If there is one group of chemicals that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently focused on, it is PFAS. Short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, these synthetic chemicals are known for their strong carbon-fluorine bond.
They have become a heated topic of debate due to health repercussions and environmental threats. What’s most interesting is that PFAS are practically everywhere, from tap water to food packages.
It has been found that around 97% of Americans have traces of PFAS in their bloodstream. This includes newborn babies. Even so, the most affected population would be workers since PFAS have had multiple industrial applications.
Occupational exposure is what this article will focus on. We will discuss the need for workplace safety measures against PFAS and tips for doing so successfully.
The Need for Workplace Control Measures
While introducing PFAS, we briefly mentioned that these chemicals involve health and environmental risks. From both of these viewpoints, it is important to establish and maintain workplace safety standards.
Let’s create a bit more context. Since the 1970s, PFAS have been used majorly by the firefighting industry in Class B firefighting foam or Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). This means firefighters would be directly exposed to these chemicals as a part of their daily work.
Other areas of applications include non-stick cookware, stain-resistant garments, and even dental floss. In these cases, the exposure may not be too direct but there can be health risks. The EPA lists some of these, including reduced immune response, hormonal issues, decreased fertility rates, and increased cholesterol levels.
As for firemen, TorHoerman Law shares that many have developed life-threatening conditions like cancer. These include those affecting the kidneys, bladder, and testicles. Veterans can apply for VA claims to get compensation for their injuries.
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Additionally, they can file a firefighting foam lawsuit, also filed by others. As for the environment, PFAS are said to bio-accummalate and stay indefinitely in the soil. They seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater. This is why municipalities also joined the litigation.
Though the water contamination cases have been settled, the personal injury ones are in line for trial. Over 7,000 such cases will be settled shortly. This should be enough to give us a grim picture of PFAS exposure.
PFAS are soon to be banned worldwide and scientists are working on finding alternatives. Since employees are at the most risk of being exposed to PFAS, companies must take steps to protect them. Even after the ban takes place, the existing PFAS must be dealt with.
3 Ways Companies Can Reduce Occupational PFAS Exposure
Let’s jump right into the three effective ways companies can fulfill their duties in keeping workers safe from PFAS. This may be the most needed across industries like food & packaging, textiles, kitchen equipment, firefighting, automotive, construction, and electronics.
Elimination and Substitution
The first step in keeping workers safe from PFAS is proper identification. It is important to locate all items within the company premises that may contain these chemicals.
This information can be found in every product’s safety data sheet. Simply go through the ingredients list and if you find the terms ‘fluorinated’ or ‘perfluorinated surfactants,’ the substance has PFAS in it.
Some of the obvious culprits would include anything that is water, grease, or oil-resistant. Once all the items have been identified, they need to be eliminated and substituted. For instance – firefighting companies can replace their fluorine-based foams with non-fluorinated alternatives.
Similarly, the construction industry can use alternatives in the form of silicone-modified polyester, galvanized steel, furan resins, and more. Companies must start with identifying, eliminating, and substituting all PFAS-based products.
Administrative Measures
After PFAS-laden products have been identified, companies must get everyone on the same page about the phasing out and substitution. In the meantime, various administrative measures may be required.
These would include robust workers’ training programs, housekeeping methods, and exposure monitoring. This may take some time because PFAS may be present in numerous products used throughout the supply chain.
To establish a successful workers training program, companies can start with personal protective equipment (PPE). The same would include a full firefighting gear for firemen.
Even these had been found to contain traces of PFAS. In case of doubts, relevant tests should be conducted and the gear should be replaced with safe alternatives. Moreover, it’s best to not allow the gear to age as PFAS levels may rise. Ideally, it should be changed sometime before the standard 10 years from the date of manufacture.
The same goes for other industries where workers frequently handle items containing PFAS. Even the water supply within the company premises should be checked for any signs of PFAS. If found, it may become necessary to install water filters specifically designed to remove these chemicals.
Tech Support
Another way for organizations to stay ahead of PFAS is to utilize technology that simplifies the process. It is true that modern technology has advanced to an extent where PFAS risk management is possible.
One technology that can help is the chemical substitution software. What it would mainly do is act as a centralized platform for all existing chemicals within the organization. This way, it will become easier to narrow down the search to only those substances that contain PFAS.
Tech support is essential as it would only fast-track the process discussed above. After all PFAS-based items have been located on the central platform, a comparison grid can be generated to discover substitutes.
PFAS bans have started being implemented across different products. It is expected that by 2026, a complete phase-out will take place. Is your company ready for what’s coming?
Are your workers safe from the health threats of PFAS? If you’re unsure, run a quality check at the earliest. Apply the strategies discussed in this article to keep your workers safe for the long haul.
