| The term HAP free cleaner VOC refers to a parts | | | | workers are exposed to toxic substances, the |
| cleaner that contains no hazardous air pollutants and | | | | medical effects are generally revealed only after a |
| little or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). | | | | significant period of time, which can lead to hundreds |
| Choosing a HAP free cleaner VOC over a traditional | | | | of lawsuits being filed at once and settlements that |
| cleaner doesn't mean that the former poses no | | | | soar into the millions of dollars. |
| safety threat to its users. But using a HAP free | | | | As environmental consciousness penetrates the |
| cleaner VOC does bring companies immediate and | | | | industrial sector, companies are becoming aware of |
| long-term advantages in terms of loss prevention, | | | | the risks posed by hazardous solvents. However, |
| beginning with the fact that the EPA is currently | | | | many companies remain unsure about the value of |
| regulating many VOC and HAP cleaners out of | | | | switching to environmentally preferred solvents. In |
| production. | | | | some cases, companies refrain from replacing their |
| The threat that the discontinuance of a certain parts | | | | old solvents under the misconception that hazardous |
| cleaner poses to companies is two fold: it can leave | | | | solvents perform better than non-hazardous solvents. |
| them without a solution to carry out specific cleaning | | | | But a quick look at today's non-hazardous solvents |
| operations and it can leave them with a large supply | | | | reveals numerous solvents whose efficacy is |
| of cleaner that can no longer be used. For example, | | | | supported by extensive research. |
| the Environmental Protection Agency intends to | | | | A second reason that companies are slow to use |
| further enact Natural Emission Standards for HAP, a | | | | non-hazardous solvents is the misperception that EPA |
| move that's expected to significantly impact the way | | | | regulations won't affect their operation due to its |
| that the Department of Defense conducts its paint | | | | size. However, aside of emissions regulations, EPA |
| stripping procedures. Currently, the Department of | | | | regulations also focus on the complete removal of |
| defense uses organic paint strippers that contain | | | | certain chemicals from industrial settings. The more a |
| VOC. | | | | company depends on industrial solvents to carry out |
| The foreseeable effect of environmental legislation | | | | its daily operations, the more reason it has switch to |
| on how the military strips paint from its machinery is | | | | non-hazardous cleaning solvents. With the numerous |
| one example of how not using a HAP and/or VOC | | | | non-hazardous solvents that are available on today's |
| free cleaner can impact an organization's daily | | | | market, not switching to a safer solvent that |
| operations. In addition, using hazardous industrial | | | | performs as well or better than a traditional solvent is |
| cleaners can have a significant impact on an | | | | simply bad business. |
| organization's finances in terms of lawsuits. When | | | | |