Ethylene Oxide Regulated areas v Regulated areas must

Ethylene Oxide

Regulated areas v Regulated areas must be created if employees may be exposed to ethylene oxide above the excursion limit 1 a

Requirements v Substance safety data sheet (Appendix A) v Substance Technical Guidelines (Appendix B) 2 a

Requirements v Definitions: • Ethylene oxide • Permissible exposure limit • Action level • Excursion limit • Engineering controls • Work practices 2 b

Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide v On-going monitoring depends upon contaminant levels above the: • excursion limit • action level • 8 -hour TWA 3 a

Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide v Monitoring may be stopped under some conditions v Employees must be told of monitoring results within 15 working days in one of two ways: • in person • through group postings 3 b

Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide v Written notification must include corrective actions 3 c

Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide v Additional monitoring may be done whenever there is a change in: • processes • equipment • personnel • work practices 3 d

Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide v Written plans must be in place if an employee is exposed at or above the TWA or excursion limit 3 e

Physical hazards v Highly flammable v Highly explosive v Heavier than air 4 a

Physical hazards v Immediate hazards (acute) health • eye irritation • skin irritant • ingestion • inhalation 4 b

Physical hazards v Observable effects: • headache • nausea • vomiting • shortness of breath • cyanosis 4 c

Health hazards v Long-term hazards (chronic) health • carcinogen • reproductive health changes • mutagenic 4 d

Work practices v You should not wear contact lenses when working with ethylene oxide v Do not store or use cosmetics, lip balm, food items, beverages, or smoking items in regulated areas 5 a

Work practices v Storage procedures v Prohibit sources of ignition v Use non-sparking tools 5 b

Work practices v Do not incinerate ethylene oxide cartridges, tanks, containers v Flammable and combustible liquid regulations under 29 CFR 1910. 106 5 c

Work practices v Locations with ethylene oxide must follow Class I electrical safety practices 5 d

Emergency procedures v Fire extinguishers and emergency showers must be readily available v First aid measures • Eyes • Skin • Breathing • Swallowing 6 a

Emergency procedures v Remove ignition sources v Evacuate the area v Persons must wear appropriate PPE to enter clean-up area v Properly dispose of waste 6 b

Personal protective equipment v PPE requires special attention v Impermeable necessary clothing may be v Decontamination procedures 7 a

Personal protective equipment v Splashproof goggles are required in areas where liquid ethylene oxide is present v Training for hospitals and healthcare facilities 7 b

Proper use and limitations of respirators v Respirators are required whenever engineering controls and work practices do not keep exposure levels below the TWA v Donning, use, limitations, doffing, decontamination, and storage 8 a

Proper use and limitations of respirators v Ethylene oxide is odorless until the exposure limit has been exceeded by approximately 700 percent 8 b

Medical surveillance v Medical surveillance is required for all employees who are exposed at or above the action level for at least 30 days 9 a

Medical surveillance v Examinations will be: • prior to assignment to an area where exposure may be at or above the action level for at least 30 days a year • at least annually where exposure may be at or above the action level for at least 30 days a year 9 b

Medical surveillance v Examinations will be: • at termination of employment or transfer to an area where exposure is not at or above the action level for at least 30 days a year • as appropriate for an emergency exposure 9 c

Medical surveillance v Examinations will be: • on employee request • at intervals recommended by the company physician 9 d

Medical surveillance v Examinations minimum: will have, at a • medical and work histories • physical examinations • complete blood count • tests deemed necessary by the physician 9 e

Medical surveillance v Workers may request pregnancy testing or fertility evaluation at no cost v Related physical conditions not directly related to ethylene oxide may be included in examinations 9 f

Medical surveillance v Employees will receive a copy of the physician’s written opinion within 15 working days v Records are kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years 9 g

Hazard communication v Signs around regulated areas must read: 10 a

Hazard communication v Report any faded or missing v Labels on containers should signs read: 10 b

Hazard communication v Labels must have warning statements against breathing ethylene oxide v Know where to get copies of MSDSs 10 c

Copies of the regulation v Know where to get a copy of the ethylene oxide regulation 11 a