Safe Working Method increases safety in the lab

Wim Grisnich works as Safety Health Environment (SHE) manager in the laboratories of DSM Resins & Functional Materials. The researcher has focused on working in laboratories as safely as possible. The approach, the Safe Working Method, which focuses on the handling of hazardous substances, should further increase safety.

The government sets requirements when working with hazardous substances in a lab. This is no different in the DSM laboratories in Zwolle, where a lot of hazardous substances are used. According to the rules, thousands of risk assessments should be made in writing, but according to Grisnich this is not feasible: “I was faced with the fact that you can work very safely with most substances in labs, but you still had to carry out paper exercises with risk assessments and registrations. That is very bureaucratic and cumbersome.”

While following the occupational hygiene training, Grisnich saw an opportunity to do something about this: “I decided to see whether you can demonstrate with existing models that you can work with hazardous substances, provided you comply with minimum lab hygiene, such as working in a fume hood.” Once in the research phase, the SHE manager discovered that the Safe Working Method concept already existed. This was originally developed by TNO in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. I could use that template to shape my concept.”

Lab hygiene measures

“During my research, I based my research on standard lab hygiene measures that are already being applied, such as working in fume hoods and the use of point extraction. At DSM Zwolle I calculated a hundred worst case substances. For results that exceeded the action value, I also carried out exposure measurements. Based on this, I have made the statement that you can work safely with almost any hazardous substance.”

According to Grisnich, the SZW inspectorate saw no gaps and a basis was created to see whether the concept would also work in other laboratories outside DSM. To achieve this, the initiative has been taken to form a consortium in which SMEs, multinationals, universities, academic hospitals and research institutes participate. This project is supervised by TNO. The aim is to validate the concept with an extensive measurement plan, through personal exposure measurements.

Grisnich: “I estimate the duration of this process to be 1.5 years. Everything should be ready by the end of 2019.” After assessing the results, it should become definitive whether the Safe Working Method can be introduced at national level, although the DSM employee is already thinking beyond national borders: “If it is possible in the Netherlands, there is no reason to assume that it not possible abroad. My approach is to take it to a European level, perhaps even worldwide.”

You can watch Wim Grisnich's lecture 'The development of a Safe Method for working with hazardous substances in laboratories' on Tuesday, October 2 at 10:35 am in the Croesezaal.