Formaldehyde

General

• OSU Chemical Safety Committee has classified formaldehyde a "high hazard" carcinogen
• OR-OSHA has a specific regulation covering formaldehyde use by employees
• Use of formaldehyde must be registered and controlled
• Formaldehyde, often purchased as formalin, is potentially carcinogenic, but it can be used with little risk to health if used properly

Use Registration

• Each individual in charge of an activity using formaldehyde must register the use with EH&S on a High Hazard Carcinogen Registration form

Monitoring

• Whenever an operation uses formaldehyde outside of an approved laboratory fume hood, the user should contact EH&S to perform required air monitoring to determine if a health hazard from formaldehyde exists
• The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for formaldehyde is:
  • 0.75 ppm (part per million) in air averaged over an 8-hour work day (TWA); or
  • 2 PPM for a 15 minute period (short term exposure limit, STEL)
• The action level is 0.5 PPM (TWA)
• Additional precautions must be taken if formaldehyde levels exceed any of these exposure levels
• Users may monitor their own formaldehyde exposure after consulting with EH&S
• Results of formaldehyde monitoring must be documented and must include
  • dates, number, and results of testing
  • methods used in testing and taking air samples
  • description of any type of respirators worn
  • the names and social security numbers of the people exposed
• This monitoring documentation must be kept on file for at least 30 years
• Departments using the formaldehyde must show the written results of all formaldehyde testing to all affected workers.
• Notification must be made within 15 working days after receiving the results
• Notification must include what actions are being taken to bring the formaldehyde level down if the PEL has been exceeded
• Everyone who works with formaldehyde has the right to observe the testing procedures

Training

• Before workers use formaldehyde, they must be given information and training about how to safely use the chemical
• Reviewing and understanding this Safety Instruction will meet the minimum formaldehyde training requirement
• Additional information about formaldehyde use is available from EH&S, OSHA, and many other sources

Health Hazards Of Formaldehyde

• Formaldehyde is
  • potentially carcinogenic
  • harmful if it is inhaled, swallowed, or contacts the skin or eyes
• The hazard from exposure to formaldehyde depends on the concentration and physical state:
  • a solution with a concentration of 37% is much more hazardous to skin or eyes than a solution with 1%
• Formaldehyde initially causes irritation, itching, and burning to exposed parts of the body
• Odor of formaldehyde can be detected at 0.8 to 1.0 PPM
• With time a tolerance is developed irritation and odor of formaldehyde, but not to the harm done
• Prolonged or repeated exposure may result in respiratory problems
• Irritation and sensitization of the skin and respiratory system can also occur.

Protective Clothing & Equipment

Respirators

• Required where laboratory fume hoods or other local exhaust systems cannot be used and the formaldehyde air concentration exceeds the PEL.
• Must be approved for the use with formaldehyde and properly fitted.
• Respirator cartridges or canisters must be replaced after three hours of use.
• Respirator use and the Respiratory Protection Program 

Eye and skin protection

• Safety glasses, goggles, face shields, boots, gloves, sleeves, aprons, etc. are necessary if using liquids with 1% formaldehyde concentration or higher
• An eyewash immediately available to employees is required in areas in which 0.1% or greater concentration of formaldehyde is used
• Protective clothing and equipment that has been contaminated with formaldehyde must be cleaned or laundered before it is used again.

Emergency & First Aid Procedures

Ingestion

• If formaldehyde is swallowed, give a conscious victim milk, activated charcoal, or water to drink
• The victim should be kept warm and resting. Medical attention must be called for immediately
• If vomiting occurs, the head of the victim should be kept lower than the hips

Inhalation

• If large amounts of formaldehyde are inhaled the affected person should be immediately taken to fresh air.
• Medical assistance must be called for immediately.
• If breathing stops, give artificial respiration.
• The victim should be kept warm and resting.
• If exposure causes coughing to continue for more than ten minutes or severe irritation of nose, mouth, and throat occurs, the exposed person should see a doctor.

Skin contact

• If skin contact with formaldehyde occurs, remove contaminated clothing and wash skin with soap and water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• If chemical burns develop, cover the area with sterile, dry dressings and immediately get further medical attention.
• Contaminated clothing should be washed before they are worn again.

Eye splash

• If formaldehyde splashes into the eyes, they should be flushed with large amounts of water for 15 to 20 minutes.
• If burns develop, apply sterile bandages loosely and get medical attention immediately.
• If continuous irritation occurs from excessive exposure to fumes, promptly check with an ophthalmologist.

Precautions For Safe Use, Handling & Storage

• Formaldehyde is a moderate fire and explosion hazard and should be kept away from sparks and flames
• Formaldehyde is incompatible with nitrogen dioxide, nitromethane, perchloric acid, aniline, and peroxyformic acid.
• In general, formaldehyde should not be mixed with strong oxidizing agents, caustics, strong alkalies, isocyanates, anhydrides, oxides, or inorganic acids

Signs and Labels

• Warning signs must be posted at entrances to areas where exposure to formaldehyde might reasonably be expected to exceed the PEL (TWA or STEL). Signs should contain the following wording:

DANGER
FORMALDEHYDE
IRRITANT AND POTENTIAL CANCER HAZARD
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

• Containers of materials containing more than 0.1 percent formaldehyde should be labeled with:

DANGER
FORMALDEHYDE
IRRITANT AND POTENTIAL CANCER HAZARD

Spill & Leak Procedures

• Contact EH&S for assistance in dealing with all formaldehyde spills of more than one liter.
• Small spills should be immediately cleaned up using an appropriate absorbent.
• Waste material should be disposed of through the Hazardous Waste Disposal program.
• Formaldehyde must not be poured into the sewer system.

Medical Surveillance

• A medical surveillance program must be established for those people who work regularly with formaldehyde above the action level or PEL.
• Contact EH&S for specific medical surveillance program procedures.

Additional Information

• Contact EH&S for more information regarding safe handling procedures or copies of the state safety regulations on formaldehyde.