While you read of product health hazards and case histories, see if the
experiences of these janitors, custodians, and housekeepers sound
familiar. Have they happened to you or others you know or have heard
of who are in this line of work?
The manual will look at the principal occupational health hazards and
exposures themselves and some of the related issues. We will look
closely at the chemical composition of cleaning products to see what
components appear to be particularly hazardous, how you are exposed
to them, and what you can do to minimize exposure. The health effects
discussed for these products are based upon the exposure of the
professional, not the consumer; for example, we will examine the
health effects of toilet bowl cleaners for the housekeeper who cleans
toilets many times a day, not for the consumer whose exposure is
perhaps once a week.
People react differently to chemicals. Although comparing symptoms
with co-workers can be valuable, one person could react to a product for
which no one else at the workplace has a problem.