OSHA vinyl chloride standard

OSHA Vinyl Chloride Standard. On May 10, 1974, OSHA announced a proposed permanent standard that included "no detectable" level for employee exposure to VCM in monomer, polymer, and fabricating operations by a sampling and analytical technique capable of detecting vinyl chloride concentrations of 1 ppm with an accuracy of 1 ppm 50%. Subsequently public hearings were held in Washington in June and July 1974 at which 35 hours of direct testimony by 44 panels of witnesses was presented, and 89 written submissions with comments on the proposed standard were received. 

Several points about the OSHA Laboratory Standard deserve special mention. The intention of the standard is to supersede existing OSHA health standards, but other OSHA mles on topics not specifically addressed in the standard remain applicable. The so-called "general duty" clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which requires an employer to "furnish to each of his employees. .. a place of employment... free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. .. " and requires an employee to "comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules. .. issued pursuant to this chapter which are applicable to his own actions and conduct" continues to be applicable and, indeed, is one of the most commonly cited sections in cases of alleged OSHA violations. Other OSHA standards relating to possible eye or skin contact must continue to be observed. There are dozens of chemicals in this category. They are listed in 29 CFR 1910 as well as in specific standards following Section 1910.1000, such as the vinyl chloride standard, 29 CFR 1910.1017, which prohibits direct contact with liquid vinyl chloride. 

In the fit testing of respirators, normal operations such as breathing, deep breathing, moving the head from side to side (slowly) or up and down, talking or reading a short message were discussed. OSHA section 1910.134 does not specify how well the respirator shall fit. Additions such as 1910.1017, the Vinyl Chloride Standard, used the level of atmospheric concentration the employee could be exposed to as the rationale for the respirator used. For example, if the employee were exposed to concentrations not over 10 ppm, the required apparatus could be any one of three types ... 

Thus far this scheme has been incorporated into OSHA standards for 5 contaminants, i.e., vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, benzene, lead, and arsenic, and has become a legal requirement of all employers whose personnel may be exposed to these substances. This scheme is likely to be incorporated into virtually all future OSHA standards (15). 

OSHA lists an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average-Permissible Exposure Limit (TWA-PEL) of 1 ppm for vinyl chloride. TWA-PEL is the exposure limit that shall not be exceeded by the 8-hour TWA in any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour workweek. Additionally, there shall not be exposure to concentrations greater than 5 ppm averaged over any period not exceeding 15 minutes. A complete standard describing control of employee exposure to vinyl chloride as required by OSHA is given in 29 CFR 1910.1017 [2]. 

Late in January 1974, this situation changed drastically when it was announced that between 1968 and 1973 three long-time PVC plant operators had died of angiosarcoma, a very rare liver cancer [6,7]. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued emergency temporary standards limiting employee exposure in the vinyl chloride and poly(vinyl chloride) industry. 

Compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permanent standard for Exposure to Vinyl Chloride is mandatory. Compliance with these, or revised, standards is a matter of law [10]. 

In response, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (ERA) quickly enacted regulations. The worker exposure standard for VCM was immediately lowered to 10 ppm, and eventually to 1 ppm, where it remains today. Emissions of vinyl chloride in air and water plant streams were reduced and regulated as weU. 

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