Employees are encouraged to work with formaldehyde only in an approved chemical fume hood. Supervisors should exhaust all engineering controls and work practice controls prior to implementation of respiratory protection. The USU Respiratory Protection Program requirements must be met prior to respirator use. Changing facilities, eye washes and drench showers are required under this section. Immediate access to such equipment must be provided.
Most laboratories have eye washes and showers.
Provisions must be made for spill containment, work area decontamination and waste disposal. Sealed containers holding debris from spills must be labeled to indicate the presence and associated hazards of formaldehyde. Spill response training is a regular part of the Laboratory Safety Seminar provided quarterly and should be attended by all formaldehyde users. The MSDS also contains relevant information for emergencies and is reviewed with all new laboratory employees at the Laboratory Safety Seminar. The employer shall institute medical surveillance programs for all employees who are exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or the STEL and for any employees who develop signs and symptoms of over exposure to formaldehyde.