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Ethylene Oxide

Ethylene Oxide. Regulated areas. Regulated areas must be created if employees may be exposed to ethylene oxide above the excursion limit. 1a. Requirements. Substance safety data sheet (Appendix A) Substance Technical Guidelines (Appendix B). 2a. Requirements. Definitions: Ethylene oxide

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Ethylene Oxide

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  1. Ethylene Oxide

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

  3. Requirements • Substance safety data sheet (Appendix A) • Substance Technical Guidelines (Appendix B) 2a

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

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

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

  7. Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide • Written notification must include corrective actions 3c

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

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

  10. Physical hazards • Highly flammable • Highly explosive • Heavier than air 4a

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

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

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

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

  15. Work practices • Storage procedures • Prohibit sources of ignition • Use non-sparking tools 5b

  16. Work practices • Do not incinerate ethylene oxide cartridges, tanks, containers • Flammable and combustible liquid regulations under 29 CFR 1910.106 5c

  17. Work practices • Locations with ethylene oxide must follow Class I electrical safety practices 5d

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  25. Medical surveillance • 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 9b

  26. Medical surveillance • 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 9c

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

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

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

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

  31. Hazard communication • Signs around regulated areas must read: 10a

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

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

  34. Copies of the regulation • Know where to get a copy of the ethylene oxide regulation 11a

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