Trying on ChemHAT

Trying ChemHAT On

BlueGreen Alliance WebinarSeptember 25, 2012

1Agenda Welcome and Logistics of the Webinar Charlotte Brody, BlueGreen Alliance

The History of ChemHATAnna Fendley, United Steelworkers

How does ChemHAT work?Ann Blake, Environmental & Public Health Consulting

Training with ChemHATMichael Mignano, BlueGreen AllianceErnesto Pacheco, Communications Workers of America, District 9Mark McDonald, United Steelworkers & Tony Mazzocchi Center Worker-Trainer

ChemHATs FutureCharlotte BrodyHow You Can Help and Questions and Answers

2Anna FendleyUnited Steelworkers Health, Safety & Environment Department

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The BlueGreen Alliance is a national, strategic partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number and quality of jobs in the green economy.

4Workers and ChemicalsHow can we build a conversation among workers about the problems with chemicals and using safer chemicals?Where do workers learn about chemicals and what resources do they use?

5Three Problems With MSDS

Dont really answer our questions

Between 30 and 100% of the studied products contained undeclared chemicals

Of 150 MSDS sheets only 37% had accurate data on health effects of the listed chemicals

Accuracy, Comprehensibility, and Use of MaterialSafety Data Sheets: A Review, Nicol, A.M. et al; AJIM, 51;861-876 (2008)

6Ethylene Oxide

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http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=71

8http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/ethylene.html

BI, probable human carcinogen9Google: NTP ROC Ethylene Oxidehttp://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/eleventh/profiles/s085ehty.pdf

Known to be a human carcinogen 10

Is a carcinogen and is also linked to spontaneous abortion and genetic damage11

http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/hazmap_generic?tbl=TblAgents&id=21

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Carcinogen and teratogen13

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Your health and safety committee has decided to convince your company to switch from using a dangerous chemical to a safer alternative.

What information would you need to help you get your employer switch to a safer chemical?

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How did we build ChemHAT?Workers provided user requirements Simple, searchable, clearImpacts, common uses, exposure pathwaysWorst hazards; alternatives informationExisting Tools and Resources for Hazard DataPLUM: UC Berkeley Center for Green Chemistry Chemical Hazards Database: http://plm.berkeley.edu/Pharos: Healthy Building Network http://pharosproject.net/Green Screen for Safer Chemicals: http://www.cleanproduction.org/Greenscreen.phpOther examples for presenting chemical data to consumers:GoodGuide: www.goodguide.comEWGs Skin Deep Cosmetics Database: www.cosmeticsdatabase.orgEcology Center, Ann Arbor MI, www.healthystuff.org

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Need new screenshot here as well.21

Need new screenshot here with How do we know?22

Goal was to emphasize the alternatives/ substitution portion of the hierarchy of controls24

Endpoint descriptors for each impact; color represents strength of impact, plus strength of data

25ChemHAT vs. GHS Icons

Wanted more specificity on the health endpoints26Michael MignanoBlueGreen Alliance, Research Assistant

Training with ChemHAT

Ernest PachecoCommunications Workers of America, District Energy/Environmental Programs DirectorCWA District 9

Mark McDonaldUnited Steelworks Local 135, Tony Mazzocchi Center Worker-Trainer

Charlotte BrodyBlueGreen Alliance, Associate Director, Health Initiatives

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ChemHATs Future

Questions, comments, recommendations for other resources and any other advice?