R2 Guidance & Knowledge Base
R2v3 and IH Monitoring: A Quick Primer and Key Resources
A key component to R2v3 is your EH&S Management System. Under Core Requirement 3, all facilities are required to identify, analyze, and control their environmental impacts, and health and safety risks. Now, while R2v3 does not specifically require IH monitoring for all facilities, it does require every facility to assess the risk of exposure to potential contaminants, and depending on the results of this assessment, IH monitoring may or may not be necessary for your facility.
Though your facility’s assessment will be unique to the particulars of your organization, generally, the biggest determining factors are “what equipment and materials does your facility come into contact with” and “how do you manage those items?”
Below are some additional resources and guidance to help you determine if your facility may require IH monitoring.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports identify the following hazardous substances as a source for potential worker and take-home exposures adjacent to the key electronic components they are typically found in:
| Hazardous Substance | Electronic Component |
|---|---|
| Lead | Batteries, printed circuit boards, power cords, and cathode ray tubes (CRTs) |
| Cadmium | Batteries, pigments, plastic stabilizers, metal coatings, and CRT phosphors |
| Silver | Electrical contacts and solder |
| Mercury | Fluorescent lights, batteries, medical and telecommunication equipment, and some flat-panel displays |
| Flame Retardants | Computer and monitor housings, printed circuit boards, wire, and cable insulation |
For more information please visit: https://www2a.cdc.gov/hhe/search.asp
When handling any of the above electronic components, or items containing these components, there is a risk of exposure to the hazardous constituents, sometimes through processing and other times just from items that are damaged or broken in transport or handling. And, particularly when a facility dismantles any of these items for materials recovery, such as in a facility certified to Appendix E – Material Recovery, there could be a significantly increased risk of exposure. This is why Appendix E requires a more detailed assessment of the risk of exposure as well as several specific conditions under which IH monitoring would be required for your facility.
Referenced in the standard:
- Core Requirement 3.(d)(3)
- Appendix E – Materials Recovery (4) The hazards identification and assessment (c), (b) and (i)
For more information and guidance on IH Monitoring requirements, please reference these articles in the R2 Knowledge Base:
- DETERMINING IF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE (IH) MONITORING IS REQUIRED
- COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS
- QUALIFYING NON-R2V3 DOWNSTREAM VENDORS FOR MATERIALS RECOVERY
And finally, if you are unsure of the hazards or risks associated with your operations or have additional questions about IH monitoring and if it is necessary for your facility, consider contacting a qualified industrial hygienist. For other questions on the R2 Standard, please contact the SERI team at info@sustainableelectronics.org
