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Protecting Workers in California from Exposure Risks to Hydrogen Chloride and Other Industrial Chemicals

Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Category	Press Release
Publish Date	4/19/2023
Author	Paul Cochrane
Title	Protecting Workers in California from Exposure Risks to Hydrogen Chloride and Other Industrial Chemicals
Introduction	LA Testing provides environmental and industrial hygiene laboratory testing services, sampling supplies and personal protective equipment to identify and mitigate exposure risks in the workplace.
Huntington Beach, California, April 19, 2023 There are a number of industries located across California that utilize hydrogen chloride. The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports these include businesses that clean, pickle and electroplate metals, tan leather, and those that refine and produce a wide variety of products. Exposure to hydrogen chloride can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract according to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). ATSDR states that exposure to high levels could lead to pulmonary edema and even death in extreme cases. Exposure to liquid hydrogen chloride may cause frostbite. Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to hydrogen chloride listed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) include the following: Chemical workers in plants that use it to produce other chemicals Factory workers in plants where metals are pickled Workers in food processing plants Factory workers who manufacture dyes and fertilizers Factory workers in the rubber and textile industries “To protect workers from potential harm due to exposure to hydrogen chloride, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for hydrogen chloride and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL),” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “In California, Cal/OSHA also has a more restrictive PEL. Businesses that utilize hydrogen chloride and other industrial chemicals can turn to the industrial hygiene and environmental laboratory testing experts at LA Testing. Our laboratories offer testing services, sampling supplies and personal protective equipment to assess and mitigate occupational exposure risks to help companies protect their workforce and comply with health and safety regulations.” LA Testing also recently sponsored an educational video about hydrogen chloride and potential occupational exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/lXd_tkRNwFQ To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. About LA Testing LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental, industrial hygiene and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.