Document zdaQGXJXJrve0QnVg73MYgj2a

1910.1017 29 CFR Ch. XVII (7-1-87 Edition) (U) A written report shall be filed with the nearest OSHA Area Director within 15 calendar days thereafter and shall Include: () A specification of the amount of material released, the amount of time involved, and an explanation of the procedure used In determining this figure; () A description of the area in* volved. and the extent of known and possible employee exposure and area contamination; and (c) A report of any medical treat ment of affected employees, and any medical surveillance program imple mented; and (d) An analysis of the circumstances of the incident, and measures taken or to be taken, with specific completion dates, to avoid further similar releases. (g) Medical surveillance. At no cost to the employee, a program of medical surveillance shall be established and implemented for employees considered for assignment to enter regulated areas, and for authorized employees. (1) Examinations. (1) Before ah em ployee Is assigned to enter a regulated area, a preassignment physical exami nation by a physician shall be provid ed. The examination shall include the personal history of the employee, family and occupational background, including genetic and environmental factors. (il) Authorized employees shall be provided periodic physical examina tions. not less often than annually, fol lowing the preassignment examina tion. (Hi) In all physical examinations, the examining physician shall consider whether there exist conditions of in creased risk, Including reduced Im munological competence, those under going treatment with steroids or cyto toxic agents, pregnancy and cigarette smoking. (2) Records, (i) Employers of em ployees examined pursuant to this paragraph shall cause to be main tained complete and accurate records of all such medical examinations. Records shall be maintained for the duration of the employee's employ ment. Upon termination of an employ ee's employment, including retirement or death, or in the event that the em ployer ceases business without a suc cessor, records, or notarized true copies thereof, shall be forwarded by registered mail to the Director. (ii) Records required by this para graph shall be provided upon request to employees, designated representa tives, and the Assistant Secretary in. accordance with 29 CFR 1910.20 <a>(e) and (gMl). These records shall also be provided upon request to the Direc tor. (ill) Any physician who conducts a medical examination required by this, paragraph shall furnish to the em-, ployer a statement of the employee's suitability for employment In the spe-, elite exposure. (Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1218-' 0081) (89 FR 29502, June 27, 1974. Redodgnated: at 40 FR 23072, May 28. 1975, and amended at 41 FR 35184, Aug. 20. 1976; 43 FR 49751, Oct. 24. 1978; 45 FR 35282, May 23, 1980; 49. FRJ&2&5. Apr. 30.1BM1 91910.1017 Vinyl ehlorldja) * '~\6PwboiA*artd~<tppHcation. (1) This section includes requirements for the. control of employee exposure to vinyl chloride (chloroethene). Chemical Ab stracts Service Registry No. 75014. (2) This section applies to the manu facture, reaction, packaging, repackag ing, storage, handling or use of vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride, but, does not apply to the handling or use; of fabricated products made of polyvi nyl chloride. (3) This section applies to the trans portation of vinyl chloride or polyvi nyl chloride except to the extent that the Department of Transportation may regulate the hazards covered by this section. (b) Definitions. (1) "Action level" means a concentration of vinyl chlo ride of 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8- hour work day. (2) "Assistant Secretary" means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occu pational Safety and Health. U.S. De partment of Labor, or his designee. ' (3) "Authorized person" means any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require him to enter a regulated area or any person entering such an area as a designated 784 Occupational Safety and Health Admin. Labor 1910.1017 representative of employees for the ment to determine if there Is any em purpose of exercising an opportunity ployee exposed, without regard to the to observe monitoring and measuring use of respirators, in excess of the procedures. action level. (4) "Director" means the Director, (2) Where a determination conduct National Institute for Occupational ed under paragraph (d)(1) of this sec Safety and Health. U.S. Department tion shows any employee exposures, of Health, Education, and Welfare, or without regard to the use of respira his designee. tors, In excess of the action level, a (5) "Emergency" means any occur program for determining exposures rence such as, but not limited to, for each such employee shall be estab equipment failure, or operation of a lished. Such a program: relief device which is likely to, or does, (1) Shall be repeated at least month result in massive release of vinyl chlo ly where any employee is exposed, ride. without regard to the use of respira (6) "Fabricated product" means a tors, in excess of the permissible expo product made wholly or partly from sure limit. polyvinyl chloride, and which does not (U) Shall be repeated not less than require further processing at tempera quarterly where any employee is ex tures, and for times, sufficient to posed, without regard to the use of cause mass melting of the polyvinyl respirators, in excess of the action chloride resulting in the release of level. vinyl chloride. (ill) May be discontinued for any em (7) "Hazardous operation" means