OSHA Reopens Comment Period on Respirator Rule for 13 Toxic Substances
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on July 22 reopened a 30-day public comment period for proposed amendments to substance-specific standards it first put forward on July 1, 2025, after its Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health reviewed the proposals at meetings held April 1 and May 19.
- The affected standards span 13 substances — including 1,3-butadiene, asbestos, cadmium, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, inorganic arsenic, lead, and vinyl chloride — with most changes aimed at allowing different types of respirators to be used and better aligning each standard with OSHA’s general respiratory protection standard.
- The formaldehyde and vinyl chloride proposals specifically target eliminating duplicative respiratory protection language, streamlining requirements that currently overlap between the substance-specific rules and the broader respiratory protection standard.
- ACCSH recommendations and other submitted materials for each proposal are available in their respective dockets, and the new comment period closes August 21.
Union Files Cal/OSHA Complaint Over Rancid Conditions at Airline Catering Facility
- UNITE HERE Local 11 filed a complaint with the Cal/OSHA alleging workers at Flying Food Group’s LAX in-flight meal catering facility were forced to work in unsanitary conditions, after a worker opened dish carts in June 2026 and found decomposing food covered in mold, flies, and maggots. They are requesting an expedited on-site inspection by the agency.
- The union says the worker who discovered the contaminated dishes was told by a supervisor to wash them for an upcoming flight rather than discard them, and later reported stomach pain, headaches, and nasal irritation after handling the material without a mask or respirator.
- Workers also alleged repeated cockroach and vermin sightings throughout food prep areas, employee changing stations and the cafeteria; frequent shortages of soap and paper towels in bathrooms and handwashing stations. They also cited high heat and humidity in the dish room that caused fatigue, dehydration and headaches, with one coworker reportedly nearly fainting.
- A May 2026 Cal/OSHA inspection of the facility resulted in six citations, including four “serious” violations. The City of Los Angeles has also opened its own investigation, with Mayor Karen Bass’ office saying it is engaged with the union and Los Angeles World Airports on the matter.