Sandy’s blend of industrial activity, commuting traffic, and suburban residential neighborhoods creates real-world exposure situations. Some examples we see involve:
- Worksite chemical exposure: injuries during maintenance, repairs, or cleanup where ventilation is limited or protective gear isn’t used as required.
- Residential and property remediation: exposure during cleanup after leaks, spills, or chemical releases in apartments and homes.
- Contractor work: harm during painting, coating, mold remediation, pest treatment, or deck/roof work when products are handled improperly or warnings are ignored.
- Auto/industrial environments: exposure to solvents, degreasers, fuels, or cleaning chemicals used in service settings.
- Visitor- and event-adjacent risks: exposure concerns can arise when temporary setups use chemicals for cleaning, sanitation, or maintenance.
In many of these situations, the chemical may not be clearly identified at the time—especially when labels are missing, SDS (safety data sheets) aren’t provided, or the incident is treated like a “minor” spill.


