Methylene Chloride (MC)

Familiarization with MC MC is used as a solvent, especially where quick evaporation is needed Methylene chloride dissolves oils, fats, waxes, resins, rubber 1a

Familiarization with MC Methylene chloride is used: in paint strippers as an ingredient in adhesives as a degreasing agent in propellant mixtures for aerosols as an extracting agent in the pharmaceutical industry as a blowing agent in polyurethane foam manufacture 1b

Training requirements How to detect the chemical’s presence or release The physical and health hazards of the chemical 2a

Training requirements Safe work practices Emergency procedures Personal protective equipment 2b

Training requirements The hazard communication program Chemical labeling How to use MSDSs 2c

Training requirements Training is required under OSHA’s Hazard Communication standard Training on MC is required before, or at the time of initial assignment to a job involving potential exposure to MC 2d

Training requirements Hazard communication training must include the hazards of: cancer cardiac effects central nervous system effects liver effects skin and eye irritation 2e

Training requirements In addition to HazCom training, you need to know: the requirements of the MC standard the information that is available for MC how to access or obtain copies of the standard and its appendices 2f

Training requirements When exposures may be above the action level (12.5 ppm as an 8-hour TWA), you need to know: quantity location manner of use release storage locations 2g

Training requirements Specific operations in our workplace that could result in exposure to MC 2h

Training requirements Employees who are exposed above the action level or the STEL (125 ppm for any 15-minute sampling period) may need to be re-trained Changes in the workplace can also trigger re-training 2i

Physical hazards Methylene chloride: is a clear colorless liquid with a chloroform-like odor is only slightly soluble in water and mixes completely with most solvents evaporates very quickly vapors are heavier than air 3a

Physical hazards MC forms flammable vapor/air mixtures at temperatures at or above 212 degrees F When MC is involved in a fire, it decomposes into highly toxic and irritating chemicals 3b

Physical hazards Fires and explosions may result if MC comes into contact with strong oxidizers, caustics, and chemically active metals Heat and moisture contribute to the instability of MC 3c

Health hazards The primary route of entry for MC is inhalation of its vapors MC can also be ingested or absorbed by the skin Direct contact with the liquid is irritating to the eyes/skin 4a

Health hazards Health hazards can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) The effects of long-term overexposure to MC may include cancer 4b

Health hazards There is evidence that MC can have adverse effects on the heart, central nervous system, and liver 4c

Material Safety Data Sheets The Hazard Communication standard requires MSDSs for products that contain hazardous materials 5a

Material Safety Data Sheets When the product contains MC, make sure you are familiar with its health hazards in regards to: cancer cardiac effects central nervous system effects liver effects skin and eye irritation 5b

Material Safety Data Sheets MSDSs provide other useful information about how to handle the product and protect yourself from its hazards 5c

Labeling All containers of MC must have legible labels that include the hazards Labels must comply with the Hazard Communication standard 6a

Labeling The label’s legend can be similar to the following: 6b

Exposure limits Exposures to airborne MC must be at safe levels An employee’s exposure is determined without the use of a respirator Exposures are given in parts per million (ppm) 7a

Exposure limits OSHA has set safe exposure limits as follows: 25 ppm as an 8-hour Time Weighted Average Permissible Exposure Limit (TWA PEL) 125 ppm as a 15-minute Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) 7b

Exposure limits The action level is 12.5 ppm as an 8-hour TWA 7c

Monitoring When MC is present in the workplace, the employer must determine each employee’s exposure One or more samples can be used to represent the exposures of several employees 8a

Monitoring The employer has to conduct initial monitoring unless: there is objective evidence that airborne concentrations of MC will not reach the action level or STEL 8b

Monitoring The employer has to conduct initial monitoring unless: employees are exposed to MC less than 30 days per year adequate monitoring results were obtained in the year before the MC rule was effective (within 12 months prior to April 10, 1997) 8c

Monitoring Periodic air monitoring must be conducted, depending on the results of the initial monitoring Monitoring may need to be done as frequently as every three months 8d

