COMPREHENSIBILITY TESTING: FROM CONCEPT TO PRACTICE
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Transcript COMPREHENSIBILITY TESTING: FROM CONCEPT TO PRACTICE
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
PAG 2
Geneva 10 July,2002
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
PAG 2
Geneva 10 July,2002
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
PAG 2
Geneva 10 July,2002
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?
PAG 2
As
a 10
precursor
to training by identifying training needs
Geneva
July,2002
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
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approach to successful applicability & viability
Geneva 10 July,2002
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO GHS IMPLEMENTATION &
ACHIEVING GOAL OF PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH
& THE ENVIRONMENT
GHS implementation
training on
implementation
Comprehensibility testing
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Geneva 10 July,2002
-
training on
comprehension &
applicability
healthy work and living environment
reduction of human & environmental
exposure to toxic chemicals
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.
PAG 2
Geneva 10 July,2002
Proposed Next Steps
Revision of Guidance Document for CT
Development of a Rapid Comprehensibility Testing
Modules and Tool Kit
Construction of a Training Package
Development of a Guidance Document for Developing
National CHC Awareness Raising Campaigns
Development of a Guidance Document for Primary
School Curriculum Development.
PAG 2
PAG2
Geneva
10 July,2002
Geneva 10 July, 2002
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
PAG 2
Geneva 10 July,2002
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
PAG&
2 time
Geneva 10 July,2002
Construction of a Training
Package
Comprehensibility testing paves the road
to targeted training for GHS
comprehension
training manual
materials development (training
and awareness
PAG 2
Geneva 10 July,2002
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
PAG 2
- mural paintings on walls & buildings
Geneva 10 July,2002
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
PAGreducing
2
exposure to toxic chemicals
Geneva 10 July,2002
Question 10.6.1 Has this been a useful exercise?
(Zambian Railways Worker - June 13, 2002)
……”it has ignited my brain.”
PAG 2
Geneva 10 July,2002