C&EN Senior Correspondent David J. Hanson notes that manufacturers have added formaldehyde to fabrics for almost a hundred years to make fabrics easier to care for, particularly to reduce wrinkling in cotton and prevent stains. Concern has emerged over formaldehyde’s potential for causing allergic reactions such as skin rashes in some people as well as formaldehyde being a potential human carcinogen.
The article describes a new analysis of formaldehyde levels in clothing and the potential health risks. The analysis found that formaldehyde levels in clothing have fallen significantly over the past 25 years. In 1984, for instance, 67% of fabrics tested in government studies had levels greater than 100 parts per million, a level the textile industry considers high. But since 2003, less than 2% of items tested showed such high levels and most clothing items had nondetectable levels, the article says, noting that the health risk from formaldehyde is likely very small.
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Questioning the Safety of Plant-based Antioxidants
Scientists are calling for more research on the possibility that some supposedly healthful plant-based antioxidants—including those renowned for their apparent ability to prevent cancer—may actually aggravate or even cause cancer in some individuals. Their recommendation follows a study in which two such antioxidants—quercetin and ferulic acid—appeared to aggravate kidney cancer in severely diabetic laboratory rats.
Kuan-Chou Chen, Robert Peng, and colleagues note that vegetables, fruits, and other plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants that appear to fight cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other disorders. Among those antioxidants is quercetin, especially abundant in onions and black tea, and ferulic acid, found in corn, tomatoes, and rice bran. Both also are ingredients in certain herbal remedies and dietary supplements. But questions remain about the safety and effectiveness of some antioxidants, with research suggesting that quercetin could contribute to the development of cancer, the scientists note.
They found that diabetic laboratory rats fed either quercetin or ferulic acid developed more advanced forms of kidney cancer, and concluded the two antioxidants appear to aggravate or possibly cause kidney cancer. “Some researchers believe that quercetin should not be used by healthy people for prevention until it can be shown that quercetin does not itself cause cancer,” the report states. “In this study we report that quercetin aggravated, at least, if not directly caused, kidney cancer in rats,” it adds, suggesting that health agencies like the U. S. Food and Drug Administration should reevaluate the safety of plant-based antioxidants.
U.S. Minerals Fined $466,400 for Exposing Workers to Dangerous Levels of Hazardous Dust
OSHA has cited U.S. Minerals LLC of Dyer, Indiana, for willfully exposing its workers to dangerously high levels of hazardous dust and not providing adequate breathing protection at its Baldwin facility. The company, which manufactures abrasive blasting and roofing materials from slag produced at coal-fired power plants, has been issued a total of 35 health and safety citations with proposed penalties of $466,400.
“U.S. Minerals has severely jeopardized the health of its workers by exposing them to extremely high levels of dust containing silica,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. “Even with employees covered head to toe in dust, the company still failed to provide breathing protection and other controls.”
Inhalation of the material produced at the facility can cause debilitating lung disease such as pneumoconiosis, which is characterized by symptoms including chronic cough, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath. The antiquated and poorly maintained facility billowed clouds of dust that were noted by and affected residents as far as two miles away.
OSHA has issued U.S. Minerals 10 willful citations with proposed fines of $392,000 for exposing workers to levels of hazardous dust at concentrations higher than the permissible exposure limit (PEL); failure to implement a written respiratory protection program or to provide respirators to employees; and failure to implement engineering controls to reduce harmful dust exposures. A willful violation is one committed with intentional, knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirement, or plain indifference to employee safety and health.
“U.S. Minerals has demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety and welfare of its workers,” said OSHA Area Director Nick Walters in Peoria, Illinois. “That is not acceptable, and we are committed to seeing that the workers at this facility are provided a safe and healthy workplace.”
The company also has been issued 15 serious citations with proposed penalties of $37,600. Violations include failure to assess the need for adequate personal protective equipment; inadequate eye protection; unsanitary washing facilities; failure to develop procedures and practices for permit-required confined space entry; lack of a written hazard communication program; and inadequate information and training on dust containing silica. An OSHA violation is serious if death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard an employer knew or should have known exists.
The company has received six repeat citations with fines of $34,400 for violating permit-required confined space entry rules and failure to maintain a clean and orderly workplace. OSHA issues repeat citations if an employer was previously cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule, or order at any other facility within the last three years. The company also has received four other-than-serious citations with $2,400 in penalties for lack of proper injury and illness recordkeeping.
As a result of this inspection, OSHA has opened inspections of additional U.S. Minerals facilities in Coffeen, Illinois; Harvey, Louisiana; and Galveston, Texas.
Pilgrim Pride Corp. Cited for 29 Safety and Health Violations with $135,500 in Penalties
OSHA has cited Pilgrim Pride Corp., in Russellville, Alabama, for 29 safety and health violations. Penalties total $135,500.
