Formaldehyde requirements

The formaldehyde limits are: a time-weighted average (TWA) PEL of 0.75 parts per million (ppm), a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2 ppm, and an action level of 0.5 ppm (8-hour TWA). See 1915.1048 (which is identical to 1910.1048).

Employers must perform initial exposure monitoring to determine employee exposures to formaldehyde when employees may be exposed above the action level or PEL. If monitoring shows exposures at or above the action level or PEL, follow-up periodic monitoring is required per the standard. See 1915.1048 and the identical provisions in 1910.1048.

A regulated area is any workplace area where formaldehyde concentrations exceed the PEL or STEL and must be established whenever those limits are exceeded to limit access to authorized and protected employees. Employers must mark and control access to regulated areas as required by the standard. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Employers must use engineering controls and work-practice controls (for example local exhaust ventilation, process enclosure, or substitution) to reduce employee exposures to or below the PEL and STEL, unless they can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. If controls cannot reduce exposures to the limits, the employer must supplement them with respiratory protection. See 1915.1048 and the matching requirements in 1910.1048.

Employers must provide appropriate respirators when engineering and work-practice controls cannot reduce formaldehyde exposures to the PEL and STEL, during entry into regulated areas, or in emergencies; respiratory protection must comply with OSHA's respiratory protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Employers must provide medical surveillance to employees who are exposed at or above the action level for a set period (as defined in the standard), to employees who experience signs or symptoms of overexposure, and to those involved in emergencies; the employer must follow the medical requirements and schedules set forth in the standard. See 1915.1048 and the equivalent provisions in 1910.1048.

Employers must train employees about formaldehyde hazards, the contents of the standard (including recognition of operations where exposures might occur), protective measures ( engineering controls, respirators, hygiene), emergency procedures, and how to read labels and safety data sheets; training must be provided at initial assignment and at required intervals or whenever job duties change. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Employers must ensure containers of formaldehyde and areas where formaldehyde concentrations exceed the PEL/STEL are labeled or posted with appropriate warnings, hazard information, and access controls as specified in the standard; labels and signs must comply with the standard's content and placement requirements. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Yes—employers may rely on objective data (scientific data concerning the product, process, or control measures) to demonstrate that employee exposures are below the action level or PEL instead of conducting full exposure monitoring, provided the data meet the rigorous conditions in the standard. See 1915.1048 and the identical 1910.1048 provisions describing acceptable objective data criteria.

Employers must retain exposure monitoring records and associated employee exposure data for at least 30 years, and keep medical surveillance records for the duration required by OSHA; records must be made available to employees or their representatives as required by the standard. See the recordkeeping provisions in 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

In a formaldehyde release emergency, the employer must implement their emergency plan: evacuate or isolate affected employees, provide appropriate respiratory and medical protection, decontaminate and clean affected areas, and ensure exposed employees receive medical evaluation. Emergency procedures required by the standard must be in place and employees trained to follow them. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Yes—where employees may be exposed to formaldehyde by eye or skin contact, employers must provide appropriate emergency medical equipment such as emergency eyewash and shower facilities and ensure prompt access and training in their use, consistent with the standard's requirements. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Employers must implement housekeeping and decontamination procedures that prevent formaldehyde buildup (for example, regular cleaning of surfaces and proper disposal of contaminated materials), and ensure that clothing or PPE contaminated with formaldehyde is handled, laundered, or disposed of safely to prevent exposure. See the hygiene and housekeeping requirements in 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Employers must ensure employees have access to current safety data sheets (SDSs) for formaldehyde-containing products and train employees on the SDS information (hazards, protective measures, first aid, and emergency procedures); SDSs must accurately reflect the hazards and safe handling instructions required by the standard. See the hazard communication and SDS-related requirements in 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Visitors and contractors may enter regulated areas only if authorized and provided with appropriate protection and information (for example, required respirators, training or supervision) so that they are not exposed above the PEL or STEL; the employer must control access and ensure compliance with the standard. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

If an employee shows signs or symptoms of formaldehyde overexposure, the employer must remove the employee from exposure, provide medical evaluation and treatment as necessary, and follow up with any required medical surveillance and exposure control measures described in the standard. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

Employers must promptly notify affected employees of their individual exposure monitoring results and inform them of whether their exposures exceed the action level, PEL, or STEL; results should be provided in writing within the timeframes specified in the standard. See the employee notification and communication provisions in 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

An employer may discontinue periodic monitoring when two consecutive monitoring results taken at least seven days apart show employee exposures below the action level (and when exposures remain adequately controlled); the standard describes the conditions under which monitoring can be reduced or stopped. See 1915.1048 and 1910.1048.

PPE is required when engineering and work-practice controls cannot keep exposures below the PEL or STEL, or when employees enter regulated areas or face potential skin/eye contact; the employer must assess hazards, select appropriate PPE, and train employees in its use, in accordance with the standard and OSHA PPE requirements. See 1915.1048 and relevant OSHA PPE provisions at 1910.

No—the requirements under 1915.1048 for shipyard employment are identical to those in 1910.1048; employers in shipyards must follow the same exposure monitoring, medical surveillance, training, labeling, and recordkeeping rules and provide employee access to records as required by the standard. See 1915.1048.