(1) Foreword.

(a) Modern industry is changing at an ever-increasing pace. New inventions, discoveries and developments cause changes in every facet of the industrial process. In keeping with this changing technology is the necessity to provide an adequate guide for the protection of working men and women. This chapter is for the guidance of both labor and management and to call particular attention to the way in which modernization and updating of the standards can be accomplished.

(b) This chapter is intended to cover as fully as is practical the environment in which work is performed. In addition to the suggestions made herein, the services of modern occupational medicine must also be considered. Occupational medicine with its specialized techniques for examination, diagnosis, and treatment adds another protection for the worker as he encounters newly-developed materials and methods.

(c) With the full realization that close cooperation between government and industry, labor and management, and all the health sciences, is essential, this chapter is promulgated for the health of all the workmen coming under the jurisdiction of the department of labor and industries.

(d) This chapter is promulgated in accordance with the applicable requirements as outlined in the Washington State Administrative Procedure Act (chapter 34.04 RCW) and other applicable statutes.

The rules in this chapter are designed to protect the health of employees and help to create a healthy work place by establishing requirements to control health hazards. Requirements for chemical hazard communication programs, workplace lighting levels and exposure records are in chapter 296-800 WAC, the safety and health core rules.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, words used in this chapter shall have the meaning given in this section.

Adequate or effective. Compliance with terms and intent of these standards.

Appendix. References or recommendations to be used as guides in applying the provisions of this chapter.

Approved. Approved by the director of the department of labor and industries or his authorized representative, or by an organization that is specifically named in a rule, such as Underwriters' Laboratories (UL), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Authorized person. A person approved or assigned by the employer to perform a specific type of duty or duties or to be at a specific location or locations at the job site.

Coal tar pitch volatiles. As used in WAC 296-841-20025, Table 3, include the fused polycyclic hydrocarbons which volatilize from the distillation residues of coal, petroleum, (excluding asphalt), wood, and other organic matter. Asphalt (CAS 8052-42-4, and CAS 64742-93-4) is not covered under the "coal tar pitch volatiles" standard.

Competent person. One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective action to eliminate them.

Department. The department of labor and industries.

Director. The director of the department of labor and industries, or their designated representative.

Employer. Any person, firm, corporation, partnership, business trust, legal representative, or other business entity which engages in any business, industry, profession, or activity in this state and employs one or more employees or who contracts with one or more persons, the essence of which is the personal labor of such person or persons and includes the state, counties, cities, and all municipal corporations, public corporations, political subdivisions of the state, and charitable organizations: Provided, That any persons, partnership, or business entity not having employees, and who is covered by the industrial insurance act shall be considered both an employer and an employee.

Hazard. That condition, potential or inherent, which can cause injury, death, or occupational disease.

Occupational disease. Such disease or infection as arises naturally and proximately out of employment.

Qualified. One who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.

Shall or must. Mandatory.

Should or may. Recommended.

Suitable. That which fits, or has the qualities or qualifications to meet a given purpose, occasion, condition, function, or circumstance.

Worker, personnel, person, employee, and other terms of like meaning. Unless the context of the provision containing such term indicates otherwise, mean an employee of an employer who is employed in the business of their employer whether by way of manual labor or otherwise and every person in this state who is engaged in the employment of or who is working under an independent contract the essence of which is their personal labor for an employer whether by manual labor or otherwise.

Work place. Any plant, yard, premises, room, or other place where an employee or employees are employed for the performance of labor or service over which the employer has the right of access or control. This includes, but is not limited to, all work places covered by industrial insurance under Title 51 RCW, as now or hereafter amended.

Abbreviations used in this chapter:

ANSI. American National Standards Institute.

ASHRE. American Society of Heating and Refrigeration Engineers.

BTU. British thermal unit.

BTUH. British thermal unit per hour.

CFM. Cubic feet per minute.

C.F.R. Code of Federal Register.

CGA. Compressed Gas Association.

ID. Inside diameter.

MCA. Manufacturing Chemist Association or Chemical Manufacturer Association (CMA).

NEMA. National Electrical Manufacturing Association.

NFPA. National Fire Protection Association.

OD. Outside diameter.

WAC. Washington Administrative Code.

WISHA. Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act (chapter 80, Laws of 1973).

In the event that any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or work of this chapter is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason the remainder of said standard or this chapter must not be affected thereby.

See WAC 296-900-11005, Applying for a variance.

To make sure DOT-required labeling on packages and containers in your workplace is retained to alert employees of potentially hazardous contents.

This chapter applies to packages, freight containers, rail freight cars, motor vehicles, and transport vehicles required to be marked, placarded, or labeled by the U.S. Department of Transportation in Title 49 of the C.F.R., Parts 171-180.

You must retain readily visible DOT labeling as specified in Table 1.

(1) In those cases where no acceptable standards have been derived for the control of hazardous conditions, every reasonable precaution must be taken to safeguard the health of the worker whether provided herein or not.

(2) Preservation of records.

(a) Scope and application. This section applies to each employer who makes, maintains or has access to employee exposure records or employee medical records.

(b) Definitions.

(i) Employee exposure record. A record of monitoring or measuring which contains qualitative or quantitative information indicative of employee exposure to toxic materials or harmful physical agents. This includes both individual exposure records and general research or statistical studies based on information collected from exposure records.

(ii) Employee medical record. A record which contains information concerning the health status of an employee or employees exposed or potentially exposed to toxic materials or harmful physical agents. These records may include, but are not limited to:

(A) The results of medical examinations and tests;

(B) Any opinions or recommendations of a physician or other health professional concerning the health of an employee or employees; and

(C) Any employee medical complaints relating to workplace exposure. Employee medical records include both individual medical records and general research or statistical studies based on information collected from medical records.

(c) Preservation of records. Each employer who makes, maintains, or has access to employee exposure records or employee medical records must preserve these records.

(d) Availability of records. The employer must make available, upon request, to the director, department of labor and industries, or his designee, all employee exposure records and employee medical records for examination and copying.

(e) Effective date. This standard shall become effective thirty days after filing with the code reviser.

(3) Monitoring of employees. The department must use industrial hygiene sampling methods and techniques including but not limited to personal monitoring devices and equipment approved by the director or his designee for the purpose of establishing compliance with chapter 296-62 WAC.

(a) The employer must permit the director or his designee to monitor and evaluate any workplace or employee in accordance with all provisions of this subsection.

(b) The employer must not prevent or discourage an employee from cooperating with the department by restricting or inhibiting his/her participation in the use of personal monitoring devices and equipment in accordance with all provisions of this subsection.

(1) All sections of this chapter which include WAC 296-62-073 in the section number apply to the manufacturing, processing, repackaging, releasing, handling or storing of carcinogens.

(2) This section shall not apply to solid or liquid mixtures containing less than 0.1 percent by weight or volume of the carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302.

(1) Hazard communication.

(a) Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers must comply with all requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), WAC 296-901-140 for each carcinogen listed in subsection (2) of this section.

(b) In classifying the hazards of carcinogens listed in subsection (2) of this section, at least the hazards listed in subsection (2) of this section are to be addressed.

(c) Employers must include the carcinogens listed in subsection (2) of this section 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 the carcinogens listed in subsection (2) of this section and to safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and subsection (2) of this section.

(2) List of carcinogens:

(a) 4-Nitrobiphenyl: Cancer (CAS 92-93-3).

(b) Alpha-Naphthylamine: Cancer; skin irritation; and acute toxicity effects (CAS 134-32-7).

(c) Methyl chloromethyl ether: Cancer; skin, eye and respiratory effects; acute toxicity effects; and flammability (CAS 107-30-2).

(d) 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine (and its salts): Cancer and skin sensitization (CAS 91-94-1).

(e) Bis-Chloromethyl ether: Cancer; skin, eye, and respiratory tract effects; acute toxicity effects; and flammability (CAS 542-88-1).

(f) Beta-Naphthylamine: Cancer and acute toxicity effects (CAS 91-59-8).

(g) Benzidine: Cancer and acute toxicity effects (CAS 92-87-5).

(h) 4-Aminodiphenyl: Cancer (CAS 92-67-1).

(i) Ethyleneimine: Cancer; mutagenicity; skin and eye effects; liver effects; kidney effects; acute toxicity effects; and flammability (CAS 151-56-4).

(j) Beta-Propiolactone: Cancer; skin irritation; eye effects; and acute toxicity effects (CAS 57-57-8).

(k) 2-Acetylaminofluorene: Cancer (CAS 53-96-3).

(l) 4-Dimethylaminoazo-benzene: Cancer, skin effects; and respiratory tract irritation (CAS 60-11-7).

(m) N-Nitrosodimethylamine: Cancer; liver effects; and acute toxicity effects (CAS 62-75-9).

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout WAC 296-62-073 through 296-62-07316.

Absolute filter. Is one capable of retaining 99.97 percent of a mono disperse aerosol of 0.3 micron size particles.

Authorized employee. An employee whose duties require him to be in the regulated area and who has been specifically assigned to those duties by the employer.

Clean change room. A room where employees put on clean clothing and/or protective equipment in an environment free of carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302. The clean change room shall be contiguous to and have an entry from a shower room, when the shower room facilities are otherwise required in this section.

Closed system. An operation involving carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302 where containment prevents the release of carcinogens.

Decontamination. The inactivation of a carcinogen listed in WAC 296-62-07302 or its safe disposal.

Disposal. The safe removal of a carcinogen listed in WAC 296-62-07302 from the work environment.

Emergency. An unforeseen circumstance or set of circumstances resulting in the release of a carcinogen which may result in exposure to or contact with any carcinogen listed in WAC 296-62-07302.

External environment. Any environment external to regulated and nonregulated areas.

Isolated system. A fully enclosed structure other than the vessel of containment of a listed carcinogen which is impervious to the passage of listed carcinogens and which would prevent the entry of carcinogens into regulated areas, nonregulated areas, or the external environment, should leakage or spillage from the vessel of containment occur.

Laboratory-type hood. A device enclosed on three sides and the top and bottom, designed and maintained so as to draw air inward at an average linear face velocity of 150 feet per minute with a minimum of 125 feet per minute, designed, constructed and maintained such that an operation involving a listed carcinogen within the hood does not require the insertion of any portion of any employees' body other than his hands and arms.

Nonregulated area. Any area under the control of the employer where entry and exit is neither restricted nor controlled.

Open-vessel system. An operation involving listed carcinogens in an open vessel, which is not in an isolated system, a laboratory-type hood, nor in any other system affording equivalent protection against the entry of carcinogens into regulated areas, nonregulated areas, or the external environment.

Protective clothing. Clothing designed to protect an employee against contact with or exposure to listed carcinogens.

Regulated area. An area where entry and exit is restricted and controlled.

(1) A regulated area must be established by an employer where listed carcinogens are manufactured, processed, used, repackaged, released, handled or stored.

(2) All such areas must be controlled in accordance with the requirements for the following category or categories describing the operation involved:

(a) Isolated systems. Employees working with carcinogens within an isolated system such as a "glove box" must wash their hands and arms upon completion of the assigned task and before engaging in other activities not associated with the isolated system.

(b) Closed system operation. Within regulated areas where carcinogens are stored in sealed containers, or contained in a closed system including piping systems with any sample ports or openings closed while carcinogens are contained within:

(i) Access must be restricted to authorized employees only;

(ii) Employees must wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated areas, close to the point of exit and before engaging in other activities.

(c) Open vessel system operations. Open vessel system operations as defined in WAC 296-62-07304 are prohibited.

(d) Transfer from a closed system. Charging or discharging point operations, or otherwise opening a closed system. In operations involving "laboratory-type hoods," or in locations where a carcinogen is contained in an otherwise "closed system," but is transferred, charged, or discharged into other normally closed containers, the provisions of this section shall apply.

(i) Access must be restricted to authorized employees only;

(ii) Each operation must be provided with continuous local exhaust ventilation so that air movement is always from ordinary work areas to the operation. Exhaust air must not be discharged to regulated areas, nonregulated areas or the external environment unless decontaminated. Clean makeup air must be introduced in sufficient volume to maintain the correct operation of the local exhaust system.

(iii) Employees must be provided with, and required to wear, clean, full body protective clothing (smocks, coveralls, or long-sleeved shirt and pants), shoe covers and gloves prior to entering the regulated area.

(iv) Each employee engaged in handling operations involving the following carcinogens must be provided with and required to wear and use a NIOSH-certified self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode, or any supplied air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus as required in chapter 296-842 WAC. A respirator affording higher levels of protection than this respirator may be substituted.

(A) Methyl Chloromethyl Ether;

(B) bis-Chloromethyl Ether;

(C) Ethylenemine;

(D) beta-Propiolactone;

(E) 4-Amino Diphenyl.

(v) Each employee engaged in handling operations involving the following carcinogens must be provided with, and required to wear and use, NIOSH-certified air-purifying, half-mask respirator with particulate filters as required in chapter 296-842 WAC. A respirator affording higher levels of protection than this respirator may be substituted.

(A) 4-Nitrobiphenyl;

(B) alpha-Naphthylamine;

(C) 4-4'Methylene bis(2-Chloroaniline);

(D) 3-3'Dichlorobenzidine (and its salts);

(E) beta-Naphthylamine;

(F) Benzidine;

(G) 2-acetylamino fluroene;

(H) 4-imethylaminoazobenzene;

(I) n-nitrosodimethylamine.

must be provided with, and required to wear and use, a half-face, filter-type respirator certified for solid or liquid particulates with minimum efficiency rating of 95% as required in chapter 296-842 WAC. A respirator affording higher levels of protection than this respirator may be substituted.

(vi) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees must remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers must be identified, as required under WAC 296-62-07302.

(vii) Employees must wash hands, forearms, face and neck on each exit from the regulated area, close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities.

(viii) Employees must shower after the last exit of the day.

(ix) Drinking fountains are prohibited in the regulated area.

(e) Maintenance and decontamination activities. In clean up of leaks or spills, maintenance or repair operations on contaminated systems or equipment, or any operations involving work in an area where direct contact with carcinogens could result, each authorized employee entering the area must:

(i) Be provided with and required to wear, clean, impervious garments, including gloves, boots and continuous-air supplied hood in accordance with WAC 296-800-160, and respiratory protective equipment required by this chapter 296-842 WAC;

(ii) Be decontaminated before removing the protective garments and hood;

(iii) Shower upon removing the protective garments and hood.

(f) Laboratory activities. The requirements of this subdivision shall apply to research and quality control activities involving the use of carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302.

(i) Mechanical pipetting aids must be used for all pipetting procedures.

(ii) Experiments, procedures and equipment which could produce aerosols must be confined to laboratory-type hoods or glove boxes.

(iii) Surfaces on which carcinogens are handled must be protected from contamination.

(iv) Contaminated wastes and animal carcasses must be collected in impervious containers which are closed and decontaminated prior to removal from the work area. Such wastes and carcasses must be incinerated in such a manner that no carcinogenic products are released.

(v) All other forms of listed carcinogens must be inactivated prior to disposal.

(vi) Laboratory vacuum systems must be protected with high efficiency scrubbers or with disposable absolute filters.

(vii) Employees engaged in animal support activities must be:

(A) Provided with, and required to wear, a complete protective clothing change, clean each day, including coveralls or pants and shirt, foot covers, head covers, gloves, and appropriate respiratory protective equipment or devices; and

(B) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees must remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers must be identified as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2) and (3).

(C) Required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated area close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities; and

(D) Required to shower after the last exit of the day.

(viii) Employees, other than those engaged only in animal support activities, each day must be:

(A) Provided with and required to wear a clean change of appropriate laboratory clothing, such as a solid front gown, surgical scrub suit, or fully buttoned laboratory coat.

(B) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees must remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers shall be identified as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2) and (3).

(C) Required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated area close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities.

(ix) Air pressure in laboratory areas and animal rooms where carcinogens are handled and bioassay studies are performed must be negative in relation to the pressure in surrounding areas. Exhaust air must not be discharged to regulated areas, nonregulated areas or the external environment unless decontaminated.

(x) There must not be any connection between regulated areas and any other areas through the ventilation system.

(xi) A current inventory of the carcinogens must be maintained.

(xii) Ventilated apparatus such as laboratory-type hoods, must be tested at least semiannually or immediately after ventilation modification or maintenance operations, by personnel fully qualified to certify correct containment and operation.

(1) Respirator program. The employer must implement a respiratory protection program as required in chapter 296-62 WAC, Part E (except WAC 296-62-07130 (1) and (5) and 296-62-07131), which covers each employee required by this chapter to use a respirator.

(2) Emergencies. In an emergency, immediate measures including, but not limited to, the requirements of (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this subsection must be implemented.

(a) The potentially affected area must be evacuated as soon as the emergency has been determined.

(b) Hazardous conditions created by the emergency must be eliminated and the potentially affected area must be decontaminated prior to the resumption of normal operations.

(c) Special medical surveillance by a physician must be instituted within twenty-four hours for employees present in the potentially affected area at the time of the emergency. A report of the medical surveillance and any treatment must be included in the incident report, in accordance with WAC 296-62-07312(2).

(d) Where an employee has a known contact with a listed carcinogen, such employee must shower as soon as possible, unless contraindicated by physical injuries.

(e) An incident report on the emergency must be reported as provided in WAC 296-62-07312(2).

(3) Hygiene facilities and practices.

(a) Storage or consumption of food, storage or use of containers of beverages, storage or application of cosmetics, smoking, storage of smoking materials, tobacco products or other products for chewing, or the chewing of such products, are prohibited in regulated areas.

(b) Where employees are required by this section to wash, washing facilities must be provided in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

(c) Where employees are required by this section to shower, shower facilities must be provided.

(i) One shower must be provided for each ten employees of each sex, or numerical fraction thereof, who are required to shower during the same shift.

(ii) Body soap or other appropriate cleansing agents convenient to the showers must be provided as specified in WAC 296-800-230, of the safety and health core rules.

(iii) Showers must be provided with hot and cold water feeding a common discharge line.

(iv) Employees who use showers must be provided with individual clean towels.

(d) Where employees wear protective clothing and equipment, clean change rooms must be provided and must be equipped with storage facilities for street clothes and separate storage facilities for the protective clothing for the number of such employees required to change clothes.

(e) Where toilets are in regulated areas, such toilets must be in a separate room.

(4) Contamination control.

(a) Regulated areas, except for outdoor systems, must be maintained under pressure negative with respect to nonregulated areas. Local exhaust ventilation may be used to satisfy this requirement. Clean makeup air in equal volume must replace air removed.

(b) Any equipment, material, or other item taken into or removed from a regulated area must be done so in a manner that does not cause contamination in nonregulated areas or the external environment.

(c) Decontamination procedures must be established and implemented to remove carcinogens from the surfaces of materials, equipment and the decontamination facility.

