Cleaning products can be hazardous. They can be corrosive to eyes and skin, highly toxic, and can cause asthma and other breathing problems. Custodians, cleaners and maintenance workers are most at risk from exposure to cleaning agents. The Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program in OHB has found that work-related asthma among custodians and cleaners is double the rate in the overall workforce. OHB has also found that other building occupants get asthma from cleaning chemicals used in their workplace.

Fortunately, it is now easier to find safer cleaning products. Two independent organizations, EcoLogo and Green Seal, publish third-party certification standards for safer products. OHB participated in the development of cleaning product standards and successfully argued for the prohibition of ingredients known to cause allergic-type asthma.

View full announcement: Certification standards help employers buy safer cleaning products (PDF) 

For more information on OHB work in this area, see Tracking Work-Related Asthma

Preventing worker illness from indoor pesticide exposure – new web page and resources

A bank was temporarily closed when workers became ill on the Monday following a weekend building fumigation. Six workers sought medical attention for symptoms from eye tearing to vomiting. This is just one instance in which workers became ill when pesticides were used indoors. In data collected over 12 years by OHB’s Occupational Pesticide Illness Prevention Program, nearly one out of five people who reported work-related pesticide illnesses were exposed to pesticides in indoor air.

Because workers and customers can become ill from pesticide use indoors, steps should be taken to eliminate or reduce human exposures. There are effective and safe ways to control pests without the use of sprayed pesticides. OHB’s new web pages provide information and resources for employees, employers, building management and pest control companies to prevent illnesses from the use of indoor pesticides.

Keep pests and pesticides out of your office! (PDF)  – fact sheet for workers (co-produced by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation)

 Bank workers become ill after fumigation (PDF)  – pesticide hazard alert

For more information on OHB work in this area, see Tracking Pesticide-Related Illness and Injury

Acute illnesses associated with agricultural pesticide drift – journal article

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture. Off-target pesticide drift can result in exposures to workers and the public.  During 1998–2006, researchers identified 2,945 cases of acute illness associated with agricultural pesticide drift in California and 10 other states.  Soil fumigations were responsible for a number of large drift incidents.

Acute illnesses associated with agricultural pesticide drift (PDF)  

For more information on OHB work in this area, see Tracking Pesticide-Related Illness and Injury

Cleaning for Asthma-Safe Schools (CLASS) project

One in five Californians spends their day in school, increasing the stakes for addressing asthma in the school setting.  Custodians have high rates of work-related asthma, while 17% of the state’s children have been diagnosed with the disease. Cleaning products are used in schools and other workplaces. They can cause or worsen asthma and release unsafe chemicals into the air. The OHB Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program developed the Cleaning for Asthma-Safe Schools (CLASS) Project to help California schools adopt safer cleaning methods that protect workers and students from asthma.

Cleaning for Asthma-Safe Schools (CLASS) project

For more information on OHB work in this area, see Tracking Work-Related Asthma