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(Completed OHB Activity - Dates: 2001-2003)
Background
HESIS reviews and evaluates
scientific information on toxic chemicals and issues hazard alerts when
new information indicates that workers may be at risk for long-term health
problems like cancer, asthma, or reproductive damage. In response to
HESIS alerts, Cal/OSHA develops protective standards to reduce workers’
risks of health damage. In some cases, use of the chemicals in targeted
industries declines dramatically.
In order to be effective in providing early warning about new chemical
hazards, HESIS needs to know where the chemicals are used in California
workplaces. It has become increasingly difficult to obtain this
information. New industries bring with them new uses of existing
chemicals or new chemicals that are not yet regulated. This results in
newly exposed workforces. Environmental regulations to control air
pollution can result in the development of new, unregulated chemicals that
are later found to be toxic to workers.
Purpose
The purpose of this project was to identify an
effective way to track hazardous chemicals used in California workplaces.
Knowing where specific hazardous chemicals are used will enable HESIS to
effectively direct health warnings to employers and workers who use the
chemicals to help prevent work-related disease and other serious health
damage.
Activities
- Identified existing systems that can be used to track industrial
chemicals in California, other states, or other countries;
- Evaluated each system’s performance and usefulness in tracking 7
selected “test” chemicals that can cause long-term health damage;
- Ranked the systems’ potential for statewide tracking of chemical
use, evaluating factors such as effectiveness, ease of use, and
accessibility by computer;
- Assessed the potential effectiveness of voluntary compliance by
asking chemical manufacturers and distributors of the 7 test chemicals
to provide their California customer lists to HESIS.
Partners
- Center for Occupational & Environmental Health (COEH), University of
California, Berkeley
Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service
(HESIS) home page
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