SEIU members who work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities are exposed daily to a wide range of environmental hazards. From mercury-containing products, to toxic cleaning supplies, to dioxin-containing plastics, these hazards pose problems for employees and patients alike.
While most of these hazards do not contribute to climate change, they do contribute to land, air and water contamination, and many cause immediate health effects on those exposed to them.
Some examples include:
Latex Allergy: Latex allergies are common, and healthcare workers are frequently exposed in at work through their use of latex gloves. Latex gloves contain natural rubber proteins that can cause reactions ranging from a rash and itching to coughing spells and difficulty breathing. Alternatives to latex gloves are available, and healthcare workers can negotiate to ensure that they are given the option.
Glutaraldehyde: This is a colorless, oily liquid chemical used to disinfect equipment that cannot be heat sterilized. Exposure to glutaraldehyde, through inhalation or skin contact, can be harmful. Health effects include throat and lung irritation, asthma and difficulty breathing, nose irritation and allergic dermatitis.
PVC Plastic: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plastics are the most widely used plastic in medical devices. There are two key problems are associated with exposure to PVC:
1. Dioxin, a known human carcinogen, can be formed in the manufacture and incineration of PVC.
2. A chemical used to soften PVC that has been linked in animal studies to birth defects and other illnesses.
An increasing number of PVC-free medical products are available, and healthcare workers can negotiate contract language requiring healthcare facilities to use them.
Model Contract Language »
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