ployee only when at least two consecu any operation, procedure, or activity tive monitoring determinations, made where a release of either vinyl chlo not less than 5 working days apart, ride liquid or gas might be expected as show exposures for that employee at a consequence of the operation or be or below the action level. cause of an accident in the operation, (3) Whenever there has been a pro which would result in an employee ex duction, process or control change posure In excess of the permissible ex which may result In an increase in the posure limit. release of vinyl chloride, or the em (8) "OSHA Area Director" means ployer has any other reason to suspect the Director for the Occupational that any employee may be exposed in Safety and Health Administration excess of the action level, a determina Area Office having Jurisdiction over tion of employee exposure under para the geographic area in which the em graph (d)(1) of this section shall be ployer's establishment is located. performed. (9) "Polyvinyl chloride" means poly (4) The method of monitoring and vinyl chloride homopolymer or copoly measurement shall have an accuracy mer before such is converted to a fab (with a confidence level of 95 percent) ricated product of not less than plus or minus 50 per (10) "Vinyl chloride" means vinyl cent from 0.25 through 0.5 ppm, plus chloride monomer. or minus 35 percent from over 0.5 ppm (c) Permissible exposure limit (1) No through 1.0 ppm, and plus or minus 25 employee may be exposed to vinyl percent over 1.0 ppm. (Methods meet chloride at concentrations greater ing these accuracy requirements are than 1 ppm averaged over any 8-hour available in the "NIOSH Manual of period, and Analytical Methods"). (2) No employee may be exposed to (5) Employees or their designated vinyl chloride at concentrations great representatives shall be afforded rea er than 5 ppm averaged over any sonable opportunity to observe the period not exceeding 15 minutes. monitoring and measuring required by (3) No employee may be exposed to this paragraph. vinyl chloride by direct contact with (e) Regulated area. (1) A regulated liquid vinyl chloride. area shall be established where: (d) Monitoring. (1)A program of ini (i) Vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chlo tial monitoring and measurement ride is manufactured, reacted, repack shall be undertaken in each establish- aged, stored, handled or used; and 785 ABD00094833  1910.1017 29 CFR Ch. XVII (7-1-87 Edition) (ii) Vinyl chloride concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limit. (2) Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons. (f) Methods of compliance. Employee exposures to vinyl chloride shall be controlled to at or below the permissi ble exposure limit provided in para graph (c) of this section by engineer ing. work practice, and personal pro tective controls as follows: (1) Feasible engineering and work practice controls shall immediately be used to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit. (2) Wherever feasible engineering and work practice controls which can be instituted immediately are not suf ficient to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit, they shall nonetheless be used to reduce exposures to the lowest practi cable level, and shall be supplemented by respiratory protection in accord ance with paragraph (g) of this sec tion. A program shall be established and implemented to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible expo sure limit, or to the greatest extent feasible, solely by means of engineer ing and work practice controls, as soon as feasible. (3) Written plans for such a program shall be developed and furnished upon request for examination and copying to authorized representatives of the Assistant Secretary and the Director. Such plans shall be updated at least every six months. (g) Respiratory protection. Where respiratory protection Is required under this section: (1) The employer shall provide a res pirator which meets the requirements of this paragraph and shall assure that the employee uses such respira tor. except that until April 1, 1976. wearing of respirators shall be at the discretion of each employee for expo sures not in excess of 25 ppm, meas ured over any 15-minute period. Until April 1, 1976, each employee who chooses not to wear an appropriate respirator shall be informed at least quarterly of the hazards of vinyl chlo ride and the purpose, proper use, and limitations of respiratory devices. (2) Respirators shall be selected from among those jointly approved by the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration, Department of the In terior. and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health under the provisions of 30 CFR Part 11. (3) A respiratory protection program meeting the requirements of $ 1910.134 shall be established and maintained. <4) Selection of respirators for vinyl chloride shall be as follows: Atmospheric concentration o! vinyt cftfonde(i) Required apparatus (i) Unknown, or above 3,600 p/m (ii) Not over 3,600 p/m....... ........ (is) Not over 1.000 p/m............... , (rv) Not over 100 p/m (v) Not over 25 p/m (vi) Not over 10 p/m Open-circuit, self-contained breathing apparatus, pressure demand type, with full facepiece. (A) Combination type C supplied air respirator, pressure demand type, with fuff or half facepiece, and auxiliary salf-contained air supply; or (B) Combination type, supplied air respirator continuous flow type, with full or halt facepiece, and auxiliary self-contained air supply. Type C. supplied air respirator, continuous flow type, with fuD or half facepiece, helmet or hood. (A) Combination type C supplied air respirator demand type, with fuS facepiece, and auxiliary self-contained air supply; or (B) Open-circuil self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece. In demand mode; or (C) Type C supplied air respirator, demand type, with full facepiece.' (A) A powered -purifying respirator with hood, helmet, full or half facepiece, and a canister which provides a service life of al least 4 hours for concenrations of vinyl chloride up to 25 p/m. or (B) Gas mask, front- or back-mounted canister which provides a service Me of at least 4 hours for concentrations of vinyl chloride up to 25 p/m. (A) Combination type C supplied^* respirator, demand type, with half facepiece, and auxiliary self-contained air supply; or (B) Type C supplied-air respirator, demand type, with half facepiece; or (C) Any chemical cartridge respirator with an organic vapor cartridge which provides a service Me of at laast 1 hour for concentrations of vinyl chloride up io 10 p/m. 786 Occupational Safoty and Hoalth Admin., Labor 1910.1017 * (5) (i) Entry into unknown concentra (1) Employees engaged in hazardous , tions or concentrations greater than operations or correcting situations of , 36,000 ppm (lower explosive limit) may existing hazardous releases shall be be made only for purposes of life equipped as required in paragraph (h) rescue; and of this section; (11) Entry into concentrations of less (2) Other employees not so equipped than 36,000 ppm, but greater than 3,600 ppm may be made only for pur poses of life rescue, firefighting, or se curing equipment so as to prevent a greater hazard from release of vinyl chloride. (6) Where air-purifying respirators are used: (I) Air-purifying cannlsters or car tridges shall 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 shall be provided where concentrations of vinyl chloride could reasonably exceed the allowable con centrations for the devices in use. Such system shall be used to alert em ployees when vinyl chloride concentra tions exceed the allowable concentra tions for the devices in use. (7) Apparatus prescribed for higher concentrations may be used for any lower concentration. (h) Hazardous operations. (1) Em ployees engaged in hazardous oper ations, including entry of vessels to clean polyvinyl chloride residue from vessel walls, shall be provided and re quired to wear and use; (i) Respiratory protection in accord shall evacuate the area and not return until conditions are controlled by the methods required in paragraph (f) of this section and the emergency Is abated. (j) Training. Each employee en gaged in vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride operations shall be provided training in a program relating to the hazards of vinyl chloride and precau tions for its safe use. (1) The program shall include: (0 The nature of the health hazard from chronic exposure to vinyl chlo ride including specifically the carcino genic 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 toxici ty of vinyl chloride, and the necessary protective steps; (v) The purpose for and a descrip tion of the monitoring program; (vi) The purpose for. and a descrip tion of, the medical surveillance pro gram; (vii) Emergency procedures; (viii) Specific information to aid the ance with paragraphs (c) and (g) of employee in recognition of conditions this section; and which may result in the release of (ii) Protective garments to prevent vinyl chloride; and skin contact with liquid vinyl chloride (ix) A review of this standard at the or with polyvinyl chloride residue employee's first training and Indoctri from vessel walls. The protective gar nation program, and annually thereaf ments shall be selected for the oper ter. ation and its possible exposure condi (2) AH materials relating to the pro tions. gram shall be provided upon request (2) Protective garments shall be pro to the Assistant Secretary and the Di vided clean and dry for each use. rector. (i) Emergency situations. A written (k) Medical surveillance. A program operational plan for emergency situa of medical surveillance shall be insti tions shall be developed for each facili tuted for each employee exposed, ty storing, handling, or otherwise without regard to the use of respira using vinyl chloride as a liquid or com tors, to vinyl chloride in excess of the pressed gas. Appropriate portions of action level. The program shall pro the plan shall be Implemented in the vide each such employee with an op event of an emergency. The plan shall portunity for examinations and tests specifically provide that: In accordance with this paragraph. All 787 > ABD00094834 medical examinations and procedures shall be performed by or under the su pervision of a licensed physician, and shall be provided without cost to the employee. (1) At the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of medical surveil lance; (1) A general physical examination shall be performed, with specific at tention to detecting enlargement of liver, spleen or kidneys, or dysfunction in these organs, and for abnormalities in skin, connective tissues and the pul monary system (See Appendix A). (ii) A medical history shall be taken, including the following topics: (A) Alcohol intake; (B) Past history of hepatitis; (C) Work history and past exposure to potential hepatotoxic agents, in cluding drugs and chemicals; (D) Past history of blood transfu sions; and (E) Past history of hospitalizations. (iii) A serum specimen shall be ob tained and determinations made of: (A) Total bilirubin; (B) Alkaline phosphatase; (C) Serum glutamic oxalacetic trans aminase (SOOT); (D) Serum glutamic