Background: Enzyme proteins have long been recognised to have a potential to cause occupational allergy. Consequently, as users of enzymes in formulated products, the detergents manufacturers have chosen to implement a number of control measures to ensure that the hazard does not translate into health effects in the workforce. To that end, the trade associations, the American Cleaning Institute and the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products, have developed best practice risk management guidelines providing occupational hygiene and medical monitoring as part of an effective exposure control strategy. The need for businesses to recognize the utility of the available guidance is reinforced by reports where factories failure to following good industrial hygiene practices can give rise to incidences of occupational allergy. Aims: In this presentation, an overview is provided of how the industry guidelines are actually implemented in practice and the resulting experience of workplace exposures and health impacts. Methods: Both medical surveillance and air monitoring practices associated with the implementation of industry guidelines at over 100 manufacturing facilities are evaluated with respect to the prevalence of allergic antibody and occupational respiratory allergy. Results and Conclusions: The data show that using the approaches described for the limitation of exposure, for good occupational hygiene, and for active health monitoring, the respiratory allergenic hazard associated with enzyme proteins can been successfully managed to ensure the safety of the workforce.
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