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Control Banding and the Global Rise of Qualitative Risk Assessment Strategies

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Control banding (CB) is a risk assessment strategy that has been applied globally to a variety of occupational hazards. This article describes how this method can be applied, recent developments in the CB literature, an example of how it is utilized for a large, diverse worksite, and where the future of CB is headed.

Recent Findings

Over the past several years, the applications of CB have widened significantly and have accordingly helped bolster the public and occupational safety, health, and hygiene (OSHH) professionals’ understanding of occupational exposure to various hazards. The fields of workplace chemicals, nanomaterials, and airborne pathogens (i.e., COVID-19), specifically have seen remarkable increases in the development of CB tools. Extensive CB tool validation efforts have also lent increasing credibility to this alternative approach.

Summary

CB is a simplified strategy of assessing occupational exposures and providing commensurate controls and solutions to reduce workplace risks. CB can be used as a primary or tiered risk assessment and risk management approach which can be utilized by both OSHH professionals and nonexperts alike to identify solutions for reducing work-related exposures. The need for health and safety expertise will continue to grow as technological advancements, environmental changes, and economic forces increase workplace hazard complexity, and CB will continue to be a useful tool for those performing risk assessments.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Funding

This work was performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344; Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, LLNL-JRNL-807201.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, L-449, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA

    Juliana H. Halbach

  2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, L-178, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA

    John M. Cala

  3. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, L-382, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA

    Samuel Y. Paik

  4. University of Illinois at Chicago, 1603 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    David M. Zalk

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  1. Juliana H. Halbach
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Correspondence to Juliana H. Halbach.

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Halbach, J.H., Cala, J.M., Paik, S.Y. et al. Control Banding and the Global Rise of Qualitative Risk Assessment Strategies. Curr Envir Health Rpt 10, 410–416 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-023-00416-5

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