Monitoring Employees or their representatives have the right to observe any exposure monitoring Anyone who is an observer must wear all necessary PPE and protective equipment 8e

Monitoring Observers must follow all safety rules and procedures for the area Employees must be informed of the monitoring results within 15 working days after the employer receives them 8f

Monitoring The written notification of the results must include corrective actions being taken to reduce any exposures to below the 8-hour TWA PEL or STEL 8g

Medical screening/surveillance Guidelines for the medical screening and surveillance program are in Appendix B of the standard Initial screening is provided before initial assignment 9a

Medical screening/surveillance Screening is conducted at no cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place 9b

Medical screening/surveillance Medical screening and surveillance will be provided for a worker whose exposure to MC is: at or above the action level on 30 or more days per year above the 8-hour TWA PEL or STEL for 10 days or more per year 9c

Medical screening/surveillance Medical screening & surveillance will be provided for a worker whose exposure to MC is: above the 8-hour TWA PEL or STEL for any period of time if the employee has been identified as being at risk from cardiac disease or any other serious MC related health condition 9d

Medical screening/surveillance Medical screening & surveillance will be provided for a worker whose exposure to MC is due to an emergency involving MC 9e

Medical screening/surveillance Continuing medical screening and surveillance is provided as follows: Employees 45 or older will receive annual periodic medical surveillance Employees under 45 will receive periodic medical surveillance every 36 months 9f

Medical screening/surveillance A medical examination and appropriate tests are provided upon termination of employment if six months or more have elapsed since the last physical examination 9g

Medical screening/surveillance A medical screening includes a baseline health questionnaire that emphasizes: Neurological symptoms Skin conditions History of hematologic or liver diseases Signs or symptoms of congestive heart disease 9h

Medical screening/surveillance A medical screening includes a baseline health questionnaire that emphasizes: Risk factors for heart disease MC exposure Work practices used PPE 9i

Medical screening/surveillance The physician issues a written medical opinion no more than 30 days after the examination The written opinion is provided to both the employer and the employee 9j

Medical screening/surveillance The information in the written opinion is limited to: Occupationally pertinent results 9k

Medical screening/surveillance A medical opinion concerning whether exposure to MC may contribute to or aggravate the employee’s existing cardiac, hepatic, neurological, or dermal disease 9l

Medical screening/surveillance A medical opinion as to whether the employee has any other medical condition(s) that would place the employee’s health at increased risk from exposure to MC Recommended limitations on the employee’s exposure to MC 9m

Medical screening/surveillance A statement that the employee has been informed of the health risks associated with MC exposure A statement that the employee has been informed of the results of the medical evaluation 9n

Temporary medical removal protection benefits In some situations, physicians can recommend that an employee be removed from exposure to MC 10a

Temporary medical removal protection benefits When exposure to MC is determined to aggravate an employee’s existing condition, medical removal protection benefits are in order 10b

Temporary medical removal protection benefits The employer can either: transfer the employee to comparable work where MC exposure is below the action level; or remove the employee from MC exposure 10c

Temporary medical removal protection benefits Temporary medical removal protection benefits include maintaining the earnings, seniority, and other employment rights and benefits 10d

Temporary medical removal protection benefits If the employee is not exposed above the 8-hour TWA PEL, specific medical evidence must be cited before the employer is required to provide temporary medical removal protection benefits 10e

Temporary medical removal protection benefits The employer can stop providing medical removal protection benefits at the earliest of the following: 10f

Temporary medical removal protection benefits Six months Upon receipt of a medical determination that the employee’s exposure will no longer aggravate the medical condition Upon receipt of a medical determination concluding that the employee can never return to MC exposure 10g

Engineering controls Examples of engineering controls include: dilution ventilation local exhaust ventilation enclosure of the operation 11a

Engineering controls Engineering controls and work practices must reduce employee exposure to or below the 8-hour TWA PEL and STEL 11b

