OSHA Formaldehyde (updated 2009) (Online Course)

Terry Jo Gile MT(ASCP)MA Ed.

MediaLab's OSHA Formaldehyde course is one of the few online courses currently available that addresses the important OSHA Formaldehyde standard. OSHA has fined hospitals and health care facilities up to $112,000 for failure to provide and document employee formaldehyde training.

This course is essential for any laboratory that uses formaldehyde or formalin. Facts about formaldehyde, safety risks, proper handling procedure, monitoring, spill clean-up, and personal protective equipment and are all covered in this comprehensive course.

OSHA requires initial and annual formaldehyde training for all employees who may be exposed to formaldehyde at levels at or above 0.1 ppm, unless the employer can demonstrate that employees are not exposed to this level. For practical purposes, this means that all employees who work in the pathology gross room are probably candidates for initial and annual formaldehyde training. Please seen the appropriate citation from the OSHA formaldehyde standard below.

1910.1048(n)(1) Participation. The employer shall assure that all employees who are assigned to workplaces where there is exposure to formaldehyde participate in a training program, except that where the employer can show, using objective data, that employees are not exposed to formaldehyde at or above 0.1 ppm, the employer is not required to provide training.

1910.1048(n)(2) Frequency. Employers shall provide such information and training to employees at the time of initial assignment, and whenever a new exposure to formaldehyde is introduced into the work area. The training shall be repeated at least annually.

Help meet laboratory safety, compliance, and CE requirements

Laboratory subscriptions include unlimited access to OSHA Formaldehyde (updated 2009) and 56 other online courses, plus MediaLab's powerful, easy-to-use learning management system for tracking and documenting laboratory compliance training.

An individual subscription can help you meet laboratory continuing education requirements for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and more. Over 105 ASCLS P.A.C.E. credits are available from 57 online courses.

• See the complete list of courses included with a MediaLab laboratory subscription.
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Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 1 hour(s)
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science Credit Hours: Supervision/Administration, Quality Control/Quality Assurance, and Safety: 1 hour(s)

Objectives

• Describe the characteristics of formaldehyde, and symptoms of overexposure to formaldehyde.
• Be aware of the relevant OSHA standards.
• Describe appropriate environmental monitoring procedures.
• Explain how to protect yourself from the dangers of formaldehyde.

Course Outline

Click on a link in the outline to view a sample page from this course.

• Facts about Formaldehyde
• What is Formaldehyde?
• Where is Formaldehyde Used?
• What Does Formaldehyde Do?
• Symptoms of Overexposure
• A Potential Carcinogen
• OSHA Standards
• Relevant OSHA Standards
• Questionnaire
• Surveillance Questionnaire
• Label and MSDS
• Manufacturer's Label
• Material Safety Data Sheet
• Environmental Monitoring
• Procedure
• Environment Monitoring for Formaldehyde
• How is Exposure to Formaldehyde Monitored?
• Monitoring Results
• Results
• OSHA has set these Permissible Limits for Formaldehyde Exposure:
• Acceptable Results
• Unacceptable Results
• Corrective Action
• Warning Signs
• Warning Signs
• Engineering Controls
• Fume Hoods and other Controls
• Work Practice Controls
• Transporting formalin containers
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Respirators
• Respirators (continued)
• Contamination
• If you become contaminated...
• In case of a spill...

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic.

Intended Audience: Laboratory, histology, and pathology personnel who may be exposed to formaldehyde.

Author credentials: Terry Jo Gile, MT(ASCP)MA Ed. "The Safety Lady®" has over 45 years experience as a certified medical technologist. She has a bachelor's degree in Biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and a master's degree in Education from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. For 20 years she was a member of the management team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital Department of Laboratories in St. Louis, Missouri, and served as the Safety Officer as well as a laboratory safety consultant to the BJC Health System. As President of her own consulting firm, Safety Lady, LLC, she is a world renowned speaker and consultant helping organizations create safety savvy laboratories.