update from the occupational health branch, ca dept. of health services
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Update from the Occupational Health Branch, CA Dept. of Health Services. Barbara Materna, PhD, CIH, Chief Occupational Health Branch CIHC Annual Meeting – December 4, 2006. Overview. Intro to the Occupational Health Branch New California Department of Public Health - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Barbara Materna, PhD, CIH, Chief
Occupational Health Branch
CIHC Annual Meeting – December 4, 2006
Update from the Occupational Health Branch, CA Dept. of Health Services
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Overview
Intro to the Occupational Health Branch
New California Department of Public Health
Activities in 3 key areas
How to contact us
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OHB Programs & Leaders
Occupational Health BranchBarbara Materna, PhD, CIH, Chief
Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service Julia Quint, PhD, Chief
Occupational Health Surveillance and Evaluation Program
Robert Harrison, MD, MPH, Chief
Occupational Lead PoisoningPrevention Program
Michael DiBartolomeis, PhD, Chief
HESIS established in 1978
OHSEP - 1985
OLPPP - 1991
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Role of Public Health Elevated
California Department of Health Services
CaliforniaDepartment ofPublic Health
CaliforniaDepartment of
Health Care Services
Effective 7/1/2007
Division of Env. & Occ. Disease ControlOccupational Health Branch
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OHB Focus Areas & Project Examples
New and emerging health & safety issues– Lung disease in food flavoring workers
Special needs of low-wage, immigrant, and underserved workers– Fatalities among Latino workers
Protecting both workers and the environment from toxic substances– Partnering on asthma– Partnering on pollution prevention
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Serious Lung Disease Linked to Diacetyl (butter/food flavor chemical)
NIOSH investigations in microwave popcorn industry & animal toxicity studies
2004: 1st case of bronchioloitis obliterans found in CA in flavor manufacture
OHB assisted Cal/OSHA Medical Unit, began industry-wide focus
April 2006: 2nd case found
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Outreach Effort Initiated
Diacetyl Hazard Alert in English and Spanish
Case summaries, resources, customized letters to employers, health care, worker organizations
Outreach hampered by lack of info on diacetyl users
Phone survey to locate all CA manufacturers (30)
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Industry Special Emphasis Program
Collaboration between OHB, Cal/OSHA Consultation, NIOSH & industry trade association
Companies to have IH assessment, medical monitoring & implement controls – or get inspected
OHB to evaluate medical surveillance programs & results, follow up with suspect cases
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Disease Highlights H&S Gaps
Hazard information withheld by manufacturer for years; not listed on many MSDSs
Not all employers acted on 2003 NIOSH Hazard Alert & other outreach efforts calling for:– Medical surveillance programs– Local exhaust ventilation– Respirator programs– Hazard communication
Health care providers misdiagnose serious breathing problems in young nonsmokers who handle diacetyl & other flavor chemicals
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Additional Diacetyl Activities
NIOSH technical assistance to recommend engineering control solutions
Petition & Advisory Committee for diacetyl standard
CDHS collected inadequate MSDSs for referral
OHB project with UCSF to assess & improve spirometry quality
Need for outreach to food manufacturing industries (users of diacetyl-containing flavors)
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Investigating Latino Fatalities for Prevention
NIOSH-funded OHB project based in Los Angeles
187 Latinos killed statewide in 2005 (41% of total)
Collecting new information during investigations
Focus on identifying causes & ways to prevent incident
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Case Example:Death of 17-year-old Latino Laborer
Worker was guiding forklift driver moving pallets into curing oven.
On the job for 1 month; generic safety training only.ID said his age was 21.
Flimsy pallets collapsed. Worker crushed by falling material.
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Recommendations Made
Ensure use of pallets that support weight of items stored.
Ensure employee training on safe work practices – and verification of skills through testing.
Establish work policies that comply with youth employment standards.
Employers should:
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More Outreach to Latino Workers
Translating more materials into Spanish
Partnering with other organizations for distribution
Speaking at industry & professional meetings to reach employers of Latinos
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Partnering on Asthma Prevention
OHB has identified & investigated cases of work-related asthma since 1993
Many agents affect both workers & others in the same environment
OHB works with others in CDHS & a broad coalition on statewide asthma prevention efforts
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Occupations with Highest Asthma Rates & Related Exposures
Correctional officers
Firefighters
Special ed teachers
Health technicians
Welfare eligibility clerks
Respiratory therapists
Machine operators
Chemical technicians
Police supervisors
Bus drivers
Pepper spray, smoke, dust
Smoke
Mold, dust, indoor pollution
Glutaraldehyde, paint, latex, dander, dust, cleaning chemicals
Roofing tar, paint, dust
Latex, cleaning chems, glutarald.
Solvents, inks, acids, glues
Solvents, inks, isocyanates, HCs
Pepper spray, mold, smoke
Diesel exhaust
Work-related Asthma in California, 1993-2004 (N=3,479)
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Workplace Asthma Integrated into Statewide Prevention Efforts
Collaborating with environmental health & others: www.CaliforniaBreathing.org
Updating state Strategic Plan for Asthma
Evaluating new data sources to ID work-related cases:– hospital discharges – emergency depts.– Workers’ Comp Info System
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Partnering on Pollution Prevention
Pollution prevention consistent with IH goal of eliminating / substituting out hazards, or controlling at the source
Environmental & occupational health professionals often work in “silos” -- can result in unintended, conflicting outcomes
OHB linking with environmental groups & agencies to support efforts that protect the environment and workers
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Evaluating Use, Toxicity & Safer Alternatives for New Solvents
U.S. EPA-funded collaboration with the Institute for Research & Technical Assistance
Studied uses and toxicity of 5 solvents & assessed possible safer alternatives:– N-propyl bromide (NPB or 1-bromopropane)– N-methylpyrollidone (NMP)– Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5)– Parachlorobenzotrifluoride (PCBTF)– 1,2-trans-dichloroethylene (DCE)
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N-Methyl Pyrrolidone in Paint Strippers
Marketed as “safer” alternative to methylene chloride in paint strippers
NMP is a Prop 65 developmental toxicant, not regulated in workplace
Less toxic benzyl alcohol-based strippers shown to be acceptable alternative
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Occupational Health Internship Program
Interns hosted in SF Bay area & Los Angeles:www.aoec.org/OHIP
Focus on field experience, learning workers’ perspective on H&S
OHB projects on:– Heat illness– Silica in bricklaying– Restaurant hazards– Garment work & ergonomics
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Seeking new staff in OHB
Industrial hygienist for asthma & pesticide illness prevention projects (open now, www.phi.org)
Research Scientist III for Safe Cosmetics Program (new civil service position)
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Contacting OHB
Website: www.dhs.ca.gov/ohb
Sign up for email list by sending your info to [email protected]
850 Marina Bay Pkwy., Bldg. P, Richmond, CA 94804; (510) 620-5757
Telephone helplines, toll-free for CA callers:– Workplace Hazard Helpline: (866) 282-5516– Lead in the Workplace Information Line:
(866) 627-1587– Asthma & Pesticide Illness Helpline: (800) 970-6680