(d) Dry sweeping and dry mopping are prohibited.

(1) Signs.

(a) The employer must post signs at entrances to regulated areas. The signs must bear the legend:

DANGER

(CHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION)

MAY CAUSE CANCER

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

(b) The employer must post signs at entrances to regulated areas containing operations covered in WAC 296-62-07306 (2)(e). The signs must bear the legend:

DANGER

(CHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION)

MAY CAUSE CANCER

WEAR AIR-SUPPLIED HOODS, IMPERVIOUS SUITS, AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN THIS AREA

AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

(c) Appropriate signs and instructions must be posted at the entrance to, and exit from, regulated areas, informing employees of the procedures that must be followed in entering and leaving a regulated area.

(2) Prohibited statements. No statements shall appear on or near any required sign, label, or instruction that contradicts or detracts from the effect of any required warning, information or instruction.

(3) Training and indoctrination.

(a) Each employee prior to being authorized to enter a regulated area, must receive a training and indoctrination program including, but not necessarily limited to:

(i) The nature of the carcinogenic hazards of listed carcinogens, including local and systemic toxicity;

(ii) The specific nature of the operation involving carcinogens which could result in exposure;

(iii) The purpose for and application of the medical surveillance program, including, as appropriate, methods of self-examination;

(iv) The purpose for and application of decontamination practices and purposes;

(v) The purpose for and significance of emergency practices and procedures;

(vi) The employee's specific role in emergency procedures;

(vii) Specific information to aid the employee in recognition and evaluation of conditions and situations which may result in the release of listed carcinogens;

(viii) The purpose for and application of specific first-aid procedures and practices;

(ix) A review of this section at the employee's first training and indoctrination program and annually thereafter.

(b) Specific emergency procedures must be prescribed, and posted, and employees, must be familiarized with their terms, and rehearsed in their application.

(c) All materials relating to the program must be provided upon request to the director.

(1) Operations. Not later than October 30, 1974, the information required in (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this subsection must be reported in writing to the Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, Policy and Technical Services, P.O. Box 44610, Olympia, WA 98504-4610. Any changes in the information must also be reported in writing within 15 calendar days of the change.

(a) A brief description and in plant location of the area(s) regulated and the address of each regulated area;

(b) The name(s) and other identifying information as to the presence of listed carcinogens in each regulated area;

(c) The number of employees in each regulated area, during normal operations including maintenance activities; and

(d) The manner in which a carcinogen is present in each regulated area; e.g., whether it is manufactured, processed, used, repackaged, released, stored, or otherwise handled.

(2) Incidents. Incidents which result in the release of a listed carcinogen into any area where employees may be potentially exposed must be reported in accordance with this subsection.

(a) The occurrence of the incident, including any facts obtainable at that time, as well as a report on any medical treatment of affected employees, must be reported within 24 hours to the Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, Policy and Technical Services, P.O. Box 44610, Olympia, WA 98504-4610.

(b) A written report must be filed with the Department of Labor and Industries, WISHA Services Division, Policy and Technical Services, P.O. Box 44610, Olympia, WA 98504-4610, within 15 calendar days after the incident occurs, and must include:

(i) A specification of the amount of material released, the amount of time involved, and an explanation of the procedure used in determining this figure;

(ii) A description of the area involved, and the extent of known and possible employee exposure and area contamination;

(iii) A report of any medical treatment of affected employees, and any medical surveillance program implemented; and

(iv) An analysis of the circumstances of the incident, and measures taken or to be taken, with specific completion dates, to avoid further similar releases.

(1) At no cost to the employee, a program of medical surveillance must be established and implemented for employees considered for assignment to enter regulated areas, and for authorized employees.

(2) Examinations.

(a) Before an employee is assigned to enter a regulated area, a preassignment physical examination by a physician must be provided and must include a personal history of the employee and/or their family and occupational background, including genetic and environmental factors.

(i) Taking of employees' medical history and background history must be considered to be a routine part of standard medical practice.

(ii) This provision does not require "genetic testing" of any employee.

(iii) This provision does not require the exclusion of otherwise qualified employees from jobs on the basis of genetic factors.

(b) Authorized employees must be provided periodic physical examination, not less often than annually, following the preassignment examination.

(c) In all physical examinations, the examining physician must be requested to consider whether there exist conditions of increased risk, including reduced immunological competence, pregnancy, cigarette smoking, and those undergoing treatment with steroids or cytotoxic agents.

(3) Records.

(a) Employers of employees examined pursuant to this subdivision must maintain complete and accurate records of all such medical examinations. Records must be maintained for the duration of the employee's employment. The employer must ensure that medical records are maintained and made available in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC, Employee medical and exposure records.

(b) Records required by this section must be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

(c) Any employer who requests a physical examination of an employee or prospective employee as required by this section must obtain from the physician a statement of the employee's suitability for employment in the specific exposure.

Where 4,4'-Methylene bis (2-chloroaniline) is present only in a single solution at a temperature not exceeding 220°F. the establishment of a regulated area is not required; however:

(1) Only authorized employees shall be permitted to handle such materials.

(2) Each day employees must be provided with and required to wear a clean change of protective clothing (smocks, coveralls, or long-sleeved shirts and pants), gloves and other protective garments and equipment necessary to prevent contact with the solution in the process used.

(3) Employees must remove and leave protective clothing and equipment when leaving the work area at the end of the work day, or at any time solution is spilled on such clothing or equipment. Used clothing and equipment must be placed in impervious containers for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers must be identified, as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2) and (3).

(4) Employees must wash hands and face after removing such clothing and equipment and before engaging in other activities.

(5) Employees assigned to work covered by this section must be deemed to be working in regulated areas for the purposes of WAC 296-62-07308 (1), (2)(a) and (b), and (3)(c) and (d), 296-62-07310, 296-62-07312 and 296-62-07314.

(6) Work areas where solution may be spilled must be:

(a) Covered daily or after any spill with a clean covering; or

(b) Clean thoroughly, daily and after any spill.

(1) Scope and application.

(a) This section includes requirements for the control of employee exposure to vinyl chloride (chloroethene), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 75014.

(b) This section applies to the manufacture, reaction, packaging, repackaging, storage, handling or use of vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride, but does not apply to the handling or use of fabricated products made of polyvinyl chloride.

(c) This section applies to the transportation of vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride except to the extent that the department of transportation may regulate the hazards covered by this section.

(2) Definitions.

(a) Action level. A concentration of vinyl chloride of 0.5 ppm averaged over an eight-hour work day.

(b) Authorized person. Any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require them to enter a regulated area or any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising an opportunity to observe monitoring and measuring procedures.

(c) Director. The director of department of labor and industries or their designated representative.

(d) Emergency. Any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, or operation of a relief device which is likely to, or does, result in massive release of vinyl chloride.

(e) Fabricated product. A product made wholly or partly from polyvinyl chloride, and which does not require further processing at temperatures, and for times, sufficient to cause mass melting of the polyvinyl chloride resulting in the release of vinyl chloride.

(f) Hazardous operation. Any operation, procedure, or activity where a release of either vinyl chloride liquid or gas might be expected as a consequence of the operation or because of an accident in the operation, which would result in an employee exposure in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

(g) Polyvinyl chloride. Polyvinyl chloride homopolymer or copolymer before such is converted to a fabricated product.

(h) Vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride monomer.

(3) Permissible exposure limit.

(a) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 1 ppm averaged over any 8-hour period, and

(b) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 5 ppm averaged over any period not exceeding 15 minutes.

(c) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride by direct contact with liquid vinyl chloride.

(4) Monitoring.

(a) A program of initial monitoring and measurement must be undertaken in each establishment to determine if there is any employee exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level.

(b) Where a determination conducted under subdivision (a) of this subsection shows any employee exposures without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level, a program for determining exposures for each such employee must be established. Such a program:

(i) Must be repeated at least monthly where any employee is exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

(ii) Must be repeated not less than quarterly where any employee is exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level.

(iii) May be discontinued for any employee only when at least two consecutive monitoring determinations, made not less than five working days apart, show exposures for that employee at or below the action level.

(c) Whenever there has been a production, process or control change which may result in an increase in the release of vinyl chloride, or the employer has any other reason to suspect that any employee may be exposed in excess of the action level, a determination of employee exposure under subdivision (a) of this subsection must be performed.

(d) The method of monitoring and measurement must have an accuracy (with a confidence level of 95 percent) of not less than plus or minus fifty percent from 0.25 through 0.5 ppm, plus or minus thirty-five percent from over 0.5 ppm through 1.0 ppm, plus or minus twenty-five percent over 1.0 ppm, (methods meeting these accuracy requirements are available from the director).

(e) Employees or their designated representatives must be afforded reasonable opportunity to observe the monitoring and measuring required by this subsection.

(5) Regulated area.

(a) A regulated area must be established where:

(i) Vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride is manufactured, reacted, repackaged, stored, handled or used; and

(ii) Vinyl chloride concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

(b) Access to regulated areas must be limited to authorized persons.

(6) Methods of compliance. Employee exposures to vinyl chloride must be controlled to at or below the permissible exposure limit provided in subsection (3) of this section by engineering, work practice, and personal protective controls as follows:

(a) Feasible engineering and work practice controls must immediately be used to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit.

(b) Wherever feasible engineering and work practice controls which can be instituted immediately are not sufficient to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit, they must nonetheless be used to reduce exposures to the lowest practicable level, and must be supplemented by respiratory protection in accordance with subsection (7) of this section. A program must be established and implemented to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit, or to the greatest extent feasible, solely by means of engineering and work practice controls, as soon as feasible.

(c) Written plans for such a program must be developed and furnished upon request for examination and copying to the director. Such plans must be updated at least every six months.

(7) Respiratory protection.

(a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of this section.

(b) Respirator program. The employer must develop, implement, and maintain a respiratory protection program as required in chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, which covers each employee required by this chapter to use a respirator. Exception: The requirements in WAC 296-842-13005 that address change out of vapor or gas respirator cartridges or canisters.

(c) Respirator selection. The employer must:

(i) Select and provide to employees appropriate respirators as specified in this section and WAC 296-842-13005 in the respirator rule.

(ii) Provide organic vapor cartridges that have a service life of at least one hour when employees use air-purifying respirators in vinyl chloride concentrations up to 10 parts per million (ppm).

(iii) Make sure the following respirators, when selected, are equipped with a canister with a service life of at least four hours when used in vinyl chloride concentrations up to 25 ppm:

(A) Helmet, hood, or full-facepiece PAPRs; or

(B) Gas masks with a front- or back-mounted canister.

(d) Where air-purifying respirators are used:

(i) Air-purifying canisters or cartridges must be replaced prior to the expiration of their service life or the end of the shift in which they are first used, whichever occurs first, and

(ii) A continuous monitoring and alarm system must be provided when concentrations of vinyl chloride could reasonably exceed the allowable concentrations for the devices in use. Such system must be used to alert employees when vinyl chloride concentrations exceed the allowable concentrations for the devices in use, and

(iii) Respirators specified for higher concentrations may be used for lower concentration.

(8) Hazardous operations.

(a) Employees engaged in hazardous operations, including entry of vessels to clean polyvinyl chloride residue from vessel walls, must be provided and required to wear and use;

(i) Respiratory protection in accordance with subsections (3) and (7) of this section; and

(ii) Protective garments to prevent skin contact with liquid vinyl chloride or with polyvinyl chloride residue from vessel walls. The protective garments must be selected for the operation and its possible exposure conditions.

(b) Protective garments must be provided clean and dry for each use.

(c) Emergency situations. A written operational plan for emergency situations must be developed for each facility storing, handling, or otherwise using vinyl chloride as a liquid or compressed gas. Appropriate portions of the plan must be implemented in the event of an emergency. The plan must specifically provide that:

(i) Employees engaged in hazardous operations or correcting situations of existing hazardous releases must be equipped as required in (a) and (b) of this subsection;

(ii) Other employees not so equipped must evacuate the area and not return until conditions are controlled by the methods required in subsection (6) of this section and the emergency is abated.

(9) Training. Each employee engaged in vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride operations must be provided training in a program relating to the hazards of vinyl chloride and precautions for its safe use.

(a) The program must include:

(i) The nature of the health hazard from chronic exposure to vinyl chloride including specifically the carcinogenic hazard;

(ii) The specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to vinyl chloride in excess of the permissible limit and necessary protective steps;

(iii) The purpose for, proper use, and limitations of respiratory protective devices;

(iv) The fire hazard and acute toxicity of vinyl chloride, and the necessary protective steps;

(v) The purpose for and a description of the monitoring program;

(vi) The purpose for and a description of, the medical surveillance program;

(vii) Emergency procedures:

(A) Specific information to aid the employee in recognition of conditions which may result in the release of vinyl chloride; and

(B) A review of this standard at the employee's first training and indoctrination program, and annually thereafter.

(b) All materials relating to the program must be provided upon request to the director.

(10) Medical surveillance. A program of medical surveillance must be instituted for each employee exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, to vinyl chloride in excess of the action level. The program must provide each such employee with an opportunity for examinations and tests in accordance with this subsection. All medical examinations and procedures must be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician and must be provided without cost to the employee.

(a) At the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of medical surveillance;

(i) A general physical examination must be performed with specific attention to detecting enlargement of liver, spleen or kidneys, or dysfunction in these organs, and for abnormalities in skin, connective tissues and the pulmonary system (see Appendix A).

(ii) A medical history must be taken, including the following topics:

(A) Alcohol intake,

(B) Past history of hepatitis,

(C) Work history and past exposure to potential hepatotoxic agents, including drugs and chemicals,

(D) Past history of blood transfusions, and

(E) Past history of hospitalizations.

(iii) A serum specimen must be obtained and determinations made of:

(A) Total bilirubin,

(B) Alkaline phosphatase,

(C) Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT),

(D) Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and

(E) Gamma glustamyl transpeptidase.

(b) Examinations provided in accordance with this subdivision must be performed at least:

(i) Every six months for each employee who has been employed in vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride manufacturing for ten years or longer; and

(ii) Annually for all other employees.

(c) Each employee exposed to an emergency must be afforded appropriate medical surveillance.

(d) A statement of each employee's suitability for continued exposure to vinyl chloride including use of protective equipment and respirators, must be obtained from the examining physician promptly after any examination. A copy of the physician's statement must be provided each employee.

(e) If any employee's health would be materially impaired by continued exposure, such employee must be withdrawn from possible contact with vinyl chloride.

(f) Laboratory analyses for all biological specimens included in medical examinations must be performed in laboratories licensed under 42 C.F.R. Part 74.

(g) If the examining physician determines that alternative medical examinations to those required by (a) of this subsection will provide at least equal assurance of detecting medical conditions pertinent to the exposure to vinyl chloride, the employer may accept such alternative examinations as meeting the requirements of (a) of this subsection, if the employer obtains a statement from the examining physician setting forth the alternative examinations and the rationale for substitution. This statement must be available upon request for examination and copying to authorized representatives of the director.

(11) Communication of hazards.

(a) Hazard communication – General.

(b) Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers must comply with all requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), WAC 296-901-140 for vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride.

(c) In classifying the hazards of vinyl chloride at least the following hazards are to be addressed: Cancer; central nervous system effects; liver effects; blood effects; and flammability.

(d) Employers must include vinyl chloride 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 vinyl chloride and to safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and subsection (9) of this section.

(12) Signs.

(a) The employers must post entrances to regulated areas with legible signs bearing the legend:

(b) The employer must post signs at areas containing hazardous operations or where emergencies currently exist. The signs must be legible and bear the legend:

(13) Labels.

(a) In addition to the other requirements in this section, the employer must ensure that labels for containers of polyvinyl chloride resin waste from reactors or other waste contaminated with vinyl chloride are legible and include the following information:

(b) No statement shall appear on or near any required sign, label, or instruction which contradicts or detracts from the effect of any required warning, information, or instruction.

(14) Records.

(a) All records maintained in accordance with this section must include the name and Social Security number of each employee where relevant.

(b) Records of required monitoring and measuring and medical records must be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC. These records must be provided upon request to the director. Authorized personnel rosters must also be provided upon request to the director.

(i) Monitoring and measuring records must:

(A) State the date of such monitoring and measuring and the concentrations determined and identify the instruments and methods used;

(B) Include any additional information necessary to determine individual employee exposures where such exposures are determined by means other than individual monitoring of employees; and

(C) Be maintained for not less than 30 years.

(ii) Medical records must be maintained for the duration of the employment of each employee plus 20 years, or 30 years, whichever is longer.

(c) The employer must comply with any additional requirements set forth in chapter 296-802 WAC.

(d) Employees or their designated representatives must be provided access to examine and copy records of required monitoring and measuring.

(e) Former employees must be provided access to examine and copy required monitoring and measuring records reflecting their own exposures.

(f) Upon written request of any employee, a copy of the medical record of that employee must be furnished to any physician designated by the employee.

(15) Reports.

(a) Not later than 1 month after the establishment of a regulated area, the following information must be reported to the director. Any changes to such information must be reported within fifteen days.

(i) The address and location of each establishment which has one or more regulated areas; and

(ii) The number of employees in each regulated area during normal operations, including maintenance.

(b) Emergencies and the facts obtainable at that time, must be reported within twenty-four hours to the director. Upon request of the director, the employer must submit additional information in writing relevant to the nature and extent of employee exposures and measures taken to prevent future emergencies of similar nature.

(c) Within ten working days following any monitoring and measuring which discloses that any employee has been exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the permissible exposure limit, each such employee must be notified in writing of the results of the exposure measurement and the steps being taken to reduce the exposure to within the permissible exposure limit.

(16) Appendix A supplementary medical information.

When required tests under subsection (10)(a) of this section show abnormalities, the tests should be repeated as soon as practicable, preferably within three to four weeks. If tests remain abnormal, consideration should be given to withdrawal of the employee from contact with vinyl chloride, while a more comprehensive examination is made.

Additional tests which may be useful:

(a) For kidney dysfunction: Urine examination for albumin, red blood cells, and exfoliative abnormal cells.

(b) Pulmonary system: Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and chest roentgenogram (posterior-anterior, 14 x 17 inches).

(c) Additional serum tests: Lactic acid dehydrogenase, lactic acid dehydrogenase isoenzyme, protein determination, and protein electrophoresis.

(d) For a more comprehensive examination on repeated abnormal serum tests: Hepatitis B antigen, and liver scanning.

(1) Scope and application.

(a) This section applies to all occupational exposure to acrylonitrile (AN), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 000107131, except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection.

