- Publication Date:
- Publication Type:Notice
- Fed Register #:49:36659
- Standard Number:
- Title:Occupational Exposure to Ethylene Oxide; Request for Comments
- Abstract:
On June 22, 1984, OSHA published a final standard for ethylene oxide (EtO) that established a permissible exposure limit of 1 part EtO per million parts of air determined as an 8-houre time-weighted average (TWA) concentration (49 FR 25734). The standard also includes provision for methods of exposure control, personal protective equipment, measurement of employee exposure, training, signs and labels, medical surveillance, regulated areas, emergencies and recordkeeping. The basis for this action was determination by OSHA, based on human and animal data, that exposure to EtO presents a carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, reproductive, neurologic, and sensitization hazard to workers. During the rulemaking proceedings that led to the establishment of the 1 ppm TWA, the issue of whether there was a need for a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for worker protection from EtO was raised. OSHA reserved decision on the adoption of a STEL, at the conclusion of the rulemaking in order to permit peer review of OSHA's preliminary decision and to review more fully the arguments and pertinent data regarding the STEL issue. To date, the comments of about half of the peer reviewers on the data in the record pertaining to the STEL have been received. This notice solicits public comment both on the reviewer's analysis of the available data and on the issue of whether OSHA should adopt a STEL. Comments in response to this notice must be submitted by November 5, 1984.
Abstract: On June 22, 1984, OSHA published a final standard for ethylene oxide (EtO) that established a permissible exposure limit of 1 part EtO per million parts of air determined as an 8-houre time-weighted average (TWA) concentration (49 FR 25734). The standard also includes provision for methods of exposure control, personal protective equipment, measurement of employee exposure, training, signs and labels, medical surveillance, regulated areas, emergencies and recordkeeping. The basis for this action was determination by OSHA, based on human and animal data, that exposure to EtO presents a carcinogenic, mutagenic, genotoxic, reproductive, neurologic, and sensitization hazard to workers. During the rulemaking proceedings that led to the establishment of the 1 ppm TWA, the issue of whether there was a need for a short-term exposure limit (STEL) for worker protection from EtO was raised. OSHA reserved decision on the adoption of a STEL, at the conclusion of the rulemaking in order to permit peer review of OSHA's preliminary decision and to review more fully the arguments and pertinent data regarding the STEL issue. To date, the comments of about half of the peer reviewers on the data in the record pertaining to the STEL have been received. This notice solicits public comment both on the reviewer's analysis of the available data and on the issue of whether OSHA should adopt a STEL. Comments in response to this notice must be submitted by November 5, 1984.