Engineering controls When this is not feasible, engineering controls and work practices should reduce exposures to the lowest achievable levels 11c

Work practice controls Work practices are used with engineering controls to reduce exposures to or below the 8-hour TWA PEL and STEL 12a

Work practice controls Never eat, drink, or smoke where MC is used, stored, or handled. Also, do not keep food, beverages, or smoking materials in these areas 12b

Work practice controls Keep containers tightly closed Protect containers from damage Store containers in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area 12c

Work practice controls Store containers away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and acute fire hazards Avoid contact with strong oxidizers, caustics, and chemically active metals 12d

Work practice controls Dispose of waste materials promptly and properly A schedule of job rotation cannot be used as a work practice to limit or reduce exposure 12e

Respiratory protection Respirators must be used: while an employee’s exposure exceeds the 8-hour TWA PEL or STEL while feasible engineering and work-practice controls are being installed or implemented 13a

Respiratory protection Respirators must be used: when feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the 8-hour TWA PEL or STEL during work operations where engineering and work practice controls are infeasible during emergencies 13b

Respiratory protection If the right type of respirator is not being used, employees are not being adequately protected In most cases, the standard requires that atmosphere-supplying respirators be used 13c

Respiratory protection The only time that the use of a negative-pressure air-purifying respirator is allowed is during an emergency escape The odor of MC is not a reliable warning of respirator malfunction for respirator wearers 13d

Respiratory protection Respirator use must follow requirements in OSHA’s standard on Respiratory Protection 13e

Personal protective equipment When protective equipment is required, it must be worn PPE must be provided at no cost to the employee 14a

Personal protective equipment Appropriate PPE includes, but is not limited to: impervious chemical resistant clothing gloves that are resistant to MC splash-proof safety goggles face shields (8-inch minimum) 14b

Personal protective equipment Any protective clothing that becomes wet with liquid MC should be removed immediately and not reworn until the employer has ensured that it is fit for reuse 14c

First Aid In the event of an emergency, institute first aid procedures and get appropriate medical assistance For eye contact, flush with large amounts of clean water, and get medical attention immediately 15a

First Aid For skin contact, remove all contaminated clothing and flush the affected area with large amounts of clean water For inhalation of large amounts of MC vapor, move the person to fresh air immediately 15b

First Aid Get medical attention as soon as possible Keep the affected person warm and at rest 15c

First Aid If breathing has stopped, perform rescue breathing/cardiopulmonary resuscitation 15d

Leaks and spills In areas where spills may occur, make provisions to contain any spills, and to safely dispose of any MC-contaminated waste materials Incidental leaks must be repaired 16a

Leaks and spills Incidental spills must be cleaned up by employees who are trained in cleanup, and who are using appropriate PPE 16b

Leaks and spills If MC has spilled or leaked: remove all ignition sources ventilate the area of the spill or leak either collect the material for reclamation or absorb it in vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or a similar material 16c

Leaks and spills Dispose of contaminated material properly Response to emergency releases of MC is covered by HAZWOPER 16d

Regulated areas A regulated area is one where airborne concentrations of MC exceed or can reasonably be expected to exceed either the: 8-hour TWA PEL (25 ppm); or STEL (125 ppm) 17a

Regulated areas The regulated area is marked to establish its boundaries Only authorized persons may have access to regulated areas 17b

Regulated areas While in a regulated area, workers are not to do any non-work activities that could increase their dermal or oral MC exposure Each person who enters a regulated area must be supplied with a respirator 17c

Regulated areas The respirator must be used whenever the MC exposures are likely to exceed the 8-hour TWA PEL or STEL 17d

Marking regulated areas Regulated areas are marked in any manner that adequately establishes and alerts employees to the boundaries Movable signs, temporary barriers, or a system of warning lights can be used 18a

Marking regulated areas A sample sign legend could look like: 18b

Standard availability Any employees with jobs that involve the potential for exposure to MC need to know how they can access or obtain a copy of the standard and its appendices 19a