(b) This section does not apply to exposures which result solely from the processing, use, and handling of the following materials:

(i) ABS resins, SAN resins, nitrile barrier resins, solid nitrile elastomers, and acrylic and modacrylic fibers, when these listed materials are in the form of finished polymers, and products fabricated from such finished polymers;

(ii) Materials made from and/or containing AN for which objective data is reasonably relied upon to demonstrate that the material is not capable of releasing AN in airborne concentrations in excess of 1 ppm as an eight-hour time-weighted average, under the expected conditions of processing, use, and handling which will cause the greatest possible release; and

(iii) Solid materials made from and/or containing AN which will not be heated above 170°F during handling, use, or processing.

(c) An employer relying upon exemption under (1)(b)(ii) must maintain records of the objective data supporting that exemption, and of the basis of the employer's reliance on the data as provided in subsection (17) of this section.

(2) Definitions, as applicable to this section:

(a) Acrylonitrile or AN. Acrylonitrile monomer, chemical formula CH2=CHCN.

(b) Action level. A concentration of AN of 1 ppm as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

(c) Authorized person. Any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require the person to enter a regulated area, or any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising the opportunity to observe monitoring procedures under subsection (18) of this section.

(d) Decontamination. Treatment of materials and surfaces by water washdown, ventilation, or other means, to ensure that the materials will not expose employees to airborne concentrations of AN above 1 ppm as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

(e) Director. The director of labor and industries, or their authorized representative.

(f) Emergency. Any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment, which is likely to, or does, result in unexpected exposure to AN in excess of the ceiling limit.

(g) Liquid AN. AN monomer in liquid form, and liquid or semiliquid polymer intermediates, including slurries, suspensions, emulsions, and solutions, produced during the polymerization of AN.

(h) Polyacrylonitrile or PAN. Polyacrylonitrile homopolymers or copolymers, except for materials as exempted under subsection (1)(b) of this section.

(3) Permissible exposure limits.

(a) Inhalation.

(i) Time-weighted average limit (TWA). The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of acrylonitrile in excess of two parts acrylonitrile per million parts of air (2 ppm), as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

(ii) Ceiling limit. The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of acrylonitrile in excess of 10 ppm as averaged over any fifteen-minute period during the working day.

(b) Dermal and eye exposure. The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to skin contact or eye contact with liquid AN or PAN.

(4) Notification of use and emergencies.

(a) Use. Within ten days of the effective date of this standard, or within fifteen days following the introduction of AN into the workplace, every employer must report, unless he has done so pursuant to the emergency temporary standard, the following information to the director for each such workplace:

(i) The address and location of each workplace in which AN is present;

(ii) A brief description of each process of operation which may result in employee exposure to AN;

(iii) The number of employees engaged in each process or operation who may be exposed to AN and an estimate of the frequency and degree of exposure that occurs; and

(iv) A brief description of the employer's safety and health program as it relates to limitation of employee exposure to AN. Whenever there has been a significant change in the information required by this subsection, the employer must promptly amend such information previously provided to the director.

(b) Emergencies and remedial action. Emergencies, and the facts obtainable at that time, must be reported within twenty-four hours of the initial occurrence to the director. Upon request of the director, the employer must submit additional information in writing relevant to the nature and extent of employee exposures and measures taken to prevent future emergencies of a similar nature.

(5) Exposure monitoring.

(a) General.

(i) Determinations of airborne exposure levels must be made from air samples that are representative of each employee's exposure to AN over an eight-hour period.

(ii) For the purposes of this section, employee exposure is that which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.

(b) Initial monitoring. Each employer who has a place of employment in which AN is present must monitor each such workplace and work operation to accurately determine the airborne concentrations of AN to which employees may be exposed. Such monitoring may be done on a representative basis, provided that the employer can demonstrate that the determinations are representative of employee exposures.

(c) Frequency.

(i) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be below the action level, the employer may discontinue monitoring for that employee. The employer must continue these quarterly measurements until at least two consecutive measurements taken at least seven days apart, are below the action level, and thereafter the employer may discontinue monitoring for that employee.

(ii) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be at or above the action level but below the permissible exposure limits, the employer must repeat such monitoring for each such employee at least quarterly.

(iii) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be in excess of the permissible exposure limits, the employer must repeat these determinations for each such employee at least monthly. The employer must continue these monthly measurements until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least seven days apart, are below the permissible exposure limits, and thereafter the employer must monitor at least quarterly.

(d) Additional monitoring. Whenever there has been a production, process, control or personnel change which may result in new or additional exposure to AN, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect a change which may result in new or additional exposures to AN, additional monitoring which complies with this subsection must be conducted.

(e) Employee notification.

(i) Within five working days after the receipt of monitoring results, the employer must notify each employee in writing of the results which represent that employee's exposure.

(ii) Whenever the results indicate that the representative employee exposure exceeds the permissible exposure limits, the employer must include in the written notice a statement that the permissible exposure limits were exceeded and a description of the corrective action being taken to reduce exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits.

(f) Accuracy of measurement. The method of measurement of employee exposures must be accurate, to a confidence level of ninety-five percent, to within plus or minus twenty-five percent for concentrations of AN at or above the permissible exposure limits, and plus or minus thirty-five percent for concentrations of AN between the action level and the permissible exposure limits.

(g) Weekly survey of operations involving liquid AN. In addition to monitoring of employee exposures to AN as otherwise required by this subsection, the employer must survey areas of operations involving liquid AN at least weekly to detect points where AN liquid or vapor are being released into the workplace. The survey must employ an infra-red gas analyzer calibrated for AN, a multipoint gas chromatographic monitor, or comparable system for detection of AN. A listing of levels detected and areas of AN release, as determined from the survey, must be posted prominently in the workplace, and must remain posted until the next survey is completed.

(6) Regulated areas.

(a) The employer must establish regulated areas where AN concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limits.

(b) Regulated areas must be demarcated and segregated from the rest of the workplace, in any manner that minimizes the number of persons who will be exposed to AN.

(c) Access to regulated areas must be limited to authorized persons or to persons otherwise authorized by the act or regulations issued pursuant thereto.

(d) The employer must ensure that in the regulated area, food or beverages are not present or consumed, smoking products are not present or used, and cosmetics are not applied, (except that these activities may be conducted in the lunchrooms, change rooms and showers required under subsection (13)(a) through (c) of this section.

(7) Methods of compliance.

(a) Engineering and work practice controls.

(i) The employer must institute engineering or work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to AN, to or below the permissible exposure limits, except to the extent that the employer establishes that such controls are not feasible.

(ii) Wherever the engineering and work practice controls which can be instituted are not sufficient to reduce employee exposures to or below the permissible exposure limits, the employer must nonetheless use them to reduce exposures to the lowest levels achievable by these controls and must supplement them by the use of respiratory protection which complies with the requirements of subsection (8) of this section.

(b) Compliance program.

(i) The employer must establish and implement a written program to reduce employee exposures to or below the permissible exposure limits solely by means of engineering and work practice controls, as required by subsection (7)(a) of this section.

(ii) Written plans for these compliance programs must include at least the following:

(A) A description of each operation or process resulting in employee exposure to AN above the permissible exposure limits;

(B) Engineering plans and other studies used to determine the controls for each process;

(C) A report of the technology considered in meeting the permissible exposure limits;

(D) A detailed schedule for the implementation of engineering or work practice controls; and

(E) Other relevant information.

(iii) The employer must complete the steps set forth in the compliance program by the dates in the schedule.

(iv) Written plans for such a program must be submitted upon request to the director, and must be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the director, or any affected employee or representative.

(v) The plans required by this subsection must be revised and updated at least every six months to reflect the current status of the program.

(8) Respiratory protection.

(a) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

(i) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

(ii) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities or reactor cleaning, for which the employer establishes that engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

(iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits;

(iv) In emergencies.

(b) Respirator program.

Employers must develop, implement and maintain a respiratory protection program in accordance with chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, which covers each employee required by this chapter to use a respirator.

(c) Respirator selection. The employer must:

(i) Select and provide to employees appropriate respirators by following the requirements in this section and WAC 296-842-13005 in the respirator rule.

(ii) Provide to employees, for escape, any organic vapor, air-purifying respirator or any self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) that meets the selection requirements of WAC 296-842-13005 in the respirator rule.

(9) Emergency situations.

(a) Written plans.

(i) A written plan for emergency situations must be developed for each workplace where AN is present. Appropriate portions of the plan must be implemented in the event of an emergency.

(ii) The plan must specifically provide that employees engaged in correcting emergency conditions must be equipped as required in subsection (8) of this section until the emergency is abated.

(b) Alerting employees.

(i) Where there is the possibility of employee exposure to AN in excess of the ceiling limit due to the occurrence of an emergency, a general alarm must be installed and maintained to promptly alert employees of such occurrences.

(ii) Employees not engaged in correcting the emergency must be evacuated from the area and must not be permitted to return until the emergency is abated.

(10) Protective clothing and equipment.

(a) Provision and use. Where eye or skin contact with liquid AN or PAN may occur, the employer must provide at no cost to the employee, and ensure that employees wear, appropriate protective clothing or other equipment in accordance with WAC 296-800-160 to protect any area of the body which may come in contact with liquid AN or PAN.

(b) Cleaning and replacement.

(i) The employer must clean, launder, maintain, or replace protective clothing and equipment required by this subsection, as needed to maintain their effectiveness. In addition, the employer must provide clean protective clothing and equipment at least weekly to each affected employee.

(ii) The employer must ensure that impermeable protective clothing which contacts or is likely to have contacted liquid AN must be decontaminated before being removed by the employee.

(iii) The employer must ensure that AN- or PAN-contaminated protective clothing and equipment is placed and stored in closable containers which prevent dispersion of the AN or PAN outside the container.

(iv) The employer must ensure that an employee whose nonimpermeable clothing becomes wetted with liquid AN must immediately remove that clothing and proceed to shower. The clothing must be decontaminated before it is removed from the regulated area.

(v) The employer must ensure that no employee removes AN- or PAN-contaminated protective equipment or clothing from the change room, except for those employees authorized to do so for the purpose of laundering, maintenance, or disposal.

(vi) The employer must inform any person who launders or cleans AN- or PAN-contaminated protective clothing or equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to AN.

(vii) The employer must ensure that containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment which are to be removed from the workplace for any reason are labeled in accordance with subsection (16)(c)(ii) of this section, and that such labels remain affixed when such containers leave the employer's workplace.

(11) Housekeeping.

(a) All surfaces must be maintained free of accumulations of liquid AN and of PAN.

(b) For operations involving liquid AN, the employer must institute a program for detecting leaks and spills of liquid AN, including regular visual inspections.

(c) Where spills of liquid AN are detected, the employer must ensure that surfaces contacted by the liquid AN are decontaminated. Employees not engaged in decontamination activities must leave the area of the spill, and shall not be permitted in the area until decontamination is completed.

(d) Liquids. Where AN is present in a liquid form, or as a resultant vapor, all containers or vessels containing AN must be enclosed to the maximum extent feasible and tightly covered when not in use, with adequate provision made to avoid any resulting potential explosion hazard.

(e) Surfaces.

(i) Dry sweeping and the use of compressed air for the cleaning of floors and other surfaces where AN and PAN are found is prohibited.

(ii) Where vacuuming methods are selected, either portable units or a permanent system may be used.

(A) If a portable unit is selected, the exhaust must be attached to the general workplace exhaust ventilation system or collected within the vacuum unit, equipped with high efficiency filters or other appropriate means of contaminant removal, so that AN is not reintroduced into the workplace air; and

(B) Portable vacuum units used to collect AN may not be used for other cleaning purposes and must be labeled as prescribed by subsection (16)(c)(ii) of this section.

(iii) Cleaning of floors and other contaminated surfaces may not be performed by washing down with a hose, unless a fine spray has first been laid down.

(12) Waste disposal. AN and PAN waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers or equipment, must be disposed of in sealed bags or other closed containers which prevent dispersion of AN outside the container, and labeled as prescribed in subsection (16)(c)(ii) of this section.

(13) Hygiene facilities and practices. Where employees are exposed to airborne concentrations of AN above the permissible exposure limits, or where employees are required to wear protective clothing or equipment pursuant to subsection (11) of this section, or where otherwise found to be appropriate, the facilities required by WAC 296-800-230 must be provided by the employer for the use of those employees, and the employer must ensure that the employees use the facilities provided. In addition, the following facilities or requirements are mandated.

(a) Change rooms. The employer must provide clean change rooms in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

(b) Showers.

(i) The employer must provide shower facilities in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

(ii) In addition, the employer must also ensure that employees exposed to liquid AN and PAN shower at the end of the work shift.

(iii) The employer must ensure that, in the event of skin or eye exposure to liquid AN, the affected employee must shower immediately to minimize the danger of skin absorption.

(c) Lunchrooms.

(i) Whenever food or beverages are consumed in the workplace, the employer must provide lunchroom facilities which have a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, and which are readily accessible to employees exposed to AN above the permissible exposure limits.

(ii) In addition, the employer must also ensure that employees exposed to AN above the permissible exposure limits wash their hands and face prior to eating.

(14) Medical surveillance.

(a) General.

(i) The employer must institute a program of medical surveillance for each employee who is or will be exposed to AN above the action level. The employer must provide each such employee with an opportunity for medical examinations and tests in accordance with this subsection.

(ii) The employer must ensure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, and must be provided without cost to the employee.

(b) Initial examinations. At the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of the medical surveillance program, the employer must provide each affected employee an opportunity for a medical examination, including at least the following elements:

(i) A work history and medical history with special attention to skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems, and those nonspecific symptoms, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, or other central nervous system dysfunctions that may be associated with acute or chronic exposure to AN.

(ii) A physical examination giving particular attention to central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system, skin and thyroid.

(iii) A 14" x 17" posteroanterior chest X-ray.

(iv) Further tests of the intestinal tract, including fecal occult blood screening, and proctosigmoidoscopy, for all workers forty years of age or older, and for any other affected employees for whom, in the opinion of the physician, such testing is appropriate.

(c) Periodic examinations.

(i) The employer must provide examinations specified in this subsection at least annually for all employees specified in subsection (14)(a) of this section.

(ii) If an employee has not had the examinations prescribed in subsection (14)(b) of this section within six months of termination of employment, the employer must make such examination available to the employee upon such termination.

(d) Additional examinations. If the employee for any reason develops signs or symptoms commonly associated with exposure to AN, the employer must provide appropriate examination and emergency medical treatment.

(e) Information provided to the physician. The employer must provide the following information to the examining physician:

(i) A copy of this standard and its appendices;

(ii) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;

(iii) The employee's representative exposure level;

(iv) The employee's anticipated or estimated exposure level (for preplacement examinations or in cases of exposure due to an emergency);

(v) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used; and

(vi) Information from previous medical examinations of the affected employee, which is not otherwise available to the examining physician.

(f) Physician's written opinion.

(i) The employer must obtain a written opinion from the examining physician which must include:

(A) The results of the medical examination and test performed;

(B) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition which would place the employee at an increased risk of material impairment of the employee's health from exposure to AN;

(C) Any recommended limitations upon the employee's exposure to AN or upon the use of protective clothing and equipment such as respirators; and

(D) A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the medical examination and any medical conditions which require further examination or treatment.

(ii) The employer must instruct the physician not to reveal in the written opinion specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to AN.

(iii) The employer must provide a copy of the written opinion to the affected employee.

(15) Employee information and training.

(a) Training program.

(i) The employer must train each employee exposed to AN above the action level, each employee whose exposures are maintained below the action level by engineering and work practice controls, and each employee subject to potential skin or eye contact with liquid AN in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer must institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the training program.

(ii) The training program must be provided at the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of the training program, and at least annually thereafter, and the employer must ensure that each employee is informed of the following:

(A) The information contained in Appendices A, B and C;

(B) The quantity, location, manner of use, release or storage of AN and the specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to AN, as well as any necessary protective steps;

(C) The purpose, proper use, and limitations of respirators and protective clothing;

(D) The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by subsection (14) of this section;

(E) The emergency procedures developed, as required by subsection (9) of this section; and

(F) The engineering and work practice controls, their function and the employee's relationship thereto; and

(G) A review of this standard.

(b) Access to training materials.

(i) The employer must make a copy of this standard and its appendices readily available to all affected employees.

(ii) The employer must provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the director.

(16) Communication of hazards.

(a) Hazard communication - General.

(i) Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers must comply with all requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), WAC 296-901-140 for AN and AN-based materials not exempted under subsection (1)(b) of this section.

(ii) In classifying the hazards of AN and AN-based materials at least the following hazards are to be addressed: Cancer; central nervous system effects; liver effects; skin sensitization; skin, respiratory, and eye irritation; acute toxicity effects; and flammability.

(iii) Employers must include AN and AN-based materials 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 AN and AN-based materials and to safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and subsection (15) of this section.

(iv) The employer may use labels or signs required by other statutes, regulations, or ordinances in addition to, or in combination with, signs and labels required by this subsection.

(v) The employer must ensure that no statement appears on or near any sign or label, required by this subsection, that contradicts or detracts from the required sign or label.

(b) Signs.

(i) The employer must post signs to clearly indicate all workplaces where AN concentrations exceed the permissible exposure limits. The signs must bear the following legend:

(ii) The employer must ensure that signs required by (b) of this subsection are illuminated and cleaned as necessary so that the legend is readily visible.

(c) Labels.

(i) The employer must ensure that precautionary labels are in compliance with (a)(i) of this subsection and are affixed to all containers of liquid AN and AN-based materials not exempted under subsection (1)(b) of this section. The employer must ensure that the labels remain affixed when the materials are sold, distributed or otherwise leave the employer's workplace.

(ii) The employer must ensure that the precautionary labels required by (c) of this subsection are readily visible and legible.

(17) Recordkeeping.

(a) Objective data for exempted operations.

(i) Where the processing, use, and handling of products fabricated from PAN are exempted pursuant to subsection (1)(b) of this section, the employer must establish and maintain an accurate record of objective data reasonably relied upon in support of the exemption.

(ii) This record must include the following information:

(A) The relevant condition in subsection (1)(b) upon which exemption is based;

(B) The source of the objective data;

(C) The testing protocol, results of testing, and/or analysis of the material for the release of AN;

(D) A description of the operation exempted and how the data supports the exemption; and

(E) Other data relevant to the operations, materials, and processing covered by the exemption.

(iii) The employer must maintain this record for the duration of the employer's reliance upon such objective data.

(b) Exposure monitoring.

(i) The employer must establish and maintain an accurate record of all monitoring required by subsection (5) of this section.

(ii) This record must include:

(A) The dates, number, duration, and results of each of the samples taken, including a description of the sampling procedure used to determine representative employee exposure;

(B) A description of the sampling and analytical methods used and the data relied upon to establish that the methods used meet the accuracy and precision requirements of subsection (5)(f) of this section;

(C) Type of respiratory protective devices worn, if any; and

(D) Name, Social Security number and job classification of the employee monitored and of all other employees whose exposure the measurement is intended to represent.

