Charter for the Exposure Assessment Strategies Committee
Dermal Project Team
2010
Scope / Function
The Dermal Project Team (DPT) is a technical advisory group to the AIHA Exposure Assessment Strategies Committee (EASC) and is dedicated to serve, collaborate, and lead on issues and approaches surrounding the assessment of skin hazards and exposures in workplace settings.
As inhalation exposures have decreased, there has been a concomitant increase in the relative importance of skin exposures. For many materials, skin is the primary route of exposure; for other materials skin exposures may significantly contribute to total-body exposure and systemic dose. Occupational exposure of the skin to chemicals, physical agents, or biological materials may result in numerous localized or systemic adverse health outcomes. Occupational skin diseases are widespread and potentially affect millions of workers in a wide array of industries. The number and frequency of industry-specific, work-related skin disorders is often higher than respiratory diseases. Thus, an increasingly critical aspect of the decision-making process for industrial hygienists is the evaluation of skin exposures.
It is therefore the role of this body to enhance guidance and resources for skin exposure assessment, and to promote practical tools and educational opportunities for the industrial hygiene community and the public in this critical subject area.
Goals
The key goals for the DPT include:
Ø Identifying and evaluating skin exposure assessment methods and models;
Ø Providing technical expertise in the development of practices, standards, and guidelines related to skin exposures;
Ø Facilitating skin exposure assessment awareness through professional-level presentations, roundtables, workshops, poster sessions, and other forums;
Ø Serving as conduit to EASC and the broader industrial hygiene community in the dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge and research advancements in skin exposure assessment; and
Ø Collaborating with other committees and professional organizations to support development of skin exposure sciences.
Deliverables
Ø Continue collaboration with other technical committees (e.g., AIHA, ASSE, CEN, and ISO) toward the development of harmonized methods for measuring skin exposures and for determining dose following skin exposure to hazardous agents.
Ø Continue development and support of a PDC on dermal exposure assessment.
Membership Qualifications / Expectations
Members serve on a voluntary basis, and the membership is composed of research scientists and professional-level industrial hygienists. These individuals possess either: (1) the experience, expertise, or unique knowledge of skin exposure issues or (2) have a compelling interest in this topic.
DPT members are expected to:
Ø Participate in regularly scheduled team activities as appropriate;
Ø Help ensure progress on team deliverables as needed;
Ø Offer technical expertise and feedback on team work activities where applicable; and
Ø Communicate with Chair (Co-chair) regarding conflicts that may arise.
Meetings
Meetings will be held as necessary, but at least annually to coincide with the AIHce. Conference calls can be used to serve as a periodic forum for DPT updates and discussions. When members are unable to attend meetings or be present on conference calls, substitutes may be designated. Minutes for conference calls and meetings will be kept and distributed as necessary.
Provision for Amendment The DPT Chair (Co-chair) can submit to the EASC Chair any recommendations for the amendment of this charter.
EASC-DPT draft charter 1 2/2/2010