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When thinking of workplace hazards, the beauty and cosmetic industry is probably not the first to come to mind. However, hair salon employers and workers are regularly exposed to harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) found unsafe levels of formaldehyde in products labeled “formaldehyde free” in a number of hair salons in previous investigations. One salon exposed workers and clients to airborne formaldehyde at concentrations five times the legal limit, two parts formaldehyde per million parts air.
OSHA began to crack down on hair salons for formaldehyde exposure in California, Oregon, Connecticut and New York. Quite recently, OSHA has formed its first alliance with the cosmetic industry to cooperatively reduce the incidence of formaldehyde exposure.
“OSHA and other federal, state and non-U.S. government agencies have taken action to address the emerging problem of formaldehyde exposure to hair smoothing products,” said an OSHA regional administrator. “This alliance demonstrates OSHA’s commitment to the safety and health of workers in this industry.”
Looking For An Experienced Workers Compensation Attorney In Ohio
If you work at a hair salon and notice difficulty breathing, skin sensitivity, bloody noses or eye irritation, our workers compensation attorneys can help. Long term exposure to formaldehyde can even cause blindness. Filing a workers compensation claim can be very complicated to do on your own. As such, it is best to seek out the assistance of an experienced workers compensation attorney. The legal team of Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC has over 80 years of combined experience defending injured workers and whistleblowers. For more information on how we can help in your particular circumstance, contact us.
[Did You Know: Watch out for Brazilian Blowout Smoothing Solution: it contains formaldehyde but does not list it as an ingredient.]
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus Workers Comp Attorneys