(iii) The employer must maintain this record for at least forty years or the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

(c) Medical surveillance.

(i) The employer must establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee subject to medical surveillance as required by subsection (14) of this section.

(ii) This record must include:

(A) A copy of the physicians' written opinions;

(B) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to AN;

(C) A copy of the information provided to the physician as required by subsection (14)(f) of this section; and

(D) A copy of the employee's medical and work history.

(iii) The employer must ensure that this record be maintained for at least forty years or for the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

(d) Availability.

(i) The employer must ensure that all records required to be maintained by this section be made available upon request to the director for examination and copying.

(ii) Records required by (a) through (c) of this subsection must be provided upon request to employees, designated representatives, and the assistant director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC. Records required by (a) of this subsection must be provided in the same manner as exposure monitoring records.

(iii) The employer must ensure that employee medical records required to be maintained by this section, be made available, upon request, for examination and copying, to the affected employee or former employee, or to a physician designated by the affected employee, former employee, or designated representative.

(e) Transfer of records.

(i) Whenever the employer ceases to do business, the successor employer must receive and retain all records required to be maintained by this section.

(ii) The employer must also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in WAC 296-802-60005.

(18) Observation of monitoring.

(a) Employee observation. The employer must provide affected employees, or their designated representatives, an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to AN conducted pursuant to subsection (5) of this section.

(b) Observation procedures.

(i) Whenever observation of the monitoring of employee exposure to AN requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer must provide the observer with personal protective clothing or equipment required to be worn by employees working in the area, ensure the use of such clothing and equipment, and require the observer to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

(ii) Without interfering with the monitoring, observers shall be entitled:

(A) To receive an explanation of the measurement procedures;

(B) To observe all steps related to the measurement of airborne concentrations of AN performed at the place of exposure; and

(C) To record the results obtained.

(19) Appendices. The information contained in the appendices is not intended, by itself, to create any additional obligation not otherwise imposed, or to detract from any obligation.

(1) Substance identification.

(a) Substance: Acrylonitrile (CH2 CHCN).

(b) Synonyms: Propenenitrile; vinyl cyanide; cyanoethylene; AN; VCN; acylon; carbacryl; fumigrian; ventox.

(c) Acrylonitrile can be found as a liquid or vapor, and can also be found in polymer resins, rubbers, plastics, polyols, and other polymers having acrylonitrile as a raw or intermediate material.

(d) AN is used in the manufacture of acrylic and modiacrylic fibers, acrylic plastics and resins, speciality polymers, nitrile rubbers, and other organic chemicals. It has also been used as a fumigant.

(e) Appearance and odor: Colorless to pale yellow liquid with a pungent odor which can only be detected at concentrations above the permissible exposure level, in a range of 13-19 parts AN per million parts of air (13-19 ppm).

(f) Permissible exposure: Exposure may not exceed either:

(i) Two parts AN per million parts of air (2 ppm) averaged over the eight-hour workday; or

(ii) Ten parts AN per million parts of air (10 ppm) averaged over any fifteen-minute period in the workday.

(iii) In addition, skin and eye contact with liquid AN is prohibited.

(2) Health hazard data.

(a) Acrylonitrile can affect your body if you inhale the vapor (breathing), if it comes in contact with your eyes or skin, or if you swallow it. It may enter your body through your skin.

(b) Effects of overexposure:

(i) Short-term exposure: Acrylonitrile can cause eye irritation, nausea, vomiting, headache, sneezing, weakness, and light-headedness. At high concentrations, the effects of exposure may go on to loss of consciousness and death. When acrylonitrile is held in contact with the skin after being absorbed into shoe leather or clothing, it may produce blisters following several hours of no apparent effect. Unless the shoes or clothing are removed immediately and the area washed, blistering will occur. Usually there is no pain or inflammation associated with blister formation.

(ii) Long-term exposure: Acrylonitrile has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals and has been associated with higher incidences of cancer in humans. Repeated or prolonged exposure of the skin to acrylonitrile may produce irritation and dermatitis.

(iii) Reporting signs and symptoms: You should inform your employer if you develop any signs or symptoms and suspect they are caused by exposure to acrylonitrile.

(3) Emergency first-aid procedures.

(a) Eye exposure: If acrylonitrile gets into your eyes, wash your eyes immediately with large amounts of water, lifting the lower and upper lids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this chemical.

(b) Skin exposure: If acrylonitrile gets on your skin, immediately wash the contaminated skin with water. If acrylonitrile soaks through your clothing, especially your shoes, remove the clothing immediately and wash the skin with water. If symptoms occur after washing, get medical attention immediately. Thoroughly wash the clothing before reusing. Contaminated leather shoes or other leather articles should be discarded.

(c) Inhalation: If you or any other person breathes in large amounts of acrylonitrile, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

(d) Swallowing: When acrylonitrile has been swallowed, give the person large quantities of water immediately. After the water has been swallowed, try to get the person to vomit by having him touch the back of his throat with his finger. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Get medical attention immediately.

(e) Rescue: Move the affected person from the hazardous exposure. If the exposed person has been overcome, notify someone else and put into effect the established emergency procedures. Do not become a casualty yourself. Understand your emergency rescue procedures and know the location of the emergency equipment before the need arises.

(f) Special first-aid procedures: First-aid kits containing an adequate supply (at least two dozen) of amyl nitrite pearls, each containing 0.3 ml, should be maintained at each site where acrylonitrile is used. When a person is suspected of receiving an overexposure to acrylonitrile, immediately remove that person from the contaminated area using established rescue procedures. Contaminated clothing must be removed and the acrylonitrile washed from the skin immediately. Artificial respiration should be started at once if breathing has stopped. If the person is unconscious, amyl nitrite may be used as an antidote by a properly trained individual in accordance with established emergency procedures. Medical aid should be obtained immediately.

(4) Respirators and protective clothing.

(a) Respirators: You may be required to wear a respirator for nonroutine activities, in emergencies, while your employer is in the process of reducing acrylonitrile exposures through engineering controls, and in areas where engineering controls are not feasible. If respirators are worn, they must have a label issued by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health under the provisions of 42 C.F.R. part 84 stating that the respirators have been certified for use with organic vapors. For effective protection, respirators must fit your face and head snugly. Respirators should not be loosened or removed in work situations where their use is required.

(b) Supplied-air suits: In some work situations, the wearing of supplied-air suits may be necessary. Your employer must instruct you in their proper use and operation.

(c) Protective clothing:

(i) You must wear impervious clothing, gloves, face shield, or other appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin contact with liquid acrylonitrile. Where protective clothing is required, your employer is required to provide clean garments to you as necessary to assume that the clothing protects you adequately.

(ii) Replace or repair impervious clothing that has developed leaks.

(iii) Acrylonitrile should never be allowed to remain on the skin. Clothing and shoes which are not impervious to acrylonitrile should not be allowed to become contaminated with acrylonitrile, and if they do the clothing and shoes should be promptly removed and decontaminated. The clothing should be laundered or discarded after the AN is removed. Once acrylonitrile penetrates shoes or other leather articles, they should not be worn again.

(d) Eye protection: You must wear splashproof safety goggles in areas where liquid acrylonitrile may contact your eyes. In addition, contact lenses should not be worn in areas where eye contact with acrylonitrile can occur.

(5) Precautions for safe use, handling, and storage.

(a) Acrylonitrile is a flammable liquid, and its vapors can easily form explosive mixtures in air.

(b) Acrylonitrile must be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sparks, flames, strong oxidizers (especially bromine), strong bases, copper, copper alloys, ammonia, and amines.

(c) Sources of ignition such as smoking and open flames are prohibited wherever acrylonitrile is handled, used, or stored in a manner that could create a potential fire or explosion hazard.

(d) You should use nonsparking tools when opening or closing metal containers of acrylonitrile, and containers must be bonded and grounded when pouring or transferring liquid acrylonitrile.

(e) You must immediately remove any nonimpervious clothing that becomes wetted with acrylonitrile, and this clothing must not be reworn until the acrylonitrile is removed from the clothing.

(f) Impervious clothing wet with liquid acrylonitrile can be easily ignited. This clothing must be washed down with water before you remove it.

(g) If your skin becomes wet with liquid acrylonitrile, you must promptly and thoroughly wash or shower with soap or mild detergent to remove any acrylonitrile from your skin.

(h) You must not keep food, beverages, or smoking materials, nor are you permitted to eat or smoke in regulated areas where acrylonitrile concentrations are above the permissible exposure limits.

(i) If you contact liquid acrylonitrile, you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap or mild detergent and water before eating, smoking, or using toilet facilities.

(j) Fire extinguishers and quick drenching facilities must be readily available, and you should know where they are and how to operate them.

(k) Ask your supervisor where acrylonitrile is used in your work area and for any additional plant safety and health rules.

(6) Access to information.

(a) Each year, your employer is required to inform you of the information contained in this Substance Safety Data Sheet for acrylonitrile. In addition, your employer must instruct you in the proper work practices for using acrylonitrile, emergency procedures, and the correct use of protective equipment.

(b) Your employer is required to determine whether you are being exposed to acrylonitrile. You or your representative has the right to observe employee measurements and to record the results obtained. Your employer is required to inform you of your exposure. If your employer determines that you are being overexposed, he or she is required to inform you of the actions which are being taken to reduce your exposure to within permissible exposure limits.

(c) Your employer is required to keep records of your exposures and medical examinations. These records must be kept by the employer for at least forty years or for the period of your employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

(d) Your employer is required to release your exposure and medical records to you or your representative upon your request.

(1) Physical and chemical data.

(a) Substance identification:

(i) Synonyms: AN; VCN; vinyl cyanide; propenenitrile; cyanoethylene; Acrylon; Carbacryl; Fumigrain; Ventox.

(ii) Formula: CH2=CHCN.

(iii) Molecular weight: 53.1.

(b) Physical data:

(i) Boiling point (760 mm Hg): 77.3°C (171°F);

(ii) Specific gravity (water = 1): 0.81 (at 20°C or 68°F);

(iii) Vapor density (air = 1 at boiling point of acrylonitrile): 1.83;

(iv) Melting point: -83°C (-117°F);

(v) Vapor pressure (@20°F): 83 mm Hg;

(vi) Solubility in water, percent by weight @20°C (68°F): 7.35;

(vii) Evaporation rate (Butyl Acetate = 1): 4.54; and

(viii) Appearance and odor: Colorless to pale yellow liquid with a pungent odor at concentrations above the permissible exposure level. Any detectable odor of acrylonitrile may indicate overexposure.

(2) Fire, explosion, and reactivity hazard data.

(a) Fire:

(i) Flash point: -1°C (30°F) (closed cup).

(ii) Autoignition temperature: 481°C (898°F).

(iii) Flammable limits air, percent by volume: Lower: 3, Upper: 17.

(iv) Extinguishing media: Alcohol foam, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical.

(v) Special firefighting procedures: Do not use a solid stream of water, since the stream will scatter and spread the fire. Use water to cool containers exposed to a fire.

(vi) Unusual fire and explosion hazards: Acrylonitrile is a flammable liquid. Its vapors can easily form explosive mixtures with air. All ignition sources must be controlled where acrylonitrile is handled, used, or stored in a manner that could create a potential fire or explosion hazard. Acrylonitrile vapors are heavier than air and may travel along the ground and be ignited by open flames or sparks at locations remote from the site at which acrylonitrile is being handled.

(vii) For purposes of compliance with the requirements of WAC 296-800-300, acrylonitrile is classified as a class IB flammable liquid. For example, 7,500 ppm, approximately one-fourth of the lower flammable limit, would be considered to pose a potential fire and explosion hazard.

(viii) For purposes of compliance with WAC 296-800-300, acrylonitrile is classified as a Class B fire hazard.

(ix) For purpose of compliance with WAC 296-800-280, locations classified as hazardous due to the presence of acrylonitrile must be Class I, Group D.

(b) Reactivity:

(i) Conditions contributing to instability: Acrylonitrile will polymerize when hot, and the additional heat liberated by the polymerization may cause containers to explode. Pure AN may self-polymerize, with a rapid build-up of pressure, resulting in an explosion hazard. Inhibitors are added to the commercial product to prevent self-polymerization.

(ii) Incompatibilities: Contact with strong oxidizers (especially bromine) and strong bases may cause fires and explosions. Contact with copper, copper alloys, ammonia, and amines may start serious decomposition.

(iii) Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases and vapors (such as hydrogen cyanide, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon monoxide) may be released in a fire involving acrylonitrile and certain polymers made from acrylonitrile.

(iv) Special precautions: Liquid acrylonitrile will attack some forms of plastics, rubbers, and coatings.

(3) Spill, leak, and disposal procedures.

(a) If acrylonitrile is spilled or leaked, the following steps should be taken:

(i) Remove all ignition sources.

(ii) The area should be evacuated at once and reentered only after the area has been thoroughly ventilated and washed down with water.

(iii) If liquid acrylonitrile or polymer intermediate, collect for reclamation or absorb in paper, vermiculite, dry sand, earth, or similar material, or wash down with water into process sewer system.

(b) Persons not wearing protective equipment should be restricted from areas of spills or leaks until clean-up has been completed.

(c) Waste disposal methods: Waste materials must be disposed of in a manner that is not hazardous to employees or to the general population. Spills of acrylonitrile and flushing of such spills must be channeled for appropriate treatment or collection for disposal. They must not be channeled directly into the sanitary sewer system. In selecting the method of waste disposal, applicable local, state, and federal regulations should be consulted.

(4) Monitoring and measurement procedures.

(a) Exposure above the permissible exposure limit:

(i) Eight-hour exposure evaluation: Measurements taken for the purpose of determining employee exposure under this section are best taken so that the average eight-hour exposure may be determined from a single eight-hour sample or two four-hour samples. Air samples should be taken in the employee's breathing zone (air that would most nearly represent that inhaled by the employee).

(ii) Ceiling evaluation: Measurements taken for the purpose of determining employee exposure under this section must be taken during periods of maximum expected airborne concentrations of acrylonitrile in the employee's breathing zone. A minimum of three measurements should be taken on one work shift. The average of all measurements taken is an estimate of the employee's ceiling exposure.

(iii) Monitoring techniques: The sampling and analysis under this section may be performed by collecting the acrylonitrile vapor on charcoal adsorption tubes or other composition adsorption tubes, with subsequent chemical analysis. Sampling and analysis may also be performed by instruments such as real-time continuous monitoring systems, portable direct-reading instruments, or passive dosimeters. Analysis of resultant samples should be by gas chromatograph.

(iv) Appendix D lists methods of sampling and analysis which have been tested by NIOSH and OSHA for use with acrylonitrile. NIOSH and OSHA have validated modifications of NIOSH Method S-156 (see Appendix D) under laboratory conditions for concentrations below 1 ppm. The employer has the obligation of selecting a monitoring method which meets the accuracy and precision requirements of the standard under his/her unique field conditions. The standard requires that methods of monitoring must be accurate, to a 95-percent confidence level, to ±35-percent for concentrations of AN at or above 2 ppm, and to ±50-percent for concentrations below 2 ppm. In addition to the methods described in Appendix D, there are numerous other methods available for monitoring for AN in the workplace. Details on these other methods have been submitted by various companies to the rulemaking record, and are available at the OSHA Docket Office.

(b) Since many of the duties relating to employee exposure are dependent on the results of monitoring and measuring procedures, employers must ensure that the evaluation of employee exposures is performed by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.

(5) Protective clothing.

(a) Employees must be provided with and required to wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent any possibility of skin contact with liquid AN. Because acrylonitrile is absorbed through the skin, it is important to prevent skin contact with liquid AN. Protective clothing must include impermeable coveralls or similar full-body work clothing, gloves, head-coverings, as appropriate to protect areas of the body which may come in contact with liquid AN.

(b) Employers should ascertain that the protective garments are impermeable to acrylonitrile. Nonimpermeable clothing and shoes should not be allowed to become contaminated with liquid AN. If permeable clothing does become contaminated, it should be promptly removed, placed in a regulated area for removal of the AN, and not worn again until the AN is removed. If leather footwear or other leather garments become wet from acrylonitrile, they should be replaced and not worn again, due to the ability of leather to absorb acrylonitrile and hold it against the skin. Since there is no pain associated with the blistering which may result from skin contact with liquid AN, it is essential that the employee be informed of this hazard so that he or she can be protected.

(c) Any protective clothing which has developed leaks or is otherwise found to be defective must be repaired or replaced. Clean protective clothing must be provided to the employee as necessary to ensure its protectiveness. Whenever impervious clothing becomes wet with liquid AN, it must be washed down with water before being removed by the employee. Employees are also required to wear splash-proof safety goggles where there is any possibility of acrylonitrile contacting the eyes.

(6) Housekeeping and hygiene facilities. For purposes of complying with WAC 296-800-220 and 296-800-230, the following items should be emphasized:

(a) The workplace should be kept clean, orderly, and in a sanitary condition. The employer is required to institute a leak and spill detection program for operations involving liquid AN in order to detect sources of fugitive AN emissions.

(b) Dry sweeping and the use of compressed air is unsafe for the cleaning of floors and other surfaces where liquid AN may be found.

(c) Adequate washing facilities with hot and cold water are to be provided, and maintained in a sanitary condition. Suitable cleansing agents are also to be provided to ensure the effective removal of acrylonitrile from the skin.

(d) Change or dressing rooms with individual clothes storage facilities must be provided to prevent the contamination of street clothes with acrylonitrile. Because of the hazardous nature of acrylonitrile, contaminated protective clothing should be placed in a regulated area designated by the employer for removal of the AN before the clothing is laundered or disposed of.

(7) Miscellaneous precautions.

(a) Store acrylonitrile in tightly-closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area and take necessary precautions to avoid any explosion hazard.

(b) High exposures to acrylonitrile can occur when transferring the liquid from one container to another.

(c) Nonsparking tools must be used to open and close metal acrylonitrile containers. These containers must be effectively grounded and bonded prior to pouring.

(d) Never store uninhibited acrylonitrile.

(e) Acrylonitrile vapors are not inhibited.

They may form polymers and clog vents of storage tanks.

(f) Use of supplied-air suits or other impervious coverings may be necessary to prevent skin contact with and provide respiratory protection from acrylonitrile where the concentration of acrylonitrile is unknown or is above the ceiling limit. Supplied-air suits should be selected, used, and maintained under the immediate supervision of persons knowledgeable in the limitations and potential life-endangering characteristics of supplied-air suits.

(g) Employers must advise employees of all areas and operations where exposure to acrylonitrile could occur.

(8) Common operations. Common operations in which exposure to acrylonitrile is likely to occur include the following: Manufacture of the acrylonitrile monomer; synthesis of acrylic fibers, ABS, SAN, and nitrile barrier plastics and resins, nitrile rubber, surface coatings, specialty chemicals; use as a chemical intermediate; use as a fumigant; and in the cyanoethylation of cotton.

