| Should you find yourself in an occupation where you | | | | good health again. Unbelievably a trend has developed |
| deal with or work in close proximity to any process | | | | recently which sees youngsters sniffing formaldehyde |
| that involves Formaldehyde, it may be in your best | | | | as part of drug use. This has caused many deaths |
| interest to know what the OSHA Formaldehyde | | | | and coma cases as direct inhalation can prove fatal. |
| Standard entails (Occupational Safety and Health | | | | But how can you protect yourself from being |
| Administration) when dealing with this substance. | | | | poisoned at work? Firstly you must know what you |
| Like any other harmful chemical, this one also shows | | | | are working with. Maybe you are working with |
| short term symptoms to those who are exposed to | | | | undiluted chemicals or the chemicals may be hidden |
| it. The sad story though is the long term effects of | | | | inside materials you use every day. |
| working in an environment filled with harmful gases | | | | In both these cases you are prone to inhaling the |
| which only shows itself years after you have left this | | | | stuff, so a first line of defense will be the wearing of |
| harmful environment. | | | | appropriate face masks. Make sure the mask you |
| The main problem is the development of various | | | | wear is specially made to prevent chemical fumes |
| cancers years after being exposed to formaldehyde | | | | from entering your lungs. A normal dust mask will not |
| for long periods. These cancers can not be predicted | | | | help at all. |
| nor stopped because of the long term effect of the | | | | Secondly make sure that the work area has a very |
| chemical on the body. | | | | good through airflow, this will take away toxic fumes |
| Short term symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning will | | | | constantly. Monitor where the ventilated air goes so |
| quickly tell you that you are in a danger zone. Your | | | | as not to cause extra problems for unsuspected |
| lungs will protest and you may suffer from asthma | | | | neighbors. |
| attacks to feeling terribly ill. Nausea and a burning | | | | Should you spill any of this product, it is vital to do |
| sensation experienced on all mucous membrane areas | | | | the right cleanup procedure or you may face certain |
| also indicates that these areas are affected. | | | | poisoning. Small spills should be cleared with a cloth |
| Your body will warn you amply when you are | | | | and the cloth then sealed in air tight containers and |
| exposed to massive amounts, but the real problem | | | | disposed of via chemical disposal companies. |
| comes from being exposed to a small quantity over | | | | Large spills should rather be left for the professionals |
| a very long period of time. This means that your | | | | to clean. Remove yourself from the affected area |
| body may get used to being irritated by the | | | | immediately and seal it off as best as possible. Keep |
| formaldehyde and thus stop showing you the | | | | others away and call for emergency cleaning up |
| symptoms. | | | | immediately. |
| This means you are being poisoned slowly but surely | | | | Make sure you and your company adhere to the |
| and at some stage you will become symptomatic, by | | | | OSHA rules and regulations and you will be safe when |
| then it may be a serious problem to get back to | | | | working with dangerous chemicals. |