Industrial Hygiene Testing

Cinnaminson, New Jersey, December 18, 2023

Recently, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that federal investigators have determined that a tank cleaning company did not provide adequate respiratory protection, resulting in two employees being transported to the hospital, one of them being hospitalized due to exposure to hydrogen sulfide. Two first responders were also treated at the scene.

The incident happened earlier this year when the workers were cleaning a tanker truck according to OSHA. The agency claims that the company did not evaluate the worksite for possible respiratory hazards like the one that sickened the workers and did not monitor employees for exposure to other substances. The company also failed to provide workers with appropriate respirators, manage a required respiratory protection program to provide workers with medical evaluations prior to respirator use, and conduct respiratory fit testing.

“In this case, OSHA has proposed over $399,000 in penalties for nine health violations, including two willful, three repeat and four serious,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Companies with workers in occupations where they could be exposed to hydrogen sulfide need to implement the appropriate procedures to identify hazards, provide effective monitoring and the appropriate personal protective equipment. EMSL Analytical provides these resources to protect workers and to help keep companies in regulatory compliance with hydrogen sulfide and other laboratory testing services, gas monitoring instruments, and a wide range of PPE.”

Several years ago, EMSL sponsored an educational video about hydrogen sulfide and exposure risks that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/oiVAOrvDKvQ

To learn more about industrial hygiene and air quality testing services, monitoring instruments, or personal protective equipment, 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.