Denmark abandons plan to ban phthalates

The ban would have been against EU rules: European Commission

Phthalates can be found in many products,
including medical devices and rubber boots.

Denmark has finally yielded to pressure from the European Commission to repeal its proposed ban on four phthalate chemicals (DEHP, DBP, DIBP and BBP).

Studies have proven that if the chemicals are ingested they can be harmful to the public, causing in some cases sterilisation, young women to prematurely hit puberty and malformed genitalia in new-born babies.

“The use of these phthalates are so widespread that they pose a serious health risk especially for small children and pregnant women,” Green Alliance’s environment spokesperson Per Clausen said in a statement.

While the EU has acknowledged these side-effects by banning the use of phthalates in children’s toys, they have not got around to banning the chemicals across the board.

Phthalates can be found in products ranging from medical devices to rubber boots. They generally serve the purpose of making plastics softer, more flexible and more durable.

Back in 2012, Denmark proposed the ban, which was set to come into effect in 2013. However, it was later postponed until 2015, and now it has been repealed altogether.

“EU rules should not prevent individual member states from protecting their citizens,” the former environment minister, Ida Auken, told Politken.

Nevertheless, Denmark has given into the pressure and scrapped its plans to ban the harmful chemicals.

Source: The Copenhagen Post

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Plastics company cited for chemical, other hazards

Employers need to provide safe and
healthful workplaces: OSHA.

CLEVELAND – New Wave Plastics has been cited for 13 safety violations after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found a lack of training and personal protective equipment at the Cleveland facility, a recycler and plastic products supplier.

After receiving a complaint in November 2013, OSHA initiated an inspection of the facility. Proposed penalties total $51,800.

"Employers have a responsibility to train workers about hazards found in their facilities and to take precautions to prevent injuries and illnesses," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "Employers must ensure workers are protected from hazards and that they receive the required safety training."

Twelve serious violations involve failing to train workers about wearing personal protective equipment; hazards associated with the use of chemicals in the work environment; forklift safety and fire extinguishers; and failure to provide fire-retardant clothing.

New Wave Plastics was also cited for failing to develop a hearing conservation program, create a hazard workplace assessment and develop a hazard communication program. The presence of combustible dust was also found.

An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.

One other-than-serious violation was cited for not providing required information to workers on OSHA's respiratory standards. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

New Wave Plastics has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

Source: OSHA

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Styrene: A brief look into plastics, issues and concerns

Styrene is often used in the
manufacturing of boats.

Styrene is a widely used chemical for making plastic materials. It is a main ingredient in polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, synthetic rubber, paints, expanded polystyrene and in hard or foam resins.

Because it resists corrosion and makes for strong materials, styrene is often used in the manufacture of marine watercraft, cultured marble countertops, solid-surface products in bathrooms and kitchen and more.

It is often applied with a bucket and roller or sprayed on and it has a strong odor, which means regulators see it as a potentially harmful substance to workers.

In June 2011, styrene was listed as a substance “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” in the 12th Report on Carcinogens in the United States.

What is styrene?

Styrene is also known as ethenylbenzene or vinyl benzene. It is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH=CH2.

Styrene is listed as "reasonably
anticipated" to be a carcinogen.

Styrene started being commercially produced in 1925 in Germany. Today, about 15 billion lbs. of styrene are produced internationally.

People are usually exposed to styrene by inhaling the fumes.

The open molding operations in the composites manufacturing industry are causing the greatest occupational exposure to styrene.

Wearing a respirator suitable for organic vapors can reduce styrene exposure but does not eliminate it entirely.

The industry’s safe-exposure limit for styrene is 50 ppm (parts per million) over an eight-hour day.

Since styrene’s listing in the 12th RoC, there have been considerable industry efforts to have the chemical delisted.

Source: Composites Technology 

Carbon air scrubbers for airborne chemicals and vapors

Activated carbon or
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Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners with granular activated carbon and particle filtration for an all-around air cleaning system.

Find out more by browsing Electrocorp’s air cleaners for chemical manufacturing plants or by contacting one of Electrocorp’s IAQ representatives.