Workplace Accident Prevention: OSHA and NIOSH issued a hazard alert Today asking employers to protect workers from exposure to 1-Bromopropane

Exposure to 1-Bromopropane (1-BP) can cause serious injury to the nervous system such as headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness, slurred speech, confusion, difficulty walking, muscle twitching, and/or loss of feeling in arms and legs. The symptoms can persist even when the worker is not exposed anymore.

1-BP is a solvent that is used mainly in degreasing operations, furniture manufacturing and dry cleaning. Its usage has been growing for the last 20 years as it replaced other solvents. Some case studies in furniture manufacturing such as “Majersik JJ, et al” associated severe neurotoxicity with exposure to 1-bromopropane.

So far only California OSHA has specific exposure standards for 1-BP however “federal” OSHA is reminding employers that they are required by law to protect their employees from this recognized hazard.