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. The aim of this new project is the optimum promotion of the knowledge thus acquired to Québec professionals. This transfer of knowledge will involve two approaches: the writing of a prevention guide covering all of the health and safety aspects related to formaldehyde, and the preparation of safety data sheets for several activity sectors, in collaboration with the sector partners. Transfer of knowledge to intermediaries in various environments will result in the implementation of more effective means of preventing the effects of formaldehyde on workers' health.
