Resources for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

House passes bill to spur OSHA action on "popcorn lung"

hr.cch.com

The House approved a bill designed to protect workers at food processing plants from exposure to a chemical linked to lung cancer. The House passed the bill (H.R. 2693) by a 260-154 vote on September 26. The Bush administration strongly opposes the measure.

The legislation would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a standard requiring food processing plants to protect workers from exposure to diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial food flavoring. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health would be required to conduct a study to determine the potential exposure hazards of diacetyl and associated chemicals.

Diacetyl has been linked to a severe lung disease known as bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as "popcorn lung." The chemical reportedly has sickened and killed a number of workers in microwave popcorn plants and other facilities.

View the Resource

Share or bookmarklet this web page at: