Reducing Hazardous Cleaning Product Use: A Collaborative Effort

Pechter, Elise; Azaroff, Lenore S.; Lopez, Isabel; Goldstein-Gelb, Marcy

doi:10.1177/00333549091244s106

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Worker safety and health education as to the safe use of chemicals (including information and knowledge of material safety data sheets) and means of personal protective measures is a responsibility of employers. Collaboration between a cleaners' union and a public health organization was successful in eliminating the use of the most hazardous products, reducing the number of different products used, banning the mixing of products, and enhancing safety training , showing feasibility of such an approach, but it was not evaluated for effectiveness in reduction of WRA.…”

Section: Avoidance Of Exposure Educational Activities and Safety Trmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asthma and exposure to cleaning products - a European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology task force consensus statement

Siracusa

Blay

Folletti

et al. 2013

Allergy

154

135

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Professional and domestic cleaning is associated with work-related asthma (WRA). This position paper reviews the literature linking exposure to cleaning products and the risk of asthma and focuses on prevention. Increased risk of asthma has been shown in many epidemiological and surveillance studies, and several case reports describe the relationship between exposure to one or more cleaning agents and WRA. Cleaning sprays, bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, mixing products, and specific job tasks have been identified as specific causes and/or triggers of asthma. Because research conclusions and policy suggestions have remained unheeded by manufactures, vendors, and commercial cleaning companies, it is time for a multifaceted intervention. Possible preventive measures encompass the following: substitution of cleaning sprays, bleach, and ammonia; minimizing the use of disinfectants; avoidance of mixing products; use of respiratory protective devices; and worker education. Moreover, we suggest the education of unions, consumer, and public interest groups to encourage safer products. In addition, information activities for the general population with the purpose of improving the knowledge of professional and domestic cleaners regarding risks and available preventive measures and to promote strict collaboration between scientific communities and safety and health agencies are urgently needed.In Europe, the fraction of adult asthma attributable to occupational exposure ranges between 10% and 25% (1). Workrelated asthma (WRA) includes occupational asthma (OA), caused by exposure to high or low molecular weight agents in the workplace, and work-exacerbated asthma (WEA), in which pre-existing or concurrent asthma is exacerbated by various work-related factors, such as accidental spills, second-hand cigarette smoke, or exertion (2, 3).Cleaners constitute a large professional group in developed countries. In industrial cleaning, about 30% are migrant workers and about 40% of women are domestic cleaners (4, 5). Professional and domestic cleaning has been associated with new-onset OA due to sensitizers and irritant exposure as well as WEA and respiratory symptoms without asthma (5-7).It is likely that nonoccupational physicians (general practitioners, allergologists, and pneumologists) frequently see Allergy 68 (2013) 1532-1545

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Section: Avoidance Of Exposure Educational Activities and Safety Trmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asthma and exposure to cleaning products - a European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology task force consensus statement

Siracusa

Blay

Folletti

et al. 2013

Allergy

154

135

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the past several years, COSH groups have worked with immigrant rights networks and unions to help immigrant workers attain union contracts and strong workplace health and safety protections in various service sector settings. Examples include a successful effort in the building services sector in Boston [Pechter et al, 2009] and the creation of a housecleaning cooperative of Brazilian immigrants that uses green cleaning products to provide healthy working conditions as well as home environments [Siqueira, 2009]. …”

Section: Local and State Efforts That May Reduce Occupational Health mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of social, economic, and labor policies on occupational health disparities

Siqueira

Gaydos

Monforton

et al. 2013

American J Industrial Med

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Background This article introduces some key labor, economic, and social policies that historically and currently impact occupational health disparities in the United States. Methods We conducted a broad review of the peer-reviewed and gray literature on the effects of social, economic, and labor policies on occupational health disparities. Results Many populations such as tipped workers, public employees, immigrant workers, and misclassified workers are not protected by current laws and policies, including worker’s compensation or Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforcement of standards. Local and state initiatives, such as living wage laws and community benefit agreements, as well as multiagency law enforcement contribute to reducing occupational health disparities. Conclusions There is a need to build coalitions and collaborations to command the resources necessary to identify, and then reduce and eliminate occupational disparities by establishing healthy, safe, and just work for all.

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“…A public health approach contributing to reduce hazardous cleaning product use was described in the study of Pechter et al performed on immigrant cleaning workers [64]. Improved conditions were obtained by eliminating the most hazardous chemicals, reducing the number of products used, banning mixing products and improving safety training.…”

Section: Suggestion For Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asthma and rhinitis in cleaning workers: a systematic review of epidemiological studies

et al. 2013

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Reducing Hazardous Cleaning Product Use: A Collaborative Effort

Cited by 9 publications

References 42 publications

Asthma and exposure to cleaning products - a European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology task force consensus statement

Asthma and exposure to cleaning products - a European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology task force consensus statement

Effects of social, economic, and labor policies on occupational health disparities

Asthma and rhinitis in cleaning workers: a systematic review of epidemiological studies

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