RAC and SCOEL opinion on scientific aspects and methodologies related to the exposure of chemicals at the workplace

General conclusions:

ECHA-RAC and SCOEL Secretariats to ensure continuing collaboration between the two Committees as addressed in the Commission Decision 2014/113/EU and the REACH Regulation9 ;
communication and comparison of the data available (study/report/literature) to each of the two Committees to ensure a similar starting point could be a first step in avoiding diverging opinions;
to ensure transparency and consistency of OELs and worker DNELs, each step needs to be carefully and fully described, including selection of the point of departure, modification of the dose descriptor, the uncertainties taken into account when setting the OEL/DNELs and when selecting the final worker DNEL from the different endpoint-specific DNELs.

Conclusions for RAC:

to look more closely into human data;
to assess the need to review ECHA Guidance on IR&CSA Chapter R8 , to better reflect workplace risk assessment needs.

Conclusions for SCOEL:

to explain and clarify how uncertainties have been taken into account in recommendations for OELs;
to conclude ongoing work on the update of the methodology

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