277728
Evaluation of a green cleaning program and practices training curriculum for custodians
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
: 12:30 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Sara Wakai, PhD,
Center for Public Health and Health Policy, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
Nancy J. Simcox, MS,
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Paula Schenck, MPH,
Center for Indoor Environments and Health, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
Traditional cleaners are associated with acute and chronic health problems. In the US, at least a dozen state governments have adopted precautionary laws and policies to substitute safer alternatives for toxic cleaners in educational facilities and state buildings. Connecticut state law 07-100 requires that state agencies use Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP), with third party certification by Green Seal or EcoLogo, to minimize potential impacts on human health and the environment. An evaluation will be conducted to assess the development and implementation of a training curriculum focusing on green cleaning program and practices to improve the health and safety of workers. The training curriculum is based on findings from a community based participatory research study: Green Cleaning: Exposure Characterization and Adoption Process Among Custodians funded by the CDC/NIOSH. The study's objectives are to improve acceptance of green cleaning programs and proper use of green cleaning products, methods and disinfectants. Curriculum materials were developed with input from custodians (via focus groups and survey), and partnerships with a labor union (CEUI-SEIU), CTCOSH, the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut (CSHC), facility departments and environmental health and safety offices at state agencies. The evaluation utilizes Stufflebeam's CIPP evaluation model (context, inputs, processes, and products). The results of the evaluation will include lessons learned from developing and implementing the training, worker satisfaction with training curriculum, follow-up survey data to measure meeting training objectives. Findings are intended to provide a model for developing and implementing green cleaning training curriculum generalizable to other environments and populations.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Learning Objectives:
Identify procedures for developing a training program.
Keyword(s): Evaluation, Training
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Wakai has designed and conducted several evaluations on programs related to public health. She is currently conducting an evaluation to identify barriers, incentives and best practices for implementing environmentally preferable products among custodial workers at state agencies. She is the evaluator for two state initiatives: Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative (to reduce underage and binge drinking on college campuses) and the Connecticut Campus Suicide Prevention Initiative.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
