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A Guide to Formaldehyde H. R. Imbus N. C. Department of Labor Division of Occupational Safety and Health 1101 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 Cherie K. Berry Commissioner of Labor Acknowledgments This guide was prepared for the North Carolina Department of Labor by Health & Hygiene, Inc., 420 Gallimore Dairy Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, a firm that specializes in occupational health. Updated material was provided by North Carolina Department of Labor Health Standards Officer J. Edgar Geddie, Ph. D. This guide is intended to be consistent with all existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed. To obtain additional copies of this book, or if you have ques-tions about N. C. occupational safety and health standards or rules, please contact: N. C. Department of Labor Bureau of Education, Training and Technical Assistance 1101 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 Phone: ( 919) 807- 2875 or 1- 800- NC- LABOR ____________________ Additional sources of information are listed on the inside back cover of this book. ____________________ The projected cost of the OSHNC program for federal fiscal year 2002– 2003 is $ 13,130,589. Federal funding provides approximately 37 percent ($ 4,920,000) of this total. Printed 7/ 98, 3M N. C. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program Cherie K. Berry Commissioner of Labor OSHA State Plan Designee Allen McNeely Deputy Commissioner for Safety and Health Kevin Beauregard Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Safety and Health Contents Part Page Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1iiv 1 Formaldehyde in the Workplace. . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii1 What Is Formaldehyde? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii1 Sources of Formaldehyde. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii2 How Can Formaldehyde Affect Our Health? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii4 How Formaldehyde Enters the Body . . . . . . 1ii5 Responding to Emergencies from Formaldehyde Releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii9 First Aid Treatment for Exposure to Formaldehyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii10 2 A Standard Regulating Formaldehyde in the Workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii12 Background Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii12 Highlights of the Formaldehyde Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii13 Appendix— Material Safety Data Sheet . . . ii22 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii29 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii31 iii Foreword Formaldehyde in its simplest form is a colorless gas that is readily soluble in water. It has an acrid odor that can irritate the eyes and nose. Formaldehyde is commer-cially available as a solution called formalin, formed from various proportions of formaldehyde, water, and alcohol. Textile and wood product industries are large users of organic dyes and urea resins that contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is also used for disinfecting, embalming, and producing some synthetic plastics. Employers must be aware of workplace hazards facing their employees and take appropriate action to minimize or eliminate exposure to these hazards. A Guide to Formaldehyde describes how employers and employees can learn to protect their health in environments that contain formaldehyde. In this state, the North Carolina Department of Labor consultants and inspectors administer the federal OSHA laws through a plan approved by the U. S. Department of Labor. All current OSHA standards are enforced. Many educational programs, publications ( including this guide), and other services are also offered to help inform people about their rights and responsibilities regarding OSHA. As you look through this guide, please remember that OSHA’s mission is greater than just enforcement. An equally important goal is to help citizens find ways to create safe and healthy workplaces. Reading and using the information in this booklet, like other educational materials produced by the North Carolina Department of Labor, can help. Cherie K. Berry Commissioner of Labor iv 1 Formaldehyde in the Workplace What Is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde has the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in its structure. Hydrocarbons are among the most common of chemical compositions. The human body includes hydrocarbons among its ele-ments and compounds, and it requires formaldehyde to metabolize biochemical substances. Formaldehyde has a pungent odor and is very soluble in water. Formaldehyde is highly reactive and readily combines with many chemical compounds, and under normal conditions, it is a gas. In its simplest form, formaldehyde is a colorless gas. But the term formalde-hyde is sometimes used to describe liquids composed of various mixtures of formaldehyde, water, and alcohol. Formaldehyde is usually sold as an aqueous or watery solution called formalin, which contains 37 to 50 percent formaldehyde by weight. It is soluble in water, but not in most organic solvents, except alcohol and ether. It is prin-cipally used to produce resins, other industrial chemicals, and consumer items and as a bactericide or fungicide. A mixture of polymers of formaldehyde ( many mole-cules of formaldehyde linked together) is known as paraformaldehyde. Paraformaldehyde is a white powder containing 91 percent or more formaldehyde. 1 Sources of Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is part of our general outdoor environ-ment. It is released into the atmosphere through fumes from automobile and truck exhausts and by manufactur-ing facilities that burn fossil fuels. Uncontrolled forest fires and the open burning of waste give off formalde-hyde. Because of formaldehyde’s high water solubility, it is contained in rain water, oceans, and surface waters. Geographic location, wind conditions, cloud cover, rain or standing water, air temperature, and the season of the year are all important variants in the amount of formaldehyde in the ambient air. Formaldehyde is also in our indoor work environ-ment. A formaldehyde resin is used in the production of plywood and particle board. These wood products become part of the structure of various workplaces. For example, offices converted from mobile homes make use of large quantities of plywood. Paint used to cover walls contains formaldehyde. In the past, a foam made from a resin known as urea- formaldehyde was used as a ther-mal insulation in the outside walls of buildings. If the foam were formulated or mixed improperly, formalde-hyde could be released into the building. The paper products industry uses urea- formaldehyde resins. Paper products treated with formaldehyde include paper bags, waxed paper, paper towels, and dis-posable sanitary products. All of these products are used in the work environment. The wood industry is a major user of formaldehyde. Over 60 percent of urea- formaldehyde resin is used as a binder in plywood and particleboard. The textile indus-try, however, is the major source of employee exposure to formaldehyde. While not a major user of formaldehyde on a volume basis, about 60 to 85 percent of all apparel fabric is finished with formaldehyde- containing resins. 2 Formaldehyde also finds its way into the workplace through textile products. Floor covering and carpet backing may contain formaldehyde polymers. The tex-tile industry uses formaldehyde for fire retardation, increased water repellency, stiffness, and wrinkle- resis-tance in fabric. Draperies, wallpaper, carpet, and uphol-stered furniture contain formaldehyde. Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde. The smoker inhales the smoke directly into the lungs. Nonsmokers inhale sidestream smoke from cigarettes consumed by fellow workers. Thus, formaldehyde surrounds us generally in the workplace, just as it does in the home and elsewhere. However, employees may be additionally exposed from formaldehyde used in their work products. Formaldehyde can lead to widespread exposure in downstream industries. When formaldehyde is present in disinfectants, preservatives, and embalming fluid, worker exposure can occur. Formaldehyde is found in release agents in foundries. Laboratories in schools, hospitals, dental facilities, and veterinary settings may make use of formaldehyde. Hospitals use it as a disin-fectant and deodorizer. See table 1 for a partial list of occupations that may involve exposure to formaldehyde. Also see table 2. 3 Table 1 Occupational That May Involve Exposure to Formaldehyde How Can Formaldehyde Affect Our Health? Based on the best available evidence in OSHA’s record on formaldehyde, OSHA determined that formaldehyde is genotoxic, showing properties of both a cancer initiator and promoter ( early and late stage car-cinogen). When inhaled, formaldehyde is a carcinogen in rats. In humans, formaldehyde exposure has been associated with cancers of the lung, nasopharynx and oropharynx, and nasal passages. When humans are exposed to excess levels of formaldehyde, adverse health effects can result. Symptoms of excess exposure include respiratory irrita-tion; watery, itchy eyes; itchy, runny, or stuffy nose; dry 4 Agriculture workers Botanists Carpet manufacturers/ installers Disinfectant producers/ users Dressmakers Drug makers Dye manufacturers Embalming fluid producers Fabric store personnel Fertilizer manufacturers and blenders Formaldehyde producers Formaldehyde resin producers Foundry workers Furniture makers and finishers Glue and adhesive makers Hazardous waste handlers Ink makers Insulators Laboratory researchers Lacquer producers and users Oil field workers Paint and varnish manufacturers Paper manufacturers Plywood and particle board manu-facturers Poultry processors Rubber workers Sanitation workers Surgeons Taxidermists Textile workers: finishers, printers, cutters Veterinarians Wood preservers or sore throat; and headache. The EPA and OSHA rec-ognize that contact with formaldehyde can cause skin irritation and dermatitis. Normally, reactions to formaldehyde heal within days or a few weeks of the cessation of exposure. Most people become acclimated to formaldehyde and come to experi-ence its effects more mildly. But some people, especially those with allergic asthma, allergic hay fever, or infan-tile or childhood eczema, become sensitized and suffer a condition known as allergic contact dermatitis. Those with allergic contact dermatitis suffer itching, redness, swelling, multiple small blisters, and scaling whenever subsequent exposure occurs. Sensitized individuals are usually unable to remain in formaldehyde- related jobs. How Formaldehyde Enters the Body There are four routes of exposure to a substance: ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and eye contact. Since people may adapt to formaldehyde, dependency upon the perception of formaldehyde by odor and eye irritation can lead to overexposure if the worker is rely-ing on those cues as a warning against exposure. Ingestion Ingestion ( eating or drinking) is not considered a common route of significant exposure to formaldehyde. Nevertheless, there have been reported cases of acci-dental formaldehyde ingestion. Swallowing liquids con-taining 10 to 40 percent formaldehyde results in severe irritation of the mouth, throat, and stomach. Severe stomach pains will follow ingestion with possible loss of consciousness and death. Inhalation Inhaling formaldehyde can cause symptoms ranging from mild irritation to severe difficulty in breathing. The response depends on the concentration of the 5 formaldehyde. For example, concentrations of 10 to 20 parts per million ( ppm) cause difficulty in breathing, burning of the nose and throat, cough, and heavy tear-ing. A concentration of 100 ppm is immediately danger-ous to life and health. The response also depends on the length of exposure and individual sensitivity. One can also become exposed by inhalation through off- gassing from formaldehyde- containing materials ( downstream exposure). Because formaldehyde is so soluble, inhaling or breathing it causes irritation of the eyes and nose. The eyes will tear and the mucus in the nose will run. Other reactions include headache, sinus fullness, sore throat, and hoarseness. Higher concentrations of formaldehyde or long- term exposure can cause severe coughing, chest tightness, and swelling or spasm in the throat ( glottis). Some studies have linked formaldehyde exposure to allergic asthma. Formaldehyde resins have been linked to respiratory disease in some workers, with symptoms including both an immediate and a delayed asthmatic reaction. