June 10, 2005—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has added a safety and health topic page to its Web site concerning Control Banding, an approach that focuses on exposure controls for potentially harmful chemicals, and describes how strictly a risk needs to be managed.
NIOSH considers control banding a potentially useful tool for small businesses. Control banding has been evaluated in various settings, particularly in the UK (resulting in a program called COSHH Essentials).
NIOSH is currently evaluating its usefulness for the US.
An international example of control banding concepts in use is the procedure for the transportation of dangerous chemicals. Another example is the implementation of controls and work practices for safe handling of new drugs and materials in the pharmaceutical industry.
