• OSHA Resources
  
  
• Other Government Resources
  
  
• News Highlights

You can learn more about formaldehyde and the hazards of formaldehyde exposure from hair smoothing products by clicking the links below.

OSHA Resources

• OSHA Updated Hazard Alert English [327 KB PDF^*, 5 pages] | Spanish [351 KB PDF^*, 6 pages] | Vietnamese [415 KB PDF^*, 5 pages]
  
  
• OSHA Health Alert: Hair Smoothing Products That Could Release Formaldehyde - Background
  
  
• OSHA Formaldehyde Safety and Health Page
  
  
• OSHA Letter to Brazilian Blowout distributor seeking corrections of misleading statements
  
  
• OSHA Formaldehyde Fact Sheet [1 MB PDF^*, 2 pages]
  
  
• OSHA Formaldehyde Standard 29 CFR 1910.1048
  
  
• OSHA Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200
  
  
• OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard 29 CFR 1910.134

Other Government Resources

• Department of Labor News Release about Brazilian Blowout, 2011
  
  
• Department of Labor Blowout Blowback blog entry
  
  
• Food and Drug Administration Warning letter issued to importer and distributor of Brazilian Blowout Hair Straightening Product
  
  
• National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Health Hazard Evaluation of Formaldehyde in Hair Smoothing Products at Salons [150 KB PDF, 11 pages]
  
  
• Health Canada Keratin-based Hair Smoothing Products Advisory
  
  
• California Department of Health Q&A on Keratin-based Hair Smoothing Products [88 KB PDF, 2 pages]
  
  
• Cal/OSHA Update on Products that May Release Formaldehyde [33 KB PDF, 2 pages]
  
  
• Connecticut Department of Public Health Health Advisory Cautioning About the Presence of Formaldehyde in Keratin-based Hair Smoothing Products
  
  
• New York State Health Department Consumer Health Alert: Hair Straightening Products and Formaldehyde [142 KB PDF, 2 pages]
  
  
• Oregon Health Licensing Agency Formaldehyde in Cosmetology Products
  
  
• Oregon OSHA Keratin-based Smoothing Product and the Release of Formaldehyde Report [209 KB PDF, 34 pages]
  
  
• Oregon OSHA Hazard Alert [494 KB PDF, 2 pages]
  
  
• Washington Department of Labor and Industries EBulletin for Stylists and Cosmetology Schools [178 KB PDF, 1 page]

News Highlights

• October 31, 2011: ChemRisk, LLC releases report confirming the presence of formaldehyde in some hair-smoothing products
  
  
• September 25, 2011: OSHA issues updated hazard alert on formaldehyde dangers to hair salon owners, workers after new agency findings and FDA warning letter
  
  
• September 8, 2011: OSHA cites Florida manufacturers and distributors of hair products containing formaldehyde for health violations
  
  
• August 22, 2011: FDA issues Warning Letter to importer and distributor of Brazilian Blowout
  
  
• May 6, 2011: Select Members of Congress Letter to FDA to act on Brazilian Blowout
  
  
• April 13, 2011: Cal/OSHA Brazilian Blowout investigation completed
  
  
• April 11, 2011: OSHA OSHA issues press release announcing Hazard Alert
  
  
• March 14, 2011: Cosmetic Ingredient Review Board Reaffirmed 2005 Statement on Formaldehyde in Cosmetics
  
  
• February 11, 2011: Oregon OSHA Reaffirms its Stance on Formaldehyde in Keratin-based Hair Smoothing Products [21 KB PDF, 1 page]
  
  
• December 9, 2010: American Chemistry Council Decides in Favor of Oregon OSHA's Interpretation of Formaldehyde in Solution
  
  
• November 13, 2010: California Attorney General's Office Files Suit Against Supplier of a Keratin-based Hair Smoothing Product
  
  
• October 29, 2010: Oregon OSHA Reiteration of Caution When Using Keratin-based Hair Smoothing Products [36 KB PDF, 2 pages]
  
  
• October 5, 2010: Oregon OSHA Develops Local Emphasis Program for Keratin-based Hair Smoothing Products [23 KB PDF, 4 pages]

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.

^*These files are provided for downloading.