Comprehensive competence in chemical safety

We have extensive toxicological and legal expertise on placing products on the market and finding the best possible strategic approach.

We specialize in chemical safety, especially product safety, monitoring the development of related legislation, and finding solutions to meet obligations. Our multidisciplinary team of chemical safety specialists consists of toxicologists, ecotoxicologists, lawyers, and natural and environmental scientists.

Biocides and toxicology  Safety Data sheets and statutory notifications

We can provide help with various permit applications and processes, as well as questions related to notification and registration procedures.

With over ten years of experience, we perform tasks related to the REACH Regulation and BPR, i.e., the Biocidal Products Regulation, such as REACH registrations, PPROD notifications, consortium management, active substance approval and preparation of permit applications, permit procedures and preparation of exposure scenarios. Our lawyers will monitor your obligations related to chemical safety as the legislation develops and prepare possible responses and appeal documents related to permit processes on your behalf.

Permit, registration, and notification procedures clarify and enable the company’s operations and ensure that the operation meets the requirements set for them.

We assist in fulfilling the requirements of the REACH Regulation

Various permits, registrations and notifications are often a critical part of operations and ensuring the compliance with the legislation. In Finland, permits are required for many activities, as the permit threshold is low for several permits. The permit decision provides the necessary provisions for the operation. In addition to the permit obligation, notification or registration may also be required if the permit threshold is not exceeded.

For example, an environmental permit clarifies and enables operations. Effective completion of the permit procedures requires expertise and resources.

Sweco can provide help with various permit applications and processes as well as questions related to notification- and registration procedures. Sweco’s expertise is based on solid experience, multidisciplinary expertise, and knowledge on both authorities and business operations.

Assistance with the use and manufacture of biocides

Biocides are used, among others, in industry, healthcare, and animal production as well as in many products and articles. Biocidal products include disinfectants for skin, surfaces and drinking water, pesticides, and wood preservatives.

The Regulation concerning the making available on the market and use of biocidal products (EU) No 528/2012 also applies to the use of biocides in articles placed on the market, for example construction materials treated with mold inhibitors, not only biocidal products.

Only biocidal products that meet the requirements of the Biocidal Products Regulation can be placed on the market. Producers and marketers must identify the obligations set by the regulation:

Only approved active substances or old active substances that have been evaluated in the EU review programme can be used in biocidal products. The active substance is evaluated and approved or prohibited in the EU-wide basis by the product group.

In addition to the approving active substances, products must be approved in each member state where they are to be used according to the biocidal products regulation. In Finland, the pre-approval (permit) for biocidal products is applied from the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes).

The type of permit depends on many different factors, for example, whether the intention is to place the product on the market only nationally or throughout the EU, the type of product, whether the active substance used in the product has already been approved in the EU or whether approval is still pending, and whether the product is already on the market in other EU countries.

The toxicological risk assessment

Toxicological risk assessment is carried out to protect human health, as regulated by the Regulation on biocides (EU 528/2012), REACH regulation (EU 1907/2006) or Regulation on medical devices (EU 2017/245). Toxicological risk assessments play a significant role on product development, patient safety and the use of chemicals. Manufactures must ensure that the new products and chemicals meet all the requirements and are safe for users before placed on the market.

The specialists at Sweco provide toxicological services for all industrial needs:

• Regulation on the biocides (BPR)
• Regulation on cosmetic products

Workplace risk assessment and occupational hygiene report

The purpose of assessing the risks of a workplace is to create a comprehensive view of the state of safety and occupational health in addition to finding the areas in need of development.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (738/2002), the employer must identify harmful and hazardous factors caused by the work environment and working conditions, and if they cannot be eliminated, their significance to the employee’s safety and health must be evaluated.

The risk assessment identifies and recognizes hazards and risks in the work environment and working conditions, assesses the employees’ exposure to them, determines the magnitude of risks, and assesses the significance of risks. If the risk is not acceptable, necessary risk management measures must be taken to reduce the risk. The assessment takes into account physical hazards, accident hazards, physical strain, chemical hazards, biological hazards, and psychosocial stress factors.

Chemical risk assessment is prepared in accordance with Government Decree on Chemical Agents at Work (715/2001). If the physical, chemical, or biological risks cannot be reliably assessed otherwise, an occupational health measurement and report must be conducted. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s Decree on Concentrations known to the Hazardous (654/2020) specifies the concentrations known to be harmful to workplace air pollutants (HTP values) and limit values ​​of biological indicators for some exposures. Measurement results and samples are compared to these values.

Does your company need help meeting the obligations set by the Occupational Safety and Health Act? Sweco’s experts can assist in the risk assessment process. Sweco has experts specialized in occupational safety, chemical safety, machine safety and environmental consulting.

Chemical Safety Services

The industrial handling and storage of chemicals are divided into large-scale and small-scale operations in accordance with the Act on the Safe Handling and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals and Explosives (390/2005). The operator must be aware of the scope of their own operations and the requirements for them. The required permits and notifications are determined based on the scope of the operation. For large-scale operations, a permit must be obtained from the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes). A notification must be submitted to the rescue authority for small-scale activities. The division of the scope of activities is regulated by the Government Decree on the Monitoring of Handling and Storage of Dangerous Chemicals (856/2012).

Sweco’s chemical safety experts are there to support you to ensure the compliance with the safety requirements for the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals. Sweco provides customers comprehensive expertise and professional insight in identifying and fulfilling the legal obligations related to the operation of a facility.

Chemical permit applications (Tukes permit)

Our experts have extensive experience in implementing chemical permit procedures for many different production industries. Sweco’s chemical permit services include assessments of the scope of operations and permit application procedures, including the preparation of essential safety documents, such as major accident prevention policy document and safety report. We also help customers to ensure their operations comply with requirements even in situations of change.

Safety Reports

Our chemical safety services also include the preparation of comprehensive safety reports. Through safety reports, our experts assess the current state of operations and compliance with legal requirements, as well as find solutions to meet the requirements.

We also offer risk assessments, internal emergency plans, explosion protection documents and accident impact modeling.