Lessons learned from the EPA/OSHA chemical advisory: "skin exposure to molten 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) can cause rapid death.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Gillen, Matthew ; Gillen, Matthew
• Description:
  EPA and OSHA, with assistance from NIOSH, issued a Chemical Advisory on February 15, 2000, to raise awareness that the molten form of 2,4- Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) could cause worker fatalities after minimal skin exposure. The need for the advisory was initially triggered by notification of a worker fatality under Section 8(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act. The substance had limited toxicological information and no occupational exposure limits. A total of five fatalities over an 18-year period were eventually identified and linked to skin exposure accidents with 2,4-DCP. The purpose of this presentation is to describe: 1) how the fatalities were identified; 2) the process that led to agency collaboration on the chemical advisory; 3) obstacles to sharing of information about the hazard and precautions and their impact on the process; 4) the utility of facility-specific targeting based on the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI); and 5) substances deserving additional scrutiny based on similarity to 2,4- DCP. The experience with 2,4-DCP points out a number of important issues relevant to the practice of industrial hygiene, especially in regard to substances without occupational exposure limits. Available toxicity data did not allow easy identification of the potential hazard, and existing reporting systems did not elevate early fatalities. There is a critical need to create safety and health infrastructure for protection against dermal exposures and for effective response once skin is contaminated. Creation of a list of substances that can cause death via dermal absorption is also suggested to guard against future tragedies similar to the 2,4-DCP case. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Chemistry Hazardous Substances Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mortality Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Skin
• Keywords:
  Accidents Chemical-structure Exposure-levels Exposure-limits Hazardous-materials Hazards Industrial-hazards Industrial-hygiene Mortality-rates Occupational-exposure Skin-exposure Toxic-dose Toxic-effects Toxins

  More +
• Publisher:
  American Industrial Hygiene Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary ; Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OD - Office of the Director ; OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  30
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20041360
• Citation:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana. Fairfax, VA: American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2001 Jun; :30
• CAS Registry Number:
  2,4-Dichlorophenol (CAS RN 120-83-2) ; 2,4-Dichlorophenol (CAS RN 120-83-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, June 2-7, 2001, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6709da1e153ecc9d5e44ec3f60e72c78f1df6574e9c0261b7a6966d7adacc642f6b97cf5f27d592ec44e86d5823fba6d5af3e6171727b033b9398fe50ddef6a9
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/193947/cdc_193947_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 189.37 KB ]