OSHA has announced an alliance with Concerned Beauty Professionals in an attempt to reduce chemical hazards in the beauty industry. The alliance was signed on Mach 31, 2014. The primary result of this alliance will be more rigorous investigation into the air quality at hair salons, specifically as it relates to formaldehyde in the air.

“OSHA and other federal, state and non-U.S. government agencies have taken action to address the emerging problem of formaldehyde exposure to hair smoothing products,” said Teresa Harrison, OSHA’s acting regional administrator in Atlanta. “This alliance demonstrates OSHA’s commitment to the safety and health of workers in this industry.”

And while this obviously means it is time for salon owners to ensure they have adequate planning in place surrounding air quality and formaldehyde exposure, it is also important for manufacturers, importers, and distributors of products containing formaldehyde to ensure their labels and material safety data sheets are accurate. OSHA has been testing hair straightening and related products to determine if the listed formaldehyde levels are accurate. So far, the investigation has found several products have inaccurate labeling.

If you are involved in any products which utilize formaldehyde, it is imperative you create a process to test and affirm the labels on your products. And while an internal process has been sufficient for most companies to date, it might be time to verify your results through a full third party audit of your facility and processes.

If you have any questions about formaldehyde testing or third party audits, please contact us. If you have anything to add about the importance of accurate formaldehyde labeling, please leave a comment.