OSHA responds to lawmakers' query on formaldehyde

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OSHA responds to lawmakers' query on formaldehyde

OSHA recently detailed its enforcement of the agency's occupational exposure to formaldehyde standard (1910.1048) in light of concerns about dangerously high levels of the chemical compound found in trailers manufactured for hurricane victims.

After months of criticism, FEMA announced in February that the temporary housing it provided following the 2005 hurricane season had formaldehyde levels far beyond that typically found in indoor air. An OSHA letter of interpretation – dated Sept. 9 and posted on OSHA's Website one month later – responded to a July 25 letter from Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and Landrieu, D-LA, expressing concerns that employees who manufactured the trailers were exposed to formaldehyde levels "higher than allowed" by OSHA.

OSHA said that although employers are required to keep written records on employee exposures, they do not have to turn them over to OSHA unless a safety and health inspection is conducted. The agency also said that "no inspections were conducted in response to employee complaints of alleged overexposure to formaldehyde," but indicated that if the agency receives a complaint of the standard having been violated, an inspection will take place.

Reference URLs:

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS & p_id=27211

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=301338 & &

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SOURCE: National Safety Council (NSC) Membership newsAlert (October 17, 2008) |

http://list.nsc.org/newsalert/email/6895.htm#osha_responds_to_lawmakers_query_on_formaldehyde