Order Given to Cease Operations at Slag Processing Facility After Worker Arsenic Exposures

Earlier this year, the Montana Standard published an article about a slag processing facility in the state that has been temporarily closed by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). The closure occurred after several workers were identified with arsenic poisoning and others with elevated levels of it in their systems.

The paper reports that for DPHHS to allow the plant to reopen, the company must “… provide employees with showering and handwashing facilities and a place to store and change clothes, provide laundering of dirty work clothes, give employees a break room that is cleaned on a regular schedule and has filtered air and temperature control, establish a medical surveillance program to monitor for arsenic and lead, and implement a plan to ensure workers use appropriate work clothing and equipment as well as establish a mandatory respiratory protection program in certain locations of the plant.”

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that is widely distributed in the earth’s crust. Exposure to higher-than-average levels of arsenic occurs mainly in the workplace, near hazardous waste sites and areas with high levels naturally occurring in soil, rocks and water.

“There are OSHA standards in place to limit worker exposure to arsenic and other potentially hazardous substances often found in slag and other materials,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “At EMSL, our industrial hygiene and environmental laboratories offer testing for arsenic, lead, cadmium and other occupational exposure risks associated with slag processing and slag waste. We also provide all of the sampling supplies needed and even carry a wide range of respirators and other personal protective equipment. These services and tools not only help to protect workers from exposure hazards, they can also be instrumental for keeping companies in regulatory compliance to avoid costly penalties.”

EMSL has sponsored an educational video about arsenic exposure risks in the work and home environments that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/QIjNcli0kvA.

To learn more about arsenic or other industrial hygiene or environmental testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com .


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail