FACE Facts: Bathtub Refinisher Dies from Exposure to Methylene Chloride

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Massachusetts. Department of Public Health
• Description:
  Background: Since 2000, at least 13 bathtub refinishers have died nationwide due to overexposure to methylene chloridebased strippers. One of these 13 fatalities occurred in Massachusetts. All of these deaths occurred during work in residential bathrooms with inadequate ventilation. In addition, personal respiratory protection was insufficient: respirators were either not used or were the wrong type to protect against methylene chloride (MC) vapors. What happened in Massachusetts?: In 2004, a 43-year-old contractor was hired to refinish a bathtub. While stripping the bathtub with an MC-based stripper, he was found unconscious in the bathroom slumped over the bathtub. The bathroom did not have windows or exhaust ventilation. The victim was wearing a disposable respirator while stripping the bathtub. What can be done? To prevent similar incidents and risk of severe injury and death: Do not use MC-based strippers: MC-based strippers most likely cannot be used safely in small and medium enclosed bathrooms. Use alternative stripping methods, such as sanding and using non-MC-based strippers. WARNING: Alternate methods may have their own hazards of which to be aware. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Accident Prevention
  • Accidents
  • Accidents, Occupational
  • Mortality
  • Occupational Health
  • Respiratory Protective Devices
  • Respiratory System
  • Safety
  • Solvents
  • Ventilation
• Keywords:
  • Fatalities
  • Injuries
  • Accident analysis
  • Accident prevention
  • Safety education
  • Safety practices
  • Ventilation
  • Respiratory irritants
  • Respiratory protective equipment
  • Vapors
  More +
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Fact Sheet
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053311
• Citation:
  Boston, MA: Massachusetts State Department of Public Health, 2012 Apr; :1-2
• CAS Registry Number:
  • Dichloromethane (CAS RN 75-09-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Performing Organization:
  Massachusetts State Department of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  FACE facts: bathtub refinisher dies from exposure to methylene chloride
• End Date:
  20260630
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228878/cdc_228878_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 488.81 KB]
• Collection(s):
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9cd2713f3f0d05b17178cce435d986aa97bf9baabed59b7bcff7dbca71d8bb80d9f578139f74a15e9a2078c7e8439fcbb6f8e5f3432d36f05c593f84dda74c7f