Bathtub refinishing chemical kills 13 workers nationwide
Stripping agents, poor ventilation blamed
Since 2000, at least 13 workers have died in the U.S. after performing bathtub refinishing with stripping agents containing methylene chloride. According to OSHA, in the majority of the cases the workers were working alone, in poorly ventilated bathrooms, with inadequate respiratory protection and little or no training on the hazards of the chemicals they were using.
Michigan recently investigated a bathtub-refinishing-related worker fatality through its Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation (FACE) program and subsequently issued a hazard alert to inform employers and workers. The alert highlights the hazards of working with methylene chloride-based stripping agents, explains safe work practices when using them and lists alternative paint stripping chemicals and processes.