University of Alaska Fairbanks
Environmental Health, Safety, & Risk Management
November 2009
Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
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Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management
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OSHA regulates occupational
exposures to formaldehyde
Scope of 29 CFR 1910.1048
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This standard applies to all
occupational exposures to
formaldehyde, including exposure
to:
 formaldehyde gas
 formaldehyde solutions (formalin)
 materials that release
formaldehyde
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Requirements:
Must have an MSDS available in the lab
Written training materials must be available to
employees
Must establish “regulated areas” where airborne
concentrations of formaldehyde exceed the OSHA
permissible exposure limits (PEL) and/or short-term
exposure limits (STEL)
Medical surveillance must be provided to employees
who may be exposed to formaldehyde at
concentrations exceeding the PEL or STEL
Exposure monitoring will be conducted if formaldehyde
concentrations in the workplace exceed the action
level
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OSHA requires that regulated areas be established
where airborne formaldehyde concentrations
exceed the OSHA PEL and/or STEL values
OSHA PEL (averaged over 8 h)
0.75 ppm
OSHA STEL (maximum of 15 min/day)
2 ppm
OSHA Action level (averaged over 8 h)
0.5 ppm
ACGIH STEL (maximum of 15 min/day)
0.3 ppm C
Note, this is a ceiling value that must never be exceeded
• A written plan must be developed and
implemented whenever an employee
is exposed above the PEL
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Regulated areas shall have danger signs posted
at entrances and access ways
• Only authorized personnel shall enter
regulated areas
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10-37% solutions of formaldehyde stabilized with
methanol are typically used at UAF
◦ Formaldehyde gas in solution is called
“formalin”
◦ Even though the solutions are stabilized,
formaldehyde (and various adducts) are
released from the solution
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Formalin (formaldehyde) is a suspected
carcinogen
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Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde

◦
◦






Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management
8
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Exposure routes
◦ Inhalation
 Sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath
 Sensitization of respiratory tract
 25-30 ppm: pulmonary edema and pneumonitis
◦ Ingestion
 Severe abdominal pain, violent vomiting,
headache, diarrhea, unconsciousness and death
 Methanol used to stabilize the formaldehyde
solution poses additional toxic hazards
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Exposure routes (cont.)
◦ Skin contact
 Irritation and/or burns; cracking, scaling,
white discoloration
 Can be absorbed through skin
◦ Eye contact
 Irritation from vapors, pain, blurred vision
 May cause irreversible damage if splashed in
eyes
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Long-term effects
◦ Sensitizer:
 May cause contact dermatitis, other allergic
reactions
◦ Vision impairment and liver enlargement from
methanol
◦ Carcinogen
 May cause cancer
◦ Mutagen
 May cause mutations in DNA
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Know how to report exposures and illnesses/injuries
that are related to the job
◦ Tell your supervisor, complete Accident/Incident
Report
Remember: symptoms develop over time, so adverse
effects may not be immediately noticeable
The perception of formaldehyde by odor and eye
irritation becomes less sensitive with time as one
adapts to formaldehyde
◦ This can lead to overexposure if a worker is relying
on formaldehyde's warning properties to alert him or
her to the potential for exposure
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Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde

◦
◦






Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management
13
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Primary methods of exposure control
◦ Engineering controls:
 Always use formalin in a chemical fume hood
 Check that it is properly functioning
◦ Work practices:
 Use the smallest amount of formalin
necessary
 Buy in suitable quantities
 Use safer alternatives whenever possible
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For working with 37% formalin or 10% formalin:
◦ Protective clothing (lab coats, aprons, suits):
 Tychem® CPF2, SL, CPF3, F, CPF 4, BR, LV,
Responder, TK, or Reflector all have breakthrough
times >480 min
◦ Gloves (required when using >1% formalin):
 Nitrile (>360 min) is the best choice
 Neoprene (105 min), or PVC (100 min) are ok
 Rubber or Neoprene/rubber are ok for short use (1015 min)
 PVA gloves are not recommended
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For working with formalin at any concentration greater
than 1%, splash-proof goggles are required
Formaldehyde contact with the eye can range from
transient discomfort to severe, permanent corneal
clouding and loss of vision
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Storage of PPE
◦ Store away from sources of formaldehyde
 Formaldehyde vapors can permeate the lab coat or
glove material, reducing its barrier-properties
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Inspect all PPE prior to use
◦ Check for holes, cracks, degradation
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Change gloves frequently
◦ Just because the breakthrough time is >360 min
doesn’t mean you should use one pair of gloves for 6
hours.
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Do not reuse disposable gloves
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Respirators are required
◦ during periods necessary to implement
engineering and work practice controls
◦ in operations where engineering controls and
work practices are not feasible
◦ in operations where engineering controls and
work practices do not prevent exposure below
the PEL
◦ in emergencies (spill response)
If you use formalin in a fume hood, you should not
need to wear a respirator
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Respirator use follows the requirements given in
29 CFR 1910.134:
◦ Employees must wear respirators if they are
required to do so
◦ If required to wear a respirator, employees
must have a medical exam (once) and be fit
tested (annually)
 If you feel you need a respirator, contact the UAF
Industrial Hygienist at 474-6771
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Full body protection is required
for areas with concentrations
above 100 ppm
Storage areas for ventilating
formaldehyde-contaminated
clothing and equipment have
signs that read:
20
Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde

