Risk assessment methods in occupational health and hygiene: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Industrial Hygiene
• Risk Assessment

Background:

• Established risk assessment methods may be insufficient for emerging workplace technologies.
• New and adapted methods are needed to address novel occupational hazards.

Approach:

• A scoping review was performed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Data extraction and analysis involved a matrix method and narrative synthesis.
• Risk assessment methods were categorized into traditional and nontraditional.

Key Points:

• The review included 79 articles, with 81% utilizing traditional risk assessment methods.
• Nontraditional methods were employed in 19% of the reviewed studies.
• Control banding emerged as a key nontraditional method, particularly for nanomaterials.

Conclusions:

• Nontraditional risk assessment, such as control banding, is crucial for emerging technologies where innovation outpaces hazard characterization.
• Methods capable of assessing chemical groups and mixtures are essential for addressing new occupational risks.
• Adapting or developing novel risk assessment strategies is vital for ensuring worker safety in evolving industrial landscapes.