OSHA slow to regulate workplace toxins

Workplace exposure to chemicals and fine dust can
affect workers' health and well-being.

Workers in certain industries and factories can be exposed to a wide variety of toxins that may have detrimental effects on their health.

Federal standards that are supposed to protect workers are often outdated or insufficient. Take the standards regarding beryllium or silica, for example.

Despite both substances being classified as “known human carcinogens”, efforts to update the standards have been delayed for more than a decade for each.

In the meantime, more than 2 million workers are exposed to silica and beryllium at their workplace – and even commonly used protective equipment may not be enough to prevent serious chronic health conditions.

On average, it takes OSHA nearly eight years to issue a health or safety standard. Since 2000, the agency has produced only 11, and some of those were technical amendments to existing rules.

OSHA must prove a substance to be a significant risk before it can adopt costly rules. The rules need to be reviewed by other authorities such as the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Industries and businesses are afraid that new standards will cost too much for protective equipment, health screenings, exposure assessment and pollution-control equipment, but workplace illnesses and deaths carry a huge price tag as well.

According to experts, an estimated 50,000 people die from occupational diseases every year and more than 400,000 people get sick from toxic exposures at the workplace.

Source: The Center for Public Integrity

Air cleaners for toxic airborne chemicals and particles

Along with other health and safety measures, the right type of air filtration equipment at the workplace can help provide cleaner and healthier air for employees.

Electrocorp has developed some of the most efficient and reliable air cleaners for industrial and commercial applications.

With the largest adsorbent surface areas and deep-bed activated carbon filters, the air cleaners can remove a wide range of airborne chemicals, gases, odors and fumes.

HEPA filters take care of fine particulates, while additional UV lamps can help neutralize biological hazards.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.