Airborne Contaminants WAC 296-841

Nicole Irby, MS, CIH

(360) 902-5449

irbn235@lni.wa.gov

Actual or potential employee exposure to airborne hazards

Scope of the Standard:

Definition of “Exposure”

The contact an employee has with a toxic substance, harmful physical agent or oxygen deficient condition, whether or not protection is provided by respirators or other personal protective equipment (PPE). Exposure can occur through various routes of entry, such as inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or skin absorption.

What does the standard require?

Evaluate employee exposure to airborne hazards

Protect them accordingly

Exposure Evaluations

Personal air monitoring Objective Data

Exposure Evaluations

Requirements:

Determine the physical form of the contaminant Use “breathing zone”, not area samples Don’t account for PPE worn when determining

exposure Consider potential emergency situations Include all factors typically associated with the activity Address extended work periods

Exposure Evaluations

Additive Health Effects:

When 2 or more chemicals have similar health effects, airborne exposures to these chemicals are considered to be additive.

Substance Target Organ / Health Effects

Toluene Eye and nose irritation;Central Nervous System

Xylene Eye and nose irritation;Central Nervous System

“Employee Protective Measures”

In the meantime, make sure employees are protected from potential hazardous exposures

Exposure Evaluations

Assume that the exposure is “IDLH”

What if exposure can’t be determined?

Exposure Controls

Use feasible exposure controls to reduce employee exposure to one of the following:

A level below the permissible exposure limits (PEL).

A level that removes the airborne hazard, when no PEL is established.

The lowest achievable level, when exposure cannot be reduced to below the PEL or the airborne hazard cannot be removed.

Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)

Regulatory Limits

Different types

Limitations

Biohazards

Table 3

PEL Table (excerpt)

AirborneContaminant

CAS TWA8 STEL Ceiling Skin

Ethylene glycol dinitrate

628-96-6 ---- 0.1 mg/m3 ---- X

Ethylene glycol monomethylether acetate

---- 5 ppm 10 ppm ---- X

Ethyleneimine(WAC 296-62-073)

151-56-4 ---- ---- ---- X

Ethylene oxide(WAC 296-855)

75-21-8 1 ppm 5 ppm ---- ----

Ethyl ether 60-29-7 400 ppm 500 ppm ---- ----

Hierarchy of Controls

Elimination Find a different way to accomplish a task

Substitution Use a different chemical to get the job done

Engineering Controls Through design, eliminate or reduce exposure

Administrative Controls Limit exposure timeUse safe work practices

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Gear worn to reduce exposure at the receiver

Glutaraldehyde Elimination: Use of digital x-ray processors instead of

developing film with glutaraldehyde as a hardening agent

Substitution: Based on type of use and needs, alternatives such as hydrogen peroxide

Engineering Controls: Conducting activities in a lab fume hood

Administrative Controls: Arrange storage for transport over minimal distances

PPE: Gloves, goggles, lab coats, etc.

Exposure Controls

Make sure your exposure controls don’t create a hazard in and of themselves!

Substance- and Industry-Specific Standards

Formaldehyde (296-856) Ethylene Oxide (296-855) Laboratory (296-828)

Summary

Perform an evaluation– Notify employees of their exposure

Implement feasible controls

Follow the requirements in this and other standards

Consultation Services

Contact your local L&I office and ask for the consultation supervisor for help with this and other DOSH requirements.

You can also visit our website at:

www.lni.wa.gov