SAFETY

Home, Safe Home? 

Home, safe home.  That's what most people think about their home.  It is a 
safe haven from evils and hazards that abound out in the workworld, their 
work place.  But, is home really as safe as you like to think it is?  NOT 
REALLY!  A study conducted by NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health revealed more about the average worker's home than you 
probably want to know - but need to know. 

Supported by the Workers' Family Protection Act of 1992, NIOSH conducted a 
study of workers' homes in regard to contamination by chemicals and 
infectious agents used at the workplace.  It was found that contamination of 
the home place is more than a national problem, it is worldwide.  A wide 
range of infectious agents and toxic substances pollute the homes of workers 
in 28 countries and 36 of the United States. 

NIOSH collected information from many sources in conducting this study 
includinf Federal and state health, labor, and environmental departments, 
firefighters (it's amazing what they encounter in fighting a house fire), and 
other agencies exposed to what is in people's homes. The data was analyzed 
and studied extensively by NIOSH before the report went public. 

Do you think your home is safe?  Are your kids and spouse safe from chemical 
exposure at home?  How do you know?  Only you know, for sure, what efforts 
you go to in keeping 'work' from entering your home. 

There are many ways that traces of hazardous materials can be carried into 
your home. Common carriers are your clothing, hair, skin, tools and vehicles 
when they are used for family transportation or parked in the family garage.  
When there is little distinction between home and the workplace there is 
great opportunity to contaminate the house with chemicals and agents common 
to work.  The study revealed many family members affected adversely by 
pollution from the workplace when they lived there. 

Other than information gained from this study, little is fully known or 
documented about the full extent of workers' home contamination.  There are 
few surveillance systems that track contamination problems of this type.  
There are many documented cases of strange and unexplainable illnesses of 
family members that may be related or connected to home pollution. 

Contamination of the homeplace can be reduced or even prevented by several 
well tested practices, some of which are common to many workers.  Adopting 
new or additional practices is not usually difficult.  It just takes a 
conscious effort over a period of time before the new practice becomes habit, 
then it isn't a great effort anymore. 

Reducing the exposure to chemicals at work is very effective in reducing home 
pollution.  It eliminates the major carrier of pesticide residue, the worker.  
Wear protective clothing and equipment to reduce your bodily contamination.  
There is absolutely nothing wrong in wearing more protective clothing and 
equipment than the product label requires. 

Another step to take is to change from work clothing before entering the 
home.  It is not easy to do in many work situations, but with some creative 
thinking and planning it can be done.  It will result in a different way of 
doing things and that is what change is all about.  If the work place is 
separate from home then it is possible to develop a clothing changing place 
complete with shower facilities to reduce chemical residue transfer.  

Having facilities at the worksite for laundering work clothing is another 
measure that would reduce home contamination.  It will involve some effort 
and cost, and will be more feasible in some situations than others, but it 
would be effective. 

For those who work out of their home rather than a different site, it is very 
important and effective to make distinct boundaries between the work zone and 
the home zone.  Keep product storage located distinctly away from the home 
area.  Do not move freely back and forth between the two areas without 
decontamination efforts.  Inform family members of the hazards of the 
products in the work areas and educate them as to the preventive measures 
that need to be followed to prevent home contamination.  Few of these 
measures are easy to do, but if done they are effective. 

Home contamination is a known problem, and is much more hazardous in some 
cases than in others.  Keeping the home free of contamination from work is 
not easy, it takes considerable effort and in some cases a financial 
commitment.  The rewards are significant; knowing that your family members 
are living in a healthier environment.  

(Submitted by: George Maher, Extension Ag Safety Specialist)