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 solutions, gas or any materials that release formaldehyde 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 airborne concentrations are below the action level or STEL after two consecutive sampling periods taken at least seven days apart. (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 in 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. Note: Half-mask respirators with formaldehyde cartridges are permitted if gasproof goggles are used with the mask. Please see 29 CFR 1910.1048(g) and EZFacts 330 Respirator Selection Requirements of Substance-Specific Standards for more information.

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 (29 CFR 1910.1048(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 skin splashes of solutions containing 1% or more of formaldehyde. If an employee's eyes could be splashed with a 0.1% or greater formaldehyde solution, the employer must provide acceptable eye wash 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 (29 CFR 1910.1048(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.

Hair Salons and Formaldehyde

On October 29, 2010, Oregon OSHA issued a release that even small businesses such as hair salons can be affected by the exposures to the regulated chemical Formaldehyde, even in products labeled "Formaldehyde Free." A compounding factor is the various synonyms for formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is also known as methylene glycol or formalin.

The issue of concern came to the attention of the authorities when an employee of a salon reported various adverse effects like difficulty breathing, nose bleeds and eye irritation when using a popular hair smoothing product. This led to an investigation where over 100 similar hair care products were sampled in various environments and scenarios. The investigation revealed that it was "clear that the amount of formaldehyde in many of these products [was] high enough to trigger the requirements of OSHA's formaldehyde rules."

Because of the variables involved with each environment where these products are being used, it is difficult to tell if any individual was at risk at any given time during previous exposures. Moving forward, Oregon OSHA has issued this Hazard Warning that outlines and highlights appropriate course of action to help ensure workplace safety.

Please note that even though this issue was initially reported and documented by Oregon OSHA, it has similar implications wherever these products are used. Further, this investigation revealed that the products, as supplied by the manufacturer, were not appropriately labeled, and the end users were not appropriately warned of the potential hazards of exposure per OSHA's Hazard Communication (Right-to-Know) Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Salon owners who use and supply products that contain or release formaldehyde must follow OSHA's formaldehyde and Haz-Com standards. OSHA is continuing its efforts to protect workers from the dangers of formaldehyde exposure. OSHA continues to respond to complaints and referrals of formaldehyde exposure in salons, beauty schools and manufacturing facilities. OSHA has recently released a web page that provides more information on hair smoothing products.

Commonly Asked Questions

Resources / References:

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1048

“Keratin-Based” Hair Smoothing Products And the Presence of Formaldehyde

Oregon OSHA reiterates caution to salons using hair-smoothing products

“HAZARD ALERT” for Hair smoothing products and formaldehyde issued by Oregon OSHA

Federal OSHA Hazard Alert - Hair Smoothing Products That Could Release Formaldehyde

EzFacts 171 and 150

Formaldehyde

Hair smoothing from Suite 101

(rev. 12/11)