Using an alternatives assessment framework to evaluate waterborne versus solventborne basecoats used in automotive refinishing.

We evaluated two types of automotive basecoats used in automotive refinishing (i.e., in auto body shops): waterborne and solventborne. The primary tool we used for this evaluation was the Alternatives Assessment Guide (version 1.0) developed by the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2). The term "solventborne," as used in this article, refers to products that contain relatively high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (referred to as "high-volatile organic compound [VOC] basecoats" in the industry). These products are distinct from the "low-VOC" solventborne products used widely in California and elsewhere. From a health and environmental hazard perspective, our evaluation found that waterborne basecoats contained fewer hazardous ingredients and at lower concentrations than their solventborne counterparts. Automotive painters who spray-painted vehicles with waterborne products experienced significantly lower exposures to several harmful solvents. Waterborne products are readily available and offer advantages with regard to social impacts. Some of these advantages include lower worker and community exposure to VOCs, reduced VOC release and smog formation, and reduced potential for generation of and exposure to hazardous waste. Based on our assessment in auto body shops, we consider waterborne basecoats to be safer alternatives from both a human health and environmental perspective. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1101-1113. Published 2021. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Training for an effective health and safety committee in a small business setting.

Health and safety committees are often heralded as a key element of successful health and safety programs, and are thought to represent a means of engaging workers in health and safety efforts. While the understanding of the factors that make these committees effective is growing, there are few resources for how to assist committees in developing these characteristics. This paper describes one approach to creating and implementing a training intervention aimed at improving health and safety committee function at one multilingual worksite. Short-term impacts were evaluated via questionnaire and qualitative observations of committee function. Results indicated high satisfaction with the training as well as modest increases in participation, cooperation, role clarity, and comfort with health and safety skills among committee members. The committee also made considerable achievements in establishing new processes for effective function. Similar interventions may be useful in other workplaces to increase health and safety committee success.

Occupational trajectories and immigrant worker health.

During their initial years in the receiving country, many immigrants experience occupational downgrading. Downgrading is a loss of occupational status between one's last job in the home country and first job in the receiving country, often resulting in overeducation or overqualification. Although the extent and determinants of such occupational trajectories have been characterized, the connection to immigrant worker health has not been widely examined. However, an emerging body of knowledge indicates that negative health outcomes are associated with overeducation and overqualification in general worker populations, suggesting similar experiences by immigrant workers. This article provides an overview of the magnitude and conceptualization of occupational downgrading, overeducation, and overqualification and discusses implications for immigrant worker health. Occupational health professionals should spearhead research efforts on occupational downgrading, raise public awareness about the issue, and serve as advocates for immigrant workers' rights.