The challenge
Registering all dangerous and unhealthy products used on construction sites is often time-consuming, costly, and requires specialist expertise. However, it is also an essential first step in assessing health risks and setting priorities for substituting hazardous substances with safer alternatives.
A practical industry-wide solution
To reduce the time, costs, and expertise needed for hazardous substance registration, Volandis—the knowledge and advisory centre of the social partners in the Dutch construction industry—looked for a practical solution that would allow construction companies to register products collectively and with minimal effort.
How the assistant works
With input from Volandis and ArboTechniek, its equivalent in the installation technology industry, the Schadelijke Stoffen Assistent (SSA; Hazardous Substances Assistant) was developed by Chemrade, an existing platform for substance registration and exposure modelling. The SSA provides companies with access to a shared, industry-wide database of safety data sheets. Companies can select the sheets relevant to their own situation, avoiding duplicate work and improving consistency across the sector. When a safety data sheet is requested for the first time, Chemrade enters the relevant information into the database, helping to ensure high-quality and reliable registration.
Wider potential
The SSA is now available beyond the construction sector and has the potential to become a broader platform for supporting effective health policies on hazardous substances. Future modules are expected to cover workplace emissions and support substitution by helping companies identify less hazardous products used in comparable ways.
