HazCom ID: Worker Rights A Smartphone Application to Assist in GHS Symbol Recognition and Understanding

Transcription

1 HazCom ID: Worker Rights A Smartphone Application to Assist in GHS Symbol Recognition and Understanding By Rattigan Health Media Chemical Hazards in the Workplace Exposure to hazardous chemicals is one of the most serious threats facing American workers today. Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration s (OSHA) Hazard Communication standard for general industry (29 CRF ) is the third most frequently cited OSHA violation 1, and in 2011, over 15,000 U.S. workers were injured or made ill from chemicals or chemical products, with a median of three days of missed work due to these injuries 2. A huge range of jobs involve some amount of work with or exposure to chemicals, even those occupations that don t sound like they would. The seemingly non-chemical nature of many typical jobs that employ young workers, for example food service, retail, office work, landscaping still often involve some exposure to chemicals, such solvents, cleaners, ozone (in areas with copiers), and pesticides. Every worker, including teens and young adults, has a right to know about the chemicals with which they work and how to protect themselves from harm. It is the employer s responsibility to identify and appropriately classify potential chemical hazards, and communicate information about the potential hazards and appropriate protective measures to employees. But chemical safety also requires a certain level of knowledge by the worker, as it can be a complicated issue to fully comprehend. Steps toward Reduced Work-related Chemical Injuries and Illness Revising OSHA s Hazard Communication standard will improve the quality and consistency of hazard information, making it safer for workers to do their jobs and easier for employers to stay competitive. Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor 1 Occupational Safety & Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Commonly Used Statistics. 2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses in cooperation with participating State agencies.

2 The confusion that can exist in fully comprehending work-related chemical safety is part of the reason DOL-OSHA recently revised its Hazard Communication (HazCom) standard 3. Through alignment with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Chemical Classification and Labeling, OSHA has asserted that workers not only have the right to know about chemical hazards in their workplace, but also the right to understand those hazards. A component of the GHS is a series of pictograms, or symbols, depicting the range of chemical hazards a person might be exposed to. As of June 1, 2015, U.S. chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to place these pictograms on chemicals to alert users of the hazards to which they may be exposed. By having a universal labeling system, the ability to identify chemical hazards from job to job should remain a constant, as opposed to having to learn a new system with each new job. Why a HazCom App? OSHA s alignment with the GHS is a huge first step towards increased chemical hazard literacy for the average worker (as well as employers). But the system is still new, and to achieve comprehensive adoption by June 2015, a first step will include general familiarity with the different GHS components, including the symbols. An easy-to-use, interactive digital application may help with the introduction of this knowledge and increase the speed of symbol recognition. Why a Smartphone App? Any number of digital applications can lend themselves to educational purposes. The selected application (app) design for this challenge is one for smartphones. A smartphone app enables access to information while mobile (away from home or a grounded internet connection), and engagement with this platform continues to grow across generations. Since 2009, U.S. smartphone ownership has more than doubled among all age groups, including young people, with 53% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 40% of 13- to 17-year-olds owning a device in 2011 (versus 23% and 16% ownership, respectively, in 2009) 4. The Android operating system was chosen to pilot this app, as over half of smartphone owners use Android (versus ~35% using ios) 5. Additionally, for appropriate functionality, a smartphone app must be designed to present accessible information in limited visual space, which makes it more easily adaptable to other platforms, such as tablets or desktop browsers, than the other way around. The deadline for pictogram and full GHS implementation (2015) provides ample time to make any appropriate adaptations before then. 3 Occupational Safety & Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Hazard Communication. 4 The Nielsen Company The Mobile Media Report: State of the Media, Q The Nielsen Company Mobile & Smartphone Trends: Smartphone Operating System Share.

3 Overview of HazCom ID: Worker Rights HazCom ID: Worker Rights is available in the Google Play Store for download on Androidcompatible smartphones. A brief overview is available online: This app serves as a quick reference guide for understanding the GHS symbols that represent potential chemical hazards. While designed with young workers in mind, it could be a useful too to a worker of any age. The app includes the features listed below. Note: Red text links to another app screen or to a URL (e.g. relevant OSHA webpages). 1) Brief overview of a worker's right to understand chemical hazards. Home. On the Home tab, several elements are critical to engage the user: A visual draw in to read more (Skull and Crossbones symbol); A statement that speaks to why the user should care about the issue presented (fact on number of workers made ill); A statement that speaks to why/how the user should and can take action ( right to understand and option to exercise your rights.

4 Rights. The Rights tab elaborates, though briefly, on workers rights in general and those specific to chemical hazards. It is important here to stress that chemicals may exist in any job, so that the user does not dismiss the benefits of the app. (An expanded version of this app might include a screen that lists a wide variety of jobs that can include varying use of chemicals or chemical exposure.) This screen also serves as a teaser for the many chemical hazard symbols.

5 2) Reference library of the nine adopted symbols. Symbols. The Symbols tab A very basic, visually appealing menu of chemical hazard symbols provides image and name recognition pairing and invites the user to learn more about each. (This screen also includes the DOL symbol, listed last, for easy access to contact information.)

6 Symbol-Specific. After clicking on a symbol to learn more (Health Hazard, for example), the user is taken to a page that repeats the image and name pairing, and provides a very basic summary of the potential hazard and possible protections. These summaries are purposely limited in nature, as the library is designed to enable a general familiarity and basic understanding of the symbols, in a format and language accessible to workers of all backgrounds.

7 3) Memory game puzzle. This game adds an element of interaction to the app and may also help the user to familiarize him or herself with the symbols. For example, differentiating the Flame symbol from the Flame Over Circle symbol. Note: No screen shot is available for this tab as it is not accessible online. It is available to view and play in the actual smartphone app. 4) Contact and social media information for the U.S. Department of Labor. It is important in any media product today print, television, digital to provide, not just contact information, but a means through which the user can take action or engage further with the presenter or product. It is through follow-up engagement that the user will learn more and build a greater connection to the issue. Also stressed here is that it is possible to file an anonymous complaint with OSHA, for workers who may feel disadvantaged in speaking up.

8 Potential for Future App Edits/Expansions HazCom ID: Worker Rights can be updated continually over time to better meet the needs of users. There is also ample time to make edits to or expand upon the app prior to the U.S. June 2015 GHS alignment deadline. Possible ideas for expansion include the following: Adapt for languages other than English. Adapt for ios (iphone) platform. Adapt for tablets or the web. Expand on the symbol definitions. For example, include the specific hazard words listed for each symbol (e.g. carcinogen, mutagenicity) on OSHA s website ( and link to an easy-to-understand definition or relevant fact for each hazard word. Expand to include a photo library of examples of different chemical hazards, or the range of workplaces in which they exist. Expand to include a Safety Data Sheets or labeling educational component. Application submitted by: Sara Rattigan d/b/a Rattigan Health Media 103 Glen Street Malden, MA Phone: (617) sara.rattigan@gmail.com