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Workshop Discussions
Opportunities for Effective
Actions to Reduce the Burden of Harmful Exposures of the Skin to Chemicals:
- II. Manufacturers and Distributors
maintaining product stewardship
Typical Steps:
A. Identify and substitute less toxic components in the product
1. Data
a. Lists of chemicals used, including possible contaminants and
reaction products arising from mixing of chemicals and from manufacturing
processes
b. Standard information on potential substitute chemicals that might
meet process requirements
c. Standard information about potential health effects from exposures
to specific chemicals, contaminants, reaction products and substitutes
2. Data-Gathering Protocols
a. Checklists or other tools to guide identification of all chemicals,
contaminants and reaction products in a manufactured product (may
be industry or process-specific)
i. (list citations for informational items here)
ii. …
b. Guidance in deciding whether less hazardous substitute materials
are available – See IV.E.3.a
c. Sources of readily understandable information about chemicals
identifying health effects in general terms – See I.C.2
B. Identify and reduce potentially harmful exposures during product
manufacturing – See Opportunity for Individuals/Employers/Supervisors/Insurers/Site
Owners to maintain a safe and healthful site
C. Identify potentially harmful exposures to users of the product and
form partnerships to reduce those exposures
1. Prepare a complete and informative product safety sheet
a. Data – Appropriate summary listing of information on:
i. Content of even minor component chemicals that might contribute
to significant health effects, especially sensitizers even at
low concentrations
ii. All potentially significant health effects
iii. Potential contribution of the dermal exposure route
iv. Monitoring for contamination of skin
v. Monitoring for contamination of environmental surfaces
vi. “Best practices” in engineering controls
vii. Range of options for personal protective equipment
viii. Decontamination of personal protective equipment
ix. Decontamination of skin
b. Data-Gathering Protocols and Decision-Making Procedures
i. Checklists or other tools to guide identification of all chemicals,
contaminants and reaction products (may be industry or process-specific)
– See II.A.2.a
ii. Sources of readily understandable information about chemicals
identifying health effects in general terms – See I.C.2
iii. Checklists or other tools(some may be industry-, occupation-,
task- or chemical-specific) to guide a decision whether a potential
dermal exposure may be harmful – See I.D.2
iv. Lists of tools appropriate for non-experts to assess the intensity
of skin exposure, such as, colorimetric indicators for a chemical
class - See I.B.2.b
v. Lists of tools appropriate for non-experts to identify risk
management options – See I.E.2
2. Provide appropriate detailed information on anticipating, recognizing,
evaluating and controlling potentially harmful exposures by users
to those who request it and conduct on-site audits with product users
through partnerships - See Opportunity for Individuals/Employers/ Supervisors/Insurers/Site
Owners maintaining a safe and healthful site
D. Identify opportunities to recycle products and avoid introduction
into the general environment via landfills – Is this an opportunity
to take effective action to reduce the burden of environmental and occupational
skin exposures?
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