(1) Hazard communication - General.
(a) Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers must comply with all requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), WAC
296-901-140 for EtO.
(b) In classifying the hazards of EtO at least the following hazards are to be addressed: Cancer; reproductive effects; mutagenicity; central nervous system; skin sensitization; skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation; acute toxicity effects; and flammability.
(c) Employers must include EtO in the hazard communication program established to comply with the HCS, WAC
296-901-140. Employers must ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of EtO and to safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and WAC
296-855-20090.
(2) Signs and labels.
(a) Signs. The employer must post and maintain legible signs demarcating regulated areas and entrances or accessways to regulated areas that bear the following legend:
DANGER
ETHYLENE OXIDE
MAY CAUSE CANCER
MAY DAMAGE FERTILITY OR THE UNBORN CHILD
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING MAY BE
REQUIRED IN THIS AREA
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
(b) Labels. The employer must ensure that labels are affixed to all containers of EtO whose contents are capable of causing employee exposure at or above the action level or whose contents may reasonably be foreseen to cause employee exposure above the excursion limit, and that the labels remain affixed when the containers of EtO leave the workplace. For the purpose of this subsection, reaction vessels, storage tanks, and pipes or piping systems are not considered to be containers.
(c) The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labeling system and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.
(3) Safety data sheets. Employers who are manufacturers or importers of EtO must comply with the requirements regarding development of safety data sheets as specified in WAC
296-901-14014 of the Hazard Communication Standard.
(4) Information and training.
(a) The employer must provide employees who are potentially exposed to EtO at or above the action level or above the excursion limit with information and training on EtO at the time of initial assignment and at least annually thereafter.
(b) Employees must be informed of the following:
(i) The requirements of WAC
296-62-07353 through
296-62-07389 with an explanation of its contents, including Appendices A and B;
(ii) Any operations in their work area where EtO is present;
(iii) The location and availability of the written EtO final rule; and
(iv) The medical surveillance program required by WAC
296-62-07371 with an explanation of the information in Appendix C.
(c) Employee training must include at least:
(i) Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of EtO in the work area (such as monitoring conducted by the employer, continuous monitoring devices, etc.);
(ii) The physical and health hazards of EtO;
(iii) The measures employees can take to protect themselves from hazards associated with EtO exposure, including specific procedures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to EtO, such as work practices, emergency procedures, and personal protective equipment to be used; and
(iv) The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, including an explanation of the labeling system and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
49.17.010,
49.17.040,
49.17.050, and
49.17.060. WSR 19-01-094, § 296-62-07373, filed 12/18/18, effective 1/18/19. 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, § 296-62-07373, filed 3/18/14, effective 5/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW
49.17.010,
49.17.040,
49.17.050,
49.17.060. WSR 07-03-163, § 296-62-07373, filed 1/24/07, effective 4/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW
49.17.010, [49.17].040, and [49.17].050. WSR 01-11-038, § 296-62-07373, filed 5/9/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter
49.17 RCW. WSR 88-23-054 (Order 88-25), § 296-62-07373, filed 11/14/88; WSR 87-24-051 (Order 87-24), § 296-62-07373, filed 11/30/87.]
