An industry report of the foam manufacturing plant health
and safety records found incidents of occupational asthma to be lower in
flexible polyurethane foam plants than among the general adult population. The
report, featured in a paper entitled, “A Survey of the Incidence of
Occupational Asthma among Flexible Polyurethane Foam Slabstock Plants,”
combines 24 years of data and surveys and suggests that that plant workers were
“well-protected from chemical exposure by modern chemical exposure control
technologies and training.”
The paper, sponsored by the Polyurethane Foam Association
and analyzed by Washington, D.C. based law firm, McIntyre & Lemon, PLLC, suggests
numerous workplace controls, such as aggressive ventilation systems, personal
protection equipment (PPE), and risk-management training, have contributed a
very low percentage of self-reported asthma amongst workers.
Copies of a presentation presented at a Polyurethane Foam
Association Technical Program are available on the Polyurethane Foam
Association website in the literature section (under technical
proceedings).