Environmental Safety

Formaldehyde Standard

I. INTRODUCTION

The Department of Labor under OSHA passed the original Formaldehyde Standard on December 4, 1987. For laboratory workers, this became an effective law setting reasonable standards and operating procedures designed to prevent or minimize exposure to formaldehyde. Since then, this standard has been challenged in the United States Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia by both industry and labor, and resulted in the final amendment issued on July 15, 1991, which took effect on June 16, 1992.

II. SUMMARY

The final rule lowers the permissible exposure level (PEL) from 1 ppm (parts per million) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) to 0.75 ppm. The amendment also adds medical removal protection provisions to supplement the existing medical surveillance requirements for employees suffering significant eye, nose, and throat irritations or dermal sensitization from exposure to formaldehyde. The final rule establishes specific hazard labeling requirements for all forms of formaldehyde, including solution of 0.10% or greater of formaldehyde in excess of 0.10 ppm. An additional warning that formaldehyde presents a potential cancer hazard is required on the label where formaldehyde levels could not exceed 0.5 ppm. Finally, this rule provides annual training for all employees exposed to levels higher than 0.1 ppm.

III. WHO MUST COMPLY

All researchers dealing with animal body parts preserved in formaldehyde must comply to this rule. The following departments at Georgia Southern University should inform their staff of this revised regulation and indicate to the Safety Office their needs in order to meet this standard. It is understood that all personnel will not need training on formaldehyde hazards.

Biology
Chemistry
Health and Kinesiology
Health and Professional Studies
Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology

IV. HEALTH EFFECTS OF FORMALDEHYDE

The perception of formaldehyde by odor and eye irritation decreases with time. The following table summarizes various effects. Laboratories where formaldehyde is present should notify the Safety Office in order to set up a survey using a sampling device or formaldehyde badges to assess qualitatively what type of atmosphere researchers are exposed to.

Effect	Concentration	Comment
Acute Effect	1 ppm	Odor Threshold
Eye, Nose Irritation	0.5 - 2 ppm	Throat Irritation
Cough	5 - 10 ppm	Ocular Damage
Dangerous to Life	100 ppm	Immediate Danger
Eye Contact Solution	Conc.	Corneal Clouding
Skin Contact	Solution Conc.	Red Blisters
Ingestion	10 - 40% Form.	Possible Death
STEL	15 minutes 2 ppm	No Eng. Controls
PEL	0.75 ppm	Down from 1 ppm
Action Level	0.5 ppm 8 hrs avg.	OSHA

If exposure levels exceed the Action Level during initial monitoring, all research activities must be conducted in the fume hood.

All areas must be posted with signs when the PEL or STEL levels are exceeded.

Laboratories in compliance with the STEL should also be in compliance with the PEL. Therefore, no engineering controls are thought to be necessary.

Laboratory Instructors

PROVISIONS	LESS THAN 0.5 ppm/8 hr	0.5 - 1.0 ppm/8 hr	OVER 1.0 ppm/8 hr	Om/8 hr
Period. Monitor	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Regulated Area	No	No	Yes	Yes
Respirators	No	No	Yes	Yes
*Protect. Equip.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
*Hygiene Prot.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Medical Surv.	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
*Haz. Communic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

* If PEL is exceeded, all research activities must be done in a fume hood.

Enviromental Safety Services - Georgia Southern University
P.O. Box 8072-01 Statesboro, Georgia 30460
(912)478-7161 | (912)478-7169
ess@georgiasouthern.edu