Medium Density Fiberboard
Informational Resource

The F.O.W. has been an active participate in the education and effort to curtail the use of M.D.F. on all job
sites in New York City for over four years.

We are currently working with elected officials to have MDF legislation that is similar to the California
standards.

We would like to thank Mrs. Alice Freund and her team from the Industrial Hygienist’s at Mount. Sinai Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine. They have been helping us in our current campaign and put together the "Fact Sheet" that is now being used at our council and around the country.

We as woodworkers ,are using this hazardous product on a daily basis. We are hurting ourselves and
all other trades on job sites. M.D.F. is in our homes, job sites and work stations all across America.  

Isn’t it time to do the right thing?
 
Below are numerous web sites for your education on this cancer causing product.

Please print out and send this information to all you feel need to know about this product.

Thanks and work safe,

The Fraternal Order of Woodworkers
June, 2011

MDF CARPENTER FACT SHEET

click on above link to print a copy






MDF/formaldehyde information  8/10

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LATEST ON FORMALDEHYDE AND CANCER:
NTP to list it as known carcinogen as of 12/09:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/december/spotlight-expert.cfm

IARC considers it a known carcinogen/relation to particleboard:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde


RESOURCES:
Composite Panel Association (CPA) and contact info:
http://www.pbmdf.com/

Carpenter Health and Safety director for Central Region with interest in MDF:
Tom Kavicky
312-255-8719
tkavicky@carpentersunion.org

California Air Resource Board info:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm


CURRENT STANDARDS
Summary of California’s Standard: <http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/outreach/pamphpanelmanufac.pdf>
California standard:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/compwood07/fro-final.pdf

Californias extention of deadline due to recession:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/outreach/09_04_advisory.pd

ANSI Voluntary Standard (2009): Supposed to be in compliance with California:
http://www.pbmdf.com/CPA30/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000001479/Press%20Release-ANSI%20Standards-02-2009.pdf


FORMALDEHYDE BADGES
For any sampling in an artificial environment, we would recommend respirator protection in the environment. This requires medical clearance and fit-testing. If you are going to monitor an actual job, the job should be done as it is normally performed.

Badges will measure formaldehyde gas, but not the formaldehyde attached to the wood-dust. Cost includes laboratory analyses:

3M badges: http://www.labsafety.com/search/3M+formaldehyde+badge/24532931/


WAYS TO CONTROL EXPOSURES:
Sawing/sanding methods
Local exhaust
Dust collection systems
Dilution exhaust
Respirators
Air the wood out in advance
Low-emitting formaldehyde composites
Alternative wood products


LEGISLATION PENDING
USEPA Notice of Proposed rulemaking:
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-TOX/2008/December/Day-03/t28585.htm
http://www.epa.gov/EPA-TOX/2008/June/Day-27/t14618.htm

CPA proposal:
http://www.pbmdf.com/cpa30/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000001616/PR-09-11-2009-Formaldehyde%20Legislation.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/HHEprogram.html
 
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2009-167/pdfs/2009-167.pdf


 
NIOSH Hazard Control/Control of wood Dust From Shapers-HC5

• HC5 Control of Wood Dust From Shapers. Wood shapers are a major source of wood dust emissions. Workers exposed to wood dusts have...www.cdc.gov/niosh/hc5.html

NIOSH Hazard Control/Control of Wood Dust From Large Diameter Disc

• HC7 Control of Wood Dust From Large Diameter Disc Sanders. The use of large diameter disc sanders creates significant amounts of wood dust...www.cdc.gov/niosh/hc7.html

NIOSH Hazard Control/Control of Wood Dust From Automated Routers

• HC6 Control of Wood Dust From Automated Routers. Automated routers have been found to create significant amounts of wood dust. Workers...www.cdc.gov/niosh/hc6.html

NIOSH Hazard Control/Control of Wood Dust From Table Saws-HC10

• HC10 Control of Wood Dust From Table Saws. Table saws have been found to create significant amounts of wood dust. Workers exposed ...www.cdc.gov/niosh/hc10.html

NIOSH/Hazard Control/Control of Wood dust from Horizontal Belt

• HC4 Control of Wood Dust From Horizontal Belt Sanders. The use of horizontal belt sanders in woodworking creates significant amounts of wood dust...www.cdc.gov/niosh/hc4.html

NIOSH Hazard Control/Control of Wood Dust From Orbital Hand

• HC9 Control of Wood Dust From Orbital Hand Sanders. Orbital hand sanders have been found to create significant amounts of wood dust...http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hc9.htm