Hot topics

Datum: 
vrijdag, 21 februari 2025 - 09:00 to 16:00
4 days remaining
Waar: 
Haute Ecole HE2B, Rue des Goujons 28, 1070 Anderlecht

BSOH Seminar - Journée d'étude - Studiedag

Theme
“Hot topics”: Staying Ahead: Exploring Hot Topics in a Changing World.
In a rapidly evolving world, staying informed about hot topics is crucial to addressing emerging challenges in occupational hygiene.

This seminar will delve into critical issues such as indoor air quality, including the revision of ventilation standards and the importance of material emissions. The event will also cover pressing topics like the current situation with avian influenza H5N1, exposure to diisocyanates and the relevance of analytical method performance parameters for occupational hygienists — illustrated by respirable crystalline silica measurement. Additionally, the discussion will highlight occupational diseases.

Join us at the seminar on February 21, 2025, organized by the BSOH, to learn more. This unique event will be an opportunity to explore hot topics in a changing world and to exchange ideas and practices in occupational hygiene.

Seminar Director
Emmanuelle Boilan (Wakari, BSOH Board)

Moderators 
Fabian Lejeune (BSOH Chair)
Emmanuelle Boilan (Wakari, BSOH Board)

Program (provisional)

Time No Title Language Speaker Organisation
slides spoken
09:00   Welcome        
09:30 0 Introduction EN EN Fabian Lejeune, MSc BSOH, Chairman
Emmanuelle Boilan, PhD Wakari, Biosafety & Occupational Hygiene Consultant
09:40 1
Hot Topics in Occupational Medicine.
While the occurrence of an occupational disease signals a failure in prevention, it can also serve as a learning opportunity: helping to uncover previously unrecognized risks and improving health surveillance by actively searching for early indicators of harm.
Identifying workplace exposures that have led to an occupational disease is challenging and requires knowledge of the health effects of hazardous substances (including process-generated substances that are not listed on safety data sheets) and of working conditions that can lead to exposure.
In this presentation, we will illustrate these points through real-world occupational disease cases, highlighting lessons that can enhance occupational hygiene practice.
EN EN prof. Steven Ronsmans, MD, PhD
KU Leuven
 
10:25 2
Indoor air quality – New developments in standardization
Indoor air quality is an important aspect of well-being in the workplace. To manage this, prevention advisors can rely on Belgian and European standards. However, some of the most important standards are currently being revised. The aim of this presentation is on the one hand to clearly explain what indoor air quality is and on the other hand to outline the current standards landscape and to take an overview of current revisions.
EN FR ir. Christophe Delmotte Buildwise, Ingénieur civil des constructions / Conseiller en prévention niveau 1
11:10   Break        
11:30 3
VOC emissions from building materials
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemical substances that are omnipresent in many (building) materials and can easily evaporate at room temperature, posing potential risks to indoor air quality and human health, which can range from minor irritations to more severe long-term effects, depending on exposure levels and individual susceptibility.
This presentation will provide a basic understanding of these VOCs, their presence in building materials and the associated health impacts. Moreover, we will focus on the methodology used to evaluate VOC emissions from (building) materials (e.g. NBN EN 16516) and existing national and international assessment systems and regulations that guide permissible VOC limits in materials. By understanding these principles, prevention professionals can better advise and protect workers in environments where building materials may impact air quality.
EN EN Tom Haerinck, PhD Buildwise, R&D Scientist
12:15   Lunch        
13:15 4
H5N1 in humans and animals: update on the current situation
The presentation will provide an overview of the current situation of Influenza A(H5N1). Since the mid-1990s, the virus has been spreading among wild birds worldwide and has affected commercial and backyard poultry. Sporadically, the virus also infected mammals such as minks, sea lions, and now dairy cattle. On top of that, also human cases have been reported in both the United States and globally.
EN EN Anna Parys, PhD, DVM Sciensano, Scientist
14:00 5
Management of the exposure risks to diisocyanates for the Defense technical personnel
  • Diisocyanates @ Belgian Defense
  • Developments for the aeronautical sector
  • Other sectors ?
  • Casus 1 : Painting workshop
  • Casus 2 : Adhesives and Composites workshop
  • Exposure routes : cutaneous and respiratory
  • 5S strategy at the first
  • STOP Strategy
  • Substitution challenge for the Mil sector. Safety vs validation.
  • Outsourcing of the risky activities : a global solution ?
  • Technical actions : containment; importance of the ventilation ; engineering of process; automation.
  • Casus studies of the reality.
  • Organisational factors to mitigate the exposure
  • PPE
  • Controls of the residual contamination: improvement of the follow-up
  • Conclusions
EN FR/NL Fabian Lejeune, MSc Belgian Defense, Conseiller Prévention Hygiène au Travail, chef du service Prévention Protection au Travail Material Ressources
14:45   Break        
15:05 6
On the relevance of analytical method performance parameters for occupational hygienists: An example from the determination of respirable crystalline silica concentration in workplace air
Occupational exposure limit values (OELV) for many common chemical agents in workplaces are under pressure due to the perception that lower OELV inevitably result in better worker health. This compels laboratories to improve the performance of analytical methods. Method performance is expressed as limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) and expanded uncertainty (U). A thorough understanding of these parameters is very important for occupational hygienists to determine appropriate sampling strategies for specific workplaces and evaluate laboratory data. In this presentation the concept of method performance and the general approach to validation of method performance for ‘workplace air’ analytical methods will be explained from an example for determination of respirable crystalline silica concentration.
EN EN Pieter Bertier, MSc BeCOH, Project manager
15:50   Closing remarks EN EN Fabian Lejeune, MSc BSOH, Chairman
Emmanuelle Boilan, PhD Wakari, Biosafety & Occupational Hygiene Consultant
16:00   End of program        


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Location: Haute Ecole HE2B, Rue des Goujons 28, 1070 Anderlecht

Rates
freemembers of the Belgian Society for Occupational Hygiene (BSOH).
75.- EURfor non-members. BSOH membership until 31/12/2025 is included.

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Capacity: 80 places.
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