(1) Route of entry.

(a) Inhalation;

(b) Skin absorption;

(c) Ingestion.

(2) Toxicology.

(a) Acrylonitrile vapor is an asphyxiant due to inhibitory action on metabolic enzyme systems. Animals exposed to 75 or 100 ppm for seven hours have shown signs of anoxia; in some animals which died at the higher level, cyanomethemoglobin was found in the blood. Two human fatalities from accidental poisoning have been reported; one was caused by inhalation of an unknown concentration of the vapor, and the other was thought to be caused by skin absorption or inhalation. Most cases of intoxication from industrial exposure have been mild, with rapid onset of eye irritation, headache, sneezing, and nausea. Weakness, lightheadedness, and vomiting may also occur. Exposure to high concentrations may produce profound weakness, asphyxia, and death. The vapor is a severe eye irritant. Prolonged skin contact with the liquid may result in absorption with systemic effects, and in the formation of large blisters after a latent period of several hours. Although there is usually little or no pain or inflammation, the affected skin resembles a second-degree thermal burn. Solutions spilled on exposed skin, or on areas covered only by a light layer of clothing, evaporate rapidly, leaving no irritation, or, at the most, mild transient redness. Repeated spills on exposed skin may result in dermatitis due to solvent effects.

(b) Results after one year of a planned two-year animal study on the effects of exposure to acrylonitrile have indicated that rats ingesting as little as 35 ppm in their drinking water develop tumors of the central nervous system. The interim results of this study have been supported by a similar study being conducted by the same laboratory, involving exposure of rats by inhalation of acrylonitrile vapor, which has shown similar types of tumors in animals exposed to 80 ppm.

(c) In addition, the preliminary results of an epidemiological study being performed by duPont on a cohort of workers in their Camden, S.C. acrylic fiber plant indicate a statistically significant increase in the incidence of colon and lung cancers among employees exposed to acrylonitrile.

(3) Signs and symptoms of acute overexposure. Asphyxia and death can occur from exposure to high concentrations of acrylonitrile. Symptoms of overexposure include eye irritation, headache, sneezing, nausea and vomiting, weakness, and light-headedness. Prolonged skin contact can cause blisters on the skin with appearance of a second-degree burn, but with little or no pain. Repeated skin contact may produce scaling dermatitis.

(4) Treatment of acute overexposure. Remove employee from exposure. Immediately flush eyes with water and wash skin with soap or mild detergent and water. If AN has been swallowed, and person is conscious, induce vomiting. Give artificial respiration if indicated. More severe cases, such as those associated with loss of consciousness, may be treated by the intravenous administration of sodium nitrite, followed by sodium thiosulfate, although this is not as effective for acrylonitrile poisoning as for inorganic cyanide poisoning.

(5) Surveillance and preventive considerations.

(a) As noted above, exposure to acrylonitrile has been linked to increased incidence of cancers of the colon and lung in employees of the duPont acrylic fiber plant in Camden, S.C. In addition, the animal testing of acrylonitrile has resulted in the development of cancers of the central nervous system in rats exposed by either inhalation or ingestion. The physician should be aware of the findings of these studies in evaluating the health of employees exposed to acrylonitrile.

(b) Most reported acute effects of occupational exposure to acrylonitrile are due to its ability to cause tissue anoxia and asphyxia. The effects are similar to those caused by hydrogen cyanide. Liquid acrylonitrile can be absorbed through the skin upon prolonged contact. The liquid readily penetrates leather, and will produce burns of the feet if footwear contaminated with acrylonitrile is not removed.

(c) It is important for the physician to become familiar with the operating conditions in which exposure to acrylonitrile may occur. Those employees with skin diseases may not tolerate the wearing of whatever protective clothing may be necessary to protect them from exposure. In addition, those with chronic respiratory disease may not tolerate the wearing of negative-pressure respirators.

(d) Surveillance and screening. Medical histories and laboratory examinations are required for each employee subject to exposure to acrylonitrile above the action level. The employer must screen employees for history of certain medical conditions which might place the employee at increased risk from exposure.

(i) Central nervous system dysfunction. Acute effects of exposure to acrylonitrile generally involve the central nervous system. Symptoms of acrylonitrile exposure include headache, nausea, dizziness, and general weakness. The animal studies cited above suggest possible carcinogenic effects of acrylonitrile on the central nervous system, since rats exposed by either inhalation or ingestion have developed similar CNS tumors.

(ii) Respiratory disease. The duPont data indicate an increased risk of lung cancer among employees exposed to acrylonitrile.

(iii) Gastrointestinal disease. The duPont data indicate an increased risk of cancer of the colon among employees exposed to acrylonitrile. In addition, the animal studies show possible tumor production in the stomachs of the rats in the ingestion study.

(iv) Skin disease. Acrylonitrile can cause skin burns when prolonged skin contact with the liquid occurs. In addition, repeated skin contact with the liquid can cause dermatitis.

(e) General. The purpose of the medical procedures outlined in the standard is to establish a baseline for future health monitoring. Persons unusually susceptible to the effects of anoxia or those with anemia would be expected to be at increased risk. In addition to emphasis on the CNS, respiratory and gastro-intestinal systems, the cardiovascular system, liver, and kidney function should also be stressed.

(1) There are many methods available for monitoring employee exposures to acrylonitrile. Most of these involve the use of charcoal tubes and sampling pumps, with analysis by gas chromatograph. The essential differences between the charcoal tube methods include, among others, the use of different desorbing solvents, the use of different lots of charcoal, and the use of different equipment for analysis of the samples.

(2) Besides charcoal, considerable work has been performed on methods using porous polymer sampling tubes and passive dosimeters. In addition, there are several portable gas analyzers and monitoring units available on the open market.

(3) This appendix contains details for the methods which have been tested at OSHA Analytical Laboratory in Salt Lake City, and NIOSH in Cincinnati. Each is a variation on NIOSH Method S-156, which is also included for reference. This does not indicate that these methods are the only ones which will be satisfactory. There also may be workplace situations in which these methods are not adequate, due to such factors as high humidity. Copies of the other methods available to OSHA are available in the rulemaking record, and may be obtained from the OSHA docket office. These include, the Union Carbide, Monsanto, Dow Chemical and Dow Badische methods, as well as NIOSH Method P & CAM 127.

(4) Employers who note problems with sample breakthrough should try larger charcoal tubes. Tubes of larger capacity are available, and are often used for sampling vinyl chloride. In addition, lower flow rates and shorter sampling times should be beneficial in minimizing breakthrough problems.

(5) Whatever method the employer chooses, they must be ensured of the method's accuracy and precision under the unique conditions present in their workplace.

(6) NIOSH Method S-156 (unmodified)

Analyte: Acrylonitrile.

Matrix: Air.

Procedure: Absorption on charcoal, desorption with methanol, GC.

(a) Principle of the method. Reference (k)(i) of this subsection.

(i) A known volume of air is drawn through a charcoal tube to trap the organic vapors present.

(ii) The charcoal in the tube is transferred to a small, stoppered sample container, and the analyte is desorbed with methanol.

(iii) An aliquot of the desorbed sample is injected into a gas chromatograph.

(iv) The area of the resulting peak is determined and compared with areas obtained for standards.

(b) Range and sensitivity.

(i) This method was validated over the range of 17.5-70.0 mg/cu m at an atmospheric temperature and pressure of 22°C and 760 mm Hg, using a twenty-liter sample. Under the conditions of sample size (20 liters) the probable useful range of this method is 4.5-135 mg/cu m. The method is capable of measuring much smaller amounts if the desorption efficiency is adequate. Desorption efficiency must be determined over the range used.

(ii) The upper limit of the range of the method is dependent on the adsorptive capacity of the charcoal tube. This capacity varies with the concentrations of acrylonitrile and other substances in the air. The first section of the charcoal tube was found to hold at least 3.97 mg of acrylonitrile when a test atmosphere containing 92.0 mg/cu m of acrylonitrile in air was sampled 0.18 liter per minute for 240 minutes; at that time the concentration of acrylonitrile in the effluent was less than 5 percent of that in the influent. (The charcoal tube consists of two sections of activated charcoal separated by a section of urethane foam. See (f)(ii) of this subsection. If a particular atmosphere is suspected of containing a large amount of contaminant, a smaller sampling volume should be taken.)

(c) Interference.

(i) When the amount of water in the air is so great that condensation actually occurs in the tube, organic vapors will not be trapped efficiently. Preliminary experiments using toluene indicate that high humidity severely decreases the breakthrough volume.

(ii) When interfering compounds are known or suspected to be present in the air, such information, including their suspected identities, should be transmitted with the sample.

(iii) It must be emphasized that any compound which has the same retention time as the analyte at the operating conditions described in this method is an interference. Retention time data on a single column cannot be considered proof of chemical identity.

(iv) If the possibility of interference exists, separation conditions (column packing, temperature, etc.) must be changed to circumvent the problem.

(d) Precision and accuracy.

(i) The coefficient of variation (CVt) for the total analytical and sampling method in the range of 17.5-70.0 mg/cu m was 0.073. This value corresponds to a 3.3 mg/cu m standard deviation at the (previous) OSHA standard level (20 ppm). Statistical information and details of the validation and experimental test procedures can be found in (k)(ii) of this subsection.

(ii) On the average the concentrations obtained at the 20 ppm level using the overall sampling and analytical method were 6.0 percent lower than the "true" concentrations for a limited number of laboratory experiments. Any difference between the "found" and "true" concentrations may not represent a bias in the sampling and analytical method, but rather a random variation from the experimentally determined "true" concentration. Therefore, no recovery correction should be applied to the final result in (j)(v) of this subsection.

(e) Advantages and disadvantages of the method.

(i) The sampling device is small, portable, and involves no liquids. Interferences are minimal, and most of those which do occur can be eliminated by altering chromatographic conditions. The tubes are analyzed by means of a quick, instrumental method.

(ii) The method can also be used for the simultaneous analysis of two or more substances suspected to be present in the same sample by simply changing gas chromatographic conditions.

(iii) One disadvantage of the method is that the amount of sample which can be taken is limited by the number of milligrams that the tube will hold before overloading. When the sample value obtained for the backup section of the charcoal tube exceeds 25 percent of that found on the front section, the possibility of sample loss exists.

(iv) Furthermore, the precision of the method is limited by the reproducibility of the pressure drop across the tubes. This drop will affect the flow rate and cause the volume to be imprecise, because the pump is usually calibrated for one tube only.

(f) Apparatus.

(i) A calibrated personal sampling pump whose flow can be determined within ±5 percent at the recommended flow rate. Reference (k)(iii) of this subsection.

(ii) Charcoal tubes: Glass tubes with both ends flame sealed, 7 cm long with a 6 mm O.D. and a 4 mm I.D., containing 2 sections of 20/40 mesh activated charcoal separated by a 2 mm portion of urethane foam. The activated charcoal is prepared from coconut shells and is fired at 600°C prior to packing. The adsorbing section contains 100 mg of charcoal, the backup section 50 mg. A 3 mm portion of urethane foam is placed between the outlet end of the tube and the backup section. A plug of silicated glass wool is placed in front of the adsorbing section. The pressure drop across the tube must be less than 1 inch of mercury at a flow rate of 1 liter per minute.

(iii) Gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector.

(iv) Column (4 ft × 1/4 in stainless steel) packed with 50/80 mesh Poropak, type Q.

(v) An electronic integrator or some other suitable method for measuring peak areas.

(vi) Two-milliliter sample containers with glass stoppers or Teflon-lined caps. If an automatic sample injector is used, the associated vials may be used.

(vii) Microliter syringes: Ten-microliter and other convenient sizes for making standards.

(viii) Pipets: 1.0 ml delivery pipets.

(ix) Volumetric flask: 10 ml or convenient sizes for making standard solutions.

(g) Reagents.

(i) Chromatographic quality methanol.

(ii) Acrylonitrile, reagent grade.

(iii) Hexane, reagent grade.

(iv) Purified nitrogen.

(v) Prepurified hydrogen.

(vi) Filtered compressed air.

(h) Procedure.

(i) Cleaning of equipment. All glassware used for the laboratory analysis should be detergent washed and thoroughly rinsed with tap water and distilled water.

(ii) Calibration of personal pumps. Each personal pump must be calibrated with a representative charcoal tube in the line. This will minimize errors associated with uncertainties in the sample volume collected.

(iii) Collection and shipping of samples.

(A) Immediately before sampling, break the ends of the tube to provide an opening at least one-half the internal diameter of the tube (2mm).

(B) The smaller section of charcoal is used as a backup and should be positioned nearest the sampling pump.

(C) The charcoal tube should be placed in a vertical direction during sampling to minimize channeling through the charcoal.

(D) Air being sampled should not be passed through any hose or tubing before entering the charcoal tube.

(E) A maximum sample size of 20 liters is recommended. Sample at a flow of 0.20 liter per minute or less. The flow rate should be known with an accuracy of at least ±5 percent.

(F) The temperature and pressure of the atmosphere being sampled should be recorded. If pressure reading is not available, record the elevation.

(G) The charcoal tubes should be capped with the supplied plastic caps immediately after sampling. Under no circumstances should rubber caps be used.

(H) With each batch of ten samples submit one tube from the same lot of tubes which was used for sample collection and which is subjected to exactly the same handling as the samples except that no air is drawn through it. Label this as a blank.

(I) Capped tubes should be packed tightly and padded before they are shipped to minimize tube breakage during shipping.

(J) A sample of the bulk material should be submitted to the laboratory in a glass container with a Teflon-lined cap. This sample should not be transported in the same container as the charcoal tubes.

(iv) Analysis of samples.

(A) Preparation of samples. In preparation for analysis, each charcoal tube is scored with a file in front of the first section of charcoal and broken open. The glass wool is removed and discarded. The charcoal in the first (larger) section is transferred to a 2 ml stoppered sample container. The separating section of foam is removed and discarded; the second section is transferred to another stoppered container. These two sections are analyzed separately.

(B) Desorption of samples. Prior to analysis, 1.0 ml of methanol is pipetted into each sample container. Desorption should be done for 30 minutes. Tests indicate that this is adequate if the sample is agitated occasionally during this period. If an automatic sample injector is used, the sample vials should be capped as soon as the solvent is added to minimize volatilization.

(C) GC conditions. The typical operating conditions for the gas chromatograph are:

(I) 50 ml/min (60 psig) nitrogen carrier gas flow.

(II) 65 ml/min (24 psig) hydrogen gas flow to detector.

(III) 500 ml/min (50 psig) air flow to detector.

(IV) 235°C injector temperature.

(V) 255°C manifold temperature (detector).

(VI) 155°C column temperature.

(D) Injection. The first step in the analysis is the injection of the sample into the gas chromatograph. To eliminate difficulties arising from blowback or distillation within the syringe needle, one should employ the solvent flush injection technique. The 10-microliter syringe is first flushed with solvent several times to wet the barrel and plunger. Three microliters of solvent are drawn into the syringe to increase the accuracy and reproducibility of the injected sample volume. The needle is removed from the solvent, and the plunger is pulled back about 0.2 microliter to separate the solvent flush from the sample with a pocket of air to be used as a marker. The needle is then immersed in the sample, and a five microliter aliquot is withdrawn, taking into consideration the volume of the needle, since the sample in the needle will be completely injected. After the needle is removed from the sample and prior to injection, the plunger is pulled back 1.2 microliters to minimize evaporation of the sample from the tip of the needle. Observe that the sample occupies 4.9-5.0 microliters in the barrel of the syringe. Duplicate injections of each sample and standard should be made. No more than a 3 percent difference in area is to be expected. An automatic sample injector can be used if it is shown to give reproducibility at least as good as the solvent flush method.

(E) Measurement of area. The area of the sample peak is measured by an electronic integrator or some other suitable form of area measurement, and preliminary results are read from a standard curve prepared as discussed below.

(v) Determination of desorption efficiency.

(A) Importance of determination. The desorption efficiency of a particular compound can vary from one laboratory to another and also from one batch of charcoal to another. Thus, it is necessary to determine at least once the percentage of the specific compound that is removed in the desorption process, provided the same batch of charcoal is used.

(B) Procedure for determining desorption efficiency.

(I) Activated charcoal equivalent to the amount in the first section of the sampling tube (100 mg) is measured into a 2.5 in., 4 mm I.D. glass tube, flame sealed at one end. This charcoal must be from the same batch as that used in obtaining the samples and can be obtained from unused charcoal tubes. The open end is capped with Parafilm. A known amount of hexane solution of acrylonitrile containing 0.239 g/ml is injected directly into the activated charcoal with a microliter syringe, and tube is capped with more Parafilm. When using an automatic sample injector, the sample injector vials, capped with Teflon-faced septa, may be used in place of the glass tube.

(II) The amount injected is equivalent to that present in a twenty-liter air sample at the selected level.

(III) Six tubes at each of three levels (0.5X, 1X, and 2X of the standard) are prepared in this manner and allowed to stand for at least overnight to ensure complete adsorption of the analyte onto the charcoal. These tubes are referred to as the sample. A parallel blank tube should be treated in the same manner except that no sample is added to it. The sample and blank tubes are desorbed and analyzed in exactly the same manner as the sampling tube described in (h)(iv) of this subsection

(IV) Two or three standards are prepared by injecting the same volume of compound into 1.0 ml of methanol with the same syringe used in the preparation of the samples. These are analyzed with the samples.

(V) The desorption efficiency (D.E.) equals the average weight in mg recovered from the tube divided by the weight in mg added to the tube, or

(VI) The desorption efficiency is dependent on the amount of analyte collected on the charcoal. Plot the desorption efficiency versus weight of analyte found. This curve is used in (j)(iv) of this subsection to correct for adsorption losses.

(i) Calibration and standards. It is convenient to express concentration of standards in terms of mg/1.0 ml methanol, because samples are desorbed in this amount of methanol. The density of the analyte is used to convert mg into microliters for easy measurement with a microliter syringe. A series of standards, varying in concentration over the range of interest, is prepared and analyzed under the same GC conditions and during the same time period as the unknown samples. Curves are established by plotting concentration in mg/1.0 ml versus peak area.

(j) Calculations.

(i) Read the weight, in mg, corresponding to each peak area from the standard curve. No volume corrections are needed, because the standard curve is based on mg/1.0 ml methanol and the volume of sample injected is identical to the volume of the standards injected.

(ii) Corrections for the bank must be made for each sample.

(iii) Add the weights found in the front and backup sections to get the total weight in the sample.

(iv) Read the desorption efficiency from the curve (reference (h)(v)(B) of this subsection) for the amount found in the front section. Divide the total weight by this desorption efficiency to obtain the corrected mg/sample.

(v) The concentration of the analyte in the air sampled can be expressed in mg/cu m.

(vi) Another method of expressing concentration is ppm.

