Procedures and Principles Regarding the Authorization of Laboratories Have Been Determined

The Procedures and Principles for the Authorization of Laboratories have been determined. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security has determined the procedures and principles regarding the authorization of laboratories of private or public institutions and organizations that will carry out occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes regarding personal exposures in the working environment or physical, chemical and biological factors in the working environment within the scope of occupational health and safety legislation.

The Regulation on Laboratories Carrying Out Occupational Hygiene Measurement, Testing and Analysis was published in the Official Gazette.
According to the regulation regulating the procedures and principles regarding the authorization of laboratories of private or public institutions and organizations that will carry out occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes regarding personal exposures in the working environment or physical, chemical and biological factors in the working environment within the scope of the occupational health and safety legislation, the employer will have to protect employees from the dangers and harmful effects of substances used or processed in any way and working environment conditions. In order to provide a safe working environment, it will be obliged to carry out measurements, tests, analyzes and evaluations for personal exposures in the working environment or physical, chemical and biological factors in the working environment, by laboratories that have prequalification or qualification certificates.
The employer will have occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes done depending on the risk assessment. When there is a difference in personal exposures due to the workplace environment or work, occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes will be repeated if deemed necessary by the workplace doctor or occupational safety specialist.
The laboratory personnel who come to the workplace from the employer laboratories to perform occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes tell their employer: “Health and safety risks that may be encountered in the workplace, protective and preventive measures. Persons assigned for first aid, extraordinary situations, disasters and fire fighting and evacuation.
The employer will assign a person who has information about the conduct of the work to accompany the laboratory personnel during their activities at the workplace.

-FOR THE RIGHT RESULT…-

The employer will do the following in order to get the right results during the occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes:
“- It gives the necessary information about the technologies used in the workplace to the test personnel who will carry out the measurement, test or analysis of occupational hygiene and enables the personnel to meet with the employees.
- Provides occupational hygiene measurements, tests and analyzes according to the plan prepared by the laboratory.
It ensures the continuation of work in a way that gives real results, without making any changes in normal working conditions and production capacity.
- Submits all kinds of information, documents and documents about the physical, chemical and biological factors to be measured in the workplace, including material safety data forms, to the laboratories.
- Records of all occupational hygiene measurement, test, analysis and evaluation results made in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation are kept at the workplace to be shown when requested during audits.
- The periods determined by the legislation are essential for the storage of occupational hygiene measurement, test and analysis records in the workplace. However, for those not specified in the legislation, the storage period is 10 years.
The matters that the laboratory is obliged to comply with are as follows:
“It ensures that the personnel who will measure, test and analyze occupational hygiene in the workplace comply with the workplace rules and work instructions.
Occupational hygiene measures, tests and analyzes of the workplace, such as the production technologies, the raw materials used, the employer's and workplace's professional secrets, and the health surveillance information of the employees, personnel information, etc., they see and learn are completely confidential.

-“SAMPLING AND HANDLING”-

Sampling will be done according to national and/or international standards and the method used. While determining the sampling and evaluation strategies regarding the factors exposed through inhalation in the workplace, the current versions of TS EN 689 “Comparison of Workplace Air-Respiratory Chemical Substances with Limit Values ​​and Evaluation of the Measurement Strategy” and similar standards will be taken into consideration.
Sampling will be done according to the conditions specified in the method used. The sampling time and number of samples shall be adjusted to represent the exposure during the work performed.
For the evaluation of occupational hygiene measurement, test or analysis results for the detection of exposure to chemical substances, the long-term reference period will be 8 hours for one shift, and the short-term reference period will be 15 minutes.
While measuring the personal exposure levels of employees in the workplace, a sampling device or passive sampler will be used to collect samples on the worker and from the respiratory area.
Fixed point measurements can be used to assess workers' workplace exposure if necessary. In working environments where the work is not done continuously, the point where the exposure may be highest will be taken as the measurement point.
Samples will be transported in accordance with the method used.

-MINIMUM FEATURES-

The minimum features and qualifications that the laboratory must have are as follows:
“-The gas cylinders that contain flammable, explosive, suffocating and poisonous gas are used inside or outside the building, so that they do not pose a danger according to their chemical properties; Empty and full gas cylinders are stored in separate places, all handcuffed or tied with chains against falling, vertically, in a cool and dry place away from all kinds of heat sources, open flames and sparks, corrosive chemicals.
- There is a warehouse with a ventilation system or appropriately arranged cabinets to store spare auxiliary materials and chemicals according to their structure, risk groups and storage conditions.
- There are emergency exit doors in the laboratory.
-Laboratory staff; It consists of at least three people, including the laboratory manager, the quality manager and the experimental staff.
- Operations related to medical and hazardous wastes belonging to the laboratory are carried out in accordance with the national legislation prepared for the control of medical wastes and the control of hazardous wastes.

 

Source : newsx

Günceleme: 25/08/2013 14:23