A Collaborative Effort to Improve Occupational Health Surveillance and Outreach - Part 2

This presentation continues the discussion to explain how California came to pass the first law in the country requiring companies that manufacture or distribute toxic chemicals to provide the state public health agency, upon request, with information on where a specific chemicals is being shipped to California workplaces. SB 193, signed by Gov Brown in fall 2014, will enable HESIS - the Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service - to send timely warnings to those downstream users when HESIS learns of a serious new or previously unrecognized health hazard posed by a toxic chemical .

This presentation explains the role of occupational health worker, legal, and scientific advocates to gather the necessary evidence and support to ultimately succeed pass SB 193. It will describe the effort that continued with bills introduced over several legislative sessions and how the basic provisions of the bill changed over time. It will highlight the critical role of testimony by health professionals and affected workers, as well as developing a broad base of support. Finally, it will provide an analysis of the lessons learned through this lengthy endeavor and discuss how this law might be extended to other jurisdictions .