2nd PEROSH knowledge exchange workshop “Safe Work with Metal Working Fluids (MWF)” was held online at 2nd December 2021 and hosted by AUVA (Austrian Workers´ Compensation Board).
Totally 26 participants from seven PEROSH member institutes (AUVA, FIOH, HSE, IFA, INRS, STAMI, Unisanté) and one collaborative partner (SUVA/Switzerland) attended the workshop. At first, each organization introduced their participants and summarized recent research and other activities concerning health risks emerging from work with MWFs. Then a round table discussion was held considering the future of measuring exposure to MWF and as well as investigating the risks to health (skin, lung disease and cancer). The event was interesting and led to a lot of information exchanges. Some common topics were health effects especially dermatitis, measurement techniques, and factors determining the exposure such as filtration. The group agreed to keep on working on these topics.
There was a broad support to continue this fruitful dialogue amongst PEROSH members including other experts from non-member organizations. PEROSH could provide an ideal discussion forum (for example in form of a MS Teams environment) to save and share information on ongoing (research) activities concerning MWF. This forum could help to define which and how future research studies should be developed; help to gain additional scientific knowledge, help to define new OELs, and help to make behavioral changes acceptable resulting in a reduction of the exposure to MWF.
More information
Parisa Ansari
Parisa.Ansari@auva.at
