Standard on Vinyl Chloride (29 CFR 1910.1017)

e-CFR Data is current as of February 13, 2012
Title 29: Labor
PART 1910—OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS (CONTINUED)
Subpart Z—Toxic and Hazardous Substances
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§ 1910.1017 Vinyl chloride.
(a) Scope and application. (1) This section includes requirements for the control of employee exposure to vinyl
chloride (chloroethene), Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 75014.
(2) This section applies to the manufacture, reaction, packaging, repackaging, storage, handling or use of vinyl
chloride or polyvinyl chloride, but does not apply to the handling or use of fabricated products made of polyvinyl
chloride.
(3) This section applies to the transportation of vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride except to the extent that the
Department of Transportation may regulate the hazards covered by this section.
(b) Definitions. (1) Action level means a concentration of vinyl chloride of 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8-hour work day.
(2) Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department
of Labor, or his designee.
(3) Authorized person means any person specifically authorized by the employer whose duties require him to enter a
regulated area or any person entering such an area as a designated representative of employees for the purpose of
exercising an opportunity to observe monitoring and measuring procedures.
(4) Director means the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, or his designee.
(5) Emergency means any occurrence such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, or operation of a relief device
which is likely to, or does, result in massive release of vinyl chloride.
(6) Fabricated product means a product made wholly or partly from polyvinyl chloride, and which does not require
further processing at temperatures, and for times, sufficient to cause mass melting of the polyvinyl chloride resulting
in the release of vinyl chloride.
(7) Hazardous operation means any operation, procedure, or activity where a release of either vinyl chloride liquid or
gas might be expected as a consequence of the operation or because of an accident in the operation, which would
result in an employee exposure in excess of the permissible exposure limit.
(8) OSHA Area Director means the Director for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Area Office having
jurisdiction over the geographic area in which the employer's establishment is located.
(9) Polyvinyl chloride means polyvinyl chloride homopolymer or copolymer before such is converted to a fabricated
product.
(10) Vinyl chloride means vinyl chloride monomer.

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(c) Permissible exposure limit. (1) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 1
ppm averaged over any 8-hour period, and
(2) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride at concentrations greater than 5 ppm averaged over any period
not exceeding 15 minutes.
(3) No employee may be exposed to vinyl chloride by direct contact with liquid vinyl chloride.
(d) Monitoring. (1) A program of initial monitoring and measurement shall be undertaken in each establishment to
determine if there is any employee exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level.
(2) Where a determination conducted under paragraph (d)(1) of this section shows any employee exposures, without
regard to the use of respirators, in excess of the action level, a program for determining exposures for each such
employee shall be established. Such a program:
(i) Must be repeated at least quarterly for any employee exposed, without regard to the use of respirators, in excess
of the permissible exposure limit.
(ii) Must be repeated not less than every 6 months for any employee exposed without regard to the use of respirators,
at or above the action level.
(iii) May be discontinued for any employee only when at least two consecutive monitoring determinations, made not
less than 5 working days apart, show exposures for that employee at or below the action level.
(3) Whenever there has been a production, process or control change which may result in an increase in the release
of vinyl chloride, or the employer has any other reason to suspect that any employee may be exposed in excess of
the action level, a determination of employee exposure under paragraph (d)(1) of this section shall be performed.
(4) The method of monitoring and measurement shall have an accuracy (with a confidence level of 95 percent) of not
less than plus or minus 50 percent from 0.25 through 0.5 ppm, plus or minus 35 percent from over 0.5 ppm through
1.0 ppm, and plus or minus 25 percent over 1.0 ppm. (Methods meeting these accuracy requirements are available in
the “NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods”).
(5) Employees or their designated representatives shall be afforded reasonable opportunity to observe the monitoring
and measuring required by this paragraph.
(e) Regulated area. (1) A regulated area shall be established where:
(i) Vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride is manufactured, reacted, repackaged, stored, handled or used; and
(ii) Vinyl chloride concentrations are in excess of the permissible exposure limit.
(2) Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons.
(f) Methods of compliance. Employee exposures to vinyl chloride shall be controlled to at or below the permissible
exposure limit provided in paragraph (c) of this section by engineering, work practice, and personal protective
controls as follows:
(1) Feasible engineering and work practice controls shall immediately be used to reduce exposures to at or below the
permissible exposure limit.
(2) Wherever feasible engineering and work practice controls which can be instituted immediately are not sufficient to
reduce exposures to at or below the permissible exposure limit, they shall nonetheless be used to reduce exposures
to the lowest practicable level, and shall be supplemented by respiratory protection in accordance with paragraph (g)
of this section. A program shall be established and implemented to reduce exposures to at or below the permissible