pyruvic trans aminase (SGPT); and (E) Gamma glustamyl transpepti dase. (2) Examinations provided in accord ance with this paragraph shall be per formed at least: (i) Every 6 months for each employ ee who has been employed in vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride manu facturing for 10 years or longer; and (U) Annually for all other employ ees. (3) Each employee exposed to an emergency shall be afforded appropri ate medical surveillance. (4) A statement of each employee's suitability for continued exposure to vinyl chloride including use of protec tive equipment and respirators, shall be obtained from the examining physi cian promptly after any examination. A copy of the physician's statement shall be provided each employee. (5) If any employee's health would be materially impaired by continued exposure, such employee shall be withdrawn from possible contact with vinyl chloride. (6) Laboratory analyses for all bio logical specimens included in medical1 examinations shall be performed in laboratories licensed under 42 CFR Part 74. (7) If the examining physician deter mines that alternative medical exami-' nations to those required by para graph (k)(l) of this section will pro-, vide at least equal assurance of detect ing medical conditions pertinent to the exposure to vinyl chloride, the em ployer may accept such alternative ex aminations as meeting the require ments of paragraph (kXl) of this sec tion, if the employer obtains a state-, ment from the examining physician setting forth the alternative examlna-. tions and the rationale for substitu-.* tlon. This statement shall be available upon request for examination and copying to authorized representatives of the Assistant Secretary and the Di-; rector. (1) Siffns and labels. (1) Entrances to! regulated areas shall be posted with legible signs bearing the legend: < Cancer-Suspect Agent Area Authorized Personnel Only \ (2) Areas containing hazardous oper-, atlons or where an emergency current-'' ly exists shall be posted with legible^ signs bearing the legend: Cancer-Suspect Agent in This Area< Protective Equipment Required Authorized Personnel Only (3) Containers of polyvinyl chloride resin waste from reactors or other, waste contaminated with vinyl chlo ride shall be legibly labeled: j Contaminated With Vinyl Chloride Cancer-Suspect Agent (4) Containers of polyvinyl chloride shall be legibly labeled: 788 A w S UA A fVAwL ii ment. oi eacn employee plus 20 .years, Contains or 30 years, whichever is longer. (3)In the event that the employer Vinyl Chloride ceases to do business and there is no Vinyl Chloride is a Cancer-Suspect Agent (5) Containers of vinyl chloride shall be legibly labeled either: successor to receive and retain Ult records for the prescribed period, these records shall be transmitted by registered mail to the Director, and (i) each employee individually notified in writing of this transfer. The employer Vinyl Chloride shall also comply with any additional Extremely Flammable Gas Under Pressure requirements set forth in 29 CFR 1910.20(h). Cancer Suspect Agent (n)Reports. (1) Not later than 1 or (il) In accordance with 49 CFR Parts 170-189. with the additional legend: month after the establishment of a regulated area, the following informa tion shall be reported to the OSHA Area Director. Any changes to such in Cancer-Suspect Agent formation shall be reported within 15 days. applied near the label or placard. (6) No statement shall appear on or near any required sign, label or In struction which contradicts or detracts from the effect of, any required warn ing, information or instruction. (m) Records. (1) All records main tained in accordance with this section shall include the name and social secu rity number of each employee where relevant. (2) Records of required monitoring and measuring and medical records shall be provided upon request to em ployees, designated representatives, and the Assistant Secretary in accord ance with 29 CFR 1910.20 (aMe) and (gMi). These records shall be provided upon request to the Director. Author ized personnel rosters shall also be provided upon request to the Assistant Secretary and the Director. (1) Monitoring and measuring records shall: (A) State the date of such monitor ing and measuring and the concentra tions determined and Identify the In struments and methods used; (B) Include any additional informa tion necessary to determine individual employee exposures where such expo sures are determined by means other than individual monitoring of employ ees; and (C) Be maintained for not less than (1) 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 op erations, including maintenance. (2) Emergencies, and the facts ob tainable at that time, shall be reported within 24 hours to the OSHA Area Di rector. Upon request of the Area Di rector. the employer shall submit addi tional information in writing relevant to the nature and extent of employee exposures and measures taken to pre vent future emergencies of similar nature. (3) Within 10 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 permissi ble exposure limit, each such employ ee shftll 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. (o) Effective dates. (1) Until April 1, 1975, the provisions currently set forth in 8 1910.93q of this part shall apply. (2) Effective April 1, 1975, the provi sions set forth in 8 1910.93q of this part shall apply. 30 years. Appendix A--Supplementary Medical (U) (Reserved] Information (111) Medical records shall be main tained for the duration of the employ When required tests under paragraph (kXl) of this section show abnormalities. 789 >> ABD00094835