The application of a job exposure matrix in the natural gas industry

A questionnaire was designed, implemented, and analyzed, using a job exposure matrix format, to profile jobs in the Pipeline Division of a natural gas company with respect to possible hazardous exposures. The categories of chemical, physical, ergonomic, biological, and psychological hazards were surveyed. The first stage was to formulate and confirm a list of hazardous agents extant within the Pipeline Operations. This was done by making on-site observations and interviewing safety supervisors and workers, as well as by exploring the literature on the natural gas industry. The second stage of the project entailed the collection of data about whether a particular hazardous agent was present at a location, and if so, which workers were exposure to it, and at what intensity and frequency they were exposed. This assessment was made by groups identified as expert assessors, senior workers who were familiar with the processes and range of job titles at their locations. These experienced workers rated all job titles for workers at that site. The final stage of the project was to critically examine and validate the data collected. Three analyses were performed. The first was a comparison of the assessments with known outcomes of the medical surveillance testing that was completed in 1995. Secondly, the agreement between the assessments done by the expert assessor group, and a rating done by the jobholder, was examined. Finally, consideration was given to the sureness expressed by each of the rating groups about the analysis they had provided.