Number

060-EN

Section

General Section

Use

Abstract

The regional trade union (CC.OO.) carried out a substitution process of several cleaning products used in the trade union headquarters. Substitution was part of a broader preventive project to reduce the occupational risks of the cleaning staff.
A floor cleaner containing isobutane (containing > 0,1 % butadiene (203-450-8)), a carcinogen and mutagenic chemical, was replaced by a product containing isopropanol, a chemical with less occupational and environmental hazards.

Substituted substances

Alternative Substances

Reliability of information

Evidence of implementation: there is evidence that the solution was implemented and in use at time of publication

Reason substitution

CMR

Hazard Assessment

Substituted substances.

Isobutane (containing > 0,1 % butadiene (203-450-8)) may cause cancer (R45) and heritable genetic damage (R46). Also it is extremely flammable

Alternative substance

Propan-2-ol is irritating to the eyes (R36) and its vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness (R67). The substance is highly flammable (H225)

Though the alternative has risks, these are much less important and the safety is improved.

Description of Substitution

The regional CCOO headquarters in Cantabria started a substitution project to reduce workers' exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals. Article 15 of the Spanish Occupational Health and Safety Act related to principles of preventive activity includes substitution as one of the preventive principles employers must comply with during the implementation of health and safety measures.
Workers with higher levels of exposure toxic chemicals included female employees from the cleaning staff that are exposed to several hazardous chemicals (components of cleaning and disinfection products) on a daily basis.

First the trade union requested form the distributor the safety data sheets of the cleaning products and interviewed affected workers separately. The information provided by the distributor was the basis of a report that included a proposal for the substitution of dangerous chemicals. The report classified cleaning products into 3 categories according to their substitution priority. The classification outlined 5 substances to be substituted (2 with high substitution priority; 2 were medium substitution priority chemicals and one which was not a priority substance).

Once the chemicals were identified, experts carried out a study of the possible alternatives for high and medium priority chemicals. The participation of affected workers is essential for the substitution process. Researchers requested samples of the alternative products and interviewed affected workers once again. The health and safety rep participated in all the meetings and procedures with product distributors. Workers rejected several alternatives that they did not consider suitable.
Several factors like technical feasibility, costs, affected workers' response and health and environmental effects were considered to reach a decision on a given alternative. In this case the Column Model was used to compare products using information from their Safety Data Sheets.

One of the priority cleaning products for substitution is Clym suelos containing isobutane (containing > 0,1 % butadiene (203-450-8)) (carcinogen and mutagen) and n-DEcane. The product is sprayed on mops before cleaning. The chosen alternative is a liquid cleaner based on isopropanol, a less toxic chemical commercialized in liquid form, which reduces the risk of inhalation, air pollution and requires a lesser quantity of product.

Advantages
The replacement of the product did not imply any changes in the way cleaning tasks are performed. The new concentrated product dispenser improves control on the amount of product to be used. The new tack mop achieves better results.

Case/substitution evaluation

There is a clear reduction of health and environmental risks achieved through the substitution, but it must be noted that isopropanol is a neurotoxic chemical and its vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness. Appropriate protection measures like ventilation, localized extraction or individual respirators are required.

State of implementation

In use

Date and place of implementation

June 2011 Spain

Enterprise using the alternative

www.cantabria.ccoo.es

Availability ofAlternative

On the market

Producer/Provider

http://www.ab-laboratorios.com/en/62-floor-cleaners

Type of information supplier

User

Contact

www.cantabria.ccoo.es

Other solutions

Neutrosol Mops.
Components:
Mixture of: 5-chloro-2-methyl-2hisothiazol-3-one; 2-methyl-2h-isothiazol-3-one; CAS 55965- 4-9 Bronopol (DCI); CAS 52-51-7 Potassiumoleate; CAS 143-18-0

Was rejected by workers due to difficulties to handle the product.

Date, reviewed

February 27, 2020