(k) References.

(i) White, L. D. et al., "A Convenient Optimized Method for the Analysis of Selected Solvent Vapors in the Industrial Atmosphere," Amer. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J., 31:225 (1970).

(ii) Documentation of NIOSH Validation Tests, NIOSH Contract No. CDC-99-74-45.

(iii) Final Report, NIOSH Contract HSM-99-71-31, "Personal Sampler Pump for Charcoal Tubes," September 15, 1972.

(7) NIOSH Modification of NIOSH Method S-156. The NIOSH recommended method for low levels for acrylonitrile is a modification of method S-156. It differs in the following respects:

(a) Samples are desorbed using 1 ml of 1 percent acetone in CS2 rather than methanol.

(b) The analytical column and conditions are:

(i) Column: 20 percent SP-1000 on 80/100 Supelcoport 10 feet × 1/8 inch S.S.

(ii) Conditions:

Injector temperature: 200°C.

Detector temperature: 100°C.

Column temperature: 85°C.

Helium flow: 25 ml/min.

Air flow: 450 ml/min.

Hydrogen flow: 55 ml/min.

(c) A 2 µl injection of the desorbed analyte is used.

(d) A sampling rate of 100 ml/min is recommended.

(8) OSHA Laboratory Modification of NIOSH Method S-156.

(a) Analyte: Acrylonitrile.

(b) Matrix: Air.

(c) Procedure: Adsorption on charcoal, desorption with methanol, GC.

(d) Principle of the method (subsection (1)(a) of this section).

(i) A known volume of air is drawn through a charcoal tube to trap the organic vapors present.

(ii) The charcoal in the tube is transferred to a small, stoppered sample vial, and the analyte is desorbed with methanol.

(iii) An aliquot of the desorbed sample is injected into a gas chromatograph.

(iv) The area of the resulting peak is determined and compared with areas obtained for standards.

(e) Advantages and disadvantages of the method.

(i) The sampling device is small, portable, and involves no liquids. Interferences are minimal, and most of those which do occur can be eliminated by altering chromatographic conditions. The tubes are analyzed by means of a quick, instrumental method.

(ii) This method may not be adequate for the simultaneous analysis of two or more substances.

(iii) The amount of sample which can be taken is limited by the number of milligrams that the tube will hold before overloading. When the sample value obtained for the backup section of the charcoal tube exceeds 25 percent of that found on the front section, the possibility of sample loss exists.

(iv) The precision of the method is limited by the reproducibility of the pressure drop across the tubes. This drop will affect the flow rate and cause the volume to be imprecise, because the pump is usually calibrated for one tube only.

(f) Apparatus.

(i) A calibrated personal sampling pump whose flow can be determined within ±5 percent at the recommended flow rate.

(ii) Charcoal tubes: Glass tube with both ends flame sealed, 7 cm long with a 6 mm O.D. and a 4 mm I.D., containing 2 sections of 20/40 mesh activated charcoal separated by a 2 mm portion of urethane foam. The activated charcoal is prepared from coconut shells and is fired at 600°C prior to packing. The absorbing section contains 100 mg of charcoal, the back-up section 50 mg. A 3 mm portion of urethane foam is placed between the outlet end of the tube and the back-up section. A plug of silicated glass wool is placed in front of the adsorbing section. The pressure drop across the tube must be less than one inch of mercury at a flow rate of 1 liter per minute.

(iii) Gas chromatograph equipped with a nitrogen phosphorus detector.

(iv) Column (10 ft × 1/8 in stainless steel) packed with 100/120 Supelcoport coated with 10 percent SP 1000.

(v) An electronic integrator or some other suitable method for measuring peak area.

(vi) Two-milliliter sample vials with Teflon-lined caps.

(vii) Microliter syringes: 10 microliter, and other convenient sizes for making standards.

(viii) Pipets: 1.0 ml delivery pipets.

(ix) Volumetric flasks: Convenient sizes for making standard solutions.

(g) Reagents.

(i) Chromatographic quality methanol.

(ii) Acrylonitrile, reagent grade.

(iii) Filtered compressed air.

(iv) Purified hydrogen.

(v) Purified helium.

(h) Procedure.

(i) Cleaning of equipment. All glassware used for the laboratory analysis should be properly cleaned and free of organics which could interfere in the analysis.

(ii) Calibration of personal pumps. Each pump must be calibrated with a representative charcoal tube in the line.

(iii) Collection and shipping of samples.

(A) Immediately before sampling, break the ends of the tube to provide an opening at least one-half the internal diameter of the tube (2 mm).

(B) The smaller section of the charcoal is used as the backup and should be placed nearest the sampling pump.

(C) The charcoal should be placed in a vertical position during sampling to minimize channeling through the charcoal.

(D) Air being sampled should not be passed through any hose or tubing before entering the charcoal tube.

(E) A sample size of 20 liters is recommended. Sample at a flow rate of approximately 0.2 liters per minute. The flow rate should be known with an accuracy of at least ±5 percent.

(F) The temperature and pressure of the atmosphere being sampled should be recorded.

(G) The charcoal tubes should be capped with the supplied plastic caps immediately after sampling. Rubber caps should not be used.

(H) Submit at least one blank tube (a charcoal tube subjected to the same handling procedures, without having any air drawn through it) with each set of samples.

(I) Take necessary shipping and packing precautions to minimize breakage of samples.

(iv) Analysis of samples.

(A) Preparation of samples. In preparation for analysis, each charcoal tube is scored with a file in front of the first section of charcoal and broken open. The glass wool is removed and discarded. The charcoal in the first (larger) section is transferred to a 2 ml vial. The separating section of foam is removed and discarded; the section is transferred to another capped vial. These two sections are analyzed separately.

(B) Desorption of samples. Prior to analysis, 1.0 ml of methanol is pipetted into each sample container. Desorption should be done for 30 minutes in an ultrasonic bath. The sample vials are recapped as soon as the solvent is added.

(C) GC conditions. The typical operating conditions for the gas chromatograph are:

(I) 30 ml/min (60 psig) helium carrier gas flow.

(II) 3.0 ml/min (30 psig) hydrogen gas flow to detector.

(III) 50 ml/min (60 psig) air flow to detector.

(IV) 200°C injector temperature.

(V) 200°C dejector temperature.

(VI) 100°C column temperature.

(D) Injection. Solvent flush technique or equivalent.

(E) Measurement of area. The area of the sample peak is measured by an electronic integator or some other suitable form of area measurement, and preliminary results are read from a standard curve prepared as discussed below.

(v) Determination of desorption efficiency.

(A) Importance of determination. The desorption efficiency of a particular compound can vary from one laboratory to another and also from one batch of charcoal to another. Thus, it is necessary to determine, at least once, the percentage of the specific compound that is removed in the desorption process, provided the same batch of charcoal is used.

(B) Procedure for determining desorption efficiency. The reference portion of the charcoal tube is removed. To the remaining portion, amounts representing 0.5X, 1X, and 2X (X represents TLV) based on a 20 l air sample are injected onto several tubes at each level. Dilutions of acrylonitrile with methanol are made to allow injection of measurable quantities. These tubes are then allowed to equilibrate at least overnight. Following equilibration they are analyzed following the same procedure as the samples. A curve of the desorption efficiency (amt recovered/amt added) is plotted versus amount of analyte found. This curve is used to correct for adsorption losses.

(i) Calibration and standards. A series of standards, varying in concentration over the range of interest, is prepared and analyzed under the same GC conditions and during the same time period as the unknown samples. Curves are prepared by plotting concentration versus peak area.

(j) Calculations. Read the weight, corresponding to each peak area from the standard curve, correct for the blank, correct for the desorption efficiency, and make necessary air volume corrections.

(k) Reference. NIOSH Method S-156.

(1) Scope and application.

(a) This section applies to occupational exposure to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP).

(b) This section does not apply to:

(i) Exposure to DBCP which results solely from the application and use of DBCP as a pesticide; or

(ii) The storage, transportation, distribution or sale of DBCP in intact containers sealed in such a manner as to prevent exposure to DBCP vapors or liquids, except for the requirements of subsections (11), (16), and (17) of this section.

(2) Definitions applicable to this section:

(a) Authorized person. Any person specifically authorized by the employer and whose duties require the person to be present in areas where DBCP is present; and any person entering this area as a designated representative of employees exercising an opportunity to observe employee exposure monitoring.

(b) DBCP. 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 96-12-8, and includes all forms of DBCP.

(c) Director. The director of labor and industries, or his authorized representative.

(d) Emergency. Any occurrence such as, but not limited to equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment which may, or does, result in unexpected release of DBCP.

(3) Permissible exposure limits.

(a) Inhalation.

(i) Time-weighted average limit (TWA). The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration in excess of one part DBCP per billion part of air (ppb) as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

(ii) Ceiling limit. The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration in excess of five parts DBCP per billion parts of air (ppb) as averaged over any fifteen minutes during the working day.

(b) Dermal and eye exposure. The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to eye or skin contact with DBCP.

(4) Notification of use. Within ten days of the effective date of this section or within ten days following the introduction of DBCP into the workplace, every employer who has a workplace where DBCP is present must report the following information to the director for each such workplace:

(a) The address and location of each workplace in which DBCP is present;

(b) A brief description of each process or operation which may result in employee exposure to DBCP;

(c) The number of employees engaged in each process or operation who may be exposed to DBCP and an estimate of the frequency and degree of exposure that occurs;

(d) A brief description of the employer's safety and health program as it relates to limitation of employee exposure to DBCP.

(5) Regulated areas. The employer must establish, within each place of employment, regulated areas wherever DBCP concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

(a) The employer must limit access to regulated areas to authorized persons.

(b) All employees entering or working in a regulated area must wear respiratory protection in accordance with Table I.

(6) Exposure monitoring.

(a) General. Determinations of airborne exposure levels must be made from air samples that are representative of each employee's exposure to DBCP over an eight-hour period. (For the purposes of this section, employee exposure is that exposure which would occur if the employee were not using a respirator.)

(b) Initial. Each employer who has a place of employment in which DBCP is present must monitor each workplace and work operation to accurately determine the airborne concentrations of DBCP to which employees may be exposed.

(c) Frequency.

(i) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposures to be below the permissible exposure limits, the employer must repeat these determinations at least quarterly.

(ii) If the monitoring required by this section reveals employee exposure to be in excess of the permissible exposure limits, the employer must repeat these determinations for each such employee at least monthly. The employer must continue these monthly determinations until at least two consecutive measurements, taken at least seven days apart, are below the permissible exposure limit, thereafter the employer must monitor at least quarterly.

(d) Additional. Whenever there has been a production process, control or personnel change which may result in any new or additional exposure to DBCP, or whenever the employer has any other reason to suspect a change which may result in new or additional exposure to DBCP, additional monitoring which complies with this subsection must be conducted.

(e) Employee notification.

(i) Within five working days after the receipt of monitoring results, the employer must notify each employee in writing of results which represent the employee's exposure.

(ii) Whenever the results indicate that employee exposure exceeds the permissible exposure limit, the employer must include in the written notice a statement that the permissible exposure limit was exceeded and a description of the corrective action being taken to reduce exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits.

(f) Accuracy of measurement. The method of measurement must be accurate, to a confidence level of ninety-five percent, to within plus or minus twenty-five percent for concentrations of DBCP at or above the permissible exposure limits.

(7) Methods of compliance.

(a) Priority of compliance methods. The employer must institute engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposures to DBCP at or below the permissible exposure limit, except to the extent that the employer establishes that such controls are not feasible. Where feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposures to within the permissible exposure limit, the employer must nonetheless use them to reduce exposures to the lowest level achievable by these controls, and must supplement them by use of respiratory protection.

(b) Compliance program.

(i) The employer must establish and implement a written program to reduce employee exposure to DBCP to or below the permissible exposure limit solely by means of engineering and work practice controls as required by this section.

(ii) The written program must include a detailed schedule for development and implementation of the engineering and work practice controls. These plans must be revised at least every six months to reflect the current status of the program.

(iii) Written plans for these compliance programs must be submitted upon request to the director, and must be available at the worksite for examination and copying by the director, and any affected employee or designated representative of employees.

(iv) The employer must institute and maintain at least the controls described in his most recent written compliance program.

(8) Respiratory protection.

(a) General. For employees who are required to use respirators under this section, the employer must provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of this subsection. Respirators must be used during:

(i) Period necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

(ii) Maintenance and repair activities for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

(iii) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limit;

(iv) Emergencies.

(b) The employer must establish, implement, and maintain a respiratory protection program as required by chapter 296-842 WAC, Respirators, which covers each employee required by this chapter to use a respirator.

(c) Respirator selection. The employer must:

(i) Select and provide to employees appropriate respirators according to this chapter and WAC 296-842-13005 in the respirator rule.

(ii) Provide employees with one of the following respirator options to use for entry into, or escape from, unknown DBCP concentrations:

(A) A combination respirator that includes a full-facepiece air-line respirator operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode or continuous-flow mode and an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) operated in a pressure-demand or positive-pressure mode; or

(B) A full-facepiece SCBA operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode.

(9) Reserved.

(10) Emergency situations.

(a) Written plans.

(i) A written plan for emergency situations must be developed for each workplace in which DBCP is present.

(ii) Appropriate portions of the plan must be implemented in the event of an emergency.

(b) Employees engaged in correcting conditions must be equipped as required in subsection (11) of this section until the emergency is abated.

(c) Evacuation. Employees not engaged in correcting the emergency must be removed and restricted from the area and normal operations in the affected area must not be resumed until the emergency is abated.

(d) Alerting employees. Where there is a possibility of employee exposure to DBCP due to the occurrence of an emergency, a general alarm must be installed and maintained to promptly alert employees of such occurrences.

(e) Medical surveillance. For any employee exposed to DBCP in an emergency situation, the employer must provide medical surveillance in accordance with subsection (14) of this section.

(f) Exposure monitoring.

(i) Following an emergency, the employer must conduct monitoring which complies with subsection (6) of this section.

(ii) In workplaces not normally subject to periodic monitoring, the employer may terminate monitoring when two consecutive measurements indicate exposures below the permissible exposure limit.

(11) Protective clothing and equipment.

(a) Provision and use. Where eye or skin contact with liquid or solid DBCP may occur, employers must provide at no cost to the employee, and ensure that employees wear impermeable protective clothing and equipment in accordance with WAC 296-800-160 to protect the area of the body which may come in contact with DBCP.

(b) Cleaning and replacement.

(i) The employer must clean, launder, maintain, or replace protective clothing and equipment required by this subsection to maintain their effectiveness. In addition, the employer must provide clean protective clothing and equipment at least daily to each affected employee.

(ii) Removal and storage.

(A) The employer must ensure that employees remove DBCP contaminated work clothing only in change rooms provided in accordance with subsection (13) of this section.

(B) The employer must ensure that employees promptly remove any protective clothing and equipment which becomes contaminated with DBCP-containing liquids and solids. This clothing must not be reworn until the DBCP has been removed from the clothing or equipment.

(C) The employer must ensure that no employee takes DBCP contaminated protective devices and work clothing out of the change room, except those employees authorized to do so for the purpose of laundering, maintenance, or disposal.

(iii) The employer must ensure that DBCP-contaminated protective work clothing and equipment is placed and stored in closed containers which prevent dispersion of DBCP outside the container.

(iv) The employer must inform any person who launders or cleans DBCP-contaminated protective clothing or equipment of the potentially harmful effects of exposure to DBCP.

(v) Containers of DBCP-contaminated protective devices or work clothing which are to be taken out of change rooms or the workplace for cleaning, maintenance or disposal must bear labels with the following information: CONTAMINATED WITH 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), MAY CAUSE CANCER.

(vi) The employer must prohibit the removal of DBCP from protective clothing and equipment by blowing or shaking.

(12) Housekeeping.

(a) Surfaces.

(i) All surfaces must be maintained free of accumulations of DBCP.

(ii) Dry sweeping and the use of air for the cleaning of floors and other surfaces where DBCP dust or liquids are found is prohibited.

(iii) Where vacuuming methods are selected, either portable units or a permanent system may be used.

(A) If a portable unit is selected, the exhaust must be attached to the general workplace exhaust ventilation system or collected within the vacuum unit, equipped with high efficiency filters or other appropriate means of contaminant removal, so that DBCP is not reintroduced into the workplace air; and

(B) Portable vacuum units used to collect DBCP may not be used for other cleaning purposes and must be labeled as prescribed by subsection (11)(b)(v) of this section.

(iv) Cleaning of floors and other contaminated surfaces may not be performed by washing down with a hose, unless a fine spray has first been laid down.

(b) Liquids. Where DBCP is present in a liquid form, or as a resultant vapor, all containers or vessels containing DBCP must be enclosed to the maximum extent feasible and tightly covered when not in use.

(c) Waste disposal. DBCP waste, scrap, debris, bags, containers or equipment, must be disposed in sealed bags or other closed containers which prevent dispersion of DBCP outside the container.

(13) Hygiene facilities and practices.

(a) Change rooms. The employer must provide clean change rooms equipped with storage facilities for street clothes and separate storage facilities for protective clothing and equipment whenever employees are required to wear protective clothing and equipment in accordance with subsections (8), (9), and (11) of this section.

(b) Showers.

(i) The employer must ensure that employees working in the regulated area shower at the end of the work shift.

(ii) The employer must ensure that employees whose skin becomes contaminated with DBCP-containing liquids or solids immediately wash or shower to remove any DBCP from the skin.

(iii) The employer must provide shower facilities in accordance with WAC 296-800-230.

(c) Lunchrooms. The employer must provide lunchroom facilities which have a temperature controlled, positive pressure, filtered air supply, and which are readily accessible to employees working in regulated areas.

(d) Lavatories.

(i) The employer must ensure that employees working in the regulated area remove protective clothing and wash their hands and face prior to eating.

(ii) The employer must provide a sufficient number of lavatory facilities which comply with WAC 296-800-230.

(e) Prohibition of activities in regulated areas. The employer must ensure that, in regulated areas, food or beverages are not present or consumed, smoking products and implements are not present or used, and cosmetics are not present or applied.

(14) Medical surveillance.

(a) General. The employer must institute a program of medical surveillance for each employee who is or will be exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, to DBCP. The employer must provide each such employee with an opportunity for medical examinations and tests in accordance with this subsection. All medical examinations and procedures shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, and must be provided without cost to the employee.

(b) Frequency and content. At the time of initial assignment, annually thereafter, and whenever exposure to DBCP occurs, the employer must provide a medical examination for employees who work in regulated areas, which includes at least the following:

(i) A complete medical and occupational history with emphasis on reproductive history.

(ii) A complete physical examination with emphasis on the genito-urinary tract, testicle size, and body habitus including the following tests:

(A) Sperm count;

(B) Complete urinalysis (U/A);

(C) Complete blood count; and

(D) Thyroid profile.

