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Enhancing Comprehensibility Testing for Chemical Safety: Next Steps

This presentation highlights the benefits and impact of Comprehensibility Testing (CT) in Zambia, emphasizing the need for continued training and awareness to improve chemical safety. The potential next steps include developing a national strategy, rapid testing tools, training packages, and awareness campaigns for a holistic approach to Global Harmonized System (GHS) implementation.

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Enhancing Comprehensibility Testing for Chemical Safety: Next Steps

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  1. GUIDANCE AND TRAINING MATERIAL ON COMPREHENSIBILITY TESTING: POTENTIAL NEXT STEPS Andrea Rother Occupational & Environmental Health Research Unit, Dept. of Public Health University of Cape Town, South Africa

  2. OBJECTIVES OF PRESENTATION • To give a brief insight to the Zambian Comprehensibility Testing (CT) • To highlight the obvious and hidden benefits from CT • To stimulate discussion on the Way Forward for Comprehensibility Testing and CHC comprehensibility awareness

  3. CT With UCT Methodology in Zambia • Overall positive response • Highlighting weak areas in CHC tools (labels & SDSs) comprehension • Zambian team overcame numerous hurdles to achieve successful testing • Highlighted areas for refining testing, especially in developing countries

  4. SPIN-OFF/”HIDDEN” EFFECTS FROM CT IN ZAMBIA • Collaboration amongst institutions, organizations and individuals (e.g., UNZA, ECZ, AgriFlora) • Accountability and responsibility for industry to have SDS’s easily accessible • Stimulate need for future training within organizations/industries where CT took place • Developing of awareness and drawing attention to the existence of hazard communication tools

  5. DEFINING THE PURPOSE OF CT • Overall agreement and appreciation for the need to access CHC comprehension, esp. in light of the GHS - provides factual data on a population’s ability to comprehend CHC tools; identifies ease in which GHS can be adopted (low comprehensibility - easier to change existing system) • Accessing applicability of comprehension leading to safety behaviour? • Applying results of CT to improving existing CHC tools? • As a precursor to training by identifying training needs

  6. Why Continue With Comprehensibility Testing? • Benefits: * country data on CHC comprehensibility in 4 sectors * hidden benefits • CHC comprehension stimulates safety awareness, safety behaviour and potential reduction of exposure to toxic chemicals. • In GHS implementation, CT adds to holistic approach to successful applicability & viability

  7. HOLISTIC APPROACH TOGHS IMPLEMENTATION & ACHIEVING GOAL OF PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH & THE ENVIRONMENT GHS implementation training on implementation training on comprehension & applicability - healthy work and living environment - reduction of human & environmental exposure to toxic chemicals Comprehensibility testing

  8. Role of Comprehensibility Testing in Post-Pilot Phase • Comprehensibility data provides beneficial insights. • What should be done with results? Open • CT lays foundation for targeted training and should be continued with revisions to existing UCT testing tool.

  9. REVISION OF GUIDANCE DOCUMENT FOR CT Would outline a national strategy for CT in relation to the Rapid Comprehensibility Testing tool to be developed, outlining: • Sample size • testing structure - core team, supervisors, enumerators • Respondents - sectors, stimulating participation • Potential problem areas • Culturally sensitive testing • Cost implications • Piloting • How to use testing modules and tool kit

  10. Development of a Rapid Comprehensibility Testing Modules & Tool Kit • Original UCT CT tool covered large range of factors & issues affecting comprehension • If labels & SDSs will not be revised based on CT data, a simplified testing tool would be beneficial for awareness & training • Rapid CT methodology would reduce cost & time

  11. Construction of a Training Package • Comprehensibility testing paves the road to targeted training for GHS comprehension training manual materials development (training and awareness

  12. Development of a Guidance Document for Developing National CHC Awareness Raising Campaigns • Run in conju nction with training program to strengthen and broaden these initiatives & serve as a vehicle for introducing new information/symbols from the GHS. • Document to outline activities & structures to enhance CHC tool comprehensibility, improve health & safety behaviour, reduce chemical exposure. For example: - presentations to parliament/government - media broadcasts - radio programs - regular articles in community & national papers - school poster and other competitions - erection of billboard notices - mural paintings on walls & buildings

  13. Development of a Guidance Document for Primary School Curriculum Development • Guidelines for incorporating an introduction of CHC and GHS tools in a constructive, innovative and easily understood fashion into primary schools existing curricular activities and structures. • Emphasis on placing CHC comprehension in larger picture of chemical safety and reducing exposure to toxic chemicals

  14. Question 10.6.1 -Has this been a useful exercise?(Zambian Railways Worker - June 13, 2002) ……”it has ignited my brain.”

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