Chemical risk evaluation: Application of the Movarish methodology in an industry of the textile sector

The present paper analyses the minimum requirements for workers' protection against health and safety chemical risks. The potential risks from exposure are divided into two categories which are often simultaneously present: •Health risks due to chronic exposure to toxicological or harmful substances; •Safety hazards due to acute exposure: fire, chemical burns, eye injury, poisoning, suffocation. A case study concerning chemical compounds used in a textile serigraphy department is proposed. A recently installed machine, with high level of automation, was analyzed. An operative spreadsheet tool combining “Workers' Safety Requirements” and “Risk Reduction Actions”, has been defined. By evaluating the risk degree of each chemical product, if the assessed risk is acceptable, only safety requirements were considered. Otherwise, if level and duration of exposure determine a harmful risk for workers, specific prevention and protection actions were suggested, such as appropriate work processes, technical planning, individual protections, Training and information.