Abstract

For three years, the IRSST carried out a study to evaluate the economic and health impacts of lowering the Québec permissible exposure value for formaldehyde in response to a request from the CSST. The institute’s researchers directed a multidisciplinary team consisting of some ten scientists who mainly documented worker exposure in 31 activity sectors in Québec. The many findings from their work became the subject of reports, communications and scientific articles. In order to share the knowledge thus acquired with Québec professionals, the researchers also published documents adapted to this audience. They include a prevention guide that covers all formaldehyde-related health and safety aspects, and four technical fact sheets intended for an equal number of activity sectors. Health and safety managers, members of health and safety committees, preventionists, employers and workers from these environments will find information in them on the risks related to formaldehyde exposure, regulations, measurement strategies, controlling exposure and, for nine main sectors using formaldehyde, exposure data, emission sources and the primary means of prevention to be implemented. The fact sheets are divided into four sections covering health risks and effects, emission sources and hazardous tasks, means of improvement, and personal protective equipment.