Floor Finishing Safety Initiative

Background: In September, 2004, four floor finishers were applying sealer to the stairs of a home in Somerville, when a spark ignited the sealer's vapors. Toan Bui and Ha Vu lost their lives and the other workers survived severe burns and injuries. Less than a year later, Tinh Huynh was killed in a similar fire in Hull. All were Vietnamese immigrants and victims of highly flammable "lacquer sealers".

MassCOSH spearheaded an investigation with members of the Dorchester Occupational Health Initiative: Viet-AID, UMass Lowell, New Ecology Inc. and the Bowdoin Street Health Center. Findings: The investigation confirmed that the Somerville and Hull fires were not unique and that lacquer sealer is very hazardous:

  • Since 1995, Boston alone has suffered over 25 fires directly attributed to hardwood floor installation and refinishing.
  • Floor finishing can cause health problems such as headaches, dizziness, and even damage to the nervous system when people inhale the solvents over a period of time.
  • Alternatives to these "solvent-based" or "oil-based" finishes, known as "water-based finishes, are available, are safer and healthier, many dry faster - allowing companies to complete more jobs in less time, and are more durable than oil-based finishes. View tests results by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute.

On September 29, 2005 MassCOSH and its DOHI partners published a first-of-its-kind floor finishing safety report, Protecting Workers and Homeowners from Wood Floor-Finishing Hazards in Massachusetts.

Policies promoting safer products, procedures sought: In 2006, MassCOSH convened a labor-industry-community task force that unanimously called for two pieces of state legislation:

  1. To prohibit the use and sale of highly flammable floor finishing products (HD2415)
  2. To require that floor finishing industry owners and employees become trained and certified (SD0122)

MassCOSH and its partners are also focusing on several other fronts:

  • To encourage the transition to water-based products, they are launching a Green Floor Finisher Network.
    Related Article: Protecting Workers and Homeowners from Floor Finishing Hazards
  • Developing materials that would be necessary if and when the bills are passed.
    Related Article: Green Cleaning
  • Promoting public awareness of the hazardous nature of this industry and distributing consumer fact sheets to first time homebuyer programs.
  • Supporting floor finishing training programs organized by Viet AID and conducted by Floor Finishing Task Force members.
  • Convening the Floor Finishing Safety Task Force to coordinate advocacy and educational activities.