniques, and reveals the prevalence of work-related allergic symptoms. The process effectively focuses on the potential means for controlling allergen exposure.
Based on this approach, the synopsis on the critical points that require implementation of effective control measures can be presented.
近年来，职业性哮喘的患病率有所上升。因此，需要更加关注职业过敏原及其在工作场所的避免和控制。然而，职业过敏原暴露的风险评估具有难度，因为暴露浓度、致敏作用和症状之间的关系尚未完全明确。本文介绍一种系统且全面的方法，用于评估和管理工作场所的过敏原风险。
该方法依赖于管理层、员工和医护人员在整个过程中的合作与积极沟通，必要时借助专家的帮助。除了通过向管理层和员工发放问卷收集包括过敏症状在内的背景信息外，还通过工作场所的观察和测量来进行危害识别。将一般推荐的减少过敏原暴露的方法与工作场所实际使用的方法进行比较。该过程需精心规划并记录，以便后续进行跟踪和重新评估。
这种多方面的方法涵盖了多种风险评估技术，并揭示了与工作相关的过敏症状的患病率。该过程有效地聚焦于控制过敏原暴露的潜在方法。
基于此方法，可以列出需要实施有效控制措施的关键点概要。
