While sunscreen towelettes are technically available through the end of this year, we've already sold out of these popular items. The folks who use them regularly are upset. Everybody loved those things. Easy application. You could keep 'em in your pocket. They might even survive one round in the washing machine. But as much as workers loved them, it wasn't enough for the new FDA regulations to keep them as approved delivery devices for sunscreen. (Insert Bronx cheer here.)
As a safety company, you hate to see one of your most popular products go away, but that's exactly what has happened with the sunscreen towelettes from Coretex. It's basically a case of legislating to the lowest common denominator. Apparently the FDA was worried that some folks would use all the pre-saturated sunscreen from the towelette on one side of their body and have none left over for the other side. To be fair, we all know every team has one of these guys (and if you don't know who it is, it might be you).
The FDA was worried we wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a towelette that still has some sunscreen, and one that doesn't. Thanks for saving us FDA. It's my position the folks who can't tell if they've got any sunscreen left on their towelette likely have bigger problems in life.
At the end of the day, OSHA mandates outside workers must be protected from all environmental hazards. And that certainly includes the sun. Sunscreen products like Sun X SPF 30 Broad Spectrum packets still are available to protect workers from sunburn in the short-term and skin cancer in the long-term.
If you have questions about what to do now, and you really miss those towelettes, please give us a call at 800-829-9580 or click to chat and we'll help you find a suitable substitute. If you'd like recommendations for protecting workers from the sun, click here for OSHA's pocket card for sun exposure.