Health Assessment of Employees:

The BASF Experience Dr Jefferelli Bahrin, Dr Bernd Trauth BASF Occupational Medicine and Health Protection

150 years 150 years

Content

2

About BASF 1

Types of Health Assessment 2

General Health Checks 3

Audiometry 4

Human Biological Monitoring 5

Conclusion 6

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1. About BASF

1.1 Company profile

1.2 Business segments and products

1.3 Product applications

1.4 Centres of Medical Excellence

1.5 Global Medical Network

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1.1 Company Profile

Year established: 1865

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany

Number of employees (2014): 113,292

Number of production sites: 353 + 6 verbunds

Sales in 2014: €74.3 billion

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1.2 BASF business segments and products

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Crop Protection

Performance

Products

Dispersions & Pigments

Care Chemicals

Functional Materials & Solutions

Agricultural

Solutions

Performance Chemicals

Nutrition & Health

Oil & Gas

Oil & Gas

Chemicals

Monomers

Intermediates

Petrochemicals

Functional

Materials &

Solutions

Construction Chemicals

Coatings

Catalysts

Performance Materials

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1.3 Product Applications

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Cleaning Agents BASF chemicals add sparkle to make

cleaning products more effective

• Laundry detergents

• Dishwashing detergents

• Window cleaners

• Kitchen and bathroom

cleaners

• Floor cleaners and waxes

Clothing and Fabrics BASF adds durability and style to the things

your wear

• Stretch fabrics

• UV protective fabrics

• Socks

• Swimwear

• Sports shoes

Building and Construction BASF products form the foundation of many

items used in building and construction

• Window frames

• Cable sheathing

• Water heaters

• Aluminum siding

• Garage doors

• Paints

Packaging Food and beverages

enjoy protection from

BASF packaging

• Pizza delivery boxes

• Foam plates, cups,

bowls, meat trays

• Dairy containers for yogurt

Sports and Leisure BASF materials are in the products that take

the enjoyment of your leisure to new heights

• Bowling balls

• Stadium seats

• Skateboards

• Life jackets

• Swimwear

• Swim goggles

• Swim masks

• Ski goggles

• Ski boots

• Snow boards

Home Products Indoor or out, BASF products give character,

comfort and convenience to your home

• Pump and

heating systems

• Garden hoses

• Coffee makers

• Microwave ovens

• CD cases

• Lighting fixtures

Cosmetics and Grooming Helping you look and feel good – that’s the beauty of BASF products used in cosmetics

and grooming

• Shampoos and

conditioners

• Sunscreen products

• Hair spray

• Lipstick

• Lotions

Agriculture As a leader in crop protection, BASF keeps

the outlook for agriculture

healthy with a range

of fungicides,

insecticides

and herbicides

Medical Supplies BASF materials are vital components of

critical products in the medical industry

• Oxygen masks

• Plastic gloves

• Test tubes

• Pharmaceutical

equipment

Automotive Products BASF materials “drive” the automotive industry, delivering durability, sophistication

and elegance to many vehicles

• Light covers

• Suspension components

• Steering wheels

• Accelerator pedals

• Coatings

• Air conditioner/

Heating system

Household Tools and

Hardware Supplies BASF adds power and

performance to household

tools and hardware

supplies

• Household and

industrial power tools

• Vacuum cleaner housings

• Electrical wire insulation

• Floor polishes

Office Products BASF components in office products simply

work better

• Notebooks

• Mobile phones

• Paper coatings

• Toner cartridges

• Telephone housings

• Office furniture

• Computer components

Animal and

Human Nutrition BASF’s commitment to animal and human nutrition keeps farm animals and house pets

healthy, and our food tasty

• Milk

• Vitamin premixes

• Animal and fish feeds

• Ice cream

• Cheese

• Bread

• Multi-vitamins

(Vitamin A,B,C & E)

• Beta-Carotene

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1.4 Management System: Responsible Care

Responsible Care medical audits at production sites every five years

RCMS

Directives

Requirements

Successful Practices

RC Codes

Requirements

Examples

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1.5 Centres of Medical Excellence

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1.6 Global Medical Network

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2. Types of Health Assessments

Health Promotion

General Health Checks (Standard)

Executive Health Checks

Health surveillance

Examples:

Audiometry

Human Biological Monitoring

Isocyanate Health Surveillance

Fitness to Work

Examples:

Forklift drivers

Fire fighters

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3. General Health Checks

Historically only some countries offered

to all employees including those not

exposed to risks in production area

Started in Ludwigshafen in 2011

very well received by employees

important findings

Decided to extend program globally and

implement as a Global Health

Promotion Campaign in 2013

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3.1 Experience in Ludwigshafen

