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Formaldehyde Standard, 1910.1048

Introduction

The Formaldehyde Standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) was designed to protect workers from occupational exposures to any form of formaldehyde including its solutions, gas, or any materials that release it into the workplace.

Exposure Limits

• Action Level: Airborne concentration of 0.5 ppm formaldehyde. If this level is exceeded, the employer must perform periodic air monitoring until levels can be reduced below this point (29 CFR 1910.1048(b)).

• Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): Airborne concentration of 0.75 ppm formaldehyde as an 8-hour time-weighted average (29 CFR 1910.1048(c)(1)).

• Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL): Airborne concentration of 2 ppm formaldehyde over a 15 minute time interval (29 CFR 1910.1048(c)(2)).

Exposure Monitoring

All employers who have any form of formaldehyde in the workplace must monitor employee exposure unless they can objectively document that the presence of airborne formaldehyde will not exceed the action level or STEL under foreseeable conditions (29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(1)). If this cannot be done the employer must begin initial monitoring.

Initial monitoring is accomplished by identifying all employees who potentially have an exposure at or above the action level or STEL. Each potentially exposed employee may be monitored or a representative sampling plan implemented for each job classification and work shift. Monitoring will occur each time a change in equipment, process, production, personnel, or control measures is instituted (29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(2)). If monitoring reveals formaldehyde concentrations at or in excess of the action level, monitoring will be repeated every six months, or if at or above the STEL, annual monitoring is required (29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(3)).

Monitoring can be discontinued if after two consecutive sampling periods taken at least seven days apart, if airborne concentrations are below the action level or STEL (29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(4)).

REGULATED AREAS

In areas that exceed the PEL or STEL for formaldehyde, all entrances and accessways must post warning signs as shown below. These areas must have access limited to employees who have been trained to recognize the hazards of formaldehyde (29 CFR 1910.1048(e)).

Methods of Compliance

Employers must implement engineering or work practice controls to decrease employee exposure to formaldehyde below the PEL and the STEL (29 CFR 1910.1048(f)). If feasible engineering or work practice controls cannot decrease the airborne exposure below the PEL or STEL, the controls must be applied and supplemented with respirators. Following are some of the various protection methods that can be used.

Respiratory Protection

In areas that require respiratory protection, respirators must be provided at no cost to employees and employers must assure they are properly used to reduce exposure below the PEL and STEL. Respirators should only be used in the interval necessary to install engineering or work practice controls, or operations in which controls are not feasible such as maintenance, repair or emergencies.

Employers must use NIOSH/MSHA-approved respirators and establish a written respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134. Minimum requirements for respiratory protection are shown in the chart below, which illustrates the type of protection required under specific concentrations of formaldehyde. Note: Half-mask respirators with formaldehyde cartridges are permitted if gas-proof goggles are used with the mask.

When air-purifying cartridge respirators are used, the cartridge must be replaced after three hours of use or at the end of the workshift, whichever is shorter, unless the cartridge contains a NIOSH approved end-of-service life indicator to show when breakthrough occurs. Similarly, if a canister does not have an end of service life indicator it must be replaced after four hours while industrial-sized canisters must be replaced every two hours or the end of the workshift, whichever is shorter (29 CFR 1910.1048(g)).

Personal Protective Equipment

Employers should select protective clothing and equipment based on the form of formaldehyde, conditions of use, and any hazards to be prevented (29CFR1910.1048(h)). For additional information on choosing chemical protective clothing and gloves, see EZFacts® Document Nos. 190 and 191.

Hygiene Protection

Employers are required to provide drench showers for employees skin splashes of solutions containing 1% or more of formaldehyde. If an employees eyes could be splashed with a 0.1% or greater formaldehyde solution the employer must provide acceptable eyewash facilities (29 CFR 1910.1048(i)). For additional information on Eyewash and Emergency Showers, see EZFacts® Document No. 120.

Housekeeping and Emergencies

Operations involving any form of formaldehyde require employers to conduct visual inspections to detect leaks and spills, provide preventative maintenance of equipment at regular intervals, and assure leaks are properly repaired(29 CFR 1910.1048(j)). Emergency procedures are required to be implemented to minimize injury and loss of life (29CFR1910.1048(k)).

Medical Surveillance

Employers must implement a medical surveillance program for all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or above the action level or exceeding the STEL (29 CFR 1910.1048(l)). This program will consist of medical and physical examinations performed by a physician to detect any symptoms of overexposure and prescribe necessary remedies. A medical disease questionnaire must be completed by employees prior to assignment to work areas that could expose them to formaldehyde. Respirator fit testing to verify an employee's ability to wear a respirator in the work environment must also be completed.

Commonly Asked Questions

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