“This company has been cited numerous times in the last five years and should be aware of the safety and health measures that need to be addressed to protect its workers,” said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA area director in Birmingham.
OSHA began its inspection in March after receiving a complaint concerning ammonia odors, trip and struck-by hazards, and cuts and stabbing injuries. The investigation was expanded to all areas of the facility when inspectors observed a high number of safety hazards.
The company is being cited with two repeat safety violations with $35,000 in proposed penalties for failing to utilize lockout/tagout procedures and not labeling containers with the appropriate hazard warning.
The employer is also being cited with 24 serious safety and health violations with $97,500 in proposed penalties. The hazards are associated with falls; unmarked fire exits; unsecured chlorine cylinders; unsafe batteries that exposed workers to acid burns and electrical shock; lack of machine guarding; lack of hand protection; and electrical deficiencies.
Three other-than-serious citations with a $3,000 proposed penalty are being issued to the company for improper completion of the OSHA 300 logs.
OSHA Proposes $89,000 in Fines for CVS Pharmacy for Exit, Storage, and Other Hazards at Connecticut Store
OSHA has proposed a total of $89,000 in fines against CVS Pharmacy Inc., for alleged repeat and serious violations of safety standards following an inspection of the retailer’s Orange, Connecticut, store.
OSHA found that employees working in the store’s stockroom were not provided with unobstructed and effective emergency exit routes due to containers and pallets blocking the routes. OSHA had cited CVS in 2007 for similar conditions at stores in Darien, Connecticut, and in New York City. As a result, OSHA issued CVS one repeat citation with a $70,000 fine for this recurring hazard.
The inspection of the Orange store also identified an unmarked exit door, unmounted fire extinguishers, no fire extinguisher training for workers, and lack of a site-specific emergency action plan for employees to follow in the event of a fire or other emergency. In addition, boxes of stock were stored in tiers that were not stacked, secured, or limited in height to prevent them from collapsing on workers. These conditions resulted in the issuance of six serious citations, with $19,000 in fines.
“A fire or other emergency can erupt swiftly making it imperative that workers have both unobstructed exit routes and effective working knowledge on how to safely and quickly exit the workplace,” said Robert Kowalski, OSHA’s area director in Bridgeport. “For the safety and health of its workers, CVS needs to ensure that the proper safeguards are in place and in use at all of its locations.”
OSHA Fines New Jersey Dollar Tree Stores More than $50,000 for Exposing Workers to Workplace Safety Hazards
OSHA has cited Dollar Tree Stores for workplace safety violations at a Watchung, New Jersey, location. Proposed penalties total $56,000.
OSHA initiated its inspection in July in response to a complaint. As a result of the investigation, Dollar Tree Stores was cited for two repeat violations with a penalty of $50,000 for failing to properly stack, block, interlock, or limit the height of stored materials to prevent these materials from sliding or collapsing onto workers. Dollar Tree Stores previously was cited for the same violations at its Dover, New Jersey, and Kissimmee, Florida, locations in March 2008 and November 2008, respectively. A repeat citation is issued when a substantially similar violation is found at any of an employer’s facilities in federal enforcement states within three years of a previous citation.
The employer also has been cited for two serious violations with a penalty of $6,000 for failing to cover exposed electrical outlets, and failing to keep storage areas free of tripping and fire hazards.
“The violations found at Dollar Tree Stores are indicative of the kind of safety and health concerns, often found at retail stores, that can pose a serious risk to workers,” said Patricia Jones, director of OSHA’s area office in Avenel, New Jersey. “It is imperative that Dollar Tree evaluates all its store locations for these and other potential workplace hazards and takes the appropriate steps to protect the workers.”
Injury and Illness Prevention Programs among the Issues to be Discussed at Advisory Committee Meeting
NACOSH is a continuing advisory committee established under the OSH Act of 1970 that has advised the Secretaries of Labor, and Health and Human Services for nearly 40 years on occupational safety and health issues such as emergency preparedness, site-specific targeting, hexavalent chromium, whistleblower protection, and continuing outreach to Latino workers.
The committee will meet both days, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., in Room N-3437, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.
If submitting comments by mail, send three copies to the OSHA Docket Office, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. Submissions of 10 pages or less may be faxed to the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-1648. Submissions should include Docket No. OSHA-2010-0012.
For general information, contact Deborah Crawford, OSHA Directorate of Evaluation and Analysis, at 202-693-1932. Press inquiries should be directed to MaryAnn Garrahan, OSHA Office of Communications at 202-693-1999. P
OSHA advises workers that they have a right to speak out about workplace safety concerns. The Occupational Safety and Health Act’s whistleblower provision protects workers from discrimination and retaliation when they report safety and health hazards or exercise other rights.
