6 Recommendations
6.1 Historical Recommendations in the Scientific Literature
The earliest recommendations for eliminating or reducing symptoms associated with CCP exposures originated in Sweden from the National Swedish Board of Occupational Safety and Health [1976]. These recommendations and those that were echoed or expanded by various authors [Andanson et al. 1979; Messite and Fannick 1980; Harris 1983; Messite and Baker 1984], the Danish Branch Safety Council for Offices and Administration [1988], the Cornell University Chemical Hazard Information Program [CHIP 1988], Wattendorf [1988], and Öko-Test Magazin [1990] are enumerated below (not prioritized):
- Ensure adequate environmental conditions (including ventilation, temperature, and humidity control) in office, paper storage, and filing areas.
- Avoid ingesting CCP chemicals by minimizing hand-to-mouth contact.
- Do not rub eyes when handling CCP.
- If symptoms occur, select a CCP with a different composition.
- Substitute a mechanical-type paper (e.g., carbon paper) for a chemical-type paper (i.e., CCP).
- Limit contact with CCP by spreading CCP-related work over a longer period or by reducing the amount used and/or stored in the workspace.
- Employ proper housecleaning and good hand-hygiene procedures (including, occasionally, the use of protective gloves and/or hand creams).
- Inform workers about the symptoms that have been noted by workers who handle CCP.
- If you are a CCP manufacturer or importer, give exact data about the substances used and provide quality certificates for auxiliary substances, additives, and intermediate products used for each lot of CCP.
The Danish Branch Safety Council for Offices and Administration [1988] also recommended use of the following checklist to evaluate complaints received when working with CCP:
- Why do you think that the discomforts can be traced to CCP work?
- How many persons suffer discomfort in connection with work using this kind of paper?
- Who suffers from the discomforts?
- Have there been complaints in connection with work with CCP?
