Employer Responsibilities
Employee exposure is limited to one part EtO per million parts of air (1 ppm) measured as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).
Employee exposure may not exceed the short-term excursion limit of 5 ppm EtO averaged over any 15-minute sampling period. These limits are called permissible exposure limits (PELs). The OSHA standard covers most occupational exposures to EtO. The standard does not apply, however, when employers can demonstrate that the processing, use, or handling of products containing EtO will not release airborne concentrations of EtO at or above the standard’s action level of 0.5 ppm.
If employee exposures exceed either the PEL or the excursion limit, employers must take the following actions:
- Use engineering controls and work practices to control employee exposure.
- Establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce exposures to or below the TWA and exposure limit.
- Establish personal air monitoring and information and training programs for employees exposed to EtO at or above the action level or above the excursion limit.
- Conduct training upon initial job assignment and annually.
- Establish a regulated area wherever airborne concentrations of EtO are expected to exceed the 8-hour TWA or the excursion limit.
- Establish a medical surveillance program for employees exposed to EtO at concentrations above the action level of 0.5 ppm, measured as an 8-hour TWA, for more than 30 days per year.
- Place warning labels on all containers that might cause employee exposures at or above the action level or excursion limit.
- Remember that employee rotation is prohibited as a means of compliance with the 8-hour TWA or exposure limit.
- Select, provide, and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment and ensure that employees use it to prevent skin and eye contact.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-11. When must employers take action to address ethylene oxide exposure?
You forgot to answer the question!