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis ( a flulike illness with fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath) has occa-sionally been associated with worker exposure to pheno-formaldehyde bakelite resins. Exposure to formalde-hyde in concentrations of 100 ppm is considered imme-diately dangerous to life and health. Skin Absorption Skin absorption is one of the major routes of exposure to formaldehyde. Skin contact with formaldehyde can result in reactions ranging from mild irritation to severe allergic dermatitis. Concentrated solutions of formaldehyde will cause the skin to discolor, crack, dry, and scale. Prolonged or repeated contact will cause numbness and hardening or tanning of the skin. 6 A number of factors affect skin absorption of formaldehyde. If there is an existing dermatitis or acne and/ or if the skin is broken or irritated, absorption is increased. High humidity and the area of skin exposed also affect skin absorption of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a chemical that causes a significant number of people to experience skin sensitization. Chemicals that cause sensitization are called allergens. Exposure to these chemicals causes the body to form antibodies. Future exposure to the substance, even in very small amounts, can cause symptoms. Skin contact occurs in a variety of workplaces, such as veterinary clinics, schools, photography, plumbing, agricultural, pest control, and medical settings ( includ-ing pathology laboratories and morgues). In the fabric industry, material is treated with formaldehyde for use in making sheeting and garments. In garments, formaldehyde makes possible a durable press finish. Employees who work with such products are exposed to formaldehyde and subject to dermatitis. In recent times, technology has decreased the amount of free formaldehyde on fabrics, and the risk of dermatitis has been reduced. Allergic contact dermatitis is seen among medical personnel who use formaldehyde. Pathologists use formaldehyde as a tissue fixative. Physicians, nurses, and dentists routinely use it in disinfection procedures. Technicians and cleaning personnel in health care facili-ties are also routinely exposed to formaldehyde. Other employees at similar risk include hairdressers; automotive industry workers who handle coolants and cutting oils; workers exposed to paint; and printing industry workers who are exposed to ink and who rou-tinely handle journals and newspapers. ( See table 2 for a list of occupations where there exists the potential for dermatitis from formaldehyde exposure.) 7 8 Job Exposure Actors and theatrical artists Makeup Artists, printers, silk screeners Inks, paper, preservatives Bakers Disinfectants Beauticians, barbers Disinfectants, germicides, cosmetics Butchers and food preparation workers Cleaners, disinfectants Biology laboratory instructors and students Preservatives Carpenters, cabinet makers Adhesives, solvents Cleaning personnel Detergents, preservatives Clinical biologists, histologists Formalin Dentists, hygienists, assistants Disinfectants, medications Dry cleaners Spot removers Electricians and electronics workers Resins, metal cleaners Farming industry Fumigants, disinfectants Foundry workers Resin emissions from sand molds Leather and fur workers Tanning Machinists Metal cleaners, cutting fluids Mechanics Metal and tire cleaners, sealants Medical personnel Disinfectants, medicines Morticians Formalin Painters Resins Paper workers Resin emissions Pathologists, histologists Formalin Pest control workers Fumigants, cleaning agents Pharmacists Medicine, drug preservatives Photographers Developers, resin emissions Plumbers, pipe fitters Metal cleaners, resins Printers Ink, paper Stone workers Cleaning solutions Textile workers Emissions from fabric finishes Wallpaper hangers Preservatives, adhesives Welders Metal cleaners, resins Table 2 Jobs and Exposures with Potential for Formaldehyde Dermatitis Eye Contact Eye contact results from spills or splashes of formaldehyde. Eye contact reactions range from mild irritation to permanent corneal cloudiness and loss of vision. The severity of injury is determined by the con-centration of the solution and the length of contact. Eye irritation is a common complaint of persons exposed to formaldehyde vapor. As the concentration of formaldehyde increases, the eyes become itchy and tear till they afford themselves some degree of natural pro-tection by closing. Responding to Emergencies from Formaldehyde Releases If your work area has the potential for large formaldehyde releases, either from an accident or equipment failure, your employer must have developed an emergency procedure. If you are to play any part in the emergency procedure, you will have received train-ing in your specific duty, including training for any equipment which you are expected to use. If you have not received such training and an emergency spill of formaldehyde occurs: LEAVE THE AREA as quickly as possible. Do not touch any spilled material. Designated employees should stop the leak and shut off ignition sources. The hazard area should be isolated, and no one should be granted admittance unless they are wearing appropriate protective clothing and respirators. Smoking and all flame or flares must be prohibited in the hazard area. Explosive concentrations may build up. Water spray may be used to reduce vapors. Fire fighting procedures should be well established and followed. 9 Small spills may be cleaned up with absorbent materi-al. The waste should be placed in marked containers for later disposal. Large spills should be diked to facilitate salvage or disposal. Sodium hydroxide or sodium sulfate may be used to neutralize the spill. EPA regulations must be followed for large spills and disposal of waste. If the spill exceeds 1,000 pounds per day, it is recordable under EPA’s superfund legislation. First Aid Treatment for Exposure to Formaldehyde Treatment should be immediately available to employees exposed to formaldehyde. If formaldehyde is ingested ( swallowed): • If the victim is conscious, administer milk, water, or activated charcoal to dilute, absorb, or inacti-vate the formaldehyde. • Keep the exposed person warm and at rest. • Get medical attention immediately. • If vomiting occurs, keep the person’s head lower than the hips, or turn the victim on his or her side and lower his or her head. If formaldehyde is inhaled: • Remove to fresh air immediately. • NOTE: Where concentrations are high, the rescuer must wear a self- contained breathing apparatus. • Check respiration. If breathing has stopped, initi-ate rescue breathing, giving two initial breaths fol-lowed by one breath every five seconds. • If qualified, administer oxygen if it is available. • Monitor vital signs and treat for shock. 10 • Get medical attention immediately. • Where exposure results in coughing for more than 10 minutes and irritation of the upper respiratory tract, the individual should be hospitalized. If formaldehyde contacts the skin: • Where there is potential for extensive exposure, protective clothing must be worn and emergency showers should be readily available. • Remove contaminated clothing and shoes immedi-ately. • Wash affected area with soap and water till no evi-dence of the chemical remains ( 15 to 20 minutes). • If chemical burns are noted, bandage with a dry, sterile dressing. • If there is evidence of eye or respiratory distress, seek medical attention. If formaldehyde contacts the eyes: • Where there is potential for a splash to the eye, goggles or face shields must be used. Emergency eyewash stations should be readily available. • Immediately wash eyes with copious amounts of water ( 15 to 20 minutes). • If there is evidence of a burn or if there is exten-sive exposure, transport for medical care immedi-ately, continuing irrigation while transporting. 11 2 A Standard Regulating Formaldehyde in the Workplace Background Information The federal Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-tration ( OSHA) first regulated workers’ exposure to formaldehyde in 1972, when it imposed a permissible exposure limit ( PEL) of three parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air ( 3 ppm) as an eight- hour time-weighted average ( TWA). At that time, the standard was based on findings showing that formaldehyde was an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Later research showed that formaldehyde might also cause cancer in humans. Based on this new research, OSHA issued a new standard ( 29 CFR 1910.1048) on December 4, 1987. The 1987 standard set the PEL at 1 ppm. In June 1989, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered OSHA to justify more fully its new PEL and the absence of a medical removal protection ( MRP) provision in the new standard. Since, the 1987 standard has been enforced by federal OSHA and by the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the North Carolina Department of Labor, except for its hazard communication provision. That provision was stayed until it could be clarified. In the interim, employers ( including those in wood products industries) were required to comply with the generic hazard communica-tion standard ( 29 CFR 1910.1200). On May 27, 1992, federal OSHA published amend-ments to its 1987 standard ( 57 Federal Register 22290) 12 in response to the 1989 court order. The amendments lowered the PEL to 0.75 ppm, required MRP, lifted the stay from the hazard communication provisions, and required annual employee training. Compliance dead-lines are included for the amended sections. Highlights of the Formaldehyde Standard The information that follows is intended to offer the reader a quick grasp of the standard. It is general infor-mation. It is not a substitute for the standard itself. The Hazard The standard intends to protect employees from expo-sure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde gas, all mixtures or solutions equal to or greater than 0.1 percent formalde-hyde, and materials capable of releasing formaldehyde into the air are considered a health hazard. The Extent of the Standard’s Protection The standard applies to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde, that is, from formaldehyde gas, its solu-tions, and materials that release formaldehyde. Limits beyond Which Employees May Not Be Exposed to Formaldehyde The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde that exceeds 0.75 parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air ( 0.75 ppm) as an eight- hour time- weighted average ( TWA). This limit is one of two permissible exposure limits ( PEL). The standard also provides a short- term exposure limit ( STEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde that exceeds two parts formaldehyde per million parts of air ( 2 ppm) as a 15- minute STEL. 13 Monitoring of Employee Exposure May Be Required Ensuring that employees are not excessively exposed to formaldehyde may mean that the employer must monitor employees to measure levels of exposure. If there is no formaldehyde hazard in the workplace and if employees have not complained of symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposure, there is no obligation to monitor. If formaldehyde or formaldehyde- releasing agents are in the workplace, the employer is not obligated to moni-tor if it is able to document through objective data that employees cannot be exposed at or above the STEL or at or above the action level. The action level is a concentra-tion of 0.5 ppm calculated as an eight- hour TWA concen-tration. In documenting that employees are not exposed at or above the action level or STEL, the employer should consider all relevant information. Relevant information would include insurance company and trade association data, information from suppliers or exposure data col-lected from similar operations, and previous sampling results. If the employer can demonstrate conclusively that no employee is exposed at or above the action level or the STEL through the use of objective data, the employer need not monitor until such time that conditions have changed and the determination is no longer valid. Determining Which Employees Are Potentially Exposed Assuming the employer determines that, for any operation, there is the possibility of employee exposure at or above the action level or the STEL, the employer is obligated to measure employee exposure. The first step in making that determination is to determine all situations where formaldehyde is used in a manner 14 such that it may be released into the workplace atmos-phere or contaminate the skin. If there is an indication from materials handling records and material safety data sheets ( MSDSs) ( see the sample MSDS in the appendix) that formaldehyde is being used in the following types of processes, there may be the potential for formaldehyde exposure: ✦ Operations involving grinding, sanding, sawing, cutting, crushing, screening, sieving, and similar processes that may release formaldehyde- bearing dust ✦ Processes where employees have complained of symptoms indicative of formaldehyde exposure ✦ Any liquid or spray process involving formaldehyde ✦ Any process that uses formaldehyde in preserved tissue ✦ Any process that involves the heating of formalde-hyde- bearing resin Monitoring Initial Monitoring The employer must monitor each potentially exposed employee or develop a representative sampling strategy for each exposure work group. Appendix B of the stan-dard discusses the relative merits of various sampling strategies and monitoring methods. Initial monitoring must be repeated if there is a change in production, equipment, process, personnel, or control measures that may result in new or additional exposure to formaldehyde. Periodic Monitoring If monitoring shows employee exposure at or above the action level, monitoring shall be repeated every six months. If monitoring shows employee exposure at or 15 above the STEL, monitoring shall be repeated every year under the worst conditions. The standard specifies the level of accuracy required of the monitoring process and describes conditions under which monitoring may be terminated. Employees must be allowed to observe the monitoring process. Employees must be provided timely written notification of the results of monitoring and a description of the cor-rective action being taken. Actions to Take When Monitoring Reveals Excess Exposure Regulated Areas If monitoring reveals concentrations of airborne formaldehyde at or in excess of the TWA or STEL, access ways to the area must be posted with signs saying: Employees must be informed of these areas, and access must be limited to persons who have been trained to recognize the dangers of formaldehyde. Engineering and Work Practice Controls Engineering and work practice controls must be insti-tuted to reduce exposure levels to or below the TWA or the STEL. If it is established that engineering controls are not feasible to comply, then the controls must be used to the extent feasible and supplemented with res-pirators. 