Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CHEMICAL

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that: a)Employees, such as but not limited to, electricians, millwrights, press operators, utility workers, QC technicians, shift supervisors, chop saw operators, knife grinders, green end relief, board graders, and 950 operators were exposed to an increased risk of pulmonary dysfunction and/or sensitization due to inadequately controlled exposure to air contaminants such as but not limited to MDI, formaldehyde, and wood dust. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to implement a primary and secondary abatement strategy as follows: 1.Primary Prevention Strategy: Prevent employee exposures to chemicals including but not limited to MDI, formaldehyde, and wood dust in the workplace by: -limit exposure through improved engineering controls and rigorous maintenance of equipment to prevent leaks, -perform air monitoring for MDI, formaldehyde, and wood dust to accurately characterize employee exposures in all production and maintenance tasks, -develop and implement additional engineering controls to control exposures identified by monitoring, -provide appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent both airborne and skin exposures to MDI and formaldehyde, -prevent airborne exposures to wood dust. 2.Secondary Prevention Strategy: Implement an effective medical surveillance program to detect disease processes at an early stage before the process is irreversible. Any cases of respiratory disease which are found should be considered to be sentinel events indicating that primary prevention has failed in the workplace. -implement a medical monitoring program which includes both scheduled and event-driven examinations. -when symptoms occur which may be related to workplace exposures, evaluation as to work- relatedness must occur. This should include such elements as cross-shift spirometry or peak flow testing as well as similar measurements made after relocation of the employee. Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation is required for this item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").-Certification