Work Package I.6 of the eteam project was developed to evaluate operational aspects of the usability and fitness for purpose of each of the first tier exposure assessment tools included in the project. A series of telephone interviews were carried out with experienced users for each of the tools. Data from the interviews were collated and a thematic analysis carried out to identify and examine common themes. This was followed up by the development of an online questionnaire survey of a much larger tool-user population, which was based on the initial questions used in the telephone interviews with appropriate modifications to facilitate web-based completion. Data were collected online, analysed using the MINITAB statistical software package and collated into a full report. In total, 11 telephone interviews were carried out with experienced users of the tools. The interviewees were based in several EU countries and were involved in consultancy, REACH management, REACH regulations, occupational medicine, occupational hygiene and toxicology.

There were 295 respondents to the online survey, 44 percent were from industry, 33 percent from consultancy, 10 percent from government, 9 percent from research and 4 percent from other organisations. The respondents had a wide range of experience in exposure assessment, most self-reported having intermediate computer skills and they were from a range of EU countries and beyond. The interview and questionnaire survey data identified that interviewees and respondents were generally satisfied with the usability of the tools and supporting documentation. However; the results suggest that use of the tools is affected to some degree by knowledge of the underlying tool concepts and by levels of user experience. To ensure effective exposure estimates are generated, it is therefore essential that training is available for the tools and that there is support and guidance provided for the user.