1. Vinyl Chloride

2. Health hazards v Acute (immediate) health effects InhalationInhalation Direct contactDirect contact IngestionIngestion 1a

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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