Workplaces, such as schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and manufacturing plants, use cleaning chemicals to ensure the cleanliness of their buildings. However, some cleaning chemicals can be hazardous to the workers, causing problems ranging from skin rashes and burns to coughing and asthma. As a result, many employers are switching to green cleaning products because they are thought to be less hazardous to workers and the environment. But according to OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) "… placing the word 'green' in a name or on a bottle does not ensure that a chemical is safe. Employers should review the cleaning chemicals they purchase, including green cleaning products, to understand their health and safety hazards. Employers should choose the least hazardous cleaners."
According to the agencies, when employers are selecting cleaning chemicals, they should:
- Consider the chemical ingredients; how and where the chemical will be used; and whether mists, vapors and/or gases will be released.
- Understand that cleaners, sanitizers and disinfectants serve different purposes, and the importance of choosing the least hazardous cleaning chemical that will accomplish the task at hand.
- Know that independent organizations are now certifying chemicals including cleaners as "green," which means that must meet specific criteria as defined by the certifying organization.
In addition, if the chemical does not meet OSHA's exception for consumer products, employers must:
- Use the information contained in the Safety Data Sheet for all hazardous cleaning products to ensure that workers are properly protected.
- Conduct the required training under the OSHA Hazard Communication standard BEFORE the worker begins using the cleaner, if the cleaning chemicals are hazardous.
In addition, the agencies also created a poster with guidelines for workers to protect their health while working with cleaning chemicals.
OSHA and NIOSH have developed an "InfoSheet" on the topic www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2012-126/pdfs/2012-126.pdf
CDC "Protecting Workers Who Use Cleaning Chemicals"
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