The Arsenal Files 4/The Arsenal Files 4 (Arsenal Computer).ISO/health/osha.27

Text File | 1995-01-22 | 9KB | 190 lines

INFORMATION DATE  19930216
DESCRIPTION       USDOL Program Highlights - OSHA's Final Rule on
                  Formaldehyde
TOPIC             Formaldehyde
SUBJECT           Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde
ABSTRACT          Formaldehyde is one of the most common chemicals in
                  use today. As a chemical building block, its use can
                  be traced to consumer goods through a wide spectrum of
                  manufacturing processes. The use of formaldehyde as a
                  preservative in medical laboratories and as an
                  embalming agent in mortuaries is generally known.
                  Formaldehyde is primarily used in the manufacture of
                  urea, phenol, and melamine resins and for a variety of
                  special industrial chemicals. The downstream use of
                  formaldehyde-based inputs is found throughout the U.S.
                  economy. It contributes to the production of about 8
                  percent of the gross national product (GNP) of the
                  United States.



U.S.Department of Labor
Program Highlights
________________________________________________________________
Fact Sheet No. OSHA 92-27

            Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde

     Formaldehyde is one of the most common chemicals in use
today.  As a chemical building block, its use can be traced to
consumer goods through a wide spectrum of manufacturing
processes.  The use of formaldehyde as a preservative in medical
laboratories and as an embalming agent in mortuaries is generally
known.  Formaldehyde is primarily used in the manufacture of
urea, phenol, and melamine resins and for a variety of special
industrial chemicals.  The downstream use of formaldehyde-based
inputs is found throughout the U.S. economy.  It contributes to
the production of about 8 percent of the gross national product
(GNP) of the United States.

HEALTH EFFECTS

     Studies indicate that formaldehyde is a potential human
carcinogen.  Airborne concentrations above 0.1 ppm (per million
parts of air) can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
The severity of irritation increases as concentrations increase;
at 100 ppm it is immediately dangerous to life and health.
Dermal contact causes various skin reactions including
sensitization, which might force persons thus sensitized to find
other work.

THE STANDARD

     To protect workers exposed to formaldehyde, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard (29 CFR
1910.1048) applies to formaldehyde gas, its solutions, and a
variety of material such as trioxane, paraformaldehyde, and resin
formulations, and solids and mixtures containing formaldehyde
that serve as sources of the substance.  In addition to setting
permissible exposure levels, exposure monitoring and training,
the standard requires medical surveillance and medical removal,
recordkeeping, regulated areas, hazard communication, emergency
procedures, primary reliance on engineering and work practices to
control exposure, and maintenance and selection of personal
protective equipment.

PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT

     The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for formaldehyde in all
workplaces (including general industry, construction, and
maritime, but not in agriculture) covered by the OSH Act is 0.75
ppm measured as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA).  The
standard includes a 2 ppm short-term exposure limit (STEL) (i.e.,
maximum exposure allowed during a 15-minute period).  The "action
level" is 0.5 ppm measured over 8 hours.

EXPOSURE MONITORING

     The standard requires that the employer conduct initial
monitoring to identify all employees who are exposed to
formaldehyde at or above the action level or STEL and to
accurately determine the exposure of each employee so identified.

     If the exposure level is maintained below the STEL and the
action level, employers may discontinue exposure monitoring,
until such time as there is a change which could affect exposure
levels.  The employer must also monitor employee exposure
promptly, upon receiving reports of formaldehyde-related signs
and symptoms.

MEDICAL REMOVAL PROTECTION

     Medical removal protection provisions are included for
employees suffering significant adverse effects from formaldehyde
exposure.  This provision requires that such employees be removed
to jobs with less exposure until their condition improves, or
until a physician determines that they will not ever be able to
return to any workplace formaldehyde exposure, or for a period of
six months, whichever occurs first.

ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS

     The employer must institute engineering and work practice
controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to formaldehyde
at or below the TWA and the STEL.  Whenever the employer has
established that feasible engineering and work practice controls
cannot reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer
must apply these controls to reduce employee exposure to the
extent feasible and must supplement them with respirators that
satisfy this standard.

LABELING

     Specific hazard labeling requirements are needed for all
forms of formaldehyde, including mixtures and solutions, composed
of 0.1 percent or greater formaldehyde, and for materials capable
of releasing formaldehyde in excess of 0.1 ppm.  Hazard labeling,
including a warning that formaldehyde presents a potential cancer
hazard, is required where formaldehyde levels, under reasonably
foreseeable conditions of use, may potentially exceed 0.5 ppm.

TRAINING

     Training is required at least annually for all employees
exposed to formaldehyde concentrations of 0.1 ppm or greater.
The training will increase employees' awareness of specific
hazards in their workplace and of the control measures employed.
The training also will assist successful medical surveillance and
medical removal programs.  These provisions will only be
effective if employees know what signs or symptoms are related to
the health effects of formaldehyde, if they know how to properly
report them to the employer, and if they are periodically
encouraged to do so.

AFFECTED ESTABLISHMENTS AND EMPLOYEES

     OSHA estimates that the total number of firms using
formaldehyde is 112,066; employees exposed total 2,156,801.  The
estimated number of workers grouped according to worker exposure
levels is:

     *  83,818 employees exposed between 0.75 ppm and 1.0 ppm,
mainly in apparel (58,831), furniture (11,612) and foundries
(6,085).

     *  122,554 employees exposed between 0.5 ppm and 0.75 ppm,
mainly in apparel (58,831), textile finishing (19,125), furniture
(12,643), laboratories (12,220) and foundries (10,594).

     *  1,950,429 employees exposed between 0.1 ppm and 0.5 ppm,
mainly in apparel (823,637), furniture (235,095), papermills
(100,100) and plastic molding (90,000).

EFFECTIVE DATES

     Respiratory protection required to meet the PEL of 0.75 ppm
must be provided as soon as possible but no later that September
24, 1992; engineering and work practice controls shall be
implemented as soon as possible but no later than June 6, 1993,
and medical removal protection by December 28, 1992.

     The labeling provisions must be implemented by December 28,
1992.  Labeling of containers of formaldehyde products must
continue to comply with the provisions of OSHA's hazard
communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) until that time.

     Periodic training for all employees exposed to formaldehyde
between 0.1 ppm and 0.5 ppm must begin by August 25, 1992.

BENEFITS

     OSHA has estimated that compliance with the reduction of the
PEL from 1 ppm (as an 8-hour TWA) to .75 ppm in the standard will
result in the avoidance of up to three additional cases of
formaldehyde-induced cancer annually.  In addition, OSHA
estimates that of the 2.1 million workers exposed to
formaldehyde, one percent, or 21,568, may be removed annually
from respiratory distress as a result of the provisions for
medical removal.


___________________________________________________________________
This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S.Department
of Labor programs. It is intended as a general description only and
does not carry the force of legal opinion. This information will be
made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice
phone: [phone]. TDD message referral phone: [phone].