16 DANGER FORMALDEHYDE IRRITANT AND POTENTIAL CANCER HAZARD AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY Respirator Protection Respirators must be provided at no cost to the employees who are required to wear them. The employ-er is responsible for ensuring that employees properly use the respirators. With regard to respirators, the standard: ✦ Specifies circumstances in which respirators must be used ✦ Provides a table for guidance in the selection of res-pirators, depending upon the condition of use and concentration of formaldehyde Appendix E of the standard outlines procedures for quantitative or qualitative face fit tests which the employer must perform initially and annually for employees required to wear negative pressure respira-tors. Some principal considerations of fit test require-ments, however, include the following: ✦ The most comfortable respirator must be used. ✦ The employee will be shown how to put on the res-pirator. He or she must have several choices and must wear the respirator for at least five minutes when selecting it. ✦ The assessment of comfort and fit must consider: • Position of the respirator on the nose and fit across the bridge of the nose • Room for eye protection • Room to allow talking • Proper placement of the chin ✦ When a negative pressure respirator is used, the test must not be conducted if there is any hair growth between the skin and the facepiece. 17 ✦ The employer must certify that a successful fit test has been performed. The date completed; name of employee; and type, brand, and size of the respira-tor will be part of the certification. ✦ During fit testing, specific exercises must be per-formed by the employee, including normal breath-ing, deep breathing, moving the head from side- to-side and up and down, grimacing, and bending over. The employer must institute a respiratory protection program that includes, among other things, the clean-ing, storage, and location of respirators, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. Protective Equipment and Clothing The standard requires compliance with other applica-ble standards regarding protective equipment and cloth-ing. Such equipment and clothing must be provided at no cost to the employee. The employer is responsible for ensuring that the employees wear and use the clothing and equipment. Guidelines are provided for the selection and maintenance of protective equipment and clothing. Hygiene Protection The standard requires compliance with another applicable standard ( 29 CFR 1910.141) regarding the provision of quick change rooms for changing from work clothing into protective clothing. If there is the possibili-ty that employees’ skin and eyes may be splashed with formaldehyde, appropriate quick drench showers and eyewash facilities are required. Housekeeping and Emergencies For operations involving formaldehyde liquids or gas, there must be a program to detect leaks and spills. The program must encompass preventive and corrective maintenance and provisions to contain spills, decontam-inate work areas, and dispose of waste containing 18 formaldehyde. The employer must develop appropriate procedures to be implemented in the event of an emer-gency. Medical Surveillance A medical surveillance program must be instituted for: ( 1) all employees exposed to formaldehyde at con-centrations at or above the action level or STEL; ( 2) employees who develop signs and symptoms of overex-posure to formaldehyde; and ( 3) all employees exposed to formaldehyde in an emergency. The program must be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place. The program must make available a medical disease questionnaire. The questionnaire must be administered by a licensed physician or by someone under the physi-cian’s supervision. Appendix D of the standard includes an acceptable medical disease questionnaire. A medical examination must be given to any employ-ee designated by the physician on the basis of the ques-tionnaire, to all employees who are required to wear a respirator— both at the time of initial assignment and annually, and to employees exposed in an emergency. Under new MRP provisions, an employee must be transferred to a job where formaldehyde does not exceed the action level if exposure causes significant eye, nose, throat, or dermal sensitization. If job transfer is not possible, the employee must be removed from formaldehyde exposure until a physician determines the employee can or cannot return to work where there is exposure or for six months ( whichever comes first). The employee must have the right to seek a second medical opinion and resolution of any disagreement through a review by a third physician. While removed, the employee’s seniority, benefits, and earnings may not be reduced unless offset by other employment or public or employer- funded program. 19 Hazard Communication The standard’s hazard communication provisions cross- reference requirements in the generic standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200. A written hazard communication program must include labels and other forms of warn-ing, material safety data sheets, and employee informa-tion and training. Labels are required for all substances with 0.1 percent or more of formaldehyde and materials capable of releasing formaldehyde in excess of 0.1 ppm. If it is foreseeable that formaldehyde levels may exceed 0.5 ppm, labels must warn that formaldehyde is a Potential Cancer Hazard. Training and Training Materials Information and training must be provided in a man-ner in which the employee can understand, at the time of initial assignment, whenever a new exposure to formaldehyde is introduced into the work area, and at least annually. This guide might be used to inform employees of the contents of the standard. The appen-dix in this guide might be used to train about MSDSs. Training should also include ( among other things): ✦ Potential health hazards posed by formaldehyde ( see part 1 of this guide), including symptoms asso-ciated with formaldehyde exposure ✦ Work operation considerations, including: • Importance of engineering controls • Safe work practices • Use and limitations of personal protective equipment • Housekeeping procedures • Emergency procedures, including the specific duties or assignments of each employee in the event of an emergency 20 Employees should be informed of the location of writ-ten training materials on formaldehyde. The materials should be made available without cost. Recordkeeping Exposure, medical, and respirator fit testing records must be maintained. The standard specifies the content of the records and how long the records must be main-tained. If the employer determines that exposure moni-toring is not required, the objective data supporting that determination must be maintained. Exposure and medical records must be made avail-able to the employee ( or former employee) and his or her representative. The standard explains any condi-tions which the employer may require to be met prior to releasing the records. 21 Appendix Material Safety Data Sheet Identification NAME Formaldehyde Solutions CHEMICAL FAMILY Aldehyde SYNONYMS Formalin; Methanal FORMULA CH2O CAS NAME Formaldehyde Solutions Physical Data BOILING POINT 760 mmHg 94.3°– 100° C ( 201°– 212° F) MELTING POINT Polymerizes and separates below 0°– 67° C ( 32°– 153° F) SPECIFIC GRAVITY 1.08– 1.13 VAPOR PRESSURE 23– 26 mmHg at 25° C ( 77° F); 39 mmHg at 37.8° C ( 100° F) VAPOR DENSITY ( Air = 1) – 1 SOLUBILITY IN WATER 100% pH INFORMATION 2.8– 4.0 22 EVAPORATION RATE ( Butyl Acetate = 1) Similar to water: > 1 FORM Liquid APPEARANCE Clear ( turns milky on cooling) COLOR Colorless ODOR Pungent Hazardous Components APPROXIMATE MATERIAL( S) CAS NO. PERCENT Formaldehyde 50- 00- 0 22– 56 Methanol 67- 56- 1 1– 15 Hazardous Reactivity INSTABILITY No known hazardous instability INCOMPATIBILITY Reacts with many compounds. Reaction with phenol, strong acids, or alkalis may be violent. Reaction with hydrochloric acid may form bis- chloromethyl ether, an OSHA- regulated carcinogen. DECOMPOSITION Occurs slowly at elevated temperatures, releasing formaldehyde gas. POLYMERIZATION Nonhazardous polymerization may occur at low tem-peratures, forming paraformaldehyde, a white solid. 23 Fire and Explosion Data FLASH POINT 54°– 88° C ( 129°– 192° F) METHOD TCC FLAMMABLE LIMITS IN AIR, PERCENT BY VOLUME Lower 7 Upper 73 AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE 424° C ( 795° F) FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS OSHA Class II or IIIA Combustible Liquid. Follow appro-priate National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA) codes. EXTINGUISHING MEDIA Alcohol foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide ( CO2), water spray. SPECIAL FIREFIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS Cool container with water spray or fog to help absorb escaping fumes. Evacuate affected area. Stay upwind and avoid contact with smoke and fumes. If contact cannot be avoided, wear personal protective equip-ment including chemical splash goggles and air mask with breathing air supply. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution. Health Hazard Information PRINCIPAL HEALTH HAZARDS Causes eye burns. Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin; causes general tissue damage. Causes skin, nose, throat, and lung irritation. May cause allergic skin reaction. May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed. Cannot be made non- poisonous. Formaldehyde: Inhalation 4- hour LC50: 250 ppm in rats Skin absorption LD50: 270 mg/ kg in rabbits Oral LD50: 500 mg/ kg in rats 24 Formaldehyde is a mild to moderate skin irritant, is an eye irritant, and can produce permanent eye dam-age and skin sensitization in animals. Toxic effects described in animals from exposure by inhalation to the vapor or mist include severe irritation to the upper respiratory tract and mucosal surfaces, eye irritation, and nonspecific effects such as weight loss and irritation. Toxic effects observed in animals from exposure by ingestion include severe irritation to mucosal surfaces and decreased body weight. Tests in some animals demonstrate carcinogenic activity. Formaldehyde shows mutagenic activity in bacterial and mammalian cell culture test systems but is gen-erally negative in whole animal systems. Tests for teratogenic activity by several routes have been nega-tive; however, one study indicated slightly decreased fetal weights, but only at high dose levels expected to also cause maternal toxicity. No malformations were observed. The available data are inadequate to assess reproductive effects, although limited studies do not suggest such effects. Human health effects of overexposure by skin contact with formaldehyde solutions include irritation with discomfort or rash, or allergic skin rash. Eye contact with formaldehyde solutions may cause eye irritation with discomfort, tearing, and blurring of vision; or eye corrosion with corneal or conjunctival ulceration. Effects of overexposure to formaldehyde vapors may include discomfort, such as nausea, headache, or weakness; irritation of the upper respiratory pas-sages; temporary lung irritation effects with cough, discomfort, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath. On rare occasions, respiratory sensitization ( asthma) has been reported in individuals. Gross overexposure by ingestion and, rarely, inhalation has been fatal. A Soviet study of questionable merit on women exposed to urea formaldehyde resin in textile processing noted effects on pregnant workers and 25 their offspring. However, these effects could be explained by other factors and have not been sub-stantiated by other studies. Individuals with preex-isting diseases of the lungs, eyes, or skin may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive exposures. CARCINOGENICITY Formaldehyde is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as probably carcinogenic to humans, on the basis of animal evidence and at least limited human data ( IARC group 2A); listed by the National Toxicology Program as reasonably anticipat-ed to be carcinogenic; listed by ACGIH as an A2 Industrial Substance Suspect of Carcinogenic Potential for Man; and OSHA, in its formaldehyde standard ( 29 CFR 1910.1048), considers formaldehyde a potential carcinogen. Formaldehyde ( gas) is a chemi-cal known to the state of California to cause cancer. EXPOSURE LIMITS [ PEL ( OSHA), TLV ( ACGIH)] Formaldehyde: OSHA 8- hour time- weighted average ( TWA) = 0.75 ppm; the OSHA short- term exposure limit ( STEL) = 2 ppm, 3 mg/ m3 ( 15- minute TWA, see 29 CFR 1910.1048). The ACGIH TLV– TWA = 1 ppm, 1.2 mg/ m3; the ACGIH STEL = 2 ppm, 2.5 mg/ m3; ( in its 1989– 1990 “ Notice of Intended Changes,” ACGIH lists the TLV as 0.3 ppm, 0.45 mg/ m3, ceiling, with the STEL deleted. