Union Toxics Use Reduction

A rising call by labor and community groups to prevent harm from toxic chemicals has resulted in progress on shop floors. With help from the Toxics Use Reduction (TUR) Institute, unions across the state are scrutinizing workplace chemicals, products and processes that can cause respiratory illness, cancer and other health hazards. Union TUR seeks to reduce the use of toxic chemicals through chemical substitution and process modification by building a cadre of unions that are knowledgeable about and actively promote TUR in their workplaces and in their public policy efforts.

Widespread chemicals, dearth of information:

MassCOSH began the initiative following the release of a study, produced by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute, of five hazardous chemicals that are widely used in Massachusetts. MassCOSH conducted a short survey of 20 union staff and officers to determine whether unions in Massachusetts used these chemicals and whether they were familiar with their hazards and the availability of substitutes (TURI survey). MassCOSH found that (1) many unions lacked hazard information about the full range of chemicals used, (2) the majority of unions contacted were not familiar with TUR and TURI, (3) the majority of union contacts were interested in more information about safer alternatives for these chemicals and others, and (4) safer alternatives were not tracked in ways that the unions were aware of, indicating that most workers have little input into decisions about chemical substitution (TURI - 5 Chemical Survey Report).

With funding from the state's Toxics Use Reduction grant program, MassCOSH conducted outreach and education to labor unions about action steps for TUR and the safer alternatives for the 5 targeted chemicals. The project successfully reached 6 Regional Labor Councils representing over 150,000 workers. In addition, 6 unions took action steps for addressing safer alternatives:

• Teamster Local 27 members working in vehicle maintenance shops for the Mass Highway department were introduced to the hazards and safer alternatives to engine and break cleaners that contain the cancer-causing perchloroethylene, and are now interested in looking at chemical use and safer alternatives;
• union health and safety representatives from IUE CWA Local 201 (General Electric) and IBEW 1505 (Raytheon) shared strategies for applying TUR at their worksites;
• SEIU 509 requested the use of safer "green" cleaning products in state office buildings;
• USW local 1357 met with environmental activists about "good neighbors" strategies for safe and healthy workplaces and neighborhoods in New Bedford; and
• the Building Trades Council asked that MassCOSH provide them with more information on the use and availability of "green" building materials.

MassCOSH is expanding the Union TUR initiative to engage more unions in efforts to promote substitution of safer chemicals in the products, work processes and building environments. The Union TUR initiative is also working with union health and safety leaders to expand union involvement in the policy efforts of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow.