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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. OBJECTIVES OF PRESENTATION.
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
Construction of a Training Package • Comprehensibility testing paves the road to targeted training for GHS comprehension training manual materials development (training and awareness
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
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
Question 10.6.1 -Has this been a useful exercise?(Zambian Railways Worker - June 13, 2002) ……”it has ignited my brain.”