(iii) A serum specimen must be obtained and the following determinations made by radioimmunoassay techniques utilizing National Institutes of Health (NIH) specific antigen or one of equivalent sensitivity:

(A) Serum multiphasic analysis (SMA 12);

(B) Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH);

(C) Serum luteinizing hormone (LH); and

(D) Serum estrogen (females).

(iv) Any other tests deemed appropriate by the examining physician.

(c) Additional examinations. If the employee for any reason develops signs or symptoms commonly associated with exposure to DBCP, the employer must provide the employee with a medical examination which must include those elements considered appropriate by the examining physician.

(d) Information provided to the physician. The employer must provide the following information to the examining physician:

(i) A copy of this standard and its appendices;

(ii) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure;

(iii) The level of DBCP to which the employee is exposed; and

(iv) A description of any personal protective equipment used or to be used.

(e) Physician's written opinion.

(i) For each examination under this section, the employer must obtain and provide the employee with a written opinion from the examining physician which must include:

(A) The results of the medical tests performed;

(B) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical condition which would place the employee at an increased risk of material impairment of health from exposure to DBCP;

(C) Any recommended limitations upon the employee's exposure to DBCP or upon the use of protective clothing and equipment such as respirators; and

(D) A statement that the employee was informed by the physician of the results of the medical examination, and any medical conditions which require further examination or treatment.

(ii) The employer must instruct the physician not to reveal in the written opinion specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to DBCP.

(iii) The employer must provide a copy of the written opinion to the affected employee.

(f) Emergency situations. If the employee is exposed to DBCP in an emergency situation, the employer must provide the employee with a sperm count test as soon as practicable, or, if the employee is unable to produce a semen specimen, the hormone tests contained in (b) of this subsection. The employer must provide these same tests three months later.

(15) Employee information and training.

(a) Training program.

(i) Within thirty days of the effective date of this standard, the employer must institute a training program for all employees who may be exposed to DBCP and must ensure their participation in such training program.

(ii) The employer must ensure that each employee is informed of the following:

(A) The information contained in Appendices A, B and C;

(B) The quantity, location, manner of use, release or storage of DBCP and the specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to DBCP as well as any necessary protective steps;

(C) The purpose, proper use, limitations, and other training requirements covering respiratory protection as required in chapter 296-842 WAC;

(D) The purpose and description of the medical surveillance program required by subsection (14) of this section; and

(E) A review of this standard.

(b) Access to training materials.

(i) The employer must make a copy of this standard and its appendices readily available to all affected employees.

(ii) The employer must provide, upon request, all materials relating to the employee information and training program to the director.

(16) Communication of hazards.

(a) Hazard communication - General.

(i) Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers must comply with all requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), WAC 296-901-140 for DBCP.

(ii) In classifying the hazards of DBCP at least the following hazards are to be addressed: Cancer; reproductive effects; liver effects; kidney effects; central nervous system effects; skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation; and acute toxicity effects.

(iii) Employers must include DBCP 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 DBCP and to safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and subsection (15) of this section.

(iv) The employer may use labels or signs required by other statutes, regulations, or ordinances in addition to or in combination with, signs and labels required by this subsection.

(v) The employer must ensure that no statement appears on or near any sign or label required by this subsection which contradicts or detracts from the required sign or label.

(b) Signs.

The employer must post signs to clearly indicate all regulated areas. These signs must bear the legend:

1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane

(c) Labels.

(i) Where DBCP or products containing DBCP are sold, distributed or otherwise leave the employer's workplace bearing appropriate labels required by EPA under the regulations in 40 C.F.R. Part 162, the labels required by (c) of this subsection need not be affixed.

(ii) The employer must ensure that the precautionary labels required by (c) of this subsection are readily visible and legible.

(17) Recordkeeping.

(a) Exposure monitoring.

(i) The employer must establish and maintain an accurate record of all monitoring required by subsection (6) of this section.

(ii) This record must include:

(A) The dates, number, duration and results of each of the samples taken, including a description of the sampling procedure used to determine representative employee exposure;

(B) A description of the sampling and analytical methods used;

(C) Type of respiratory worn, if any; and

(D) Name, Social Security number, and job classification of the employee monitored and of all other employees whose exposure the measurement is intended to represent.

(iii) The employer must maintain this record for at least forty years or the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

(b) Medical surveillance.

(i) The employer must establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee subject to medical surveillance required by subsection (14) of this section.

(ii) This record must include:

(A) The name and Social Security number of the employee;

(B) A copy of the physician's written opinion;

(C) Any employee medical complaints related to exposure to DBCP;

(D) A copy of the information provided the physician as required by subsection (14)(c) of this section; and

(E) A copy of the employee's medical and work history.

(iii) The employer must maintain this record for at least forty years or the duration of employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

(c) Availability.

(i) The employer must ensure that all records required to be maintained by this section be made available upon request to the director for examination and copying.

(ii) Employee exposure monitoring records and employee medical records required by this subsection must be provided upon request to employees' designated representatives and the assistant director in accordance with chapter 296-802 WAC.

(d) Transfer of records.

(i) If the employer ceases to do business, the successor employer must receive and retain all records required to be maintained by this section for the prescribed period.

(ii) The employer must also comply with any additional requirements involving transfer of records set forth in WAC 296-802-60005.

(18) Observation of monitoring.

(a) Employee observation. The employer must provide affected employees, or their designated representatives, an opportunity to observe any monitoring of employee exposure to DBCP conducted under subsection (6) of this section.

(b) Observation procedures.

(i) Whenever observation of the measuring or monitoring of employee exposure to DBCP requires entry into an area where the use of protective clothing or equipment is required, the employer must provide the observer with personal protective clothing or equipment required to be worn by employees working in the area, ensure the use of such clothing and equipment, and require the observer to comply with all other applicable safety and health procedures.

(ii) Without interfering with the monitoring or measurement, observers shall be entitled to:

(A) Receive an explanation of the measurement procedures;

(B) Observe all steps related to the measurement of airborne concentrations of DBCP performed at the place of exposure; and

(C) Record the results obtained.

(19) Appendices. The information contained in the appendices is not intended, by itself, to create any additional obligations not otherwise imposed or to detract from any existing obligation.

(1) Substance identification.

(a) Synonyms and trades names: DBCP; Dibromochloropropane; Fumazone (Dow Chemical Company TM); Nemafume; Nemagon (Shell Chemical Co. TM); Nemaset; BBC 12; and OS 1879.

(b) Permissible exposure:

(i) Airborne. 1 part DBCP vapor per billion parts of air (1 ppb); time-weighted average (TWA) for an eight-hour workday.

(ii) Dermal. Eye contact and skin contact with DBCP are prohibited.

(c) Appearance and odor: Technical grade DBCP is a dense yellow or amber liquid with a pungent odor. It may also appear in granular form, or blended in varying concentrations with other liquids.

(d) Uses: DBCP is used to control nematodes, very small worm-like plant parasites, on crops including cotton, soybeans, fruits, nuts, vegetables and ornamentals.

(2) Health hazard data.

(a) Routes of entry: Employees may be exposed:

(i) Through inhalation (breathing);

(ii) Through ingestion (swallowing);

(iii) Skin contact; and

(iv) Eye contact.

(b) Effects of exposure:

(i) Acute exposure. DBCP may cause drowsiness, irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin, nausea and vomiting. In addition, overexposure may cause damage to the lungs, liver or kidneys.

(ii) Chronic exposure. Prolonged or repeated exposure to DBCP has been shown to cause sterility in humans. It also has been shown to produce cancer and sterility in laboratory animals and has been determined to constitute an increased risk of cancer in people.

(iii) Reporting signs and symptoms. If you develop any of the above signs or symptoms that you think are caused by exposure to DBCP, you should inform your employer.

(3) Emergency first-aid procedures.

(a) Eye exposure. If DBCP liquid or dust containing DBCP gets into your eyes, wash your eyes immediately with large amounts of water, lifting the lower and upper lids occasionally. Get medical attention immediately. Contact lenses should not be worn when working with DBCP.

(b) Skin exposure. If DBCP liquids or dusts containing DBCP get on your skin, immediately wash using soap or mild detergent and water. If DBCP liquids or dusts containing DBCP penetrate through your clothing, remove the clothing immediately and wash. If irritation is present after washing get medical attention.

(c) Breathing. If you or any person breathe in large amounts of DBCP, move the exposed person to fresh air at once. If breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration. Do not use mouth-to-mouth. Keep the affected person warm and at rest. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

(d) Swallowing. When DBCP has been swallowed and the person is conscious, give the person large amounts of water immediately. After the water has been swallowed, try to get the person to vomit by having them touch the back of their throat with their finger. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Get medical attention immediately.

(e) Rescue. Notify someone. Put into effect the established emergency rescue procedures. Know the locations of the emergency rescue equipment before the need arises.

(4) Respirators and protective clothing.

(a) Respirators. You may be required to wear a respirator in emergencies and while your employer is in the process of reducing DBCP exposures through engineering controls. If respirators are worn, they must have a label issued by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the provisions of 42 C.F.R. part 84 stating that the respirators have been certified for use with organic vapors. For effective protection, a respirator must fit your face and head snugly. The respirator should not be loosened or removed in work situations where its use is required. Respirators must not be loosened or removed in work situations where their use is required.

(b) Protective clothing. When working with DBCP you must wear for your protection impermeable work clothing provided by your employer. (Standard rubber and neoprene protective clothing do not offer adequate protection). DBCP must never be allowed to remain on the skin. Clothing and shoes must not be allowed to become contaminated with DBCP, and if they do, they must be promptly removed and not worn again until completely free of DBCP. Turn in impermeable clothing that has developed leaks for repair or replacement.

(c) Eye protection. You must wear splashproof safety goggles where there is any possibility of DBCP liquid or dust contacting your eyes.

(5) Precautions for safe use, handling, and storage.

(a) DBCP must be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area.

(b) If your work clothing may have become contaminated with DBCP, or liquids or dusts containing DBCP, you must change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the work premises.

(c) You must promptly remove any protective clothing that becomes contaminated with DBCP. This clothing must not be reworn until the DBCP is removed from the clothing.

(d) If your skin becomes contaminated with DBCP, you must immediately and thoroughly wash or shower with soap or mild detergent and water to remove any DBCP from your skin.

(e) You must not keep food, beverages, cosmetics, or smoking materials, nor eat or smoke, in regulated areas.

(f) If you work in a regulated area, you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap or mild detergent and water, before eating, smoking or using toilet facilities.

(g) If you work in a regulated area, you must remove any protective equipment or clothing before leaving the regulated area.

(h) Ask your supervisor where DBCP is used in your work area and for any additional safety and health rules.

(6) Access to information.

(a) Each year, your employer is required to inform you of the information contained in this substance safety data sheet for DBCP. In addition, your employer must instruct you in the safe use of DBCP, emergency procedures, and the correct use of protective equipment.

(b) Your employer is required to determine whether you are being exposed to DBCP. You or your representative have the right to observe employee exposure measurements and to record the result obtained. Your employer is required to inform you of your exposure. If your employer determines that you are being overexposed, they are required to inform you of the actions which are being taken to reduce your exposure.

(c) Your employer is required to keep records of your exposure and medical examinations. Your employer is required to keep exposure and medical data for at least forty years or the duration of your employment plus twenty years, whichever is longer.

(d) Your employer is required to release exposure and medical records to you, your physician, or other individual designated by you upon your written request.

(1) Physical and chemical data.

(a) Substance identification.

(i) Synonyms: 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane; DBCP, Fumazone; Nemafume; Nemagon; Nemaset; BBC 12; OS 1879. DBCP is also included in agricultural pesticides and fumigants which include the phrase "Nema____, in their name.

(ii) Formula: C3H5Br2 C1.

(iii) Molecular weight: 236.

(b) Physical data:

(i) Boiling point (760 mm HG): 195C (383F)

(ii) Specific gravity (water = 1): 2.093.

(iii) Vapor density (air = 1 at boiling point of DBCP): Data not available.

(iv) Melting point: 6C (43F).

(v) Vapor pressure at 20C (68F): 0.8 mm HG

(vi) Solubility in water: 1000 ppm.

(vii) Evaporation rate (Butyl Acetate = 1): Very much less than 1.

(c) Appearance and odor: Dense yellow or amber liquid with a pungent odor at high concentrations. Any detectable odor of DBCP indicates overexposure.

(2) Fire explosion and reactivity hazard data.

(a) Fire.

(i) Flash point: 170F (77C)

(ii) Autoignition temperature: Data not available.

(iii) Flammable limits in air, percent by volume: Data not available.

(iv) Extinguishing media: Carbon dioxide, dry chemical.

(v) Special fire-fighting procedures: Do not use a solid stream of water since a stream will scatter and spread the fire. Use water spray to cool containers exposed to a fire.

(vi) Unusual fire and explosion hazards: None known.

(vii) For purposes of complying with the requirements of WAC 296-24-330, liquid DBCP is classified as a Class III A combustible liquid.

(viii) For the purpose of complying with chapter 296-24 WAC Part L, the classification of hazardous locations as described in article 500 of the National Electrical Code for DBCP shall be Class I, Group D.

(ix) For the purpose of compliance with WAC 296-24-592, DBCP is classified as a Class B fire hazard.

(x) For the purpose of compliance with WAC 296-24-230, locations classified as hazardous locations due to the presence of DBCP shall be Class I, Group D.

(xi) Sources of ignition are prohibited where DBCP presents a fire or explosion hazard.

(b) Reactivity.

(i) Conditions contributing to instability: None known.

(ii) Incompatibilities: Reacts with chemically active metals, such as aluminum, magnesium and tin alloys.

(iii) Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases and vapors (such as HBr, HC1 and carbon monoxide) may be released in a fire involving DBCP.

(iv) Special precautions: DBCP will attack some rubber materials and coatings.

(3) Spill, leak and disposal procedures.

(a) If DBCP is spilled or leaked, the following steps should be taken:

(i) The area should be evacuated at once and reentered only after thorough ventilation.

(ii) Ventilate area of spill or leak.

(iii) If in liquid form, collect for reclamation or absorb in paper, vermiculite, dry sand, earth or similar material.

(iv) If in solid form, collect spilled material in the most convenient and safe manner for reclamation or for disposal.

(b) Persons not wearing protective equipment must be restricted from areas of spills or leaks until cleanup has been completed.

(c) Waste disposal methods:

(i) For small quantities of liquid DBCP, absorb on paper towels, remove to a safe place (such as a fume hood) and burn the paper. Large quantities can be reclaimed or collected and atomized in a suitable combustion chamber equipped with an appropriate effluent gas cleaning device. If liquid DBCP is absorbed in vermiculite, dry sand, earth or similar material and placed in sealed containers it may be disposed of in a state-approved sanitary landfill.

(ii) If in solid form, for small quantities, place on paper towels, remove to a safe place (such as a fume hood) and burn. Large quantities may be reclaimed. However, if this is not practical, dissolve in a flammable solvent (such as alcohol) and atomize in a suitable combustion chamber equipped with an appropriate effluent gas cleaning device. DBCP in solid form may also be disposed in a state-approved sanitary landfill.

(4) Monitoring and measurement procedures.

(a) Exposure above the permissible exposure limit.

(i) Eight hour exposure evaluation: Measurements taken for the purpose of determining employee exposure under this section are best taken so that the average eight-hour exposure may be determined from a single eight-hour sample or two four-hour samples. Air samples should be taken in the employee's breathing zone (air that would most nearly represent that inhaled by the employee).

(ii) Monitoring techniques: The sampling and analysis under this section may be performed by collecting the DBCP vapor on petroleum based charcoal absorption tubes with subsequent chemical analyses. The method of measurement chosen should determine the concentration of airborne DBCP at the permissible exposure limit to an accuracy of plus or minus twenty-five percent. If charcoal tubes are used, a total volume of ten liters should be collected at a flow rate of 50 cc per minute for each tube. Analyze the resultant samples as you would samples of halogenated solvent.

(b) Since many of the duties relating to employee protection are dependent on the results of monitoring and measuring procedures, employers should assure that the evaluation of employee exposures is performed by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.

(5) Protective clothing. Employees should be required to wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent any possibility of skin contact with DBCP. Because DBCP is absorbed through the skin, it is important to prevent skin contact with both liquid and solid forms of DBCP. Protective clothing should include impermeable coveralls or similar fullbody work clothing, gloves, headcoverings, and workshoes or shoe coverings. Standard rubber and neoprene gloves do not offer adequate protection and should not be relied upon to keep DBCP off the skin. DBCP should never be allowed to remain on the skin. Clothing and shoes should not be allowed to become contaminated with the material; and if they do, they should be promptly removed and not worn again until completely free of the material. Any protective clothing which has developed leaks or is otherwise found to be defective should be repaired or replaced. Employees should also be required to wear splashproof safety goggles where there is any possibility of DBCP contacting the eyes.

(6) Housekeeping and hygiene facilities.

(a) The workplace must be kept clean, orderly and in a sanitary condition.

(b) Dry sweeping and the use of compressed air is unsafe for the cleaning of floors and other surfaces where DBCP dust or liquids are found. To minimize the contamination of air with dust, vacuuming with either portable or permanent systems must be used. If a portable unit is selected, the exhaust must be attached to the general workplace exhaust ventilation system, or collected within the vacuum unit equipped with high efficiency filters or other appropriate means of contamination removal and not used for other purposes. Units used to collect DBCP must be labeled.

(c) Adequate washing facilities with hot and cold water must be provided, and maintained in a sanitary condition. Suitable cleansing agents should also be provided to assure the effective removal of DBCP from the skin.

(d) Change or dressing rooms with individual clothes storage facilities must be provided to prevent the contamination of street clothes with DBCP. Because of the hazardous nature of DBCP, contaminated protective clothing must be stored in closed containers for cleaning or disposal.

(7) Miscellaneous precautions.

(a) Store DBCP in tightly closed containers in a cool, well ventilated area.

(b) Use of supplied-air suits or other impervious clothing (such as acid suits) may be necessary to prevent skin contact with DBCP. Supplied-air suits should be selected, used, and maintained under the supervision of persons knowledgeable in the limitations and potential life-endangering characteristics of supplied-air suits.

(c) The use of air-conditioned suits may be necessary in warmer climates.

(d) Advise employees of all areas and operations where exposure to DBCP could occur.

(8) Common operations. Common operations in which exposure to DBCP is likely to occur are: During its production; and during its formulation into pesticides and fumigants.

(1) Route of entry.

(a) Inhalation;

(b) Skin absorption.