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exposure limit, or to the greatest extent feasible, solely by means of engineering and work practice controls, as soon
as feasible.
(3) Written plans for such a program shall be developed and furnished upon request for examination and copying to
authorized representatives of the Assistant Secretary and the Director. Such plans must be updated at least annually.
(g) Respiratory protection —(1) General . For employees who use respirators required by this section, the employer
must provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complies with the requirements of this paragraph.
(2) Respirator program . The employer must implement a respiratory protection program in accordance §1910.134 (b)
through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii), and (d)(3)(iii)(B)(1) and (2)), and (f) through (m) which covers each employee required
by this section to use a respirator.
(3) Respirator selection. (i) Employers must:
(A) Select, and provide to employees, the appropriate respirators specified in paragraph (d)(3)(i)(A) of 29 CFR
1910.134.
(B) Provide an organic vapor cartridge that has a service life of at least one hour when using a chemical cartridge
respirator at vinyl chloride concentrations up to 10 ppm.
(C) Select a canister that has a service life of at least four hours when using a powered air-purifying respirator having
a hood, helmet, or full or half facepiece, or a gas mask with a front-or back-mounted canister, at vinyl chloride
concentrations up to 25 ppm.
(ii) When air-purifying respirators are used:
(A) Air-purifying canisters or cartridges must be replaced prior to the expiration of their service life or the end of the
shift in which they are first used, whichever occurs first.
(B) A continuous-monitoring and alarm system must be provided when concentrations of vinyl chloride could
reasonably exceed the allowable concentrations for the devices in use. Such a system must be used to alert
employees when vinyl chloride concentrations exceed the allowable concentrations for the devices in use.
(h) Hazardous operations. (1) Employees engaged in hazardous operations, including entry of vessels to clean
polyvinyl chloride residue from vessel walls, shall be provided and required to wear and use;
(i) Respiratory protection in accordance with paragraphs (c) and (g) of this section; and
(ii) Protective garments to prevent skin contact with liquid vinyl chloride or with polyvinyl chloride residue from vessel
walls. The protective garments shall be selected for the operation and its possible exposure conditions.
(2) Protective garments shall be provided clean and dry for each use.
(i) Emergency situations. A written operational plan for emergency situations shall be developed for each facility
storing, handling, or otherwise using vinyl chloride as a liquid or compressed gas. Appropriate portions of the plan
shall be implemented in the event of an emergency. The plan shall specifically provide that:
(1) Employees engaged in hazardous operations or correcting situations of existing hazardous releases shall be
equipped as required in paragraph (h) of this section;
(2) Other employees not so equipped shall evacuate the area and not return until conditions are controlled by the
methods required in paragraph (f) of this section and the emergency is abated.
(j) Training. Each employee engaged in vinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride operations shall be provided training in a
program relating to the hazards of vinyl chloride and precautions for its safe use.

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(1) The program shall include:
(i) The nature of the health hazard from chronic exposure to vinyl chloride including specifically the carcinogenic
hazard;
(ii) The specific nature of operations which could result in exposure to vinyl chloride in excess of the permissible limit
and necessary protective steps;
(iii) The purpose for, proper use, and limitations of respiratory protective devices;
(iv) The fire hazard and acute toxicity of vinyl chloride, and the necessary protective steps;
(v) The purpose for and a description of the monitoring program;
(vi) The purpose for, and a description of, the medical surveillance program;
(vii) Emergency procedures;
(viii) Specific information to aid the employee in recognition of conditions which may result in the release of vinyl
chloride; and
(ix) A review of this standard at the employee's first training and indoctrination program, and annually thereafter.
(2) All materials relating to the program shall be provided upon request to the Assistant Secretary and the Director.
(k) Medical surveillance. A program of medical surveillance shall be instituted for each employee exposed, without
regard to the use of respirators, to vinyl chloride in excess of the action level. The program shall provide each such
employee with an opportunity for examinations and tests in accordance with this paragraph. All medical examinations
and procedures shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician, and shall be provided without
cost to the employee.
(1) At the time of initial assignment, or upon institution of medical surveillance;
(i) A general physical examination shall be performed, with specific attention to detecting enlargement of liver, spleen
or kidneys, or dysfunction in these organs, and for abnormalities in skin, connective tissues and the pulmonary
system (See appendix A).
(ii) A medical history shall be taken, including the following topics:
(A) Alcohol intake;
(B) Past history of hepatitis;
(C) Work history and past exposure to potential hepatotoxic agents, including drugs and chemicals;
(D) Past history of blood transfusions; and
(E) Past history of hospitalizations.
(iii) A serum specimen shall be obtained and determinations made of:
(A) Total bilirubin;
(B) Alkaline phosphatase;

