Funeral Homes - Industry-Specific Environmental & Safety Guidance (FREE)
By EHSO.com, the site for free, objective, practical information about the environment, health and safety in 2026!
Funeral Homes - Industry-Specific Environmental & Safety Guidance (FREE)
Funeral Homes - Industry-Specific
Environmental & Safety Guidance
Back to the Table of Contents page for information on many other subjects!
Back to the Main industry-specific environmental and safety guidance page
If you know of any other good links for this industry, please contact them to us!
OSHA Guidance Letter
03/25/1998 - Protective equipment for formaldehyde exposure.
March 25, 1998
Ryan Hopper
457 East 800 North
Logan, UT 84321
Dear Mr. Hopper:
This is in response to the letter you sent President Clinton by electronic mail on August 9, 1997, concerning regulations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that affect embalming conducted by funeral homes.
There is an OSHA formaldehyde standard, 29 CFR 1910.1048, that applies to formaldehyde exposures employees receive due to embalming conducted by funeral homes as well as to all other occupational exposures to formaldehyde. Your description of the protective clothing required by the standard seems inaccurate. We have enclosed a copy of the formaldehyde standard's requirements for protective clothing and equipment for your review. Please note the conditions requiring full body protection are either: (1) The formaldehyde air concentration exceeds 100 ppm; or (2) an emergency reentry is being made into an area of unknown formaldehyde air concentration. Please refer to (h)(1)(iv) of the enclosure.
The purpose of the protective equipment and clothing provisions presented at 29 CFR 1910.1048(h) is to afford employees eye and skin protection. The severity of reactions to eye contact with formaldehyde solutions depends on the concentration of formaldehyde in solution and the amount of time lapsed before emergency and medical intervention. Concentrations of formaldehyde between 0.05 ppm and 0.5 ppm produce a sensation of irritation in the eyes with burning, itching, redness, and tearing. Increased rate of blinking and eye closure generally protects the eye from damage at these low levels, but these protective mechanisms may interfere with some workers' work abilities. Tolerance can occur in workers continuously exposed to concentrations of formaldehyde in this range. Accidental splashing of human eyes with aqueous solutions of 37 percent formaldehyde (formalin) has produced a wide range of ocular injuries including corneal opacities and blindness.
Skin contact with formaldehyde solutions can cause irritation of the skin and allergic contact dermatitis. These skin diseases and disorders can occur at levels well below those encountered by many formaldehyde workers. Symptoms include erythema, edema, and vesiculation or hives. Exposure to liquid formalin or formaldehyde vapor can provoke skin reactions in sensitized individuals even when airborne concentrations of formaldehyde are well below 1 ppm.
We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with this information. Should you have further questions, please contact the Office of Health Compliance Assistance at (202) 219-8036.
Sincerely,
John B. Miles, Jr.
Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs
Other letters:
OSHA Training
In addition to any continuing education required by state certification regulations, every apprentice embalmer, registered embalmer and registered funeral director employed by a licensed funeral establishment shall obtain sufficient continuing education contact hours to be in compliance with the regulations of the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration regarding information on bloodborne pathogen exposure risks and protection from such risks, as delineated in 239 CMR 3.12(13) and 29 CFR 1910.1030.
See this link for Massachusetts requirements
Ways to save money AND help the environment:
Save water AND money
with this showerhead adapter,
it lets the water flow until the water is hot, then shuts off water flow until you restart it, ShowerStart TSV Hot Water Standby Adapter
Eat healthier AND save money: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric 8 QT Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, Warmer, Sterilizer, Pot is Stainless Steel
Protect your health with these:
Mattress Dust mite-Bedbug protector
, 100% Waterproof, Hypoallergenic, Zippered 
Handheld Allergen Vacuum Cleaner with UV Sanitizing
for Allergies and Pet, Kills Mite, Virus, Molds, True HEPA with Powerful Suction removes Hair, Dander, Pollen, Dust
,
Immune Support
Supplement with Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3
GermGuardian Air Purifier with UV-C Light
and HEPA 13 Filter, R
emoves 99.97% of Pollutants
HEPA Air Purifier
, HEPA Air Cleaner with Washable Pre-Filter, AQI Display, ECO Mode, Sleep Mode, Pet Mode for Pets, Dust, Pollen, Removes 99.97% of Particles, Smoke, Mold, Pet Dander, Dust, Odors
Interesting Reads:
THE PREPPER'S CANNING & PRESERVING BIBLE:
[13 in 1] Your Path to Food Self-Sufficiency. Canning, Dehydrating, Fermenting, Pickling & More, Plus The Food Preservation Calendar for a Sustainable Pantry 
The Backyard Homestead:
Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre! P
aperback
The Citizens' Guide to Geologic Hazards:
A Guide to Understanding Geologic Hazards Including Asbestos, Radon, Swelling Soils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
The Uninhabitable Earth:
Life After Warming
Book: The Sixth Extinction:
An Unnatural History Paperback