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Do not get in eyes. Avoid contact with skin and clothing. Avoid breathing mist or vapor. Wash thoroughly after handling. FIRST AID In case of eye contact: immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Call a physi-cian. In case of skin contact: immediately flush skin 26 with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Call a physician. Wash clothing before reuse. If inhaled: remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician. If swallowed: induce vomiting immediately as direct-ed by medical personnel. Following this, give activat-ed charcoal slurry. Call a physician. NOTE TO PHYSICIANS To prepare activated charcoal slurry, suspend 50 gm of activated charcoal in 400 ml of water in a bottle and shake well. Give 5ml/ kg of body weight, or 350 ml for an average adult. Protection Information GENERALLY APPLICABLE CONTROL MEASURES Provide ventilation adequate to keep formaldehyde concentrations below indicated exposure limits. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Have available and wear as appropriate: chemical splash goggles; full- length face shield/ splash goggle combination; neoprene, nitrile, butyl, or polyvinyl gloves; coveralls with long sleeves. Selection and maintenance of personal protective equipment shall be in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1048( h). If expo-sure limits may be exceeded, the appropriate respira-tor as specified in table 1, 29 CFR 1910.1048( g), should be used. Wear self- contained breathing apparatus and full body protection for entry into areas where concentra-tions exceed 100 ppm and for emergency reentry into areas of unknown concentrations. 27 Disposal Information AQUATIC TOXICITY Formaldehyde: The 96- hour LC50 in fathead minnows is 38– 48 mg/ l. SPILL, LEAK, OR RELEASE Wear self- contained breathing apparatus and full body protection. Soak up small spills with earth, sand, or other noncombustible absorbent material and remove in covered metal containers. Dike large spills and neutralize with diluted ( 5 percent) solu-tions of ammonia, sodium sulfite, or sodium bisulfite and remove. Flush area with plenty of water. Comply with federal, state, and local regulations on reporting releases. WASTE DISPOSAL Cleanup material is a RCRA hazardous waste. Comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Additional Information STORAGE CONDITIONS Keep container closed. Keep away from heat and flame. Store in heated tank or warm room, above minimum storage temperature for grade handled. SARA/ TITLE III HAZARD CATEGORIES AND LISTS Product Hazard Categories: Chronic Health: Yes Acute Health: Yes Fire Hazard: Yes Pressure Hazard: No Reactivity Hazard: No Lists: Extremely Hazardous Substance: Yes CERCLA Hazardous Substance: Yes Toxic Chemical: Yes 28 Glossary Action Level. Concentration of a specific substance, cal-culated on an eight- hour time- weighted average ( TWA), which initiates certain required activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveil-lance. Aqueous Solution. A watery or water- based solution. Carcinogen. A substance that produces cancer. Dermatitis. A disorder or irritation of the skin. Signs may include itching, redness, rashes, and various skin lesions. FEF. Forced expiratory flow. The flow of air midpoint in a forced expiratory maneuver. FEV1. Forced expiratory volume in one second. The amount of air one can forcefully exhale in the first second of a forced expiration. FVC. Forced vital capacity. The maximum amount of air one can forcefully exhale after maximum inspiration. Hazard. The risk presented by a particular exposure to do harm by virtue of its explosiveness, flammability, corrosiveness, toxicity, etc., and the ease with which contact can be established with the substance. Metabolize. The changes that occur in substances enter-ing the body till they are used and/ or excreted from the body. MSDS. Material safety data sheet. Substances that are considered potentially dangerous are required by OSHA to have an MSDS. Information required to be on the MSDS includes: product name, ingredients, the manufacturer, possible safety and health hazards, and health precautions to follow. PEL. Permissible exposure level. A term used to indi-cate the permissible amount of exposure to a specific 29 substance, based on an eight- hour time- weighted average ( TWA). Protective Equipment and Clothing. Equipment and/ or clothing provided to the worker to prevent contact with a specific substance. Should be chosen based on the concentration, method of exposure, and condi-tions of use. Can include respirators, gloves, clothing, goggles, and face shields. Respirator. A device worn over the nose and mouth to protect one from inhaling harmful substances. The respirator must be selected to protect against the spe-cific substance and must be approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration ( MSHA) and by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ( NIOSH). Solubility. The ability of a substance to be dissolved into solution. STEL. Short- term exposure limit. A term used to indicate the maximum amount of time ( usually 15 minutes) that it is safe for one to be exposed to a substance in high concentrations. Toxic. The ability of a substance to cause harm to the body. Toxicity is influenced by how much and how often one is exposed to a particular substance. TWA. Time- weighted average. A term used to determine and set exposure limits for a particular substance. 30 References AIHA. June 1987. Occupational Exposure and Work Practices Guidelines for Formaldehyde, Final Draft. American Industrial Hygiene Association, Akron, Ohio. Feinman, S. E., ed. 1988. Formaldehyde Sensitivity and Toxicity. CRC Press, Inc. Gibson, J. E., ed. 1983. Formaldehyde Toxicity, The Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology Series. Hemisphere Publishing Corporation. Horvath, E. P., and H. Anderson, et al. February 5, 1988. Effects of Formaldehyde on the Mucous Membranes and Lungs: A Study of an Industrial Population. Journal of American Medical Association 259, no. 5: 701– 707. NIOSH. 1985. Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Publication # 78- 110. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office. NRC. 1981. Formaldehyde and Other Aldehydes. National Research Council. Committee on Aldehydes, Board of Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, National Research Council. National Academy Press. OSHA. May 27, 1992. Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde: Final Rule. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR 1910.1048 Federal Register 57: 22290. Ottoboni, M. A. 1984. The Dose Makes the Poison. Vincente Books. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW, et al. v. Pendergrass; Amalgamated Clothing and 31 Textile Workers Union, et al. v. Whitfield, Deputy Secretary of Labor; Formaldehyde Institute, Inc., et al. v. Whitfield; International Molders and Allied Workers Union, AFL- CIO- CLC, et al. v. Dole, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Docket Nos. 87- 1743, 87- 1744, 88- 1021, and 88- 1063 ( June 9, 1989), 1989 OSHD ( CCH) ¶ 28,564. 32 The following industry guides are available from the N. C. Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health: 1# 1. A Guide to Safety in Confined Spaces 1# 2. A Guide to Procedures of the Safety and Health Review Board of North Carolina 1# 3. A Guide to Machine Safeguarding 1# 4. A Guide to OSHA in North Carolina 1# 5. A Guide for Persons Employed in Cotton Dust Environments 1# 6. A Guide to Lead Exposure in the Construction Industry 1# 7. A Guide to Bloodborne Pathogens in the Workplace 1# 8. A Guide to Voluntary Training and Training Requirements in OSHA Standards 1# 9. A Guide to Ergonomics # 10. A Guide to Farm Safety and Health # 11. A Guide to Radio Frequency Hazards With Electric Detonators # 12. A Guide to Forklift Operator Training # 13. A Guide to the Safe Storage of Explosive Materials # 14. A Guide to the OSHA Excavations Standard # 15. A Guide to Developing and Maintaining an Effective Hearing Conservation Program # 17. A Guide to Asbestos for Industry # 18. A Guide to Electrical Safety # 19. A Guide to Occupational Exposure to Wood, Wood Dust and Combustible Dust Hazards # 20. A Guide to Crane Safety # 21. A Guide to School Safety and Health # 23. A Guide to Working With Electricity # 25. A Guide to Personal Protective Equipment # 26. A Guide to Manual Materials Handling and Back Safety # 27. A Guide to the Control of Hazardous Energy ( Lockout/ Tagout) # 28. A Guide to Eye Wash and Safety Shower Facilities # 29. A Guide to Safety and Health in Feed and Grain Mills # 30. A Guide to Working With Corrosive Substances # 31. A Guide to Formaldehyde # 32. A Guide to Fall Prevention in Industry # 33. A Guide to Office Safety and Health # 34. A Guide to Safety and Health in the Poultry Industry # 35. A Guide to Preventing Heat Stress # 36. A Guide to the Safe Use of Escalators and Elevators # 37. A Guide to Boilers and Pressure Vessels # 38. A Guide to Safe Scaffolding # 39. A Guide to Safety in the Textile Industry # 40. A Guide to Emergency Action Planning # 41. A Guide to OSHA for Small Businesses in North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health ( OSH) Sources of Information You may call 1- 800- NC- LABOR ( 1- 800- 625- 2267) to reach any division of the N. C. Department of Labor; or visit the NCDOL home page on the World Wide Web, Internet Web site address: http:// www. nclabor. com. N. C. Division of Occupational Safety and Health Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 3rd Floor) Local Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2900 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2856 For information concerning education, training and interpretations of occupational safety and health standards contact: Bureau of Education, Training and Technical Assistance Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 4th Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2875 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2876 For information concerning occupational safety and health consultative services and safety awards programs contact: Bureau of Consultative Services Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 3rd Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2899 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2902 For information concerning migrant housing inspections and other related activities contact: Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 2nd Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2923 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2924 For information concerning occupational safety and health compliance contact: Safety and Health Compliance District Offices Raleigh District Office ( 313 Chapanoke Road, Raleigh, NC 27603) Telephone: ( 919) 779- 8570 Fax: ( 919) 662- 4709 Asheville District Office ( 204 Charlotte Highway, Suite B, Asheville, NC 28803- 8681) Telephone: ( 828) 299- 8232 Fax: ( 828) 299- 8266 Charlotte District Office ( 901 Blairhill Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28217- 1578) Telephone: ( 704) 665- 4341 Fax: ( 704) 665- 4342 Winston- Salem District Office ( 4964 University Parkway, Suite 202, Winston- Salem, NC 27106- 2800) Telephone: ( 336) 776- 4420 Fax: ( 336) 776- 4422 Wilmington District Office ( 1200 N. 23rd St., Suite 205, Wilmington, NC 28405- 1824) Telephone: ( 910) 251- 2678 Fax: ( 910) 251- 2654 *** To make an OSHA Complaint, OSH Complaint Desk: ( 919) 807- 2796*** For statistical information concerning program activities contact: Planning, Statistics and Information Management Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 2nd Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2950 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2951 For information about books, periodicals, vertical files, videos, films, audio/ slide sets and computer databases contact: N. C. Department of Labor Library Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 5th Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2848 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2849 N. C. Department of Labor ( Other than OSH) 1101 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 Telephone: ( 919) 733- 7166 Fax: ( 919) 733- 6197
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Title | Guide to formaldehyde |
Other Title | Formaldehyde |
Creator | Imbus, Harold R. |
Contributor |
North Carolina. Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Health & Hygiene, Inc. |
Subjects |
Formaldehyde--Safety measures Formaldehyde--Law and legislation--United States Industrial hygiene |
Description | "Prepared... by Health & Hygiene, Inc."--P. [2] of cover.; "Printed 7/98"--P. [2] of cover.; Includes bibliographical references (p. 31-32). |
Publisher | Division of Occupational Safety and Health, North Carolina Dept. of Labor |
Agency-Current | North Carolina Department of Labor |
Rights | State Document see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p249901coll22,63754 |
Physical Characteristics | v, 32 p. ; 22 cm. |
