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 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 9a