The Forestry Forum
Health and Safety => Health and Safety => Topic started by: Woodwalker on May 18, 2006, 11:05:21 PM
There is a wood preservative treatment process that the company I work for has discontinued because of serious safety concerns. It may be common practice for other utilities employ the use of this product. I found no discussion of it on this forum and with some people sawing old poles I thought it might be of interest.
Methyl Isothiocyanate (MITC) or MITC-Fume is applied in a closed delivery system where a hole is drilled into an existing pole and a porous aluminum tube (approx. ½" X 6 ½") is inserted into the hole about ground level then sealed with a dowel. The poles are tagged with a rounded corner triangle emblem with "MITC-FUME" stamped on it. This substance is toxic and a severe irritant. It is also highly toxic to fish.
LINK (http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Product.jsp?REG_NR=07534100009&DIST_NR=075341)
LINK (http://www.abuse.com/environment/EPA_Home/Pesticides/About_Pesticides/Fact_Sheets/Health_and_Safety/Methyl_Isothiocyanate_MITC_Wood_Preservative/methylf.htm)
LINK (http://www.afpmb.org/pubs/standardlists/labels/6840-01-360-4741_label.pdf)
Watch for the tag, which should be about eye level and watch for flush cut dowels near the ground line.