ARLINGTON, VA — The Alliance for the Polyurethanes Industry (API) formed an alliance with federal offices of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and state plan OSHAs in Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. This establishes a cooperative relationship that will focus on reducing and preventing exposures of diisocyanates during the application of spray-on truck bed liners.

Truck bed lining products have protected vehicles from wear and tear over many years through the application of polyurethane, polyurea, or polyurea hybrid systems. Though the spray application of these products protects the truck bed, the actual spraying of the truck bed liner requires specific handling and care. Virtually all of these products use methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). Diisocyanates such as MDI have been known to cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, lungs, and skin. They also can cause allergic reactions (sensitization) of the skin and lungs. API has addressed truck bed liner worker protection issues through publication of a brochure, Truck Bed Liners; Worker Protection.

As part of the alliance, the organizations will work together to raise industry awareness of job hazards and the business value of a company’s commitment to employee safety and health.

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