Collection | North Carolina State Documents Collection. State Library of North Carolina |
Type | Text |
Language | English |
Format |
Guides Informational pamphlets |
Digital Characteristics-A | 120 KB; 38 P. |
Series | Industry guide (Raleigh, N.C.) ; 31. |
Digital Collection | North Carolina Digital State Documents Collection |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Related Items | Also available online.; http://www.nclabor.com/osha/etta/indguide/ig31.pdf; http://worldcat.org/oclc/181373162/viewonline |
Audience | All |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_GuidetoFormaldehyde071998.pdf |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\ |
Full Text | A Guide to Formaldehyde H. R. Imbus N. C. Department of Labor Division of Occupational Safety and Health 1101 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 Cherie K. Berry Commissioner of Labor Acknowledgments This guide was prepared for the North Carolina Department of Labor by Health & Hygiene, Inc., 420 Gallimore Dairy Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, a firm that specializes in occupational health. Updated material was provided by North Carolina Department of Labor Health Standards Officer J. Edgar Geddie, Ph. D. This guide is intended to be consistent with all existing OSHA standards; therefore, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent with a standard, then the OSHA standard should be followed. To obtain additional copies of this book, or if you have ques-tions about N. C. occupational safety and health standards or rules, please contact: N. C. Department of Labor Bureau of Education, Training and Technical Assistance 1101 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 Phone: ( 919) 807- 2875 or 1- 800- NC- LABOR ____________________ Additional sources of information are listed on the inside back cover of this book. ____________________ The projected cost of the OSHNC program for federal fiscal year 2002– 2003 is $ 13,130,589. Federal funding provides approximately 37 percent ($ 4,920,000) of this total. Printed 7/ 98, 3M N. C. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program Cherie K. Berry Commissioner of Labor OSHA State Plan Designee Allen McNeely Deputy Commissioner for Safety and Health Kevin Beauregard Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Safety and Health Contents Part Page Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1iiv 1 Formaldehyde in the Workplace. . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii1 What Is Formaldehyde? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii1 Sources of Formaldehyde. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii2 How Can Formaldehyde Affect Our Health? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii4 How Formaldehyde Enters the Body . . . . . . 1ii5 Responding to Emergencies from Formaldehyde Releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1ii9 First Aid Treatment for Exposure to Formaldehyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii10 2 A Standard Regulating Formaldehyde in the Workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii12 Background Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii12 Highlights of the Formaldehyde Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii13 Appendix— Material Safety Data Sheet . . . ii22 Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii29 References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii31 iii Foreword Formaldehyde in its simplest form is a colorless gas that is readily soluble in water. It has an acrid odor that can irritate the eyes and nose. Formaldehyde is commer-cially available as a solution called formalin, formed from various proportions of formaldehyde, water, and alcohol. Textile and wood product industries are large users of organic dyes and urea resins that contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is also used for disinfecting, embalming, and producing some synthetic plastics. Employers must be aware of workplace hazards facing their employees and take appropriate action to minimize or eliminate exposure to these hazards. A Guide to Formaldehyde describes how employers and employees can learn to protect their health in environments that contain formaldehyde. In this state, the North Carolina Department of Labor consultants and inspectors administer the federal OSHA laws through a plan approved by the U. S. Department of Labor. All current OSHA standards are enforced. Many educational programs, publications ( including this guide), and other services are also offered to help inform people about their rights and responsibilities regarding OSHA. As you look through this guide, please remember that OSHA’s mission is greater than just enforcement. An equally important goal is to help citizens find ways to create safe and healthy workplaces. Reading and using the information in this booklet, like other educational materials produced by the North Carolina Department of Labor, can help. Cherie K. Berry Commissioner of Labor iv 1 Formaldehyde in the Workplace What Is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde has the chemical elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in its structure. Hydrocarbons are among the most common of chemical compositions. The human body includes hydrocarbons among its ele-ments and compounds, and it requires formaldehyde to metabolize biochemical substances. Formaldehyde has a pungent odor and is very soluble in water. Formaldehyde is highly reactive and readily combines with many chemical compounds, and under normal conditions, it is a gas. In its simplest form, formaldehyde is a colorless gas. But the term formalde-hyde is sometimes used to describe liquids composed of various mixtures of formaldehyde, water, and alcohol. Formaldehyde is usually sold as an aqueous or watery solution called formalin, which contains 37 to 50 percent formaldehyde by weight. It is soluble in water, but not in most organic solvents, except alcohol and ether. It is prin-cipally used to produce resins, other industrial chemicals, and consumer items and as a bactericide or fungicide. A mixture of polymers of formaldehyde ( many mole-cules of formaldehyde linked together) is known as paraformaldehyde. Paraformaldehyde is a white powder containing 91 percent or more formaldehyde. 1 Sources of Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is part of our general outdoor environ-ment. It is released into the atmosphere through fumes from automobile and truck exhausts and by manufactur-ing facilities that burn fossil fuels. Uncontrolled forest fires and the open burning of waste give off formalde-hyde. Because of formaldehyde’s high water solubility, it is contained in rain water, oceans, and surface waters. Geographic location, wind conditions, cloud cover, rain or standing water, air temperature, and the season of the year are all important variants in the amount of formaldehyde in the ambient air. Formaldehyde is also in our indoor work environ-ment. A formaldehyde resin is used in the production of plywood and particle board. These wood products become part of the structure of various workplaces. For example, offices converted from mobile homes make use of large quantities of plywood. Paint used to cover walls contains formaldehyde. In the past, a foam made from a resin known as urea- formaldehyde was used as a ther-mal insulation in the outside walls of buildings. If the foam were formulated or mixed improperly, formalde-hyde could be released into the building. The paper products industry uses urea- formaldehyde resins. Paper products treated with formaldehyde include paper bags, waxed paper, paper towels, and dis-posable sanitary products. All of these products are used in the work environment. The wood industry is a major user of formaldehyde. Over 60 percent of urea- formaldehyde resin is used as a binder in plywood and particleboard. The textile indus-try, however, is the major source of employee exposure to formaldehyde. While not a major user of formaldehyde on a volume basis, about 60 to 85 percent of all apparel fabric is finished with formaldehyde- containing resins. 2 Formaldehyde also finds its way into the workplace through textile products. Floor covering and carpet backing may contain formaldehyde polymers. The tex-tile industry uses formaldehyde for fire retardation, increased water repellency, stiffness, and wrinkle- resis-tance in fabric. Draperies, wallpaper, carpet, and uphol-stered furniture contain formaldehyde. Tobacco smoke contains formaldehyde. The smoker inhales the smoke directly into the lungs. Nonsmokers inhale sidestream smoke from cigarettes consumed by fellow workers. Thus, formaldehyde surrounds us generally in the workplace, just as it does in the home and elsewhere. However, employees may be additionally exposed from formaldehyde used in their work products. Formaldehyde can lead to widespread exposure in downstream industries. When formaldehyde is present in disinfectants, preservatives, and embalming fluid, worker exposure can occur. Formaldehyde is found in release agents in foundries. Laboratories in schools, hospitals, dental facilities, and veterinary settings may make use of formaldehyde. Hospitals use it as a disin-fectant and deodorizer. See table 1 for a partial list of occupations that may involve exposure to formaldehyde. Also see table 2. 3 Table 1 Occupational That May Involve Exposure to Formaldehyde How Can Formaldehyde Affect Our Health? Based on the best available evidence in OSHA’s record on formaldehyde, OSHA determined that formaldehyde is genotoxic, showing properties of both a cancer initiator and promoter ( early and late stage car-cinogen). When inhaled, formaldehyde is a carcinogen in rats. In humans, formaldehyde exposure has been associated with cancers of the lung, nasopharynx and oropharynx, and nasal passages. When humans are exposed to excess levels of formaldehyde, adverse health effects can result. Symptoms of excess exposure include respiratory irrita-tion; watery, itchy eyes; itchy, runny, or stuffy nose; dry 4 Agriculture workers Botanists Carpet manufacturers/ installers Disinfectant producers/ users Dressmakers Drug makers Dye manufacturers Embalming fluid producers Fabric store personnel Fertilizer manufacturers and blenders Formaldehyde producers Formaldehyde resin producers Foundry workers Furniture makers and finishers Glue and adhesive makers Hazardous waste handlers Ink makers Insulators Laboratory researchers Lacquer producers and users Oil field workers Paint and varnish manufacturers Paper manufacturers Plywood and particle board manu-facturers Poultry processors Rubber workers Sanitation workers Surgeons Taxidermists Textile workers: finishers, printers, cutters Veterinarians Wood preservers or sore throat; and headache. The EPA and OSHA rec-ognize that contact with formaldehyde can cause skin irritation and dermatitis. Normally, reactions to formaldehyde heal within days or a few weeks of the cessation of exposure. Most people become acclimated to formaldehyde and come to experi-ence its effects more mildly. But some people, especially those with allergic asthma, allergic hay fever, or infan-tile or childhood eczema, become sensitized and suffer a condition known as allergic contact dermatitis. Those with allergic contact dermatitis suffer itching, redness, swelling, multiple small blisters, and scaling whenever subsequent exposure occurs. Sensitized individuals are usually unable to remain in formaldehyde- related jobs. How Formaldehyde Enters the Body There are four routes of exposure to a substance: ingestion, inhalation, skin absorption, and eye contact. Since people may adapt to formaldehyde, dependency upon the perception of formaldehyde by odor and eye irritation can lead to overexposure if the worker is rely-ing on those cues as a warning against exposure. Ingestion Ingestion ( eating or drinking) is not considered a common route of significant exposure to formaldehyde. Nevertheless, there have been reported cases of acci-dental formaldehyde ingestion. Swallowing liquids con-taining 10 to 40 percent formaldehyde results in severe irritation of the mouth, throat, and stomach. Severe stomach pains will follow ingestion with possible loss of consciousness and death. Inhalation Inhaling formaldehyde can cause symptoms ranging from mild irritation to severe difficulty in breathing. The response depends on the concentration of the 5 formaldehyde. For example, concentrations of 10 to 20 parts per million ( ppm) cause difficulty in breathing, burning of the nose and throat, cough, and heavy tear-ing. A concentration of 100 ppm is immediately danger-ous to life and health. The response also depends on the length of exposure and individual sensitivity. One can also become exposed by inhalation through off- gassing from formaldehyde- containing materials ( downstream exposure). Because formaldehyde is so soluble, inhaling or breathing it causes irritation of the eyes and nose. The eyes will tear and the mucus in the nose will run. Other reactions include headache, sinus fullness, sore throat, and hoarseness. Higher concentrations of formaldehyde or long- term exposure can cause severe coughing, chest tightness, and swelling or spasm in the throat ( glottis). Some studies have linked formaldehyde exposure to allergic asthma. Formaldehyde resins have been linked to respiratory disease in some workers, with symptoms including both an immediate and a delayed asthmatic reaction. