Marjorie Getz, PhD (c), Psychology, Bradley University, 1501 W Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625, 309-677-2587, mgetz@bradley.edu and Cristy Wedemeyer, CHES, Illinois Asthma Program, Illinois Department of Public Health, 535 West Jefferson Street, Springfield, IL 62761.

The concept of a toolkit, a compendium of information, assessment tools, evidence-based guidelines and recommendations has received increasing attention during the last twenty years. The Occupational Asthma Workgroup of the Illinois Asthma Initiative Partnership developed a toolkit to be used by businesses located in Illinois as a means to assess the presence of asthmagenic factors in the workplace. The toolkit was designed with sections for employers and employees to work collaboratively to detect any possible triggers for occupational asthma (for example, symptom checklists, comprehensive lists of occupations and jobs that are associated with workplace asthma, risk factors for development of workplace asthma, guidelines for establishing a worksite safety committee, information on proper monitoring and assessment of symptoms, instructions on use of asthma pharmaceuticals, etc.). A third section of the toolkit allows employers to work with environmental health staff from local health departments to insure that workers with symptoms suggestive of occupational asthma remain safe on the job. A detailed description of the assembly of the Occupational Asthma Toolkit from development of the concept through distribution for comments and critiques from OSHA and NIOSH staff will be presented. The toolkit was 18 months in the making and is available as a product produced by the Occupational Asthma Workgroup of the Illinois Asthma Partnership. The toolkit has a self-contained evaluation mechanism included as an integral part of this resource. Projected and actual use of the toolkit during the first year of availability will be highlighted.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop the concept of toolkit as an important compendium of resources, checklists, factsheets and information.
• Trace the 18 months development process of the Illinois Asthma Initiative Partnership's Occupational Asthma Toolkit.
• Present the Toolkit as an example of workplace and LHD cooperation to reduce the burden of asthma in the workplace.
• Describe evaluation plan and instrument that allows users to provide relevant feedback to assist in updating and improving the Toolkit as an important assessment instrument.

Keywords: Asthma, Worksite

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.