Ethylene Oxide

1
Ethylene Oxide
2
Regulated areas

• Regulated areas must be created if employees may
  be exposed to ethylene oxide above the excursion
  limit

1a
3
Requirements

• Substance safety data sheet (Appendix A)
• Substance Technical Guidelines (Appendix B)

2a
4
Requirements

• Definitions
• Ethylene oxide
• Permissible exposure limit
• Action level
• Excursion limit
• Engineering controls
• Work practices

2b
5
Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide

• On-going monitoring depends upon contaminant
  levels above the
• excursion limit
• action level
• 8-hour TWA

3a
6
Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide

• Monitoring may be stopped under some conditions
• Employees must be told of monitoring results
  within 15 working days in one of two ways
• in person
• through group postings

3b
7
Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide

• Written notification must include corrective
  actions

3c
8
Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide

• Additional monitoring may be done whenever there
  is a change in
• processes
• equipment
• personnel
• work practices

3d
9
Detecting the presence of ethylene oxide

• Written plans must be in place if an employee is
  exposed at or above the TWA or excursion limit

3e
10
Physical hazards

• Highly flammable
• Highly explosive
• Heavier than air

4a
11
Physical hazards

• Immediate (acute) health hazards
• eye irritation
• skin irritant
• ingestion
• inhalation

4b
12
Physical hazards

• Observable effects
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• shortness of breath
• cyanosis

4c
13
Health hazards

• Long-term (chronic) health hazards
• carcinogen
• reproductive health changes
• mutagenic

4d
14
Work practices

• You should not wear contact lenses when working
  with ethylene oxide
• Do not store or use cosmetics, lip balm, food
  items, beverages, or smoking items in regulated
  areas

5a
15
Work practices

• Storage procedures
• Prohibit sources of ignition
• Use non-sparking tools

5b
16
Work practices

• Do not incinerate ethylene oxide cartridges,
  tanks, containers
• Flammable and combustible liquid regulations
  under 29 CFR 1910.106

5c
17
Work practices

• Locations with ethylene oxide must follow Class I
  electrical safety practices

5d
18
Emergency procedures

• Fire extinguishers and emergency showers must be
  readily available
• First aid measures
• Eyes
• Skin
• Breathing
• Swallowing

6a
19
Emergency procedures

• Remove ignition sources
• Evacuate the area
• Persons must wear appropriate PPE to enter
  clean-up area
• Properly dispose of waste

6b
20
Personal protective equipment

• PPE requires special attention
• Impermeable clothing may be necessary
• Decontamination procedures

7a
21
Personal protective equipment

• Splashproof goggles are required in areas where
  liquid ethylene oxide is present
• Training for hospitals and healthcare facilities

7b
22
Proper use and limitations of respirators

• Respirators are required whenever engineering
  controls and work practices do not keep exposure
  levels below the TWA
• Donning, use, limitations, doffing,
  decontamination, and storage

8a
23
Proper use and limitations of respirators

• Ethylene oxide is odorless until the exposure
  limit has been exceeded by approximately 700
  percent

8b
24
Medical surveillance

• Medical surveillance is required for all
  employees who are exposed at or above the action
  level for at least 30 days

9a
25
Medical surveillance

• Examinations will be
• prior to assignment to an area where exposure may
  be at or above the action level for at least 30
  days a year
• at least annually where exposure may be at or
  above the action level for at least 30 days a year

9b
26
Medical surveillance

• Examinations will be
• at termination of employment or transfer to an
  area where exposure is not at or above the action
  level for at least 30 days a year
• as appropriate for an emergency exposure

9c
27
Medical surveillance

• Examinations will be
• on employee request
• at intervals recommended by the company physician

9d
28
Medical surveillance

• Examinations will have, at a minimum
• medical and work histories
• physical examinations
• complete blood count
• tests deemed necessary by the physician

9e
29
Medical surveillance

• Workers may request pregnancy testing or
  fertility evaluation at no cost
• Related physical conditions not directly related
  to ethylene oxide may be included in examinations

9f
30
Medical surveillance

• Employees will receive a copy of the physicians
  written opinion within 15 working days
• Records are kept for the duration of employment
  plus 30 years

9g
31
Hazard communication

• Signs around regulated areas must read

10a
32
Hazard communication

• Report any faded or missing signs
• Labels on containers should read

10b
33
Hazard communication

• Labels must have warning statements against
  breathing ethylene oxide
• Know where to get copies of MSDSs

10c
34
Copies of the regulation

• Know where to get a copy of the ethylene oxide
  regulation

11a