DBCP substance safety data

The permissible airborne exposure limit for DBCP is 1 part per billion (1 ppb) as an 8‑hour time‑weighted average (TWA). This numeric limit and its application are stated in Appendix A to 1910.1044 and implemented under the DBCP standard at 1910.1044.

No — eye contact and skin contact with DBCP are prohibited. The Substance Safety Data Sheet for DBCP in Appendix A to 1910.1044 states that dermal exposure is not allowed and requires employers to provide impermeable protective clothing and eye protection where contact is possible.

Employees can be exposed to DBCP by inhalation (breathing), ingestion (swallowing), skin contact, and eye contact. These routes of entry are listed in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Acute exposure to DBCP can cause drowsiness, irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin, nausea, vomiting, and in high exposures may damage the lungs, liver, or kidneys. These acute effects are described in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Prolonged or repeated DBCP exposure can cause sterility in humans and has been shown to produce cancer and sterility in laboratory animals; it is considered an increased cancer risk for humans. See the chronic effects in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Immediately wash your eyes with large amounts of water, lifting the upper and lower lids occasionally, and get medical attention right away; contact lenses should not be worn when working with DBCP. These emergency eye‑first‑aid steps are specified in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Immediately wash the affected skin with soap or mild detergent and water; remove and replace contaminated clothing and shoes, and seek medical attention if irritation persists. If DBCP penetrates clothing, remove the clothing at once. These steps are required in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Move the exposed person to fresh air immediately, keep them warm and at rest, and get medical attention as soon as possible; if breathing has stopped, perform artificial respiration but do not use mouth‑to‑mouth. These breathing emergency procedures are listed in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

If the person is conscious, give large amounts of water, attempt to induce vomiting by stimulating the back of the throat after the water is swallowed, and get medical attention immediately; do not make an unconscious person vomit. These ingestion first‑aid steps are in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Respirators may be required in emergencies and while engineering controls are being implemented, and they must have a NIOSH approval label (or older Bureau of Mines label); they must fit snugly and not be loosened in required situations. The respirator guidance, including the labeling requirement and fit, is provided in Appendix A to 1910.1044 and applies alongside 1910.1044.

No — DBCP does not have a detectable odor at levels near the permissible exposure limit; it is not detectable until roughly 1,000 times above the PEL, so odor is an unreliable indicator of protection. If you can smell DBCP while wearing a respirator, go immediately to fresh air. This limitation and the action to take are described in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Employers must provide impermeable work clothing for protection; standard rubber and neoprene protective clothing do not offer adequate protection and must not be relied on. Appendix A to 1910.1044 specifies these protective clothing requirements in 1910.1044 App A.

You must wear splash‑proof safety goggles wherever there is any possibility that DBCP liquid or dust could contact the eyes. This requirement is stated in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

DBCP must be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, well‑ventilated area. The storage precaution is specified in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

No — if your work clothing may have become contaminated with DBCP, you must change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the workplace; contaminated clothing must be removed and not worn again until the DBCP is removed. These rules are found in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

You must not keep food, beverages, cosmetics, or smoking materials in regulated areas, and you must wash your hands with soap or mild detergent and water before eating, smoking, or using toilet facilities; you must also remove protective clothing before leaving the regulated area. These hygiene and regulated‑area rules are set out in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Each year the employer must inform employees of the information contained in the Substance Safety Data Sheet for DBCP and must instruct them in safe use, emergency procedures, and correct use of protective equipment. This annual information and training requirement is specified in Appendix A to 1910.1044 and supports compliance with 1910.1044.

Yes — the employer must determine whether employees are being exposed to DBCP, and employees or their representatives have the right to observe and record employee exposure measurements. Employers must inform employees of their exposure results. These monitoring and observation rights are described in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

An employer must keep exposure and medical data for at least 40 years, or for the duration of employment plus 20 years, whichever is longer. This recordkeeping time frame is specified in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

An employee, the employee's physician, or another individual designated by the employee may obtain exposure and medical records upon the employee's written request; the employer is required to release those records. This right of access is described in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Workers must notify someone and put established emergency rescue procedures into effect; they should know the locations of emergency rescue equipment before an incident occurs. These rescue‑procedure expectations are stated in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Odor is not a reliable indicator because DBCP generally cannot be smelled until levels are about 1,000 times higher than the permissible exposure limit; do not rely on odor to judge safety. This limitation is explained in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Tell your employer immediately if you experience difficulty breathing while wearing a respirator so they can take appropriate steps; if you can smell DBCP while wearing the respirator, leave to fresh air right away. These instructions are in Appendix A to 1910.1044.

Impermeable clothing that develops leaks must be turned in for repair or replacement and must not be worn while leaking; contaminated clothing must be removed and cleaned before re‑use. See the protective clothing guidance in Appendix A to 1910.1044.