Information sessions about hazardous substances
Information sessions about hazardous substances
Exposure to hazardous substances
Port Health Centre has many years of experience in treating employees who are exposed to hazardous substances. We know exactly what is needed to provide appropriate medical care. As a result, we receive many requests to organize information sessions, especially for employees who are exposed to a certain substance (for example: PFOA, PFOS, asbestos, benzene and toluene), but also for scientists, healthcare institutions and companies dealing with hazardous substances. Topics that can be discussed during an information session are:
Biological monitoring
If an employee has been exposed to a hazardous substance, then in certain cases we advise to take a measurement of the blood, urine or breath, also known as biological monitoring. This way we can find out to what extent the substance has been absorbed by the body. It gives an indication of the potential health risk and how serious the incident was for the health of the employee. Based on the results, we can provide advice and, if necessary, refer you to other (care) specialists.
Biological monitoring is also an effective solution for measuring whether the protective measures taken are sufficient. By measuring before and after work we can monitor the effect of working with a certain substance on the body. If we find nothing, then the preventive measures were adequate. If we do find something, we must improve the measures taken and examine them again.
Port Health Centre has many years of experience in treating employees who are exposed to hazardous substances. We know exactly what is needed to provide appropriate medical care. As a result, we receive many requests to organize information sessions, especially for employees who are exposed to a certain substance (for example: PFOA, PFOS, asbestos, benzene and toluene), but also for scientists, healthcare institutions and companies dealing with hazardous substances. Topics that can be discussed during an information session are:
- The properties of the hazardous substance (also based on scientific research).
- What exactly was the situation of the incident?
- What is the health risk after exposure to a certain amount of substance?
- What are the short and long term health risks?
- What measures you can take and how to prevent this in the future?
Biological monitoring
If an employee has been exposed to a hazardous substance, then in certain cases we advise to take a measurement of the blood, urine or breath, also known as biological monitoring. This way we can find out to what extent the substance has been absorbed by the body. It gives an indication of the potential health risk and how serious the incident was for the health of the employee. Based on the results, we can provide advice and, if necessary, refer you to other (care) specialists.
Biological monitoring is also an effective solution for measuring whether the protective measures taken are sufficient. By measuring before and after work we can monitor the effect of working with a certain substance on the body. If we find nothing, then the preventive measures were adequate. If we do find something, we must improve the measures taken and examine them again.