Development of a bar code-based exposure assessment method to evaluate occupational exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products: a pilot study

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) England), 2018-09, Vol.75 (9), p.668-674
• Main Authors: Quinot, Catherine, Amsellem-Dubourget, Sylvie, Temam, Sofia, Sevin, Etienne, Barreto, Christine, Tackin, Arzu, Félicité, Jérémy, Lyon-Caen, Sarah, Siroux, Valérie, Girard, Raphaële, Descatha, Alexis, Le Moual, Nicole, Dumas, Orianne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohols; Ammonium; Ammonium compounds; Asthma; Bar codes; Bleaches; Cellular telephones; Chemicals; Cleaning; Cleaning compounds; Detergents; Disinfectants; Electronic Data Processing; Epidemiology; Exposure; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Hydrogen peroxide; Hygiene; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Male; Medical personnel; Methods; Middle Aged; Mobile Applications; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Occupational health; ORIGINAL ARTICLE; Personal grooming; Personnel, Hospital; Pilot Projects; Public health; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Quaternary ammonium salts; Questionnaires; Regulatory agencies; Risk assessment; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Sensors; Smartphones; Sprayers; Sprays; Studies; Toilets; Websites; Workers
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104793

ObjectiveHealthcare workers are highly exposed to various types of disinfectants and cleaning products. Assessment of exposure to these products remains a challenge. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a method, based on a smartphone application and bar codes, to improve occupational exposure assessment among hospital/cleaning workers in epidemiological studies.MethodsA database of disinfectants and cleaning products used in French hospitals, including their names, bar codes and composition, was developed using several sources: ProdHyBase (a database of disinfectants managed by hospital hygiene experts), and specific regulatory agencies and industrial websites. A smartphone application has been created to scan bar codes of products and fill a short questionnaire. The application was tested in a French hospital. The ease of use and the ability to record information through this new approach were estimated.ResultsThe method was tested in a French hospital (7 units, 14 participants). Through the application, 126 records (one record referred to one product entered by one participant/unit) were registered, majority of which were liquids (55.5%) or sprays (23.8%); 20.6% were used to clean surfaces and 15.9% to clean toilets. Workers used mostly products with alcohol and quaternary ammonium compounds (>90% with weekly use), followed by hypochlorite bleach and hydrogen peroxide (28.6%). For most records, information was available on the name (93.7%) and bar code (77.0%). Information on product compounds was available for all products and recorded in the database.ConclusionThis innovative and easy-to-use method could help to improve the assessment of occupational exposure to disinfectants/cleaning products in epidemiological studies.