Green Cleaning: Exposure Characterization and Adoption Process Among Custodians

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cavallari J ; Cherniack, Martin G.
• Description:
  The University of Connecticut Health Green Cleaning Study was initiated after the Connecticut (CT) legislature required the use of environmentally preferable products (EPP) for cleaning within stated owned buildings (Public Act No. 07-100). The study used a community-based participatory research approach, whereby the union community and researchers jointly addressed health and safety concerns, participated in measuring exposures and health effects, reviewed data and interpreted findings. Using mixed methods, the study characterized custodians' exposure to EPP, evaluated the link between exposures and health effects, investigated barriers to implementing EPP and Green Cleaning programs and implemented training to improve the acceptance of Green Cleaning programs. Focus group themes suggest that custodians take pride in their work, taking satisfaction in a "well-done" job. Barriers to implementing EPP programs that were addressable through education, included misconceptions about greater effort for application, EPP ease of use for workers with limited English proficiency (LEP), misuse of disinfectants, and need for training. Although the CT law requiring EPP use was enacted four years before the start of the study, less than 50% of the cleaners used by custodians at the sites were EPPs. A significant relationship was observed between occupational exposures to traditional cleaning chemicals and urinary monoethyl phthalate concentrations. Custodians' use of EPP cleaning products did not always show reduced phthalate levels. However, urinary phthalate excretion levels from EPPs did not exceed those of conventional cleaners. Significant linear associations were observed between increased typical traditional cleaning product exposure and increased odds of upper and lower respiratory symptoms, dermal reactions, and musculoskeletal symptoms affecting the upper extremity, back, and lower extremity. Increased typical green cleaning product exposure was associated with dermal and back and lower extremity musculoskeletal symptoms. Green cleaning products had weaker associations with health symptoms than traditional cleaning products. The Clean with Green Working Group, ConnectiCOSH, Green Cleaning Advisory Board and the UCHC research team reviewed and summarized the results from early phases of the study (i. e. focus groups and the Green Cleaning and Health Survey) to develop a training program using the Small Group Activity Method (SGAM) to address the study goal: to improve the acceptance and proper use of EPP. CEUI and ConnectiCOSH health and safety trainers provided Green Cleaning training to 296 participants during 22 sessions at 7 sites. The training materials were translated into Spanish and Polish and posted on the website. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Disinfectants Hazardous Substances Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Staff Development Workplace
• Keywords:
  Clean-up Hazards Cleaning Compounds Custodians Health Effects Occupational Exposure Training Workplace Studies
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-37
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055034
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2019-100822
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R21-OH-009831, 2014 Nov; :1-37
• Contact Point Address:
  Martin Cherniack, M.D. M.P.H., Principal Investigator, University of Connecticut Health, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington Connecticut 06030-6210
• Email:
  Cherniack@uchc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  University of Connecticut Schools of Medicine, Farmington
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20140831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2871ad6aa45772ec082237b0a531e6e6906f2cf54182a74d33adc820534dc4c4d80f9f272db8bcd22eef4498371fe2c2ef43485b567849206a2aa395d3c4a232
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218832/cdc_218832_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 735.73 KB ]