Vinyl Chloride

1. Vinyl Chloride

2. Health hazards • Acute (immediate) health effects • Inhalation • Direct contact • Ingestion 1a

3. Health hazards • Chronic (long-term) effects • Raynaud’s syndrome • Liver damage • Nervous system damage • Cancer, especially liver cancer • Make effective use of warning labels 1b

4. Permissible exposure limits • No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 1 ppm TWA • No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 5ppm over any 15 minute period 2a

5. Permissible exposure limits • No employee may be exposed to VC by direct contact with liquid VC 2b

6. Vinyl chloride operations • Areas, processes that use vinyl chloride • Handling equipment 3a

7. Vinyl chloride operations • Jobs that involve vinyl chloride activities • Operations where exposure to vinyl chloride exceeds PEL 3b

8. Protective measures to prevent exposure • Use exhaust ventilation systems • Minimize the release of vinyl chloride • Follow proper operating procedures 4a

9. Protective measures to prevent exposure • Wear required personal protective equipment • Keep containers closed, protected from damage, properly stored 4b

10. Protective measures to prevent exposure • Establish regulated areas where concentrations are in excess of PEL 4c

11. Respiratory protection • Required whenever engineering and work practice controls do not reduce exposure levels below the PEL • Use engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposure levels to the lowest practical level 5a

12. Respiratory protection • Select the type of respirator based upon atmospheric concentration of vinyl chloride • Limitations of respiratory equipment 5b

13. Exposure monitoring • Initial monitoring to determine if exposures are above action level (0.5 ppm TWA) • Test after changes in production, processes, or controls 6a

14. Exposure monitoring • Test if any employee may be exposed above the action level • Repeat the monitoring if any exposures are above the action level 6b

15. Exposure monitoring • Repeat monitoring at least monthly if exposures are above the PEL • Repeat monitoring at least every three months if exposures are above the action level 6c

16. Exposure monitoring • Monitoring can only be discontinued after two consecutive tests, made five days apart, show exposure is at or below the action level 6d

17. Exposure monitoring • Monitoring methods must meet accuracy standards • Employers must notify employees in writing within 10 working days if exposure is in excess of PEL 6e

18. Exposure monitoring • Maintain monitoring records according to 29 CFR 1910.1020 6f

19. Medical surveillance • Available to employees having exposure in excess of the action level • Exams must be conducted under the supervision of a licensed physician 7a

20. Medical surveillance • Exams are without cost to employees • Exams consist of: • general physical exam • review of employee’s medical history • specific blood tests 7b

21. Medical surveillance • Medical surveillance must be started when: • an employee is initially assigned to work where exposure exceeds the action level • operations change so that exposure levels increase to above the action level 7c

22. Medical surveillance • Medical surveillance must be started when: • an employee is exposed to vinyl chloride as a result of an emergency • Exams are repeated annually for most employees exposed above the action level 7d

23. Medical surveillance • Physician issues a statement of the employee’s suitability for continued exposure to vinyl chloride • Employee receives a copy of the statement 7e

24. Emergency situations • Employees engaged in hazardous operations are required to use respiratory protection and protective clothing • Emergencies must be reported to OSHA within 24 hours 8a

25. Emergency situations • A written operation plan must be developed for each facility storing, handling, using vinyl chloride • Remember that vinyl chloride is flammable; consult MSDSs 8b

26. Training • Review paragraphs (a) through (o) of 29 CFR 1910.1017 9a