What is formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling
gas. Commonly known as a preservative in
medical laboratories and mortuaries,
formaldehyde is also found in other products
such as chemicals, particle board, household
products, glues, permanent press fabrics, paper
product coatings, fiberboard, and plywood. It is
also widely used as an industrial fungicide,
germicide, and disinfectant.
Although the term formaldehyde describes
various mixtures of formaldehyde, water, and
alcohol, the term “formalin” more precisely
describes aqueous solutions, particularly those
containing 37 to 50 percent formaldehyde and
6 to 15 percent alcohol stabilizer.
What should employers know about
formaldehyde?
The OSHA standard that protects workers
exposed to formaldehyde, Title 29 of the Code
of Federal Regulations ( CFR) Part 1910.1048,
and equivalent regulations in states with OSHAapproved
state plans apply to all occupational
exposures to formaldehyde from formaldehyde
gas, its solutions, and materials that release
formaldehyde. The permissible exposure limits
(PELs) for formaldehyde in the workplace
covered by the standard are 0.75 parts
formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm)
measured as an 8-hour time-weighted average
(TWA). The standard includes a second PEL in
the form of a short-term exposure limit (STEL)
of 2 ppm that is the maximum exposure allowed
during a 15-minute period. The action level—
which is the threshold for increased industrial
hygiene monitoring and initiation of employee
medical surveillance—is 0.5 ppm when
calculated as an 8-hour TWA.
How can formaldehyde harm
workers?
Formaldehyde is a sensitizing agent that can
cause an immune system response upon initial
exposure. It is also a suspected human
carcinogen that is linked to nasal cancer and lung
cancer. Acute exposure is highly irritating to the
eyes, nose, and throat and can make you cough
and wheeze. Subsequent exposure may cause
severe allergic reactions of the skin, eyes, and
respiratory tract. Ingestion of formaldehyde can
be fatal, and long-term exposure to low levels in
the air or on the skin can cause asthma-like
respiratory problems and skin irritation such as
dermatitis and itching. Concentrations of 100 ppm
are immediately dangerous to health or life.
How can workers be exposed to
formaldehyde?
Workers can inhale formaldehyde as a gas or
vapor or absorb it through the skin as a liquid.
They can be exposed during the treatment of
textiles and the production of resins. Besides
health care professionals and medical lab
technicians, groups at potentially high risk include
mortuary employees as well as teachers and
students who handle biological specimens
preserved with formaldehyde or formalin.
What must employers do to protect
workers from formaldehyde
exposure?
Airborne concentrations of formaldehyde
above 0.1 ppm can cause irritation of the
respiratory tract. The severity of irritation
worsens as concentrations increase.
Some of the key provisions of the OSHA
standard require employers to do the following:
• Identify all employees who may be exposed to
formaldehyde at or above the action level or
STEL through initial monitoring and determine
their exposure.
• Reassign employees who suffer significant
adverse effects from formaldehyde exposure to
jobs with significantly less or no exposure until
their condition improves. Reassignment
protection can continue for up to 6 months until
the employee is determined able to return to the
original job or unable to return to work—
whichever comes first.
¦ Implement engineering and work practice
controls to reduce and maintain employee
exposure to formaldehyde at or below the 8-hour
2002
TWA and the STEL. If these controls cannot
reduce exposure to or below the PELs, you must
provide your employees with respirators.
¦ Label all mixtures or solutions composed of
greater than 0.1 percent formaldehyde and
materials capable of releasing formaldehyde into
the air at concentrations reaching or exceeding
0.1 ppm. For all materials capable of releasing
formaldehyde at levels above 0.5 ppm during
normal use, the label must contain the works
“potential cancer hazard.”
¦ Train all employees exposed to formaldehyde
concentrations of 0.1 ppm or greater at the time
of initial job assignment and whenever a new
exposure to formaldehyde is introduced into the
work area. Repeat training annually.
¦ Select, provide, and maintain appropriate
personal protective equipment. Ensure that
employees use this equipment such as
impervious clothing, gloves, aprons, and
chemical splash goggles to prevent skin and
eye contact with formaldehyde.
¦ Provide showers and eyewash stations if
splashing is likely.
¦ Provide medical surveillance for all employees
exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or
above the action level or exceeding the STEL,
for those who develop signs and symptoms of
overexposure, and for all employees exposed to
formaldehyde in emergencies.
Are there any recordkeeping
requirements concerning employee
exposures?
Employers are required to do the following
regarding employee exposure records:
¦ Retain employee exposure records for 30 years.
¦ Retain employee medical records for 30 years
after employment ends.
• Allow access to medical and exposure records
by current and former employees or their
designated representatives upon request.
How can you get more information
on safety and health?
OSHA has various publications, standards,
technical assistance, and compliance tools to help
you, and offers extensive assistance through
workplace consultation, voluntary protection
programs, grants, strategic partnerships, state
plans, training, and education. OSHA’s Safety
and Health Program Management Guidelines
( Federal Register 54:3904-3916, January 26,
1989) detail elements critical to the development
of a successful safety and health management
system. This and other information are available
on OSHA’s website.
¦ For one free copy of OSHA publications, send
a self-addressed mailing label to OSHA
Publications Office, 200 Constitution Avenue
N.W., N–3101, Washington, DC 20210; or
send a request to our fax at (202) 693-2498,
or call us at (202) 693-1888.
¦ To order OSHA publications online at
www.osha.gov, go to Publications and
follow the instructions for ordering.
¦ To file a complaint by phone, report an
emergency, or get OSHA advice, assistance,
or products, contact your nearest OSHA office
under the “U.S. Department of Labor” listing
in your phone book, or call toll-free at (800)
321-OSHA (6742). The teletypewriter
(TTY) number is (877) 889-5627.
¦ To file a complaint online or obtain more
information on OSHA federal and state
programs, visit OSHA’s website.
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting
OSHA programs, policies, or standards. It does not impose
any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of
compliance requirements of OSHA standards or regulations,
refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information
will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals
upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693-1999. See also OSHA’s
website at www.osha.gov.
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