Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Cinnaminson, NJ, July 11, 2023 

Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor announced an investigation had found that a company operating a wood treatment chemical manufacturing facility in Georgia exposed workers to chemical hazards. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had opened an inspection at the facility after screening tests by the Georgia Poison Center found workers employed by the company had elevated levels of arsenic. 

According to a U.S. Department of Labor news release, the chemical manufacturing company was cited with nine serious violations for:

• Exposing workers to inorganic arsenic at up to 20 times above the allowable exposure limit.
• Allowing hazardous inorganic dust to accumulate on desks, food packaging, lockers, refrigerators and the inner surfaces of workers’ respirators.
• Not requiring employees using respirators to remove facial hair that might prevent a proper fit and seal.
• Allowing workers to enter regulated areas without a respirator.
• Not requiring contractors to change clothing and decontaminate properly at the end of their shifts.
• Allowing pallets of materials to block emergency eyewash and shower stations.
• Not providing adequate eye protection for workers handling inorganic arsenic acid samples. 

“OSHA has proposed penalties of almost $125,000 in this instance,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “This case is a reminder that there are regulations in place to protect workers from exposure arsenic. Inorganic arsenic and arsenic compounds are considered to be cancer-causing chemicals. At EMSL, we have laboratories across North America that offer industrial hygiene and environmental testing for the various forms of arsenic and many other potential exposure risks. We also provide sampling supplies, air monitoring instruments, respirators and wide range of other personal protective equipment to protect workers and to help companies maintain compliance with health and safety regulations.”   

To learn more about testing for the various forms of arsenic, or other environmental and industrial hygiene testing services and resources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. 

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.