(2) Toxicology. Recent data collected on workers involved in the manufacture and formulation of DBCP has shown that DBCP can cause sterility at very low levels of exposure. This finding is supported by studies showing that DBCP causes sterility in animals. Chronic exposure to DBCP resulted in pronounced necrotic action on the parenchymatous organs (i.e., liver, kidney, spleen) and on the testicles of rats at concentrations as low as 5 ppm. Rats that were chronically exposed to DBCP also showed changes in the composition of the blood, showing low RBC, hemoglobin, and WBC, and high reticulocyte levels as well as functional hepatic disturbance, manifesting itself in a long prothrombin time. Reznik et al., noted a single dose of 100 mg produced profound depression of the nervous system of rats. Their condition gradually improved. Acute exposure also resulted in the destruction of the sex gland activity of male rats as well as causing changes in the estrous cycle in female rats. Animal studies have also associated DBCP with an increased incidence of carcinoma. Olson, et al., orally administered DBCP to rats and mice five times per week at experimentally predetermined maximally tolerated doses and at half those doses. As early as ten weeks after initiation of treatment, DBCP induced a high incidence of squamous cell carcinomas of the stomach with metastases in both species. DBCP also induced mammary adenocarcinomas in the female rats at both dose levels.

(3) Signs and symptoms.

(a) Inhalation: Nausea, eye irritation, conjunctivitis, respiratory irritation, pulmonary congestion or edema, CNS depression with apathy, sluggishness, and ataxia.

(b) Dermal: Erythema or inflammation and dermatitis on repeated exposure.

(4) Special tests.

(a) Semen analysis: The following information excerpted from the document "Evaluation of Testicular Function," submitted by the Corporate Medical Department of the Shell Oil Company (exhibit 39-3), may be useful to physicians conducting the medical surveillance program. In performing semen analyses certain minimal but specific criteria should be met:

(i) It is recommended that a minimum of three valid semen analyses be obtained in order to make a determination of an individual's average sperm count.

(ii) A period of sexual abstinence is necessary prior to the collection of each masturbatory sample. It is recommended that intercourse or masturbation be performed 48 hours before the actual specimen collection. A period of 48 hours of abstinence would follow; then the masturbatory sample would be collected.

(iii) Each semen specimen should be collected in a clean, widemouthed, glass jar (not necessarily pre-sterilized) in a manner designated by the examining physician. Any part of the seminal fluid exam should be initialed only after liquifaction is complete, i.e., 30 to 45 minutes after collection.

(iv) Semen volume should be measured to the nearest 1/10 of a cubic centimeter.

(v) Sperm density should be determined using routine techniques involving the use of a white cell pipette and a hemocytometer chamber. The immobilizing fluid most effective and most easily obtained for this process is distilled water.

(vi) Thin, dry smears of the semen should be made for a morphologic classification of the sperm forms and should be stained with either hematoxalin or the more difficult, yet more precise, Papanicolaou technique. Also of importance to record is obvious sperm agglutination, pyospermia, delayed liquifaction (greater than 30 minutes), and hyperviscosity. In addition, pH, using nitrazine paper, should be determined.

(vii) A total morphology evaluation should include percentages of the following:

(A) Normal (oval) forms,

(B) Tapered forms,

(C) Amorphous forms (include large and small sperm shapes),

(D) Duplicated (either heads or tails) forms, and

(E) Immature forms.

(viii) Each sample should be evaluated for sperm viability (percent viable sperm moving at the time of examination) as well as sperm motility (subjective characterization of "purposeful forward sperm progression" of the majority of those viable sperm analyzed) within two hours after collection, ideally by the same or equally qualified examiner.

(b) Serum determinations: The following serum determinations should be performed by radiommuno-assay techniques using National Institutes of Health (NIH) specific antigen or antigen preparations of equivalent sensitivity:

(i) Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),

(ii) Serum luteinizing hormone (LH), and

(iii) Serum total estrogen (females only).

(5) Treatment. Remove from exposure immediately, give oxygen or artificial resuscitation if indicated. Contaminated clothing and shoes should be removed immediately. Flush eyes and wash contaminated skin. If swallowed and the person is conscious, induce vomiting. Recovery from mild exposures is usually rapid and complete.

(6) Surveillance and preventive considerations.

(a) Other considerations. DBCP can cause both acute and chronic effects. It is important that the physician become familiar with the operating conditions in which exposure to DBCP occurs. Those with respiratory disorders may not tolerate the wearing of negative pressure respirators.

(b) Surveillance and screening. Medical histories and laboratory examinations are required for each employee subject to exposure to DBCP. The employer should screen employees for history of certain medical conditions (listed below) which might place the employee at increased risk from exposure:

(i) Liver disease. The primary site of biotransformation and detoxification of DBCP is the liver. Liver dysfunctions likely to inhibit the conjugation reactions will tend to promote the toxic actions of DBCP. These precautions should be considered before exposing persons with impaired liver function to DBCP.

(ii) Renal disease. Because DBCP has been associated with injury to the kidney it is important that special consideration be given to those with possible impairment of renal function.

(iii) Skin disease. DBCP can penetrate the skin and can cause erythema on prolonged exposure. Persons with preexisting skin disorders may be more susceptible to the effects of DBCP.

(iv) Blood dyscrasias. DBCP has been shown to decrease the content of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and leukocytes in the blood, as well as increase the prothrombin time. Persons with existing blood disorders may be more susceptible to the effects of DBCP.

(v) Reproductive disorders. Animal studies have associated DBCP with various effects on the reproductive organs. Among these effects are atrophy of the testicles and changes in the estrous cycle. Persons with preexisting reproductive disorders may be at increased risk to these effects of DBCP.

(7) References.

(a) Reznik, Ya. B. and Sprinchan, G. K.: Experimental Data on the Gonadotoxic effect of Nemagon, Gig. Sanit., (6), 1975, pp. 101-102, (translated from Russian).

(b) Faydysh, E. V., Rakhmatullaev, N. N. and Varshavskii, V. A.: The Cytotoxic Action of Nemagon in a Subacute Experiment, Med. Zh. Uzbekistana, (No. 1), 1970, pp. 64-65, (translated from Russian).

(c) Rakhmatullaev, N. N.: Hygienic Characteristics of the Nematocide Nemagon in Relation to Water Pollution Control, Hyg. Sanit., 36(3), 1971, pp. 344-348, (translated from Russian).

(d) Olson, W. A. et al.: Induction of Stomach Cancer in Rats and Mice by Halogenated Aliphatic Fumigants, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, (51), 1973, pp. 1993-1995.

(e) Torkelson, T. R. et al.: Toxicologic Investigations of 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 3, 1961 pp. 545-559.

Scope and application.

(1) WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389 applies to all occupational exposures to ethylene oxide (EtO), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 75-21-8, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.

(2) WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389 does not apply to the processing, use, or handling of products containing EtO where objective data are reasonably relied upon that demonstrate that the product is not capable of releasing EtO in airborne concentrations at or above the action level, and may not reasonably be foreseen to release EtO in excess of the excursion limit, under the expected conditions of processing, use, or handling that will cause the greatest possible release.

(3) Where products containing EtO are exempted under subsection (2) of this section, the employer must maintain records of the objective data supporting that exemption and the basis for the employer's reliance on the data, as provided in WAC 296-62-07375(1).

For the purpose of WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389, the following definitions shall apply:

Action level. A concentration of airborne EtO of 0.5 ppm calculated as an eight-hour time-weighted average.

Authorized person. Any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require the person to enter a regulated area, or any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of exercising the right to observe monitoring and measuring procedures under WAC 296-62-07377, or any other person authorized by chapter 49.17 RCW or regulations issued under chapter 49.17 RCW.

Director. The director of the department of labor and industries, or designee.

Emergency. Any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment that is likely to or does result in an unexpected significant release of EtO.

Employee exposure. Exposure to airborne EtO which would occur if the employee were not using respiratory protective equipment.

Ethylene oxide or EtO. The three-membered ring organic compound with chemical formula C2H4O.

(1) Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of EtO in excess of one part EtO per million parts of air (1 ppm) as an eight-hour time-weighted average. (Eight-hour TWA.)

(2) Excursion limit. The employer must ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of EtO in excess of five parts of EtO per million parts of air (5 ppm) as averaged over a sampling period of fifteen minutes.

(1) General.

(a) Determinations of employee exposure must be made from breathing zone air samples that are representative of the eight-hour TWA and fifteen-minute short-term exposures of each employee.

(b) Representative eight-hour TWA employee exposure must be determined on the basis of one or more samples representing full-shift exposure for each shift for each job classification in each work area. Representative fifteen-minute short-term employee exposures must be determined on the basis of one or more samples representing fifteen-minute exposures associated with operations that are most likely to produce exposures above the excursion limit for each shift for each job classification in each work area.

(c) Where the employer can document that exposure levels are equivalent for similar operations in different work shifts, the employer need only determine representative employee exposure for that operation during one shift.

(2) Initial monitoring.

(a) Each employer who has a workplace or work operation covered by WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389, except as provided in WAC 296-62-07355(2) or (b) of this subsection, must perform initial monitoring to determine accurately the airborne concentrations of EtO to which employees may be exposed.

(b) Where the employer has monitored after June 15, 1983, and the monitoring satisfies all other requirements of WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389, the employer may rely on such earlier monitoring results to satisfy the requirements of (a) of this subsection.

(c) Where the employer has previously monitored for the excursion limit and the monitoring satisfies all other requirements of this section, the employer may rely on such earlier monitoring results to satisfy the requirements of (a) of this subsection.

(3) Monitoring frequency (periodic monitoring).

(a) If the monitoring required by subsection (2) of this section reveals employee exposure at or above the action level but at or below the eight-hour TWA, the employer must repeat such monitoring for each such employee at least every six months.

(b) If the monitoring required by subsection (2)(a) of this section reveals employee exposure above the eight-hour TWA, the employer must repeat such monitoring for each such employee at least every three months.

(c) The employer may alter the monitoring schedule from quarterly to semiannually for any employee for whom two consecutive measurements taken at least seven days apart indicate that the employee's exposure has decreased to or below the eight-hour TWA.

(d) If the monitoring required by subsection (2)(a) of this section reveals employee exposure above the fifteen-minute excursion limit, the employer shall repeat such monitoring for each such employee at least every three months, and more often as necessary to evaluate the employee's short-term exposures.

(4) Termination of monitoring.

(a) If the initial monitoring required by subsection (2)(a) of this section reveals employee exposure to be below the action level, the employer may discontinue TWA monitoring for those employees whose exposures are represented by the initial monitoring.

(b) If the periodic monitoring required by subsection (3) of this section reveals that employee exposures, as indicated by at least two consecutive measurements taken at least seven days apart, are below the action level, the employer may discontinue TWA monitoring for those employees whose exposures are represented by such monitoring.

(c) If the initial monitoring required by subsection (2)(a) of this section reveals the employee exposure to be at or below the excursion limit, the employer may discontinue excursion limit monitoring for those employees whose exposures are represented by the initial monitoring.

(d) If the periodic monitoring required by subsection (3) of this section reveals that employee exposures, as indicated by at least two consecutive measurements taken at least seven days apart, are at or below the excursion limit, the employer may discontinue excursion limit monitoring for those employees whose exposures are represented by such monitoring.

(5) Additional monitoring. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, the employer must institute the exposure monitoring required under subsections (2)(a) and (3) of this section whenever there has been a change in the production, process, control equipment, personnel or work practices that may result in new or additional exposures to EtO or when the employer has any reason to suspect that a change may result in new or additional exposures.

(6) Accuracy of monitoring.

(a) Monitoring must be accurate, to a confidence level of ninety-five percent, to within plus or minus twenty-five percent for airborne concentrations of EtO at the 1 ppm TWA and to within plus or minus thirty-five percent for airborne concentrations of EtO at the action level of 0.5 ppm.

(b) Monitoring must be accurate, to a confidence level of ninety-five percent, to within plus or minus thirty-five percent for airborne concentrations of EtO at the excursion limit.

(7) Employee notification of monitoring results.

(a) The employer must, within fifteen working days after the receipt of the results of any monitoring performed under WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389, notify the affected employee of these results in writing either individually or by posting of results in an appropriate location that is accessible to affected employees.

(b) The written notification required by (a) of this subsection must contain the corrective action being taken by the employer to reduce employee exposure to or below the TWA and/or excursion limit, wherever monitoring results indicated that the TWA and/or excursion limit has been exceeded.

(1) The employer must establish a regulated area wherever occupational exposures to airborne concentrations of EtO may exceed the TWA or wherever the EtO concentration exceeds or can reasonably be expected to exceed the excursion limit.

(2) Access to regulated areas must be limited to authorized persons.

(3) Regulated areas must be demarcated in any manner that minimizes the number of employees within the regulated area.

(1) Engineering controls and work practices.

(a) The employer must institute engineering controls and work practices to reduce and maintain employee exposure to or below the TWA and to or below the excursion limit, except to the extent that such controls are not feasible.

(b) Wherever the feasible engineering controls and work practices that can be instituted are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the TWA and to or below the excursion limit, the employer must use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest levels achievable by these controls and must supplement them by the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of WAC 296-62-07367.

(c) Engineering controls are generally infeasible for the following operations: Collection of quality assurance sampling from sterilized materials removal of biological indicators from sterilized materials: Loading and unloading of tank cars; changing of ethylene oxide tanks on sterilizers; and vessel cleaning. For these operations, engineering controls are required only where the director demonstrates that such controls are feasible.

(2) Compliance program.

(a) Where the TWA or excursion limit is exceeded, the employer must establish and implement a written program to reduce employee exposure to or below the TWA and to or below the excursion limit by means of engineering and work practice controls, as required by subsection (1) of this section, and by the use of respiratory protection where required or permitted under WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389.

(b) The compliance program must include a schedule for periodic leak detection surveys and a written plan for emergency situations, as specified in WAC 296-62-07369 (1)(a).

(c) Written plans for a program required in this subsection must be developed and furnished upon request for examination and copying to the director, affected employees and designated employee representatives. Such plans must be reviewed at least every twelve months, and must be updated as necessary to reflect significant changes in the status of the employer's compliance program.

(d) The employer must not implement a schedule of employee rotation as a means of compliance with the TWA or excursion limit.

(1) General. For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer must provide respirators that comply with the requirements of WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389. Respirators must be used during:

(a) Periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work-practice controls;

(b) Work operations, such as maintenance and repair activities, vessel cleaning, or other activities, for which engineering and work-practice controls are not feasible;

(c) Work operations for which feasible engineering and work-practice controls are not yet sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the TWA or excursion limit;

(d) Emergencies.

(2) Respirator program. The employer must establish, implement, and maintain a respiratory protection program as required in chapter 296-842 WAC, except WAC 296-842-13005 and 296-842-14005.

(3) Respirator selection. The employer must select the appropriate respirator from Table 1 of this section.

(4) Protective clothing and equipment. Where employees could have eye or skin contact with EtO or EtO solutions, the employer must select and provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate protective clothing or other equipment in accordance with WAC 296-800-160, and to protect any area of the body that may come in contact with liquid EtO or EtO in solution, and must ensure that the employee wears the protective clothing and equipment provided.

(1) Written plan.

(a) A written plan for emergency situations must be developed for each workplace where there is a possibility of an emergency. Appropriate portions of the plan must be implemented in the event of an emergency.

(b) The plan must specifically provide that employees engaged in correcting emergency conditions must be equipped with respiratory protection as required by WAC 296-62-07367 until the emergency is abated.

(c) The plan must include the elements prescribed in WAC 296-24-567, "Employee emergency plans and fire prevention plans."

(2) Alerting employees. Where there is the possibility of employee exposure to EtO due to an emergency, means must be developed to alert potentially affected employees of such occurrences promptly. Affected employees must be immediately evacuated from the area in the event that an emergency occurs.

(1) General.

(a) Employees covered.

(i) The employer must institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or may be exposed to EtO at or above the action level, without regard to the use of respirators, for at least thirty days a year.

(ii) The employer must make available medical examinations and consultations to all employees who have been exposed to EtO in an emergency situation.

(b) Examination by a physician. The employer must ensure that all medical examinations and procedures are performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, and are provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place.

(2) Medical examinations and consultations.

(a) Frequency. The employer must make available medical examinations and consultations to each employee covered under subsection (1)(a) of this section on the following schedules:

(i) Prior to assignment of the employee to an area where exposure may be at or above the action level for at least thirty days a year.

(ii) At least annually each employee exposed at or above the action level for at least thirty days in the past year.

(iii) At termination of employment or reassignment to an area where exposure to EtO is not at or above the action level for at least thirty days a year.

(iv) As medically appropriate for any employee exposed during an emergency.

(v) As soon as possible, upon notification by an employee either (A) that the employee has developed signs or symptoms indicating possible overexposure to EtO, or (B) that the employee desires medical advice concerning the effects of current or past exposure to EtO on the employee's ability to produce a healthy child.

(vi) If the examining physician determines that any of the examinations should be provided more frequently than specified, the employer must provide such examinations to affected employees at the frequencies recommended by the physician.

(b) Content.

(i) Medical examinations made available pursuant to (a)(i) through (iv) of this subsection must include:

(A) A medical and work history with special emphasis directed to symptoms related to the pulmonary, hematologic, neurologic, and reproductive systems and to the eyes and skin.

(B) A physical examination with particular emphasis given to the pulmonary, hematologic, neurologic, and reproductive systems and to the eyes and skin.

(C) A complete blood count to include at least a white cell count (including differential cell count), red cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin.

(D) Any laboratory or other test which the examining physician deems necessary by sound medical practice.

(ii) The content of medical examinations or consultation made available pursuant to (a)(i)(v) of this subsection shall be determined by the examining physician, and shall include pregnancy testing or laboratory evaluation of fertility, if requested by the employee and deemed appropriate by the physician.

(3) Information provided to the physician. The employer must provide the following information to the examining physician:

(a) A copy of WAC 296-62-07355 through 296-62-07389.

(b) A description of the affected employee's duties as they relate to the employee's exposure.

(c) The employee's representative exposure level or anticipated exposure level.

(d) A description of any personal protective and respiratory equipment used or to be used.

(e) Information from previous medical examinations of the affected employee that is not otherwise available to the examining physician.

(4) Physician's written opinion.

(a) The employer must obtain a written opinion from the examining physician. This written opinion must contain the results of the medical examination and must include:

(i) The physician's opinion as to whether the employee has any detected medical conditions that would place the employee at an increased risk of material health impairment from exposure to EtO;

(ii) Any recommended limitations on the employee or upon the use of personal protective equipment such as clothing or respirators; and

(iii) A statement that the employee has been informed by the physician of the results of the medical examination and of any medical conditions resulting from EtO exposure that require further explanation or treatment.

(b) The employer must instruct the physician not to reveal in the written opinion given to the employer specific findings or diagnoses unrelated to occupational exposure to EtO.

(c) The employer must provide a copy of the physician's written opinion to the affected employee within fifteen days from its receipt.