Most people don’t expect to read about hair styling in a column about workplace safety, but this has become a big concern. Many hair smoothing products (often advertised as a Brazilian blow out) contain formaldehyde and are posing a serious health risk for the stylists. (We assume it isn’t so good for the person getting the treatment either, but the client’s exposure is less.)
Not all of the manufacturers are labeling their products correctly. OSHA just issued citations to two Florida companies for failing to include formaldehyde on the product Material Safety Data Sheets.
For more information, please read OSHA’s Hazard Alert.