Formaldehyde safety in the preparation room.

FDA offers trusted, science-based formaldehyde resources for funeral directors to support safe, compliant embalming practices. 

In 2021, NFDA published a peer-reviewed formaldehyde exposure study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, finding that trained embalmers can manage their exposure to well below current OSHA permissible exposure limits. 

NFDA also publishes Formaldehyde Best Management Practices — a guide to ventilation, chemical handling and preparation room compliance.

Protecting your community and your facility.

NFDA offers resources to help funeral directors operate safely, responsibly and in compliance with federal, state and local regulations. These resources provide guidance on environmentally responsible embalming, safer chemical use, waste reduction, and the proper handling and disposal of hazardous, medical, and sanitary waste. NFDA also addresses preparation room safety, wastewater and septic system maintenance, and the use of environmentally friendly products to reduce environmental impact. 

EPA Fact Sheets and additional environmental compliance tools are available to members on the portal. Questions? Call NFDA’s OSHA support line: 800-633-2674.

Radiation safety in the preparation room.

Given the widespread use of radiation in nuclear medicine and radiation oncology, crematory operators in particular are likely to encounter the bodies of individuals who have undergone treatments involving radioactive substances. The CDC released guidelines addressin
g how medical examiners, coroners and funeral directors should handle decedents contaminated by radiation. 
A 2019 JAMA Research Letter documenting a radiation contamination incident at an Arizona crematory brought heightened attention to this issue. NFDA’s Certified Crematory Operator Program includes guidance on confirming the absence of radioactive implants or devices prior to cremation. In response to the JAMA findings, NFDA developed an updated Cremation and Disposition Authorization form — available to members on the portal — that includes specific guidance on radioactive treatments.