Subpart Z
The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for ethylene oxide is 1 part per million (1 ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average. This PEL is stated in Appendix A to 1910.1047 and the main 1910.1047 standard governs employer responsibilities to measure and control exposures.
Immediately flush the eyes with large amounts of water, lifting the upper and lower eyelids, and seek medical attention right away. This emergency procedure is specified in Appendix A to 1910.1047, and employers must ensure affected workers receive prompt medical care under the 1910.1047 requirements.
You should immediately remove the contaminated clothing and wash the skin under an emergency deluge shower, then get medical attention as needed. The appendix advises removing soaked clothing right away, using a deluge shower, and decontaminating or discarding contaminated items (leather should be discarded) as described in Appendix A to 1910.1047. Employers must provide appropriate facilities and procedures under 1910.1047.
Respirators are required for nonroutine activities, emergencies, while engineering controls are being implemented, and where engineering controls are not feasible. The appendix states these situations and explains that as of the standard's effective date only positive-pressure, air-supplied full-facepiece respirators were approved, and future air‑purifying respirators would need NIOSH approval under 42 CFR part 84. See Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047 for employer responsibilities on respiratory protection.
As of the standard's effective date, only air‑supplied, positive‑pressure, full‑facepiece respirators were approved for EtO protection. This approval statement appears in Appendix A to 1910.1047 and employers must follow the respirator provisions found in 1910.1047 and applicable respiratory protection standards.
If you can smell EtO while wearing a respirator or if you experience difficulty breathing, you must proceed immediately to fresh air and inform your employer. The appendix warns that EtO's odor is not a reliable warning at concentrations near the PEL and explicitly instructs workers to leave the area if they smell EtO while wearing respiratory protection; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
You should wear impermeable clothing, gloves, and a face shield or other appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin contact with liquid EtO or EtO-containing solutions. The appendix requires employers to provide clean protective garments as needed and to replace or repair damaged clothing; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
No, contact lenses should not be worn where liquid EtO or EtO-containing solutions may contact the eyes. The appendix explicitly advises against wearing contact lenses in areas where eye contact with EtO can occur; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and employer obligations in 1910.1047.
Employers must inform employees of the information contained in the EtO standard and appendices at least once each year and instruct them in proper work practices, emergency procedures, and correct use of protective equipment. This annual access-to-information and training requirement is described in Appendix A to 1910.1047 and is part of employer duties under 1910.1047.
Fire extinguishers and emergency deluge showers for quick drenching must be readily available, and workers should know their locations and how to operate them. The appendix lists these as required emergency provisions in areas where EtO is handled; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047 for employer responsibilities.
Store EtO in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, flames, strong oxidizers, acids and bases, and acetylide-forming metals (e.g., copper, silver, mercury). The appendix provides these specific storage precautions in Appendix A to 1910.1047 and employers must implement appropriate controls under 1910.1047.
No — sources of ignition such as smoking materials, open flames, and certain electrical devices are prohibited wherever EtO is handled, used, or stored in a way that could create a fire or explosion hazard. The appendix warns that EtO is flammable and its vapors form explosive mixtures and requires elimination of ignition sources; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
Containers must be bonded and grounded in the rare instances when liquid EtO is poured or transferred, and non‑sparking tools should be used when opening or closing metal containers. The appendix advises bonding/grounding during liquid transfer to prevent static ignition; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
Contaminated leather shoes or other leather articles should be discarded and not reused once EtO has penetrated them. The appendix explicitly states leather items should not be reused and must be discarded; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
Install a hood or metal canopy closed on each end over the sterilizer door that vents to a non-recirculating or dedicated system (or to a well-ventilated equipment room where workers are not normally present), and follow door-opening procedures (purge cycles or specified waiting and airing times) to minimize worker exposure. The appendix sets out these ventilation and door‑opening practices for sterilizer use in hospitals; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
For sterilizers without purge cycles, the door should be ajar 6 inches for 15 minutes and then fully opened for at least another 15 minutes before removing the load; additional airing time should be based on monitoring and cannot be shortened below the 15‑minute minimum. This door‑opening timing is specified in the appendix; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and employer obligations under 1910.1047.
You must choose one of three controls: (1) store cylinders in a well‑ventilated equipment room where workers are not normally present; (2) install a flexible hose (≥4") to a non‑recirculating or dedicated ventilation system positioned where the line disconnects; or (3) install a hood tied to a non‑recirculating or dedicated ventilation system within one foot of the disconnection point. These three alternatives are described in the appendix to reduce exposure during cylinder change; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
Aeration units must be vented to a non‑recirculating or dedicated system or to an equipment room where workers are not normally present and which is well ventilated; new aerators were required to be vented that way by July 1, 1986. These ventilation requirements for existing and new aerators are described in the appendix; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.
Employers must keep exposure records for at least 30 years and medical records for the period of employment plus 30 years, and must release those records to the worker's physician or designated representative upon written request. The appendix details these recordkeeping requirements; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and related obligations in 1910.1047.
Work areas where EtO is used should be designated as restricted access areas and identified with signs or floor marks near sterilizer doors, aerators, vacuum pump drains, and in‑use cylinder storage; personnel must be excluded when high‑release activities are in progress. The appendix recommends these restricted‑area practices to limit exposures; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and employer duties under 1910.1047.
Use baskets, rolling carts, or rolling tables to transfer treated loads quickly and, if using rolling carts, pull rather than push them to avoid facing off‑gassing items. The appendix recommends these unloading practices to shorten exposure duration; see Appendix A to 1910.1047 and 1910.1047.