Safe Alternatives Awareness Training Union TUR Capacity Building Initiative Toxic Use Reduction Institute Grant

safe alternatives 96% of chemicals have little or no toxicity test data ! Toxics Use Reduction Act Mass Law passed in 1989 requires certain facilities to prepare a plan that could reduce the use of the most toxic chemicals and their by products It’s time to Expand TURA for worker health  Toxic Ignorance Creates Risk: Health, Toxic Tort, Reputation etc. data source: EPA / HPV 4% have some

safe alternatives TURI Safe Alternatives Study First Step for safer alternatives approach – study 5 toxic chemicals Input from Stake Holders:  scientists, public health, environmental groups, business and labor

safe alternatives Background MassCOSH Outreach Project Surveyed unions on awareness of the 5 chemicals and safer alternatives. 20 unions responded:  Lacked information, full range of chemicals  Not familiar,TUR and TURI  Majority interested in information about safe alternatives for these and others  Most workers have little input decisions about substitutions  Many representatives are never asked about specific chemicals they use safe alternatives

5 Primary Toxics Perchloroethylene (PCE) Formaldehyde di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) Lead Hexavalent chromium safe alternatives

5 Primary Toxics Perchloroethylene “PERC” Dry Cleaning Automotive aerosols (brake, engine and tire cleaners Vapor degreasing Formaldehyde Hardwood plywood and structural use building panels Sanitary storage in barbering and cosmetology Preserved educational specimens for dissection di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP Medical devices for neonatal care: sheet tubing applications Resilient flooring Wall covering

safe alternatives 5 Primary Toxics Perchloroethylene “PERC” Alternatives: Wet cleaning Liquid CO2 Water Based cleaning Formaldehyde Alternatives: Wood ply-wood panels Plastic-wood composite UV sterilization chamber di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate DEHP Alternatives: Natural linoleum, Cork, Polyolefin, Silicone

safe alternatives 5 Primary Toxics Lead Heat stabilizers for PVC wire and coatings Weighting: wheel weights Weighting: fishing sinkers Ammunition for shooting ranges Hexavalent Chromium Decorative chrome electroplating Hard chrome electroplating Passivation of zinc plated parts and zinc galvanized steel

safe alternatives 5 Primary Toxics Lead Alternatives: Zinc, Copper, Iron, Steel Hexavalent Chromium Alternatives: Zinc, galvanized steel, Passivation, Trivalent chromium plating, Heat Treatment and Plasma Nitriding

safe alternatives Action Steps for Safer Alternatives Take this presentation to your local Put articles in your newsletters/ websites Work with you to take action steps with safer alternatives to chemicals Avoid the Consequences by:  educating the “Work Force” safe alternatives Breaking the Chain = “A Safer Environment” Breaking the Chain = “A Safer Environment” Body Burden

safe alternatives Safer Alternatives Tool Box Identify common concerns about hazards (surveys, review chemical inventory, use your Right-to-Know and request the MSD -Material Safety Data Sheets). Organize a union-only health and safety committee. Contact MassCOSH for health and safety support in non-union workplaces. Negotiate contract language for: hazard awareness and annual training; declaration agreements on using safer alternatives for identified hazards, trigger clauses to negotiate union involvement in decisions about technology or work processes changes before they occur. Collaborate with MassCOSH to seek funding for joint projects on health, safety and toxics use reduction (see MassCOSH Campaign Toolbox on our webpage) Build community alliances to create “good neighbor” agreements about toxics. Communicate with your members for their right to know about safer alternatives and join with labor and environmental allies for legislative action. Many of the strategies labor currently has available to them, can be used to promote safer alternatives to toxics

safe alternatives Resources Websites: Case studies Technical reports Fact sheets Data (