◦
◦






Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management
21
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37% formalin:
◦ Storage code is RED (flammable)
 It is also a health hazard, but flammable
rating takes precedence
◦ Store in secondary containment
10% formalin:
◦ Storage code is BLUE (health hazard)
 At this concentration, it is no longer
flammable)
◦ Store in secondary containment
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All containers of formalin must be labeled with
the following:
◦ The word “Formalin” and the concentration
◦ Name and address of the responsible party
◦ The words “Potential cancer hazard” and “Respiratory
sensitizer”
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This includes:
◦ Stock solutions (37% or 10%)
◦ Working solutions
◦ Specimens preserved in formalin
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Labels are available from EHS&RM (474-6771)
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Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde

◦
◦






Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management
24
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Operations involving formaldehyde must have a
program in place to detect leaks and spills
◦ Check containers and drums regularly for leaks
Place leaking containers in well-ventilated areas
◦ Repair or contain leaks quickly
Comply with EPA rules regarding clean-up
◦ Contact EHS&RM Division of Hazardous
Materials for immediate assistance with cleanup: 474-5617
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Employees must leave spill areas unless they have
specific duties
Never clean up a spill if you are not trained and do not feel
comfortable doing so
◦ Call EHS&RM at 474-5617 or 474-5413 for assistance
Formalin spill kits are available from EHS&RM
◦ These kits contain:
 Formaldehyde neutralizer mats
 Spilfyter® formaldehyde solidifier
 Aqualockit® water solidifier
◦ Kits are useful for clean up of small spills and to
minimize off-gassing of formaldehyde after a large spill
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Response for small spills (<400 mL) outside of fume hood:
◦ Wearing Nitrile gloves, immediately contain the spill and
stop any leaks if present
◦ Use formaldehyde neutralizer (Spilfyter®) on the spill or
mop up the formalin solution with towels or formalin
neutralizer mats
◦ Place all contaminated towels and gloves in a plastic
bag and complete a Non-radioactive Hazardous
Materials Transfer Request form and sticker
o Call EHS&RM at 474-5617 to report the spill and to
have wastes picked up
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Response for large spills (400 mL or more):
◦ Contain the spill if possible
 Use neutralizer mats and/or Spilfyter® formalin
polymerizer to contain the spill
◦ Leave the lab and alert others to the problem.
◦ Call EHS&RM at the numbers above to report
the spill
 Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to life,
health, and/or property
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Inhalation:
Remove victim to fresh air. If not breathing, give
artificial respiration. Call a physician
Ingestion:
If swallowed and the victim is conscious, dilute,
inactivate, or absorb the ingested formaldehyde
by giving milk, activated charcoal, or water.
Keep affected person warm and at rest. Get
medical attention immediately. If vomiting
occurs, keep head lower than hips.
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Skin Contact:
Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least
15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and
shoes. Wash clothing and thoroughly clean shoes
before reuse. Get medical attention immediately.
Eye Contact:
Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least
15 minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally.
Get medical attention immediately.
Know the locations of showers and eyewash facilities
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Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde

◦
◦






Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management
31
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Medical surveillance is required
◦ prior to assignments to areas where exposure
may be above STEL
◦ at least annually where exposure may be at or
above the STEL
◦ whenever an employee shows
signs/symptoms of toxic levels of exposure
Exposure levels are determined without regard
to respirator use
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Medical surveillance includes:
◦ administration of medical disease
questionnaire
◦ determination if a medical examination is
necessary
◦ examinations for employees who are at
increased risk for exposure to formaldehyde
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Medical examinations include:
◦ a physical exam
◦ laboratory examinations
◦ any other necessary tests
◦ counseling of employees
Written physician opinions include:
◦ physician’s opinion about employee’s medical
condition
◦ recommended limitations
◦ statement of medical conditions
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Employees get copies
of the written opinions
within 15 working
days
• Records are
retained for the
duration of
employment plus
30 years
Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde

◦
◦






Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management
36
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Place formaldehyde-contaminated waste in sealed,
intact containers, clearly labeled with:
◦ “Formaldehyde Waste”
◦ “Danger: Toxic, Potential Cancer Hazard”
◦ the concentration of the solution in the container
Keep the container sealed at all times when not adding
wastes to it
Comply with EPA rules regarding waste disposal
◦ Complete a “Non-radioactive Hazardous Materials
Transfer” form and sticker
◦ Contact EHS&RM Hazmat Division for pickup and/or
assistance at 474-5617
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Quiz is located at: www.uaf.edu/safety
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Complete quiz, click the “send quiz to EHS&RM”
button.
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◦ Training
◦ UAF Safety Training PowerPoints
NOTE: There is no need to contact EHS&RM to let
us know you have finished the quiz.
fysafety@uaf.edu is checked throughout the day,
and your score will be electronically filed for future
reference.
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