Vinyl Vinyl Chloride Chloride

Health hazardsHealth hazards

Acute (immediate) health effectsAcute (immediate) health effects• InhalationInhalation• Direct contactDirect contact• IngestionIngestion

1a

Health hazardsHealth hazards

Chronic (long-term) effectsChronic (long-term) effects• Raynaud’s syndromeRaynaud’s syndrome• Liver damageLiver damage• Nervous system damageNervous system damage• Cancer, especially liver cancerCancer, especially liver cancer

Make effective use of warning Make effective use of warning labelslabels

1b

Permissible exposure Permissible exposure limitslimits

No employee may be exposed to No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 1 ppm TWAgreater than 1 ppm TWA

No employee may be exposed to No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 5ppm over any 15 greater than 5ppm over any 15 minute periodminute period

2a

Permissible exposure Permissible exposure limitslimits

No employee may be exposed to No employee may be exposed to VC by direct contact with liquid VCVC by direct contact with liquid VC

2b

Vinyl chloride operationsVinyl chloride operations

Areas, processes that use vinyl Areas, processes that use vinyl chloridechloride

Handling equipmentHandling equipment

3a

Vinyl chloride operationsVinyl chloride operations

Jobs that involve vinyl chloride Jobs that involve vinyl chloride activitiesactivities

Operations where exposure to Operations where exposure to vinyl chloride exceeds PELvinyl chloride exceeds PEL

3b

Protective measures to Protective measures to prevent exposureprevent exposure

Use exhaust ventilation systemsUse exhaust ventilation systems

Minimize the release of vinyl Minimize the release of vinyl chloridechloride

Follow proper operating Follow proper operating proceduresprocedures

4a

Protective measures to Protective measures to prevent exposureprevent exposure

Wear required personal protective Wear required personal protective equipmentequipment

Keep containers closed, protected Keep containers closed, protected from damage, properly storedfrom damage, properly stored

4b

Protective measures to Protective measures to prevent exposureprevent exposure

Establish regulated areas where Establish regulated areas where concentrations are in excess of PELconcentrations are in excess of PEL

4c

Respiratory protectionRespiratory protection

Required whenever engineering Required whenever engineering and work practice controls do not and work practice controls do not reduce exposure levels below the reduce exposure levels below the PELPEL

Use engineering and work practice Use engineering and work practice controls to reduce exposure levels controls to reduce exposure levels to the lowest practical levelto the lowest practical level

5a

Respiratory protectionRespiratory protection

Select the type of respirator based Select the type of respirator based upon atmospheric concentration of upon atmospheric concentration of vinyl vinyl chloridechloride

Limitations of Limitations of respiratory respiratory equipmentequipment

5b

Exposure monitoringExposure monitoring

Initial monitoring to determine if Initial monitoring to determine if exposures are above action level exposures are above action level (0.5 ppm TWA)(0.5 ppm TWA)

Test after changes in production, Test after changes in production, processes, or controlsprocesses, or controls

6a

Exposure monitoringExposure monitoring

Test if any employee may be Test if any employee may be exposed above the action levelexposed above the action level

Repeat the monitoring if any Repeat the monitoring if any exposures are above the action exposures are above the action levellevel

6b

Exposure monitoringExposure monitoring

Repeat monitoring at least Repeat monitoring at least monthly if exposures are above monthly if exposures are above the PELthe PEL

Repeat monitoring at least every Repeat monitoring at least every three months if exposures are three months if exposures are above the action levelabove the action level

6c

Exposure monitoringExposure monitoring

Monitoring can only be Monitoring can only be discontinued after two consecutive discontinued after two consecutive tests, made five days apart, show tests, made five days apart, show exposure is at or below the action exposure is at or below the action levellevel

6d

Exposure monitoringExposure monitoring

Monitoring methods must meet Monitoring methods must meet accuracy standardsaccuracy standards

Employers must notify employees Employers must notify employees in writing within 10 working days if in writing within 10 working days if exposure is in excess of PELexposure is in excess of PEL

6e

Exposure monitoringExposure monitoring

Maintain monitoring records Maintain monitoring records according to 29 CFR 1910.1020according to 29 CFR 1910.1020

6f

Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance

Available to employees having Available to employees having exposure in excess of the action exposure in excess of the action levellevel

Exams must be Exams must be conducted under conducted under the supervision of the supervision of a licensed a licensed physicianphysician

7a

Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance

Exams are without cost to Exams are without cost to employeesemployees

Exams consist of:Exams consist of:• general physical examgeneral physical exam• review of review of

employee’s employee’s medical historymedical history

• specific blood testsspecific blood tests

7b

Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance

Medical surveillance must be Medical surveillance must be started when:started when:• an employee is initially assigned to an employee is initially assigned to

work where exposure exceeds the work where exposure exceeds the action levelaction level

• operations change so that exposure operations change so that exposure levels increase to above the action levels increase to above the action levellevel

7c

Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance

Medical surveillance must be Medical surveillance must be started when:started when:• an employee is exposed to vinyl an employee is exposed to vinyl

chloride as a result of an emergencychloride as a result of an emergency

Exams are repeated annually for Exams are repeated annually for most employees exposed above most employees exposed above the action levelthe action level

7d

Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance

Physician issues a statement of the Physician issues a statement of the employee’s suitability for employee’s suitability for continued exposure to vinyl continued exposure to vinyl chloridechloride

Employee receives a copy of the Employee receives a copy of the statementstatement

7e

Emergency situationsEmergency situations

Employees engaged in hazardous Employees engaged in hazardous operations are required to use operations are required to use respiratory protection and respiratory protection and protective clothingprotective clothing

Emergencies must be Emergencies must be reported to OSHA reported to OSHA within 24 hourswithin 24 hours

8a

Emergency situationsEmergency situations

A written operation plan must be A written operation plan must be developed for each facility storing, developed for each facility storing, handling, using vinyl chloridehandling, using vinyl chloride

Remember that vinyl Remember that vinyl chloride is flammable; chloride is flammable; consult MSDSsconsult MSDSs

8b

TrainingTraining

Review paragraphs (a) through (o) Review paragraphs (a) through (o) of 29 CFR 1910.1017of 29 CFR 1910.1017

9a