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(C) Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT);
(D) Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT); and
(E) Gamma glustamyl transpeptidase.
(2) Examinations must be provided in accordance with this paragraph at least annually.
(3) Each employee exposed to an emergency shall be afforded appropriate medical surveillance.
(4) A statement of each employee's suitability for continued exposure to vinyl chloride including use of protective
equipment and respirators shall be obtained from the examining physician promptly after any examination. A copy of
the physician's statement shall be provided each employee.
(5) If any employee's health would be materially impaired by continued exposure, such employee shall be withdrawn
from possible contact with vinyl chloride.
(6) Laboratory analyses for all biological specimens included in medical examination shall be performed by accredited
laboratories.
(7) If the examining physician determines that alternative medical examinations to those required by paragraph (k)(1)
of this section will provide at least equal assurance of detecting medical conditions pertinent to the exposure to vinyl
chloride, the employer may accept such alternative examinations as meeting the requirements of paragraph (k)(1) of
this section, if the employer obtains a statement from the examining physician setting forth the alternative
examinations and the rationale for substitution. This statement shall be available upon request for examination and
copying to authorized representatives of the Assistant Secretary and the Director.
(l) Signs and labels. (1) Entrances to regulated areas shall be posted with legible signs bearing the legend:
Cancer-Suspect Agent Area Authorized Personnel Only
(2) Areas containing hazardous operations or where an emergency currently exists shall be posted with legible signs
bearing the legend:
Cancer-Suspect Agent in This Area Protective Equipment Required Authorized Personnel Only
(3) Containers of polyvinyl chloride resin waste from reactors or other waste contaminated with vinyl chloride shall be
legibly labeled:

Contaminated With Vinyl Chloride
Cancer-Suspect Agent
(4) Containers of polyvinyl chloride shall be legibly labeled:

Polyvinyl Chloride (or Trade Name)
Contains
Vinyl Chloride
Vinyl Chloride is a Cancer-Suspect Agent
(5) Containers of vinyl chloride shall be legibly labeled either:

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(i)

Vinyl Chloride
Extremely Flammable Gas Under Pressure
Cancer Suspect Agent
or (ii) In accordance with 49 CFR Parts 170 through 189, with the additional legend:

Cancer-Suspect Agent
applied near the label or placard.
(6) No statement shall appear on or near any required sign, label or instruction which contradicts or detracts from the
effect of, any required warning, information or instruction.
(m) Records. (1) All records maintained in accordance with this section shall include the name and social security
number of each employee where relevant.
(2) Records of required monitoring and measuring and medical records shall be provided upon request to employees,
designated representatives, and the Assistant Secretary in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020 (a) through (e) and
(g) through (i). These records shall be provided upon request to the Director. Authorized personnel rosters shall also
be provided upon request to the Assistant Secretary and the Director.
(i) Monitoring and measuring records shall:
(A) State the date of such monitoring and measuring and the concentrations determined and identify the instruments
and methods used;
(B) Include any additional information necessary to determine individual employee exposures where such exposures
are determined by means other than individual monitoring of employees; and
(C) Be maintained for not less than 30 years.
(ii) [Reserved]
(iii) Medical records shall be maintained for the duration of the employment of each employee plus 20 years, or 30
years, whichever is longer.

Appendix A to §1910.1017—Supplementary Medical Information
When required tests under paragraph (k)(1) of this section show abnormalities, the tests should be
repeated as soon as practicable, preferably within 3 to 4 weeks. If tests remain abnormal, consideration
should be given to withdrawal of the employee from contact with vinyl chloride, while a more
comprehensive examination is made.
Additional tests which may be useful:
A. For kidney dysfunction: urine examination for albumin, red blood cells, and exfoliative abnormal cells.
B. Pulmonary system: Forced vital capacity, Forced expiratory volume at 1 second, and chest
roentgenogram (posterior-anterior, 14 × 17 inches).

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C. Additional serum tests: Lactic acid dehydrogenase, lactic acid dehydrogenase isoenzyme, protein
determination, and protein electrophoresis.
D. For a more comprehensive examination on repeated abnormal serum tests: Hepatitis B antigen, and
liver scanning.
[39 FR 35896, Oct. 4, 1974; 39 FR 41848, Dec. 3, 1974, as amended at 40 FR 13211, Mar. 25, 1975. Redesignated
at 40 FR 23072, May 28, 1975 and amended at 43 FR 49751, Oct. 24, 1978; 45 FR 35282, May 23, 1980; 54 FR
24334, June 7, 1989; 58 FR 35310, June 30, 1993; 61 FR 5508, Feb. 13, 1996; 63 FR 1286, Jan. 8, 1998; 70 FR
1141, Jan. 5, 2005; 71 FR 16672, 16673, Apr. 3, 2006; 71 FR 50188, Aug. 24, 2006; 73 FR 75585, Dec. 12, 2008; 76
FR 33608, June 8, 2011]
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