376 A Healthy Home
Do Not Bring Work Hazards Home
People who use toxic materials in their jobs in farm
labor, mining, health care, and factory work often
bring toxics home on their clothes and bodies. This
can harm the workers and everyone in their homes.
(To avoid these risks, see Chapters 14, 20, and 21.)
Many health problems are caused by jobs
done at home with toxic materials and dangerous
machinery, such as assembling electronics or
textiles, or taking apart batteries or computers
(see page 464). Doing these kinds of work in the
home is especially dangerous because companies
usually do not provide people who work at home
with protective equipment. Nor do they pay fair
wages or other rights that all workers deserve. This
dangerous work also exposes other family members,
especially children, to toxic materials.
When working at home with dangerous
materials, take precautions.
• Know what chemicals you are using and how
to handle them safely.
• Make sure there is proper ventilation
(see page 352 to 354).
Keeping toxic work
materials in a locked
cupboard will help keep
children safe.
• Use protective equipment if you can get it
(see Appendix A).
• Keep children away from work areas and materials.
• Try not to work long hours that make you tired, and make the
work more dangerous.
• Talk to other people who do similar work, and organize to
demand your rights to health and safety.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012