Tensions influencing the risk management of hexavalent chromium exposure at Swedish workplaces : evidence from the SafeChrom project
Schenk, Linda ; Engfeldt, Malin LU ; Ricklund, Nicklas ; Tinnerberg, Håkan LU ; Tondel, Martin ; Wiebert, Pernilla ; Broberg, Karin LU
and Albin, Maria
LU
(2025)
In Safety Science
191.
- Abstract
In this study we investigate risk management trade-offs by evaluating how key persons at workplaces with a potential for exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) reason about what is practically possible in terms of exposure reduction. While the included companies (N = 14) represented different types of processes and work-tasks, interviewees all identified that many types of hazards compete for attention at the workplaces, making systematic work environment management a complex undertaking. Risk management efforts are directed by internal and external demands, and the hazard of Cr(VI) was in these cases often overshadowed by other workplace hazards. Interviewees described the overarching aim of continuous improvement, however, zero... (More)
In this study we investigate risk management trade-offs by evaluating how key persons at workplaces with a potential for exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) reason about what is practically possible in terms of exposure reduction. While the included companies (N = 14) represented different types of processes and work-tasks, interviewees all identified that many types of hazards compete for attention at the workplaces, making systematic work environment management a complex undertaking. Risk management efforts are directed by internal and external demands, and the hazard of Cr(VI) was in these cases often overshadowed by other workplace hazards. Interviewees described the overarching aim of continuous improvement, however, zero exposure was not feasible given that the production yielding the Cr(VI) exposure was found a fixed prerequisite or to have other beneficial values (for instance promoting environmental sustainability). What constitutes an exposure at a level that is as low as reasonably practicable was not easily identifiable by interviewees. There were various sources of demands on risk management, legal and corporate but also more personal or moral. Interviewees perceived Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) as a clear line for unacceptable exposures, however, variability and how it influences compliance were challenging concepts. The socio-economic aspect of Swedish OELs was generally not raised. We conclude that reasonably practicable is a difficult concept, likely leading to wide variability in health risk across workplaces. We recommend explicit policies on acceptable risk levels for OELs for non-threshold carcinogens as they clarify the socio-economic compromise underlying such OELs.
(Less)
- author
- Schenk, Linda
; Engfeldt, Malin
LU
; Ricklund, Nicklas
; Tinnerberg, Håkan
LU
; Tondel, Martin
; Wiebert, Pernilla
; Broberg, Karin
LU
and Albin, Maria
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-11
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- ALARP, Carcinogens, EU REACH, Hexavalent chromium, Mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive, Occupational exposure limit values, Risk management
- in
- Safety Science
- volume
- 191
- article number
- 106953
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105011525439
- ISSN
- 0925-7535
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ssci.2025.106953
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1ebf0866-7787-42ad-ba0b-59e9066f9fc4
- date added to LUP
- 2025-10-29 10:44:16
- date last changed
- 2025-10-29 10:45:32
@article{1ebf0866-7787-42ad-ba0b-59e9066f9fc4,
abstract = {{<p>In this study we investigate risk management trade-offs by evaluating how key persons at workplaces with a potential for exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) reason about what is practically possible in terms of exposure reduction. While the included companies (N = 14) represented different types of processes and work-tasks, interviewees all identified that many types of hazards compete for attention at the workplaces, making systematic work environment management a complex undertaking. Risk management efforts are directed by internal and external demands, and the hazard of Cr(VI) was in these cases often overshadowed by other workplace hazards. Interviewees described the overarching aim of continuous improvement, however, zero exposure was not feasible given that the production yielding the Cr(VI) exposure was found a fixed prerequisite or to have other beneficial values (for instance promoting environmental sustainability). What constitutes an exposure at a level that is as low as reasonably practicable was not easily identifiable by interviewees. There were various sources of demands on risk management, legal and corporate but also more personal or moral. Interviewees perceived Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) as a clear line for unacceptable exposures, however, variability and how it influences compliance were challenging concepts. The socio-economic aspect of Swedish OELs was generally not raised. We conclude that reasonably practicable is a difficult concept, likely leading to wide variability in health risk across workplaces. We recommend explicit policies on acceptable risk levels for OELs for non-threshold carcinogens as they clarify the socio-economic compromise underlying such OELs.</p>}},
author = {{Schenk, Linda and Engfeldt, Malin and Ricklund, Nicklas and Tinnerberg, Håkan and Tondel, Martin and Wiebert, Pernilla and Broberg, Karin and Albin, Maria}},
issn = {{0925-7535}},
keywords = {{ALARP; Carcinogens; EU REACH; Hexavalent chromium; Mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive; Occupational exposure limit values; Risk management}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Safety Science}},
title = {{Tensions influencing the risk management of hexavalent chromium exposure at Swedish workplaces : evidence from the SafeChrom project}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2025.106953}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.ssci.2025.106953}},
volume = {{191}},
year = {{2025}},
}