Health check is offered to employees every three years

Around 15,500 employees participated from 2011-2013

6,274 participants in 2013, with 4,533 new diagnoses*

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* More than one diagnosis per employee possible

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Smoking cessation

Back disorders

Stress and coping with everyday life

Metabolic syndrome

Recommendations provided to employees

Recommendations

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3.1 Experience in Ludwigshafen

Example of early detection of disease:

A production worker underwent

health assessment for work in hot area

Further assessment diagnosed

leukemia

Treated with chemotherapy

Now in complete remission

Condition was not due to work

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Parameter 2009 2014 Unit Reference

Leukocyte 3.14 7.8 /nl 4.5-11.0

Erythrocyte 3.16 4.56 /pl 4.5-5.9

Hemoglobin 12.2 15.8 g/dl 14.-18.0

Health check enabled early detection and treatment

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3.2.1 Global Health Promotion: Concept

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Suggest to remove the topics for 2017 and 2018

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3.2.2 Global Healthcheck 2013: Contents

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Medical History

Physical Examination

Laboratory investigations

Assessment Report

Explanation of results

Referral if required

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3.2.3 Global Healthcheck 2013: Participation

490 sites have implemented the Global Health Check

48,312 checks were carried out

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4. Audiometry

In many countries including Germany,

audiometry is required by law for workers

exposed to noise

However, non work-related exposure to

noise is also significant

Hearing is important to well being and

needs to be preserved

Audiometry was selected as the topic for the 2012 Global Health

Promotion Campaign.

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4.1 Experience in Ludwigshafen

Example of preservation of hearing:

Mr A worked in a noisy production

environment (TWA=90dBA)

Audiometry in 2008 showed early

noise induced hearing loss

Training was provided on:

Proper and appropriate use of

hearing protection

Avoidance of non-work-related

exposure to noise

Latest audiometry in 2014 showed no

further deterioration of hearing

threshold

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4.1.1 Soundcheck 2012: Contents

Health education:

Posters

Presentation

Audiometry

Assessment

Evaluation stencil and guide for

quick assessment

Explanation of results

Referral for further assessment

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4.1.2 Soundcheck 2012: Participation

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51%

20%

17%

12%

41183 participants globally

Europe

Asia Pacific

NAFTA

South America

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4.1.3 Soundcheck 2012: Findings

10% of worldwide results evaluated

(n=4,862)

Hearing impairment occurs earlier than

expected: in most cases even before

age 50

The ratio of relevant findings among

employees exposed to noise at work is

only elevated slightly.

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Noise protection in the workplace is effective but can still be improved

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5. Human Biological Monitoring

Not a direct measure of health but indicates

exposures and risks of adverse health

outcomes

Important in workplaces with potential

exposure to chemicals hazardous to health

BASF has own lab led by a Occupational

Toxicologist

Conducting HBM since 1987

Able to analyze 70 organic substances

and 8 metals

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5.1 Mercury Human Biomonitoring

5.1.1 Sample Group

5.1.2 Semi annual sampling Production

5.1.3 Quarterly sampling Maintenance

5.1.4 Monthly sampling: Cleaning

5.1.5 Aggregated results

5.1.6 Learning

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5.1.1 Sample group

No. of

employees Job category

Mercury

exposure

Sampling

frequency

184 production always low (semi) annually

22 maintenance infrequently & moderate

quarterly

9 cleaning frequently

& significant monthly

214 male employees from an alcoholates production plant

regular biomonitoring since 1989

comprehensive biomonitoring program since 2010

experience and summary of the first three years

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5.1.2 (Semi-)annual sampling-production

month of sampling & number of samples

µg mercury/g creatinine

BAT

BEI

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5.1.3: Quarterly sampling-maintenance

month of sampling & number of samples

µg mercury/g creatinine

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5.1.4: Monthly sampling-cleaning

month of sampling & number of samples

µg mercury/g creatinine

frequent safety instructions (gloves, trouser pockets, etc.)

daily change of working clothes

job rotation

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5.1.5 Aggregated results

routine maintenance cleaning

employees (n) 184 22 9

samples (n) 531 83 231

median (µg/g crea.) 2 6 16

95 % (µg/g crea.) 8 23 30

% BAT 0 4 13

cleaning 2010 2011 2012

samples (n) 77 81 73

median (µg/g crea.) 18 18 15

95 % (µg/g crea.) 38 31 22

% BAT 18 19 3

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5.1.6 Finding

Exposure to mercury was highest among

worker in cleaning, followed by maintenance

and lowest among production workers

With good control measures, exposure to

mercury could be reduced to below

the action values

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6. Conclusion

Health Assessment

is an important part of an

Occupational Health program

should be offered to all employees

irrespective of work hazards

has an important role in ensuring

safety at the workplace

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