FHM TRAINING TOOLS

1. FHM TRAINING TOOLS This training presentation is part of FHM’s commitment to creating and keeping safe workplaces. Be sure to check out all the training programs that are specific to your industry.

2. Methylene Chloride

3. Learning Objectives Objectives: • Understand basics of methylene chloride • Recognize exposure effects • Understand control measures

4. Agenda Agenda: • Basic information • OSHA requirements • Medical surveillance • Exposure control

5. Section 1 Basic Information

6. Methylene Chloride and Its Uses Methylene chloride: • Also called dichloromethane • Volatile and colorless • Chloroform-like odor • Used in various industrial processes

7. Employee Exposure and Health Consequences Exposure information: • Common exposure from inhalation and skin exposure • Classified as a potential occupational carcinogen by OSHA • Short-term exposures may cause confusion, light-headedness, nausea, vomiting and headaches • Skin exposure may cause irritation or chemical burns

8. Industries Covered OSHA’s standard covers: • General industry • Shipyard employment • Construction

9. Exposure Limits Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): • PEL of 25 parts methylene chloride per million parts (ppm) of air • Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) • Action level for airborne methylene chloride is 12.5 ppm • Short-term exposure limit of 125ppm over 15 minutes

10. Requirements for Regulated Areas Standard requirements: • Established regulated area • Regulated areas must be marked • Multi-employer worksites keep all employers informed • Supply of appropriate respiratory equipment

11. Hazard Communication Requirements OSHA’s standard requires: • Employers to inform employees • Use of labels and material safety data sheets (MSDS) • Informing of health hazards (cancer, cardiac effects, nervous system effects, and skin and eye irritation)

12. Section 2 Exposure Monitoring

13. Benefits Air sampling and monitoring allows: • Better determine exposure • Identify the source • Select proper control methods

14. Measuring Employee Exposures Measuring requires: • Breathing zone air samples • Eight-hour TWA • Short-term 15 minutes exposure • Employees sampled must have highest expected exposure

15. Initial Exposure Monitoring Initial monitoring can be waived when: • Objective data proves that methylene chloride levels can’t be released above PEL or STEL • Employees are exposed for fewer than 30 days per year

16. Requirements for Periodic Monitoring Monitoring requirements: • Monitoring of all tasks with exposure levels above the action level • Must monitor employees every three months • Additional monitoring when workplace conditions change

17. Requirements for Periodic Monitoring Further requirements: • Notify employees of monitoring results • Describe actions being taken to reduce exposures • Allow affected employees to observe any monitoring • Provide employees with appropriate protective equipment

18. Summary of Monitoring Requirements

19. Section 3 Medical Surveillance

20. Employer Responsibility Employer is responsible for: • Frequent medical exams • Implementing medical surveillance program, unless: • Levels are only at action level 30 days or fewer a year • At PEL or STEL levels for fewer than 10 days a year

21. Employer Responsibility Employers must provide medical surveillance: • To any employee exposed above PEL or STEL • All employees during an emergency • At no cost to employee • Without loss of pay • At a reasonable time and place

22. Requirements for Medical Surveillance Medical exams must include: • Comprehensive medical and work history • A physical exam • Emergency exams available in emergency situations

23. Information for Examiners Employer must provide examining physician: • Copy of methylene chloride standard • Description of employee’s duties • Employee’s exposure level • Description of personal protective equipment • Information from previous medical surveillances

24. Services Employers Must Arrange Employer must arrange for physician to provide: • Written opinion regarding exam results • Recommended limitations on exposure • Statement about telling employee risk factors • Statement that employee was informed of exam results

25. Section 4 Control Measures

26. How Control Measures Protect Employees Controls are used to reduce exposure: • Must be used to reduce exposure to or below PEL and maintain these levels • Exception when demonstrated that this is infeasible

27. Engineering Controls Examples: • Local exhaust ventilation • General and special isolation devices • Enclosures

28. Work Practice Controls Examples: • Keeping employee’s face out of the methylene vapor zone • Prohibit employees from eating, drinking, smoking, taking medication, or applying cosmetics inside the work area

29. Administrative Controls Examples: • Scheduling operations with highest exposure risk • Employee rotation

30. Handling Methylene Chloride Leaks Provisions must be in place for: • Containment • Prompt cleaning • Proper disposal

31. When Respiratory Protection is Required Respirators are to be used when: • Exposure is likely to exceed PEL and STEL • Controls are being implemented or installed • Controls are infeasible • Controls are not sufficient • During emergencies

32. Selecting a Respirator Appropriate respiratory protection varies: • Employers must chose atmosphere-supplying respirators approved by NIOSH • Employers may provide gas masks for emergency escape • Canisters must be replaced after each use

33. Selecting a Respirator Respirator care: • Must be fitted properly • Employer must perform qualitative or quantitative tests • Employees must wash faces and face pieces • Malfunctioning respirators must be fixed before employee can return to regulated area

34. Hygiene Facilities Employers Must Provide Employers must provide: • Conveniently located washing facilities • Eyewash facilities within the immediate work area

35. Protective Clothing and Equipment Personal protective equipment: • Employees must use protective clothing and equipment • Employer must provide methylene chloride resistant clothing and equipment at no cost to employee

36. Records Employers Must Keep Employer must establish and keep records of: • All objective data • Exposure monitoring • Medical surveillance

37. Objective Data Records Records must include: • Methylene chloride-containing material in question • Source of objective data • Testing protocol and results • Description of exempted operation • Other data relevant to the operations

38. Exposure Measurement Records Records must include: • Date of measurement for each sample taken • Monitored operation involving exposure • Number, duration, and results of samples taken • Type of personal protection equipment • Name, social security number, job classification, and exposure monitoring data

39. Medical Surveillance Records Records must include: • Name, social security number, and description of duties • Physician’s written medical opinions • Employee medical conditions related to exposure

40. Information and Training Employers Must Provide Employer must provide the following information: • Requirements of the standard • Quantity, location, manner of use, release, and storage of methylene chloride • Where exposures may be above the eight-hour TWA PEL or STEL

41. Information and Training Employers Must Provide The employer must: • Retrain employees as needed • When changes in workplace procedures could increase exposures • Notify other employers about methylene chloride use

42. Additional Information Sources of additional information: OSHA 3144-06-R, Methylene Chloride. NIOSH Criteria Documents: Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Methylene Chloride. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 76-138 (March 1976).