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis ( a flulike illness with fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath) has occa-sionally been associated with worker exposure to pheno-formaldehyde bakelite resins. Exposure to formalde-hyde in concentrations of 100 ppm is considered imme-diately dangerous to life and health. Skin Absorption Skin absorption is one of the major routes of exposure to formaldehyde. Skin contact with formaldehyde can result in reactions ranging from mild irritation to severe allergic dermatitis. Concentrated solutions of formaldehyde will cause the skin to discolor, crack, dry, and scale. Prolonged or repeated contact will cause numbness and hardening or tanning of the skin. 6 A number of factors affect skin absorption of formaldehyde. If there is an existing dermatitis or acne and/ or if the skin is broken or irritated, absorption is increased. High humidity and the area of skin exposed also affect skin absorption of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a chemical that causes a significant number of people to experience skin sensitization. Chemicals that cause sensitization are called allergens. Exposure to these chemicals causes the body to form antibodies. Future exposure to the substance, even in very small amounts, can cause symptoms. Skin contact occurs in a variety of workplaces, such as veterinary clinics, schools, photography, plumbing, agricultural, pest control, and medical settings ( includ-ing pathology laboratories and morgues). In the fabric industry, material is treated with formaldehyde for use in making sheeting and garments. In garments, formaldehyde makes possible a durable press finish. Employees who work with such products are exposed to formaldehyde and subject to dermatitis. In recent times, technology has decreased the amount of free formaldehyde on fabrics, and the risk of dermatitis has been reduced. Allergic contact dermatitis is seen among medical personnel who use formaldehyde. Pathologists use formaldehyde as a tissue fixative. Physicians, nurses, and dentists routinely use it in disinfection procedures. Technicians and cleaning personnel in health care facili-ties are also routinely exposed to formaldehyde. Other employees at similar risk include hairdressers; automotive industry workers who handle coolants and cutting oils; workers exposed to paint; and printing industry workers who are exposed to ink and who rou-tinely handle journals and newspapers. ( See table 2 for a list of occupations where there exists the potential for dermatitis from formaldehyde exposure.) 7 8 Job Exposure Actors and theatrical artists Makeup Artists, printers, silk screeners Inks, paper, preservatives Bakers Disinfectants Beauticians, barbers Disinfectants, germicides, cosmetics Butchers and food preparation workers Cleaners, disinfectants Biology laboratory instructors and students Preservatives Carpenters, cabinet makers Adhesives, solvents Cleaning personnel Detergents, preservatives Clinical biologists, histologists Formalin Dentists, hygienists, assistants Disinfectants, medications Dry cleaners Spot removers Electricians and electronics workers Resins, metal cleaners Farming industry Fumigants, disinfectants Foundry workers Resin emissions from sand molds Leather and fur workers Tanning Machinists Metal cleaners, cutting fluids Mechanics Metal and tire cleaners, sealants Medical personnel Disinfectants, medicines Morticians Formalin Painters Resins Paper workers Resin emissions Pathologists, histologists Formalin Pest control workers Fumigants, cleaning agents Pharmacists Medicine, drug preservatives Photographers Developers, resin emissions Plumbers, pipe fitters Metal cleaners, resins Printers Ink, paper Stone workers Cleaning solutions Textile workers Emissions from fabric finishes Wallpaper hangers Preservatives, adhesives Welders Metal cleaners, resins Table 2 Jobs and Exposures with Potential for Formaldehyde Dermatitis Eye Contact Eye contact results from spills or splashes of formaldehyde. Eye contact reactions range from mild irritation to permanent corneal cloudiness and loss of vision. The severity of injury is determined by the con-centration of the solution and the length of contact. Eye irritation is a common complaint of persons exposed to formaldehyde vapor. As the concentration of formaldehyde increases, the eyes become itchy and tear till they afford themselves some degree of natural pro-tection by closing. Responding to Emergencies from Formaldehyde Releases If your work area has the potential for large formaldehyde releases, either from an accident or equipment failure, your employer must have developed an emergency procedure. If you are to play any part in the emergency procedure, you will have received train-ing in your specific duty, including training for any equipment which you are expected to use. If you have not received such training and an emergency spill of formaldehyde occurs: LEAVE THE AREA as quickly as possible. Do not touch any spilled material. Designated employees should stop the leak and shut off ignition sources. The hazard area should be isolated, and no one should be granted admittance unless they are wearing appropriate protective clothing and respirators. Smoking and all flame or flares must be prohibited in the hazard area. Explosive concentrations may build up. Water spray may be used to reduce vapors. Fire fighting procedures should be well established and followed. 9 Small spills may be cleaned up with absorbent materi-al. The waste should be placed in marked containers for later disposal. Large spills should be diked to facilitate salvage or disposal. Sodium hydroxide or sodium sulfate may be used to neutralize the spill. EPA regulations must be followed for large spills and disposal of waste. If the spill exceeds 1,000 pounds per day, it is recordable under EPA’s superfund legislation. First Aid Treatment for Exposure to Formaldehyde Treatment should be immediately available to employees exposed to formaldehyde. If formaldehyde is ingested ( swallowed): • If the victim is conscious, administer milk, water, or activated charcoal to dilute, absorb, or inacti-vate the formaldehyde. • Keep the exposed person warm and at rest. • Get medical attention immediately. • If vomiting occurs, keep the person’s head lower than the hips, or turn the victim on his or her side and lower his or her head. If formaldehyde is inhaled: • Remove to fresh air immediately. • NOTE: Where concentrations are high, the rescuer must wear a self- contained breathing apparatus. • Check respiration. If breathing has stopped, initi-ate rescue breathing, giving two initial breaths fol-lowed by one breath every five seconds. • If qualified, administer oxygen if it is available. • Monitor vital signs and treat for shock. 10 • Get medical attention immediately. • Where exposure results in coughing for more than 10 minutes and irritation of the upper respiratory tract, the individual should be hospitalized. If formaldehyde contacts the skin: • Where there is potential for extensive exposure, protective clothing must be worn and emergency showers should be readily available. • Remove contaminated clothing and shoes immedi-ately. • Wash affected area with soap and water till no evi-dence of the chemical remains ( 15 to 20 minutes). • If chemical burns are noted, bandage with a dry, sterile dressing. • If there is evidence of eye or respiratory distress, seek medical attention. If formaldehyde contacts the eyes: • Where there is potential for a splash to the eye, goggles or face shields must be used. Emergency eyewash stations should be readily available. • Immediately wash eyes with copious amounts of water ( 15 to 20 minutes). • If there is evidence of a burn or if there is exten-sive exposure, transport for medical care immedi-ately, continuing irrigation while transporting. 11 2 A Standard Regulating Formaldehyde in the Workplace Background Information The federal Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-tration ( OSHA) first regulated workers’ exposure to formaldehyde in 1972, when it imposed a permissible exposure limit ( PEL) of three parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air ( 3 ppm) as an eight- hour time-weighted average ( TWA). At that time, the standard was based on findings showing that formaldehyde was an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. Later research showed that formaldehyde might also cause cancer in humans. Based on this new research, OSHA issued a new standard ( 29 CFR 1910.1048) on December 4, 1987. The 1987 standard set the PEL at 1 ppm. In June 1989, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ordered OSHA to justify more fully its new PEL and the absence of a medical removal protection ( MRP) provision in the new standard. Since, the 1987 standard has been enforced by federal OSHA and by the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the North Carolina Department of Labor, except for its hazard communication provision. That provision was stayed until it could be clarified. In the interim, employers ( including those in wood products industries) were required to comply with the generic hazard communica-tion standard ( 29 CFR 1910.1200). On May 27, 1992, federal OSHA published amend-ments to its 1987 standard ( 57 Federal Register 22290) 12 in response to the 1989 court order. The amendments lowered the PEL to 0.75 ppm, required MRP, lifted the stay from the hazard communication provisions, and required annual employee training. Compliance dead-lines are included for the amended sections. Highlights of the Formaldehyde Standard The information that follows is intended to offer the reader a quick grasp of the standard. It is general infor-mation. It is not a substitute for the standard itself. The Hazard The standard intends to protect employees from expo-sure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde gas, all mixtures or solutions equal to or greater than 0.1 percent formalde-hyde, and materials capable of releasing formaldehyde into the air are considered a health hazard. The Extent of the Standard’s Protection The standard applies to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde, that is, from formaldehyde gas, its solu-tions, and materials that release formaldehyde. Limits beyond Which Employees May Not Be Exposed to Formaldehyde The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde that exceeds 0.75 parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air ( 0.75 ppm) as an eight- hour time- weighted average ( TWA). This limit is one of two permissible exposure limits ( PEL). The standard also provides a short- term exposure limit ( STEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde that exceeds two parts formaldehyde per million parts of air ( 2 ppm) as a 15- minute STEL. 13 Monitoring of Employee Exposure May Be Required Ensuring that employees are not excessively exposed to formaldehyde may mean that the employer must monitor employees to measure levels of exposure. If there is no formaldehyde hazard in the workplace and if employees have not complained of symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposure, there is no obligation to monitor. If formaldehyde or formaldehyde- releasing agents are in the workplace, the employer is not obligated to moni-tor if it is able to document through objective data that employees cannot be exposed at or above the STEL or at or above the action level. The action level is a concentra-tion of 0.5 ppm calculated as an eight- hour TWA concen-tration. In documenting that employees are not exposed at or above the action level or STEL, the employer should consider all relevant information. Relevant information would include insurance company and trade association data, information from suppliers or exposure data col-lected from similar operations, and previous sampling results. If the employer can demonstrate conclusively that no employee is exposed at or above the action level or the STEL through the use of objective data, the employer need not monitor until such time that conditions have changed and the determination is no longer valid. Determining Which Employees Are Potentially Exposed Assuming the employer determines that, for any operation, there is the possibility of employee exposure at or above the action level or the STEL, the employer is obligated to measure employee exposure. The first step in making that determination is to determine all situations where formaldehyde is used in a manner 14 such that it may be released into the workplace atmos-phere or contaminate the skin. If there is an indication from materials handling records and material safety data sheets ( MSDSs) ( see the sample MSDS in the appendix) that formaldehyde is being used in the following types of processes, there may be the potential for formaldehyde exposure: ✦ Operations involving grinding, sanding, sawing, cutting, crushing, screening, sieving, and similar processes that may release formaldehyde- bearing dust ✦ Processes where employees have complained of symptoms indicative of formaldehyde exposure ✦ Any liquid or spray process involving formaldehyde ✦ Any process that uses formaldehyde in preserved tissue ✦ Any process that involves the heating of formalde-hyde- bearing resin Monitoring Initial Monitoring The employer must monitor each potentially exposed employee or develop a representative sampling strategy for each exposure work group. Appendix B of the stan-dard discusses the relative merits of various sampling strategies and monitoring methods. Initial monitoring must be repeated if there is a change in production, equipment, process, personnel, or control measures that may result in new or additional exposure to formaldehyde. Periodic Monitoring If monitoring shows employee exposure at or above the action level, monitoring shall be repeated every six months. If monitoring shows employee exposure at or 15 above the STEL, monitoring shall be repeated every year under the worst conditions. The standard specifies the level of accuracy required of the monitoring process and describes conditions under which monitoring may be terminated. Employees must be allowed to observe the monitoring process. Employees must be provided timely written notification of the results of monitoring and a description of the cor-rective action being taken. Actions to Take When Monitoring Reveals Excess Exposure Regulated Areas If monitoring reveals concentrations of airborne formaldehyde at or in excess of the TWA or STEL, access ways to the area must be posted with signs saying: Employees must be informed of these areas, and access must be limited to persons who have been trained to recognize the dangers of formaldehyde. Engineering and Work Practice Controls Engineering and work practice controls must be insti-tuted to reduce exposure levels to or below the TWA or the STEL. If it is established that engineering controls are not feasible to comply, then the controls must be used to the extent feasible and supplemented with res-pirators. 