1. Formaldehyde Safety Training
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Environmental Health, Safety, & Risk Management
November 2009

2. Overview Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management

3. 29 CFR : Formaldehyde
OSHA regulates occupational exposures to formaldehyde
Scope of 29 CFR
This standard applies to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde, including exposure to:
formaldehyde gas
formaldehyde solutions (formalin)
materials that release formaldehyde

4. 29 CFR 1910.1048: Formaldehyde Requirements:
Must have an MSDS available in the lab
Written training materials must be available to employees
Must establish “regulated areas” where airborne concentrations of formaldehyde exceed the OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL) and/or short-term exposure limits (STEL)
Medical surveillance must be provided to employees who may be exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations exceeding the PEL or STEL
Exposure monitoring will be conducted if formaldehyde concentrations in the workplace exceed the action level

5. Permissible Exposure Levels
OSHA requires that regulated areas be established where airborne formaldehyde concentrations exceed the OSHA PEL and/or STEL values
OSHA PEL (averaged over 8 h)
0.75 ppm
OSHA STEL (maximum of 15 min/day)
2 ppm
OSHA Action level (averaged over 8 h)
0.5 ppm
ACGIH STEL (maximum of 15 min/day)
Note, this is a ceiling value that must never be exceeded
0.3 ppm C
A written plan must be developed and implemented whenever an employee is exposed above the PEL

6. Regulated Areas Only authorized personnel shall enter regulated areas
Regulated areas shall have danger signs posted at entrances and access ways
Only authorized personnel shall enter regulated areas

7. Formaldehyde at UAF
10-37% solutions of formaldehyde stabilized with methanol are typically used at UAF
Formaldehyde gas in solution is called “formalin”
Even though the solutions are stabilized, formaldehyde (and various adducts) are released from the solution
Formalin (formaldehyde) is a suspected carcinogen

8. Overview Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management

9. Potential health hazards: acute
Exposure routes
Inhalation
Sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath
Sensitization of respiratory tract
25-30 ppm: pulmonary edema and pneumonitis
Ingestion
Severe abdominal pain, violent vomiting, headache, diarrhea, unconsciousness and death
Methanol used to stabilize the formaldehyde solution poses additional toxic hazards

10. Potential health hazards: acute (cont.)
Exposure routes (cont.)
Skin contact
Irritation and/or burns; cracking, scaling, white discoloration
Can be absorbed through skin
Eye contact
Irritation from vapors, pain, blurred vision
May cause irreversible damage if splashed in eyes

11. Potential health hazards: chronic
Long-term effects
Sensitizer:
May cause contact dermatitis, other allergic reactions
Vision impairment and liver enlargement from methanol
Carcinogen
May cause cancer
Mutagen
May cause mutations in DNA

12. Report adverse signs and symptoms
Know how to report exposures and illnesses/injuries that are related to the job
Tell your supervisor, complete Accident/Incident Report
Remember: symptoms develop over time, so adverse effects may not be immediately noticeable
The perception of formaldehyde by odor and eye irritation becomes less sensitive with time as one adapts to formaldehyde
This can lead to overexposure if a worker is relying on formaldehyde's warning properties to alert him or her to the potential for exposure

13. Overview Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management

14. Protecting yourself: Engineering and work practice controls
Primary methods of exposure control
Engineering controls:
Always use formalin in a chemical fume hood
Check that it is properly functioning
Work practices:
Use the smallest amount of formalin necessary
Buy in suitable quantities
Use safer alternatives whenever possible

15. Personal protective equipment
For working with 37% formalin or 10% formalin:
Protective clothing (lab coats, aprons, suits):
Tychem® CPF2, SL, CPF3, F, CPF 4, BR, LV, Responder, TK, or Reflector all have breakthrough times >480 min
Gloves (required when using >1% formalin):
Nitrile (>360 min) is the best choice
Neoprene (105 min), or PVC (100 min) are ok
Rubber or Neoprene/rubber are ok for short use ( min)
PVA gloves are not recommended

16. Personal protective equipment (cont.)
For working with formalin at any concentration greater than 1%, splash-proof goggles are required
Formaldehyde contact with the eye can range from transient discomfort to severe, permanent corneal clouding and loss of vision

17. Personal protective equipment (cont.)
Storage of PPE
Store away from sources of formaldehyde
Formaldehyde vapors can permeate the lab coat or glove material, reducing its barrier-properties
Inspect all PPE prior to use
Check for holes, cracks, degradation
Change gloves frequently
Just because the breakthrough time is >360 min doesn’t mean you should use one pair of gloves for 6 hours.
Do not reuse disposable gloves

18. Personal protective equipment (cont.)
Respirators are required
during periods necessary to implement engineering and work practice controls
in operations where engineering controls and work practices are not feasible
in operations where engineering controls and work practices do not prevent exposure below the PEL
in emergencies (spill response)
If you use formalin in a fume hood, you should not need to wear a respirator

