California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 16 - Control of Hazardous Substances › Article 110 - Regulated Carcinogens › Appendix B - Substance Technical Guidelines for Ethylene Oxide

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
I. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DATA
(A) Substance identification
(1) Synonyms: dihydrooxirene, dimethylene oxide, EO, 1,
						  2-epoxyethane, EtO, ETO, oxacyclopropane, oxane, oxidoethane,
						  alpha/beta-oxidoethane, oxiran, oxirane
(2) Formula:
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(3) Molecular weight: 44.06
(B) Physical data:
(1) Boiling point (760 mm Hg): 10.7° C (51.3°
						  F)
(2) Specific gravity (water = 1): 0.87 (at 20° C or
						  68° F)
(3) Vapor density (air = 1): 1.49
(4) Vapor pressure (at 20° C): 1,095 mm Hg
(5) Solubility in water: complete
(6) Appearance and odor: colorless liquid; gas at
						  temperatures above 10.7°F (51.3°C) with an ether-like odor detectable
						  above 700 ppm
II. FIRE, EXPLOSION, AND REACTIVITY HAZARD DATA
(A) Fire:
(1) Flash point: less than 0° F (open cup);
(2) Stability: decomposes violently at temperatures
						  above 800° F;
(3) Flammable limits in air, percent by volume: Lower:
						  3, Upper: 100;
(4) Extinguishing media: Carbon dioxide for small
						  fires, polymer or alcohol foams for large fires;
(5) Special fire fighting procedures: Dilution of
						  ethylene oxide with 23 volumes of water renders it non-flammable;
(6) Unusual fire and explosion hazards: Vapors of EtO
						  will burn without the presence of air or other oxidizers. EtO 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 EtO is being used.
(7) For purposes of compliance with the requirements of
						  Articles 141 through 148 of the General Industry Safety Orders, EtO is
						  classified as a flammable gas. For example, 7,500 ppm, approximately one-fourth
						  of the lower flammable limit, would be considered to pose a potential fire and
						  explosion hazard.
(8) For purposes of compliance with regulations for
						  fire protection, EtO is classified as a Class B fire hazard.
(9) For purposes of compliance with the Electrical
						  Safety Orders (California Administrative Code, Title 8, Subchapters 5 and 6),
						  locations classified as hazardous due to the presence of EtO shall be Class
						  I.
(B) Reactivity:
(1) Conditions contributing to instability: EtO will
						  polymerize violently if contaminated with aqueous alkalies, amines, mineral
						  acids, metal chlorides, or metal oxides. Violent decomposition will also occur
						  at temperatures above 800°F;
(2) Incompatibilities: Alkalies and acids;
(3) Hazardous decomposition products: Carbon monoxide
						  and carbon dioxide.
III. SPILL, LEAK, AND DISPOSAL PROCEDURES
(A) If EtO is spilled or leaked, the following steps
						  should be taken:
(1) Remove all ignition sources.
(2) The area should be evacuated at once and re-entered
						  only after the area has been thoroughly ventilated and washed down with
						  water.
(B) Persons not wearing appropriate protective
						  equipment must be restricted from areas of spills or leaks until cleanup has
						  been completed.
(C) Waste disposal methods: Waste material shall be
						  disposed of in a manner that is not hazardous to employees or to the general
						  population. In selecting the method of waste disposal, applicable local, State,
						  and Federal regulations should be consulted.
IV. MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES
(A) Exposure above the Permissible Exposure
						  Limit:
(1) Measurements taken for the purpose of determining
						  employee exposure under this section are best taken with consecutive samples
						  covering the full shift. Air samples must be taken in the employee's breathing
						  zone (air that would most nearly represent that inhaled by the
						  employee).
(2) The sampling and analysis under this section may be
						  performed by collection of the EtO 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 a real-time continuous
						  monitoring systems, portable direct reading instruments, or passive dosimeters
						  provided measurements taken using these methods accurately evaluate the
						  concentration of EtO in employees' breathing zones.
Appendix D describes the validated method of sampling
						  and analysis which has been tested by Federal OSHA for use with EtO. The
						  employer has the obligation of selecting a monitoring method which meets the
						  accuracy and precision requirements of the standard under his or her unique
						  field conditions. The standard requires that the method of monitoring must be
						  accurate, to a 95 percent confidence level, to plus or minus 25 percent for
						  concentrations of EtO at 1 ppm and to plus or minus 35 percent for
						  concentrations at 0.5 ppm.
(B) Since many of the employer's duties under the
						  regulation depend upon the results of employee exposure measurements, employers
						  must assure that the evaluation of employee exposures is performed by a
						  technically qualified person.
V. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Employees shall be provided with and be required to
						  wear appropriate protective clothing wherever there is significant potential
						  for skin contact with liquid EtO or EtO-containing solutions. Protective
						  clothing shall include impermeable coveralls or similar full-body work
						  clothing, gloves, and head coverings, as appropriate to protect areas of the
						  body which may come in contact with liquid EtO or EtO-containing
						  solutions.
Employers must ascertain that the protective garments
						  are impermeable to EtO. Permeable clothing, including items made of rubber, and
						  leather shoes should not be allowed to become contaminated with liquid EtO or
						  EtO-containing solutions. If permeable clothing does become contaminated, it
						  should be immediately removed while the employee is under an emergency deluge
						  shower. If leather footwear or other leather garments become wet from EtO they
						  should be discarded and not be worn again because leather absorbs EtO and holds
						  it against the skin.
Any protective clothing that has been damaged or is
						  otherwise found to be defective should be repaired or replaced. Clean
						  protective clothing should be provided to the employee as necessary to assure
						  employee protection. Whenever impermeable clothing becomes wet with liquid EtO
						  or EtO-containing solutions, it should 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 EtO contacting the
						  eyes.
VI. MISCELLANEOUS PRECAUTIONS
(A) Store EtO in tightly closed containers in a cool,
						  well-ventilated area and take all necessary precautions to avoid any explosion
						  hazard.
(B) Non-sparking tools must be used to open and close
						  metal containers. These containers must be effectively grounded and
						  bonded.
(C) Do not incinerate EtO cartridges, tanks or other
						  containers.
(D) Employers shall advise employees of all areas and
						  operations where exposure to EtO could occur.
VII. COMMON OPERATIONS
Common operations in which exposure to EtO is likely to
						  occur include the following: Manufacture of EtO, surfactants, ethanolamines,
						  glycol ethers, and specialty chemicals, and use as a sterilant and fumigant in
						  the hospital, health product and spice industries.