PDFWAC 296-856-40020
Establishing exposure control areas.
(1) You must establish temporary or permanent exposure control areas where airborne concentrations of formaldehyde are above either the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA8) or the 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL), by doing at least the following:
(a) Clearly identify the boundaries of exposure control areas in any way that minimizes employee access.
(b) Post signs at access points to exposure control areas that:
(i) Are easy to read (for example, they are kept clean and well lit);
AND
(ii) Include this warning:
DANGER |
FORMALDEHYDE |
MAY CAUSE CANCER |
CAUSES SKIN, EYE, AND RESPIRATORY IRRITATION |
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY |
Note: | This requirement does not prevent you from posting other signs. |
(2) You must allow only employees, who have been trained to recognize the hazards of formaldehyde exposure, to enter exposure control areas.
Note: | • When identifying the boundaries of exposure control areas you should consider factors such as: |
– The level and duration of airborne exposure. | |
– Whether the area is permanent or temporary. | |
– The number of employees in adjacent areas. | |
• You may use permanent or temporary enclosures, caution tape, ropes, painted lines on surfaces, or other materials to visibly distinguish exposure control areas or separate them from the rest of the workplace. |
(3) You must inform other employers at multi-employer work sites of the exposure control areas, and the restrictions that apply to those areas.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, and 49.17.060. WSR 18-22-116, § 296-856-40020, filed 11/6/18, effective 12/7/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060 and 29 C.F.R. 1910 Subpart Z. WSR 14-07-086, § 296-856-40020, filed 3/18/14, effective 5/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR 06-08-087, § 296-856-40020, filed 4/4/06, effective 9/1/06.]