Allergenic chemical products
Some chemical products can cause allergic reactions. It may be allergic skin reaction, astma symptoms or breathing difficulties. For an allergic reaction to occur you need to be exposed to an allergenic substance. It is important to avoid exposure to allergenic chemical products because if you get an allergy caused by exposure to an allergenic substance you can get symptoms from the handling of a very small amount of the substance.
For detailed information about allergenic chemical products, please go to section 37 a-g in the provision AFS 2011:19 Chemical hazards in the working environment.
Provision from Swedish work environment authority AFS 2011:19
Provision on medical examinations (only in Swedish) AFS 2019:3
Special requirements
If a risk assessment shows that there is a risk for exposure to any of the chemicals beneath, there are special requirements.
- chemical products labelled with H317 (may cause allergic skin reaction) or H334 (may cause astma symptoms or breathing difficulties)
- chemical products which contain ethyl- or methyl-2-cyanoacrylate
- work that entails thermal degradation of materials that release iso-cyanates or processes that release formaldehyd
The documentation from the risk assessment should place particular emphasis on:
- the areas and spaces where the hazardous chemical products shall be handled
- the protective measures necessary to ensure that the exposure is as low as possible
- which protective equipment to use and in which situations it is required
- how the function of equipment and ventilation is to be checked and maintained to prevent allergenic substances from causing ill-health
If there is a risk for other employees to be exposed in the area where the substances are handled, signs must be posted. Also, those who are leading or are employed in the work with the substances mentioned above should be informed about how to carry out these tasks safely and about the risks involved with the handling.
Training required
Working with some of the allergenic chemical products require training, see section 37 e in the provision Chemical hazards in the working environment.
Read §37e in provision Chemical hazards in the working environment (AFS 2011:19)
Training is required both for those who lead the work or are employed in a work with chemical products if they are labelled with H317 or H334 due to the content of:
- Diisocyanates.
- Epoxy plastic components.
- Organic acid anhydrides.
- Formaldehyde resins.
- Methacrylates.
- Acrylates.
Training is also required for:
- Work that involves thermal degradation that releases isocyanates.
- Work with processes that release formaldehyde.
Work with the following substances that lasts longer than 30 minutes per week is also covered by training requirements:
- Ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate.
- Methyl 2-cyanoacrylate.
The training shall at the least contain information about the risks entailed by the work, and the protective measures that may need to be taken. A training certificate should be obtained and be no more than five years old. If a training certificate is missing, a sanction charge of SEK 10,000 per employee can be imposed by the Swedish Work Environment Authority.
Please, contact the Chemical Coordinator if you find out that you need a course.
Medical examination
For some of the work with allergenic chemical products the employer must arrange for medical examination and some work require to do a medical examination with employability assessment, see section 37 f and g in the provision Chemical hazards in the working environment 2011:19. Also see the provision about Medical examinations (only in Swedish): Medicinska kontroller 2019:3.
The employer must arrange for medical examination for work where there is a risk of exposure to chemical products marked with H317 or H334 because they contain any of the following:
- Epoxy plastic components.
- Formaldehyde resins.
- Methacrylates.
- Acrylates.
Medical examination with employability assessment is required for those workers who are employed or will be employed in work that involves exposure to:
- hazardous chemical products labeled with H334 because they contain
- diisocyanates or ...
- organic acid anhydrides
- chemical products containing ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate or methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, if the work lasts more than 30 minutes per week,
- work where isocyanates are released by thermal degradation.
If a medical exmination has not been carried out in cases where a employability assessment is required, a sanction charge may be imposed by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (for Uppsala University SEK 150,000).
Provision from Swedish work environment authority AFS 2011:19
Provision on medical examinations (only in Swedish) AFS 2019:3
Appointment for medical examination is booked with Uppsala University's occupational health service Falck.