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 A - Inorganic Arsenic Substance Information Sheet

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
I. SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION
A. Substance. Inorganic Arsenic.
B. Definition. Copper acetoarsenite, arsenic and all
						  inorganic compounds containing arsenic except arsine, measured as arsenic
						  (As).
C. Permissible Exposure Limit. 0.01 milligrams per
						  cubic meter of air (same as 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air) as determined
						  as an average over an 8-hour period. No employee may be exposed to any skin or
						  eye contact with arsenic trichloride or to skin or eye contact likely to cause
						  skin or eye irritation.
D. Action Level. 0.005 milligrams per cubic meter of
						  air (same as 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air) determined as an average over
						  an 8-hour period.
E. Regulated Areas. Only employees authorized by your
						  employer should enter a regulated area.
II. HEALTH HAZARD DATA
A. Comments. The health hazard of inorganic arsenic is
						  high.
B. Ways In Which Inorganic Arsenic Affects Your Body.
						  Exposure to airborne inorganic arsenic may cause lung cancer, and it can be a
						  skin irritant. Inorganic arsenic may also affect your body if swallowed. One
						  compound in particular, arsenic trichloride, is especially dangerous because it
						  is highly corrosive and it can be absorbed readily through the skin. Because
						  inorganic arsenic is a poison, you should wash your hands thoroughly prior to
						  eating or smoking.
III. PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
A. Respirators. Respirators will be provided by your
						  employer at no cost to you for routine use if your employer is in the process
						  of implementing engineering and work practice controls or where engineering and
						  work practice controls are not feasible or insufficient. You must wear
						  respirators for non-routine activities or in emergency situations where you are
						  likely to be exposed to levels of inorganic arsenic in excess of the
						  permissible exposure limit. Since how well your respirator fits your face is
						  very important, your employer is required to conduct fit tests to make sure the
						  respirator seals properly when you wear it. These tests are simple and rapid
						  and will be explained to you during training sessions.
B. Protective clothing. If you work in a regulated
						  area, your employer is required to provide at no cost to you, and you must
						  wear, appropriate, clean, protective clothing and equipment. The purpose of
						  this equipment is to prevent you from bringing to your home
						  arsenic-contaminated dust and to protect your body from repeated skin contact
						  with inorganic arsenic likely to cause skin irritation. This clothing should
						  include such items as coveralls or similar full-body clothing, gloves, shoes or
						  coverlets, and aprons. Eye protection, such as indirectly vented goggles, may
						  be required to prevent eye injuries.
IV. HYGIENE FACILITIES AND PRACTICES
You must not eat, drink, smoke, chew gum or tobacco, or
						  apply cosmetics in the regulated area, except that drinking water is permitted.
						  If you work in a regulated area your employer is required to provide lunch
						  rooms and other areas for these purposes.
If you work in a regulated area, your employer is
						  required to provide showers, washing facilities, and change rooms. You must
						  wash your face and hands before eating and must shower at the end of the work
						  shift. Do not take used protective clothing out of change rooms without your
						  employer's permission. Your employer is required to provide for laundering or
						  cleaning of your protective clothing.
V. SIGNS AND LABELS
Your employer is required to post warning signs and
						  labels for your protection. Signs must be posted in regulated areas. The signs
						  must warn that a cancer hazard is present, that only authorized employees may
						  enter the area, and that no smoking or eating is allowed, and that respirators
						  must be worn.
VI. MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS
If your exposure to arsenic is over the action level at
						  least 30 days per year, or your have been exposed to arsenic for more than 10
						  years over the action level, your employer is required to provide you with a
						  medical examination. The examination shall be every 6 months for employees over
						  45 years old or with more than 10 years exposure over the action level and
						  annually for other covered employees. The initial medical examination must
						  include a medical history; a chest X-ray; skin examination; nasal examination
						  and sputum cytology examination for the early detection of lung cancer. In
						  subsequent medical examinations, the chest X-ray is not required unless
						  recommended by the physician. The cytology exams are only included in the
						  initial examination and examinations given after you are either 45 years or
						  older or have 10 or more years employment over the action level. The examining
						  physician will provide a written opinion to your employer interpreting the
						  results of the medical exams. You should also receive a copy of this opinion.
						  The physician must not tell your employer any conditions he or she detects
						  unrelated to occupational exposure to arsenic but must tell you those
						  conditions.
VII. OBSERVATION OF MONITORING
Your employer is required to monitor your exposure to
						  arsenic and you or your representatives are entitled to observe the monitoring
						  procedure. You are entitled to receive an explanation of the measurement
						  procedure, and to record the results obtained. When the monitoring procedure is
						  taking place in an area where respirators or personal protective clothing and
						  equipment are required to be worn, you must also be provided with and must wear
						  the protective clothing and equipment.
VIII. ACCESS TO RECORDS
You or your representative are entitled to records of
						  your exposure to inorganic arsenic upon request to your employer. Your medical
						  examination records can be furnished to you, your physician, or any other
						  individual or organization that you designate if you request your employer to
						  provide them.
IX. TRAINING AND NOTIFICATION
Additional information on all of these items plus
						  training as to hazards of exposure to inorganic arsenic and the engineering and
						  work practice controls associated with your job will also be provided by your
						  employer. If you are exposed over the permissible exposure limit, your employer
						  must inform you of that fact and the actions he or she is taking to reduce your
						  exposures.