16 DANGER FORMALDEHYDE IRRITANT AND POTENTIAL CANCER HAZARD AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY Respirator Protection Respirators must be provided at no cost to the employees who are required to wear them. The employ-er is responsible for ensuring that employees properly use the respirators. With regard to respirators, the standard: ✦ Specifies circumstances in which respirators must be used ✦ Provides a table for guidance in the selection of res-pirators, depending upon the condition of use and concentration of formaldehyde Appendix E of the standard outlines procedures for quantitative or qualitative face fit tests which the employer must perform initially and annually for employees required to wear negative pressure respira-tors. Some principal considerations of fit test require-ments, however, include the following: ✦ The most comfortable respirator must be used. ✦ The employee will be shown how to put on the res-pirator. He or she must have several choices and must wear the respirator for at least five minutes when selecting it. ✦ The assessment of comfort and fit must consider: • Position of the respirator on the nose and fit across the bridge of the nose • Room for eye protection • Room to allow talking • Proper placement of the chin ✦ When a negative pressure respirator is used, the test must not be conducted if there is any hair growth between the skin and the facepiece. 17 ✦ The employer must certify that a successful fit test has been performed. The date completed; name of employee; and type, brand, and size of the respira-tor will be part of the certification. ✦ During fit testing, specific exercises must be per-formed by the employee, including normal breath-ing, deep breathing, moving the head from side- to-side and up and down, grimacing, and bending over. The employer must institute a respiratory protection program that includes, among other things, the clean-ing, storage, and location of respirators, in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. Protective Equipment and Clothing The standard requires compliance with other applica-ble standards regarding protective equipment and cloth-ing. Such equipment and clothing must be provided at no cost to the employee. The employer is responsible for ensuring that the employees wear and use the clothing and equipment. Guidelines are provided for the selection and maintenance of protective equipment and clothing. Hygiene Protection The standard requires compliance with another applicable standard ( 29 CFR 1910.141) regarding the provision of quick change rooms for changing from work clothing into protective clothing. If there is the possibili-ty that employees’ skin and eyes may be splashed with formaldehyde, appropriate quick drench showers and eyewash facilities are required. Housekeeping and Emergencies For operations involving formaldehyde liquids or gas, there must be a program to detect leaks and spills. The program must encompass preventive and corrective maintenance and provisions to contain spills, decontam-inate work areas, and dispose of waste containing 18 formaldehyde. The employer must develop appropriate procedures to be implemented in the event of an emer-gency. Medical Surveillance A medical surveillance program must be instituted for: ( 1) all employees exposed to formaldehyde at con-centrations at or above the action level or STEL; ( 2) employees who develop signs and symptoms of overex-posure to formaldehyde; and ( 3) all employees exposed to formaldehyde in an emergency. The program must be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place. The program must make available a medical disease questionnaire. The questionnaire must be administered by a licensed physician or by someone under the physi-cian’s supervision. Appendix D of the standard includes an acceptable medical disease questionnaire. A medical examination must be given to any employ-ee designated by the physician on the basis of the ques-tionnaire, to all employees who are required to wear a respirator— both at the time of initial assignment and annually, and to employees exposed in an emergency. Under new MRP provisions, an employee must be transferred to a job where formaldehyde does not exceed the action level if exposure causes significant eye, nose, throat, or dermal sensitization. If job transfer is not possible, the employee must be removed from formaldehyde exposure until a physician determines the employee can or cannot return to work where there is exposure or for six months ( whichever comes first). The employee must have the right to seek a second medical opinion and resolution of any disagreement through a review by a third physician. While removed, the employee’s seniority, benefits, and earnings may not be reduced unless offset by other employment or public or employer- funded program. 19 Hazard Communication The standard’s hazard communication provisions cross- reference requirements in the generic standard at 29 CFR 1910.1200. A written hazard communication program must include labels and other forms of warn-ing, material safety data sheets, and employee informa-tion and training. Labels are required for all substances with 0.1 percent or more of formaldehyde and materials capable of releasing formaldehyde in excess of 0.1 ppm. If it is foreseeable that formaldehyde levels may exceed 0.5 ppm, labels must warn that formaldehyde is a Potential Cancer Hazard. Training and Training Materials Information and training must be provided in a man-ner in which the employee can understand, at the time of initial assignment, whenever a new exposure to formaldehyde is introduced into the work area, and at least annually. This guide might be used to inform employees of the contents of the standard. The appen-dix in this guide might be used to train about MSDSs. Training should also include ( among other things): ✦ Potential health hazards posed by formaldehyde ( see part 1 of this guide), including symptoms asso-ciated with formaldehyde exposure ✦ Work operation considerations, including: • Importance of engineering controls • Safe work practices • Use and limitations of personal protective equipment • Housekeeping procedures • Emergency procedures, including the specific duties or assignments of each employee in the event of an emergency 20 Employees should be informed of the location of writ-ten training materials on formaldehyde. The materials should be made available without cost. Recordkeeping Exposure, medical, and respirator fit testing records must be maintained. The standard specifies the content of the records and how long the records must be main-tained. If the employer determines that exposure moni-toring is not required, the objective data supporting that determination must be maintained. Exposure and medical records must be made avail-able to the employee ( or former employee) and his or her representative. The standard explains any condi-tions which the employer may require to be met prior to releasing the records. 21 Appendix Material Safety Data Sheet Identification NAME Formaldehyde Solutions CHEMICAL FAMILY Aldehyde SYNONYMS Formalin; Methanal FORMULA CH2O CAS NAME Formaldehyde Solutions Physical Data BOILING POINT 760 mmHg 94.3°– 100° C ( 201°– 212° F) MELTING POINT Polymerizes and separates below 0°– 67° C ( 32°– 153° F) SPECIFIC GRAVITY 1.08– 1.13 VAPOR PRESSURE 23– 26 mmHg at 25° C ( 77° F); 39 mmHg at 37.8° C ( 100° F) VAPOR DENSITY ( Air = 1) – 1 SOLUBILITY IN WATER 100% pH INFORMATION 2.8– 4.0 22 EVAPORATION RATE ( Butyl Acetate = 1) Similar to water: > 1 FORM Liquid APPEARANCE Clear ( turns milky on cooling) COLOR Colorless ODOR Pungent Hazardous Components APPROXIMATE MATERIAL( S) CAS NO. PERCENT Formaldehyde 50- 00- 0 22– 56 Methanol 67- 56- 1 1– 15 Hazardous Reactivity INSTABILITY No known hazardous instability INCOMPATIBILITY Reacts with many compounds. Reaction with phenol, strong acids, or alkalis may be violent. Reaction with hydrochloric acid may form bis- chloromethyl ether, an OSHA- regulated carcinogen. DECOMPOSITION Occurs slowly at elevated temperatures, releasing formaldehyde gas. POLYMERIZATION Nonhazardous polymerization may occur at low tem-peratures, forming paraformaldehyde, a white solid. 23 Fire and Explosion Data FLASH POINT 54°– 88° C ( 129°– 192° F) METHOD TCC FLAMMABLE LIMITS IN AIR, PERCENT BY VOLUME Lower 7 Upper 73 AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE 424° C ( 795° F) FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS OSHA Class II or IIIA Combustible Liquid. Follow appro-priate National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA) codes. EXTINGUISHING MEDIA Alcohol foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide ( CO2), water spray. SPECIAL FIREFIGHTING INSTRUCTIONS Cool container with water spray or fog to help absorb escaping fumes. Evacuate affected area. Stay upwind and avoid contact with smoke and fumes. If contact cannot be avoided, wear personal protective equip-ment including chemical splash goggles and air mask with breathing air supply. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution. Health Hazard Information PRINCIPAL HEALTH HAZARDS Causes eye burns. Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin; causes general tissue damage. Causes skin, nose, throat, and lung irritation. May cause allergic skin reaction. May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed. Cannot be made non- poisonous. Formaldehyde: Inhalation 4- hour LC50: 250 ppm in rats Skin absorption LD50: 270 mg/ kg in rabbits Oral LD50: 500 mg/ kg in rats 24 Formaldehyde is a mild to moderate skin irritant, is an eye irritant, and can produce permanent eye dam-age and skin sensitization in animals. Toxic effects described in animals from exposure by inhalation to the vapor or mist include severe irritation to the upper respiratory tract and mucosal surfaces, eye irritation, and nonspecific effects such as weight loss and irritation. Toxic effects observed in animals from exposure by ingestion include severe irritation to mucosal surfaces and decreased body weight. Tests in some animals demonstrate carcinogenic activity. Formaldehyde shows mutagenic activity in bacterial and mammalian cell culture test systems but is gen-erally negative in whole animal systems. Tests for teratogenic activity by several routes have been nega-tive; however, one study indicated slightly decreased fetal weights, but only at high dose levels expected to also cause maternal toxicity. No malformations were observed. The available data are inadequate to assess reproductive effects, although limited studies do not suggest such effects. Human health effects of overexposure by skin contact with formaldehyde solutions include irritation with discomfort or rash, or allergic skin rash. Eye contact with formaldehyde solutions may cause eye irritation with discomfort, tearing, and blurring of vision; or eye corrosion with corneal or conjunctival ulceration. Effects of overexposure to formaldehyde vapors may include discomfort, such as nausea, headache, or weakness; irritation of the upper respiratory pas-sages; temporary lung irritation effects with cough, discomfort, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath. On rare occasions, respiratory sensitization ( asthma) has been reported in individuals. Gross overexposure by ingestion and, rarely, inhalation has been fatal. A Soviet study of questionable merit on women exposed to urea formaldehyde resin in textile processing noted effects on pregnant workers and 25 their offspring. However, these effects could be explained by other factors and have not been sub-stantiated by other studies. Individuals with preex-isting diseases of the lungs, eyes, or skin may have increased susceptibility to the toxicity of excessive exposures. CARCINOGENICITY Formaldehyde is listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as probably carcinogenic to humans, on the basis of animal evidence and at least limited human data ( IARC group 2A); listed by the National Toxicology Program as reasonably anticipat-ed to be carcinogenic; listed by ACGIH as an A2 Industrial Substance Suspect of Carcinogenic Potential for Man; and OSHA, in its formaldehyde standard ( 29 CFR 1910.1048), considers formaldehyde a potential carcinogen. Formaldehyde ( gas) is a chemi-cal known to the state of California to cause cancer. EXPOSURE LIMITS [ PEL ( OSHA), TLV ( ACGIH)] Formaldehyde: OSHA 8- hour time- weighted average ( TWA) = 0.75 ppm; the OSHA short- term exposure limit ( STEL) = 2 ppm, 3 mg/ m3 ( 15- minute TWA, see 29 CFR 1910.1048). The ACGIH TLV– TWA = 1 ppm, 1.2 mg/ m3; the ACGIH STEL = 2 ppm, 2.5 mg/ m3; ( in its 1989– 1990 “ Notice of Intended Changes,” ACGIH lists the TLV as 0.3 ppm, 0.45 mg/ m3, ceiling, with the STEL deleted. