Emb Section 4

applies to ALL employees regardless of size

since May 23, 1988

employer must communicate information about ANY hazardous chemicals in the workplace

safety

must accompany the first shipment of a hazardous chemical from the manufacturer and distributor

this is the KEYSTONE of the hazard communication standard

a file must be established at the mortuary wherein all MSDSs are kept for employee inspection and referral

all containers of hazardous materials must be marked with the name as it appears on the MSDS

and include appropriate warnings

classifies chemicals that are stored by employers of businesses including mortuaries

hazardous or extremely hazardous chemicals

this rule issued regulations concerning the use of control of embalming chemicals

state emergency response commission

local emergency planning committee

local fire department

extremely hazardous chemical

February 2, 1988

1) medical surveillance

2) formaldehyde in different states (gas, in water, etc.)

3) exposure limits

4) monitoring

5) methods of compliance

6) PPE

7) housekeeping

8) annual training of employees

a) potential hazards

b) signs and symptoms of HCHO overexposure

c) employee reporting

d) medical removal protection

acute or suddent effects: ingestion, inhalation, dermal

chronic or long term effects: carcinogenicity, toxicity, mutagenicity

ingestion: (swallowing) causes throat irritation, highly poisonous and will cause death

inhalation: (breathing) irritates upper respiratory system with inflammation to the nose, throat and lungs

dermal: (skin) causes drying cracking and scaling dermatitis, and skin sensitization

carcinogenicity: potential cancer in human lung, nasopharynx, and nasal passages

toxicity: may result in respiratory impairment such as asthma and bronchitis

mutagenicity: can cause genetic mutations. genotoxic in several on-vitro tests showing properties of mutation

irritation of the mucosa of the eyes, nose and throat

occurs above 0.1 parts per million (ppm)

levels at or above 100 ppm are immediately dangerous to life and health

slight eye irritation occurs between 0.05-0.5 ppm

0.01 ppm requires goggles and/or a face shield

employee must report to employer any signs or symptoms of potential overexposure

employee must be annually offered a medical disease questionnaire

PEL: permissible exposure limit for an 8 hour work day

STEL: short-term exposure limit for a 15 minute interval

• these limits consider how many parts of HCHO are present in one million parts of air
• PPM: parts per million

employees with significant adverse effects from HCHO exposure must be removed to jobs with less exposure until their condition improves

employee benefits can continue for up to six months or until physician determines employee able to return

the natural state of HCHO is: gas

HCHO gas solutions: formalin = HCHO gas in H2O. 40% HCHO by volume or 37% by weight the rest is water or water and methyl alcohol

paraformaldehyde: it is a polymer of formaldehyde. it is a white powder used as a hardening compound, maunly used in autopsied cases. it contains 85-99% HCHO

solids and mixtures containing HCHO (CH2O)

PEL = 0.75 parts HCHO in one million parts of air as a time-weighted average (TWA) over an 8-hour work day (prior to 2.2.88 it was 1 ppm)

STEL = 2 ppm for 15 mins; established in the event of a spill (prior to 2.2.88 it was 5 ppm for 30 mins)

Prep rooms with adequate ventilation (15-20 ACH - air changes per hour) should measure below these levels. PPE also protects you against splash exposures

to form a barrier and to protect the handler of hazardous chemicals

to prevent all contact of the eyes and skin w liquids