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The Working Environment in LCA Appendix 1: The databaseThe database that was developed using the sector assessment procedure can be found on the following pages. An eletronic version can be downloaded from the web-site of LCA Center (www.lca-center.dk/cms/site.asp?p=2217). As described in the present report, most information in the database has been established by using Danish Statistics concerning reporting of work-related diseases and accidents, respectively the Danish goods statistics. The information that has been derived in this way has a 6-digit DB93-code attached in the second column. DB93 is a Danish nomenclature for sectors, the main principle being a classification of economic activities. The first four digits are identical to those used in the analogous EU Classification system, NACE Rev. 1. The last two digits are Danish sub-divisions, giving an increased level of detail. These two digits may differ from Denmark to other countries. For a few of the processes in the database, company-specific information has been used. These are characterised in the database by not having a DB93-code attached. The representativity of this information is not known, and the results of life cycle assessments where these processes play a significant role should be interpreted with great caution. For the database on transportation impacts, it is suggested that the figures in bold are used in the calculations. These figures represent the aggregated impacts from the different transportation modes, e.g. transportation by truck is an aggregation of handling of goods at terminals and the truck transportation itself. In the same way, transport by ship is an aggregation of impacts when handling the goods in land-based terminals and impacts onboard traders. The database all-in-all comprises more than 80 unit processes. The information in the present report can not at the moment be found in a computer programme, neither the EDIP PC-tool nor any other commercial programme. It should, however, be a very straightforward procedure to integrate the information in commercial LCA-programs as the data format is comparable to that for other impact categories. Until the information has been integrated in a computer programme it is suggested that LCA-practitioners create a spreadsheet, where a parallel examination of working environmental impacts throughout the life cycle can be performed. It is judged that a parallel assessment can be performed in a few days when some experience has been achieved. The level of detail – or rather the possibilities for analysing the results - is not so good in a spreadsheet as in a specially designed LCA-programme. Therefore, a skilled spreadsheet manager may be a valuable member of the LCA-team.
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