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Do not get in eyes. Avoid contact with skin and clothing. Avoid breathing mist or vapor. Wash thoroughly after handling. FIRST AID In case of eye contact: immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Call a physi-cian. In case of skin contact: immediately flush skin 26 with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Call a physician. Wash clothing before reuse. If inhaled: remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Call a physician. If swallowed: induce vomiting immediately as direct-ed by medical personnel. Following this, give activat-ed charcoal slurry. Call a physician. NOTE TO PHYSICIANS To prepare activated charcoal slurry, suspend 50 gm of activated charcoal in 400 ml of water in a bottle and shake well. Give 5ml/ kg of body weight, or 350 ml for an average adult. Protection Information GENERALLY APPLICABLE CONTROL MEASURES Provide ventilation adequate to keep formaldehyde concentrations below indicated exposure limits. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Have available and wear as appropriate: chemical splash goggles; full- length face shield/ splash goggle combination; neoprene, nitrile, butyl, or polyvinyl gloves; coveralls with long sleeves. Selection and maintenance of personal protective equipment shall be in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1048( h). If expo-sure limits may be exceeded, the appropriate respira-tor as specified in table 1, 29 CFR 1910.1048( g), should be used. Wear self- contained breathing apparatus and full body protection for entry into areas where concentra-tions exceed 100 ppm and for emergency reentry into areas of unknown concentrations. 27 Disposal Information AQUATIC TOXICITY Formaldehyde: The 96- hour LC50 in fathead minnows is 38– 48 mg/ l. SPILL, LEAK, OR RELEASE Wear self- contained breathing apparatus and full body protection. Soak up small spills with earth, sand, or other noncombustible absorbent material and remove in covered metal containers. Dike large spills and neutralize with diluted ( 5 percent) solu-tions of ammonia, sodium sulfite, or sodium bisulfite and remove. Flush area with plenty of water. Comply with federal, state, and local regulations on reporting releases. WASTE DISPOSAL Cleanup material is a RCRA hazardous waste. Comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Additional Information STORAGE CONDITIONS Keep container closed. Keep away from heat and flame. Store in heated tank or warm room, above minimum storage temperature for grade handled. SARA/ TITLE III HAZARD CATEGORIES AND LISTS Product Hazard Categories: Chronic Health: Yes Acute Health: Yes Fire Hazard: Yes Pressure Hazard: No Reactivity Hazard: No Lists: Extremely Hazardous Substance: Yes CERCLA Hazardous Substance: Yes Toxic Chemical: Yes 28 Glossary Action Level. Concentration of a specific substance, cal-culated on an eight- hour time- weighted average ( TWA), which initiates certain required activities such as exposure monitoring and medical surveil-lance. Aqueous Solution. A watery or water- based solution. Carcinogen. A substance that produces cancer. Dermatitis. A disorder or irritation of the skin. Signs may include itching, redness, rashes, and various skin lesions. FEF. Forced expiratory flow. The flow of air midpoint in a forced expiratory maneuver. FEV1. Forced expiratory volume in one second. The amount of air one can forcefully exhale in the first second of a forced expiration. FVC. Forced vital capacity. The maximum amount of air one can forcefully exhale after maximum inspiration. Hazard. The risk presented by a particular exposure to do harm by virtue of its explosiveness, flammability, corrosiveness, toxicity, etc., and the ease with which contact can be established with the substance. Metabolize. The changes that occur in substances enter-ing the body till they are used and/ or excreted from the body. MSDS. Material safety data sheet. Substances that are considered potentially dangerous are required by OSHA to have an MSDS. Information required to be on the MSDS includes: product name, ingredients, the manufacturer, possible safety and health hazards, and health precautions to follow. PEL. Permissible exposure level. A term used to indi-cate the permissible amount of exposure to a specific 29 substance, based on an eight- hour time- weighted average ( TWA). Protective Equipment and Clothing. Equipment and/ or clothing provided to the worker to prevent contact with a specific substance. Should be chosen based on the concentration, method of exposure, and condi-tions of use. Can include respirators, gloves, clothing, goggles, and face shields. Respirator. A device worn over the nose and mouth to protect one from inhaling harmful substances. The respirator must be selected to protect against the spe-cific substance and must be approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration ( MSHA) and by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health ( NIOSH). Solubility. The ability of a substance to be dissolved into solution. STEL. Short- term exposure limit. A term used to indicate the maximum amount of time ( usually 15 minutes) that it is safe for one to be exposed to a substance in high concentrations. Toxic. The ability of a substance to cause harm to the body. Toxicity is influenced by how much and how often one is exposed to a particular substance. TWA. Time- weighted average. A term used to determine and set exposure limits for a particular substance. 30 References AIHA. June 1987. Occupational Exposure and Work Practices Guidelines for Formaldehyde, Final Draft. American Industrial Hygiene Association, Akron, Ohio. Feinman, S. E., ed. 1988. Formaldehyde Sensitivity and Toxicity. CRC Press, Inc. Gibson, J. E., ed. 1983. Formaldehyde Toxicity, The Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology Series. Hemisphere Publishing Corporation. Horvath, E. P., and H. Anderson, et al. February 5, 1988. Effects of Formaldehyde on the Mucous Membranes and Lungs: A Study of an Industrial Population. Journal of American Medical Association 259, no. 5: 701– 707. NIOSH. 1985. Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Publication # 78- 110. U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office. NRC. 1981. Formaldehyde and Other Aldehydes. National Research Council. Committee on Aldehydes, Board of Toxicology and Environmental Health Hazards, National Research Council. National Academy Press. OSHA. May 27, 1992. Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde: Final Rule. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 29 CFR 1910.1048 Federal Register 57: 22290. Ottoboni, M. A. 1984. The Dose Makes the Poison. Vincente Books. International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW, et al. v. Pendergrass; Amalgamated Clothing and 31 Textile Workers Union, et al. v. Whitfield, Deputy Secretary of Labor; Formaldehyde Institute, Inc., et al. v. Whitfield; International Molders and Allied Workers Union, AFL- CIO- CLC, et al. v. Dole, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Docket Nos. 87- 1743, 87- 1744, 88- 1021, and 88- 1063 ( June 9, 1989), 1989 OSHD ( CCH) ¶ 28,564. 32 The following industry guides are available from the N. C. Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health: 1# 1. A Guide to Safety in Confined Spaces 1# 2. A Guide to Procedures of the Safety and Health Review Board of North Carolina 1# 3. A Guide to Machine Safeguarding 1# 4. A Guide to OSHA in North Carolina 1# 5. A Guide for Persons Employed in Cotton Dust Environments 1# 6. A Guide to Lead Exposure in the Construction Industry 1# 7. A Guide to Bloodborne Pathogens in the Workplace 1# 8. A Guide to Voluntary Training and Training Requirements in OSHA Standards 1# 9. A Guide to Ergonomics # 10. A Guide to Farm Safety and Health # 11. A Guide to Radio Frequency Hazards With Electric Detonators # 12. A Guide to Forklift Operator Training # 13. A Guide to the Safe Storage of Explosive Materials # 14. A Guide to the OSHA Excavations Standard # 15. A Guide to Developing and Maintaining an Effective Hearing Conservation Program # 17. A Guide to Asbestos for Industry # 18. A Guide to Electrical Safety # 19. A Guide to Occupational Exposure to Wood, Wood Dust and Combustible Dust Hazards # 20. A Guide to Crane Safety # 21. A Guide to School Safety and Health # 23. A Guide to Working With Electricity # 25. A Guide to Personal Protective Equipment # 26. A Guide to Manual Materials Handling and Back Safety # 27. A Guide to the Control of Hazardous Energy ( Lockout/ Tagout) # 28. A Guide to Eye Wash and Safety Shower Facilities # 29. A Guide to Safety and Health in Feed and Grain Mills # 30. A Guide to Working With Corrosive Substances # 31. A Guide to Formaldehyde # 32. A Guide to Fall Prevention in Industry # 33. A Guide to Office Safety and Health # 34. A Guide to Safety and Health in the Poultry Industry # 35. A Guide to Preventing Heat Stress # 36. A Guide to the Safe Use of Escalators and Elevators # 37. A Guide to Boilers and Pressure Vessels # 38. A Guide to Safe Scaffolding # 39. A Guide to Safety in the Textile Industry # 40. A Guide to Emergency Action Planning # 41. A Guide to OSHA for Small Businesses in North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health ( OSH) Sources of Information You may call 1- 800- NC- LABOR ( 1- 800- 625- 2267) to reach any division of the N. C. Department of Labor; or visit the NCDOL home page on the World Wide Web, Internet Web site address: http:// www. nclabor. com. N. C. Division of Occupational Safety and Health Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 3rd Floor) Local Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2900 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2856 For information concerning education, training and interpretations of occupational safety and health standards contact: Bureau of Education, Training and Technical Assistance Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 4th Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2875 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2876 For information concerning occupational safety and health consultative services and safety awards programs contact: Bureau of Consultative Services Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 3rd Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2899 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2902 For information concerning migrant housing inspections and other related activities contact: Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 2nd Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2923 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2924 For information concerning occupational safety and health compliance contact: Safety and Health Compliance District Offices Raleigh District Office ( 313 Chapanoke Road, Raleigh, NC 27603) Telephone: ( 919) 779- 8570 Fax: ( 919) 662- 4709 Asheville District Office ( 204 Charlotte Highway, Suite B, Asheville, NC 28803- 8681) Telephone: ( 828) 299- 8232 Fax: ( 828) 299- 8266 Charlotte District Office ( 901 Blairhill Road, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28217- 1578) Telephone: ( 704) 665- 4341 Fax: ( 704) 665- 4342 Winston- Salem District Office ( 4964 University Parkway, Suite 202, Winston- Salem, NC 27106- 2800) Telephone: ( 336) 776- 4420 Fax: ( 336) 776- 4422 Wilmington District Office ( 1200 N. 23rd St., Suite 205, Wilmington, NC 28405- 1824) Telephone: ( 910) 251- 2678 Fax: ( 910) 251- 2654 *** To make an OSHA Complaint, OSH Complaint Desk: ( 919) 807- 2796*** For statistical information concerning program activities contact: Planning, Statistics and Information Management Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 2nd Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2950 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2951 For information about books, periodicals, vertical files, videos, films, audio/ slide sets and computer databases contact: N. C. Department of Labor Library Mailing Address: Physical Location: 1101 Mail Service Center 111 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 ( Old Revenue Building, 5th Floor) Telephone: ( 919) 807- 2848 Fax: ( 919) 807- 2849 N. C. Department of Labor ( Other than OSH) 1101 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699- 1101 Telephone: ( 919) 733- 7166 Fax: ( 919) 733- 6197 |
OCLC number | 181373162 |
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