In working with internal stakeholders, product stewards must routinely address the sequencing of hazard assessment, exposure consideration, and risk assessment. During this webinar, the presenters will provide a background introduction to exposure and risk assessment and explain the distinction between hazard and risk. Several types of risks will be covered, including health, safety, and environmental risks, regulatory compliance risks, and brand reputation risks. The connections between different uses of product ingredients and finished products and corresponding exposures for workers and consumers will also be discussed.

The webinar will incorporate two role-playing case studies in which the presenters will brainstorm and outline the potential exposures from the intended uses of several different types of products and then address new and changed exposures and risks from “innovative ideas” about alternative uses of the products suggested by stakeholders. The discussions will also cover characterizing exposures and the regulatory requirements relating to use characteristics in different countries. The case studies will specifically address the requirements under EU REACH for obtaining authorization for ingredients designated as SVHC. The final case study will also focus on claims made about products and how such claims intersect with regulatory requirements and non-regulatory liabilities.

This webinar builds upon the hazard assessment stage discussions presented in Assessing Product Hazards – The Product Steward’s Role.

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze intended product uses, their component ingredients, and production processes to characterize potential exposures in the workplace and for consumers.
  • Understand risks relating to chemical exposure, as well as physical/mechanical breakage risks and risks to hearing and eyesight.
  • Characterize potential risks related to products and explain these to internal stakeholders and external suppliers and customers.
  • Respond to suggested alternative uses and explain corresponding exposure changes and regulatory obligations to stakeholders.
  • Understand non-regulatory risks related to new exposure/use patterns.

Presenters

Denese Deeds, CIH, SDSRP, FAIHA, President, IHSC, LLC

Denese Deeds is a certified Industrial Hygienist and co-founder of IHSC, LLC, where she is the Director of Chemical Regulatory Services. She prepares SDS, labels, and other hazard communication documents and assists companies with regulatory compliance. She is a Registered Specialist in SDS and Label Authoring and has extensive experience with hazard assessment and classification. Denese is an AIHA Fellow and past president of the Society for Chemical Hazard Communication. She served on the team that developed the SDS and Label Author Registry and is active on the AIHA Stewardship and Sustainability Committee.

Robert DeMott, PhD, DABT, Principal, Ramboll

Bob DeMott is a board-certified toxicologist and principal at the consulting firm Ramboll. He has conducted and directed risk assessments for more than 25 years relating to products in commerce, end-of-life disposal, and chemical releases from manufacturing facilities. He has completed analyses of chemical components of toys, electronic devices, apparel, shipping materials, building materials, pesticide formulations, and sterilant gases. Bob has directed alternatives assessments supporting ingredient substitution and product sustainability goals and has designed and directed animal and in vitro product safety tests.

Jon Hellerstein, CIH, CSP, Manager, Product Stewardship, Carpenter

Jon Hellerstein maintains Board Certifications as a Certified Industrial Hygiene and Certified Safety Professional and is Manager of Product Stewardship at a privately held global manufacturer of polyols and polyurethane foam products. He has practiced in the Hazard Communication, Product Stewardship, and Sustainability disciplines for about 35 years serving industry and government agencies. Jon developed product stewardship programs for fibrous glass, advanced composites, building materials, paperboard, plastics, and multi-material packaging for food, cosmetics, healthcare, drugs, medical devices, and toys. He has performed exposure and risk assessments to assure product compliance with global product regulatory requirements and the “beyond compliance” requirements of industry-leading companies.