19. Personal protective equipment (cont.)
Respirator use follows the requirements given in 29 CFR :
Employees must wear respirators if they are required to do so
If required to wear a respirator, employees must have a medical exam (once) and be fit tested (annually)
If you feel you need a respirator, contact the UAF Industrial Hygienist at

20. Personal protective equipment (cont.)
Full body protection is required for areas with concentrations above 100 ppm
Storage areas for ventilating formaldehyde-contaminated clothing and equipment have signs that read:

21. Overview Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management

22. Storage and handling 37% formalin: Storage code is RED (flammable)
It is also a health hazard, but flammable rating takes precedence
Store in secondary containment
10% formalin:
Storage code is BLUE (health hazard)
At this concentration, it is no longer flammable)

23. Labeling
All containers of formalin must be labeled with the following:
The word “Formalin” and the concentration
Name and address of the responsible party
The words “Potential cancer hazard” and “Respiratory sensitizer”
This includes:
Stock solutions (37% or 10%)
Working solutions
Specimens preserved in formalin
Labels are available from EHS&RM ( )

24. Overview Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management

25. Spills, emergencies, and clean-up procedures
Operations involving formaldehyde must have a program in place to detect leaks and spills
Check containers and drums regularly for leaks
Place leaking containers in well-ventilated areas
Repair or contain leaks quickly
Comply with EPA rules regarding clean-up
Contact EHS&RM Division of Hazardous Materials for immediate assistance with clean- up:

26. Emergency procedures: Spills
Employees must leave spill areas unless they have specific duties
Never clean up a spill if you are not trained and do not feel comfortable doing so
Call EHS&RM at or for assistance
Formalin spill kits are available from EHS&RM
These kits contain:
Formaldehyde neutralizer mats
Spilfyter® formaldehyde solidifier
Aqualockit® water solidifier
Kits are useful for clean up of small spills and to minimize off-gassing of formaldehyde after a large spill

27. Emergency procedures: Spills (cont.)
Response for small spills (<400 mL) outside of fume hood:
Wearing Nitrile gloves, immediately contain the spill and stop any leaks if present
Use formaldehyde neutralizer (Spilfyter®) on the spill or mop up the formalin solution with towels or formalin neutralizer mats
Place all contaminated towels and gloves in a plastic bag and complete a Non-radioactive Hazardous Materials Transfer Request form and sticker
Call EHS&RM at to report the spill and to have wastes picked up

28. Emergency procedures: Spills (cont.)
Response for large spills (400 mL or more):
Contain the spill if possible
Use neutralizer mats and/or Spilfyter® formalin polymerizer to contain the spill
Leave the lab and alert others to the problem.
Call EHS&RM at the numbers above to report the spill
Call 911 if there is an immediate threat to life, health, and/or property

29. Emergency procedures: First Aid
Inhalation: Remove victim to fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Call a physician
Ingestion: If swallowed and the victim is conscious, dilute, inactivate, or absorb the ingested formaldehyde by giving milk, activated charcoal, or water. Keep affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention immediately. If vomiting occurs, keep head lower than hips.

30. Emergency procedures: First Aid (cont.)
Skin Contact:
Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash clothing and thoroughly clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention immediately.
Eye Contact: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately.
Know the locations of showers and eyewash facilities

31. Overview Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management

32. Medical surveillance Medical surveillance is required
prior to assignments to areas where exposure may be above STEL
at least annually where exposure may be at or above the STEL
whenever an employee shows signs/symptoms of toxic levels of exposure
Exposure levels are determined without regard to respirator use

33. Medical surveillance (cont.)
Medical surveillance includes:
administration of medical disease questionnaire
determination if a medical examination is necessary
examinations for employees who are at increased risk for exposure to formaldehyde

34. Medical surveillance (cont.)
Medical examinations include:
a physical exam
laboratory examinations
any other necessary tests
counseling of employees
Written physician opinions include:
physician’s opinion about employee’s medical condition
recommended limitations
statement of medical conditions

35. Medical surveillance (cont.)
Employees get copies of the written opinions within 15 working days
Records are retained for the duration of employment plus 30 years

36. Overview Introduction to OSHA Standard for Formaldehyde
Requirements of regulation
Permissible exposure limits (PELs)
Routes of exposure and health effects
Protective measures
Handling and storage of formaldehyde
Spills and accidents
Medical surveillance
Waste management

37. Waste management
Place formaldehyde-contaminated waste in sealed, intact containers, clearly labeled with:
“Formaldehyde Waste”
“Danger: Toxic, Potential Cancer Hazard”
the concentration of the solution in the container
Keep the container sealed at all times when not adding wastes to it
Comply with EPA rules regarding waste disposal
Complete a “Non-radioactive Hazardous Materials Transfer” form and sticker
Contact EHS&RM Hazmat Division for pickup and/or assistance at

38. Please complete the quiz
Quiz is located at:
Training
UAF Safety Training PowerPoints
Complete quiz, click the “send quiz to EHS&RM” button.
NOTE: There is no need to contact EHS&RM to let us know you have finished the quiz. is checked throughout the day, and your score will be electronically filed for future reference.