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Creative Material Technologies President, John C. Becker IV,
Presents "Understanding MDI Alternatives" at OSHA Region I Consultancy
Meeting
Palmer, MA (May 23, 2007) Creative Material Technologies, Ltd. (CMT)
President, John C. Becker IV, once again had the attention of OSHA,
(Occupational Safety & Health Administration), at their Regional Consultants Meeting in Mystic, CT on May 2nd.
Becker's presentation included the market conditions for the growing
spray on bed liner market sector. Presently, spray-on bed liners are
gaining market share 20 times faster than drop-ins and the numbers
indicate that 72% of spray-on bed liners are aftermarket installed.
These numbers only add to the ever-growing health and safety concern,
which, in turn, increases OSHA's attention and focus to address this
health issue.
The job of the OSHA Consultancy Program is to act as a non-enforcement
arm of OSHA; to reach out and assist spray on facilities in order for
them to acquire and maintain compliance with OSHA standards,
requirements and regulations. Four of OSHA's ten Regions have had
ongoing Regional Emphasis Programs regarding MDI exposure in the spray
on bed liner market. It is expected that OSHA will soon announce that
these Regional Emphasis Programs will be replaced with a National
Emphasis Program aimed at reducing the MDI exposure health hazards that
have been inherent in the spray-on bedliner industry.
The identified health problem that has been on the OSHA "radar" is
known as MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Isocyanate). MDI is found in every
spray on product on the market today, with the exception of CrystalinerTM, a Creative Material Technologies brand. CrystaLinerTM, the "Original Clear Bed Liner"TM,
caught the attention of OSHA due to the product being 100% aliphatic
and 100% solids, with no solvents or VOC's and containing zero MDI in
its formulation. In addition, CMT's Voyager Spray Pump is a focus as it
empowers the spray on installer with an innovative and safer method of
applying high performance coatings.
The OSHA Consultancy group has been formed to work with automotive bed
liner spray shops in meeting the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
for MDI-which is .02 parts per million-in order to prevent enforcement
action against the spray shop.
OSHA's goal in this matter is twofold:
1. To assist those businesses that are having difficulty meeting the
existing PEL through consulting services involving engineering control
improvements and personal protective equipment implementation; and
2. To enforce existing PEL exposure ceiling limitations, thereby
reducing employee exposures to these health and safety hazards.
"An unfortunate truth is that the spray-on bed liner industry has not
been very proactive in addressing the regulatory issues," Becker
stated, and in answering the question as to why installers may not be
voluntarily complying, Becker listed numerous problems:
- The lack of education and information on the product and their chemistry
- Suppliers not pursuing safer raw material options that may be available
- Perceived inconsistencies in enforcement approaches
- A feeling of fear in believing that OSHA is the enemy when the real risk may be their own material
"Installers face an even more difficult road to safety and
reorganization," Becker went on to say. "Currently, there is no
industry recognized certification or formal training program. In some
cases installers have bought into the suppliers short term profit
promise, thereby valuing dollars over quality and safety."
In addition to CrystaLinerTM, CMT offers a wide variety
of spray on applications designed specifically to address the unique
requirements of the homeowner, professional installer, and OEM
customer. Formulations include roofs, foundations, decks, pond and
pools, garage, commercial and industrial floors, foam, and an
application specifically for detailers and mobile technicians. All
formulations require no spray booth. CMT provides training and low cost
spray equipment through Voyager Spray Systems for all applications. For
more information about bed liner systems or a spray on bed liner
business www.clearbedliner.com
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