45
NAFTA’S FAILURE TO PROTECT WORKERS’ HEALTH AND SAFETY.
G. Brown, Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network, Berkeley, CA.
The “labor side agreement” of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has failed to protect the health and safety of the Mexican workers who filed complaints under the agreement, and has not resulted in any significant improvement in government enforcement of Mexico’s safety regulations. The 10-year failure of the labor side agreement is due to multiple factors: the narrow scope of remedies; the long, slow series of steps before any action is taken; the lack of transparency and openness; the lack of worker and public participation; and the lack of political will on the part of Mexican government agencies. The deficiencies of the NAFTA labor side agreement will be highlighted through an examination of two key workplace safety complaints filed by Mexican workers—the Han Young and the Auto Trim/Custom Trim cases. Lessons for future trade agreements and what is actually needed to protect workers’ health and safety in the global economy will also be presented.
46
CHLORINE DIOXIDE GAS DETECTION—SENSOR TECHNOLOGY AND CALIBRATION.
B. Rist, Compur, Munich, Germany.
Some years ago the bleaching process in the paper industry was changed from using chlorine (Cl2) as a bleaching agent to chlorine dioxide (ClO2). This was a challenge for industrial hygienists: There was no sensor technology for gas detectors available that would be specific to chlorine dioxide.
As a temporary solution chlorine detectors were calibrated to chlorine dioxide. The sensor output signal created by ClO2 is lower compared to the signal created by chlorine. Looking at the alarm thresholds of 1 ppm for Cl2 (OSHA ceiling) compared to 0,1 ppm for ClO2, it is obvious that such technology would not really do the job.
Now ClO2-specific sensors are on the market. They have proven to operate reliably even in the challenging atmosphere of paper mills. There is no significant interference to chlorine or hydrogen sulphide—the most common substances leading to interferences with older technology sensors.
Now another problem has surfaced: How to calibrate ClO2 gas detectors? ClO2 span gas is not available in gas cylinders. A reliable surrogate reference calibration gas was needed. Intensive research has proven that NO2 mixtures in air are the best method to obtain repeatable results. With this new method, the ClO2 sensor is calibrated with ClO2 at TLV level in the factory and a second time with NO2. The signal ratio ClO2/NO2 is calculated and indicated on a label on the sensor as “reference factor.” This factor is constant over the lifetime of the sensor. This allows the user to easily perform calibrations with a reasonably priced gas mixture in the field. This has been the breakthrough for reliable chlorine dioxide gas detection.
47
ASBESTOS JOB-EXPOSURE MATRIX TO ASSESS OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS IN THE
PERIOD 1945–1994.
P. Swuste, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
Objective. The asbestos job-exposure matrix is designed to support the evaluation of historical exposure to asbestos by the Dutch Institute of Asbestos Victims. This Institute mediates in compensation claims between (ex)workers with mesothelioma or their next of kin and the (ex)employer, responsible for the asbestos exposure. Method. Historical exposure data and information on the state of the art of technology in branches of industry were collected from literature, databases, reports of the Factory Inspectorate, and lawyers’ case files. Since Dutch historical exposure data are scarce, data from the UK, USA, Germany, Australia, and Finland were included. The job-exposure matrix was discussed and adjusted during an expert meeting. Results. The matrix provides a general description of the asbestos industry, and of branches of industry using asbestos (products), including estimates of the number of companies and the exposed population in 10 years cohorts.
The heart of the matrix, the main level, consists of a specific description of exposure in three basic scales: industry, job, and activity; time period (five years); and level of exposure (seven categories, from 0 to more than 10 fibers/ml). For each job additional information is given, including the proportion of workers expected to be exposed, and a description of available measurement information (number of measurements, exposure range, and standard deviation). For those branches of industry where detailed information is available, the matrix has a second level with information on process technology and control measures. The main level contains 70 branches of industry, 309 different jobs, and 3089 exposure estimates. The second level presents additional information on branches of industry. The matrix also provides information on 326 different asbestos products, including manufacturers, suppliers, city of origin, and trade names. Conclusion. This asbestos job-exposure matrix will facilitate a consistent assessment of occupational exposure to asbestos in the past 50 years.
48
PARTICIPATORY APPROACH TO SUSTAINABLE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
IMPROVEMENT AT WORKPLACE.
S. Pingle, Reliance Industries Ltd., Patalganga, India; S. Shanbhag, Reliance Industries Ltd., Mumbai, India; D. Katre, S. Siva Prasad, Reliance Industries Ltd., Jamnagar, India.
The occupational health department of a large private enterprise located in India launched a pilot project, Project CASH—Change Agents for Safety and Health—at one manufacturing unit of the enterprise to bring about a positive change in the work environment and improvement in work practices to reduce occupational health risk.
Multidisciplinary teams of change agents were constituted and were given intensive training inputs. Reduction in exposure to noise, dust, and heat stress were identified as specific objectives after a baseline survey of the work environment. Actions were taken to impart occupational safety and health knowledge and training to all field personnel to improve their work practices and attitudes. The main focus of the actions was on engineering control measures and process engineering changes necessary for workplace improvement.
Significant noise reduction was achieved in most of the high noise locations. Dust exposure was fully eliminated at one location and significantly reduced at the other location. Heat stress was reduced in all three locations. Thus, final evaluation of the workplace environment revealed significant reduction in exposure to all identified agents: noise, dust, and heat.
The multidisciplinary team approach led to integration of production, occupational health, industrial hygiene, and safety in the workplace. Educating and empowering the team led to reduction of occupational health risks in the work environment besides improvement in occupational hygiene and health practices among employees. There were positive attitudinal and behavioral changes in safety and occupational health awareness and practices among employees. The monetary savings resulting from improvements far outweighed the investments.
Looking at the success of this pilot project, projects have been launched across the enterprise. The paper presents the details of planning and executing the strategy, innovative methods employed to improve the work environment, and their outcome.
49
THE APPLICATION OF “CONTROL BANDING” PRINCIPLES TO THE REDUCTION OF REPRODUCTIVE
HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE.
A. Bracker, S. Lavigne, G. Nichols, J. Meyer, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT.
The Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program and the Pregnancy Exposure Information Service at the University of Connecticut have developed a multidisciplinary team involving occupational medicine physicians, industrial hygienists, and genetic counselors to evaluate patients with concerns about reproductive hazards in the workplace. Careful characterization of exposure, and the means by which it may be reduced or controlled, not only allows for appropriate fetal and maternal protection from occupational hazards, but also prevents unnecessary restrictions on pregnant workers. Since its inception in April 2001, over 80 patients have been seen in our Occupational Reproductive Hazards Clinic. These patients primarily worked in the manufacturing, health care, laboratory, and beauty employment sectors. Since very few of our patients’ workplaces had collected air sampling data, the industrial hygienists’ exposure control recommendations relied on “control banding” principles.
This presentation will review the industrial hygienists’ experience with applying “control banding” principles to reproductive hazards. Key points that arise in this area include the techniques of exposure estimation in small- and medium-sized workplaces, the value of using qualitative methods to document the need for interventions in settings where exposure levels have not been measured, and the differences in assessment of risk that arise when considering pregnancy and exposures that may be deleterious below limits acceptable for non-pregnant workers.
50
PARADIGMS AND PARADOXES: DEVELOPING A BLUEPRINT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FOR
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.
V. Hope, Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Auckland, New Zealand.
WITHDRAWN.
Posted May 30, 2005