Through the Alliance, OSHA and ACC will work together to provide members, occupational physicians, stakeholders, and others within the polyurethanes value chain with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by: 1) illustrating methods for reducing and preventing exposure to aliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates (MDI, TDI, HDI, HMDI, and IPDI); 2) providing a better understanding of the health issues, routes of exposure, and medical surveillance/clinical evaluation techniques related to diisocyanates; and 3) understanding the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). The goals of the Alliance include:

Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives:

• To share information on OSHA’s National Emphasis Programs, the Regulatory Agenda, and opportunities to participate in the rulemaking process.


• To share information on occupational safety and health laws, standards, and guidance resources, including the rights and responsibilities of workers and employers.

Training and Education:

• To conduct effective web-based training to educate employers and workers on safe use and handling when working with diisocyanates, specifically potential routes of exposure to downstream users that will be shared with OSHA personnel and other industry safety and health professionals and incorporate learning evaluations to ensure training is effective.

Outreach and Communication:

• To develop information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards by developing medical surveillance guidance and workplace guidance documents on safe use and handling to prevent both inhalation and dermal exposure when working with diisocyanates and to develop ways of communicating such information (e.g., print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools, and OSHA’s and the ACC’s websites) to employers, workers in the industry, and health care professionals.


• To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA or ACC conferences, local meetings, or other regional events.


• To promote, through seminars and workshops, industry-wide use of medical surveillance programs, encouraging employers to develop new or enhance existing performance programs including the development of Safety and Health Management Systems.