Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 007C Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1052(g)(1)(i): Respirators were not used during periods when an employee's exposure to methylene chloride exceeds the 8-hour time weighted average permissible exposure limit or short term exposure limit: (a) In the Converting Room, on or about December 14, 2016, a machine operator using C-287 solvent to clean ink off of zingers and rollers on Converting Machine #1 was exposed during a 15 minute sampling period to an airborne methylene chloride concentration of 161.3 parts per million, approximately 1.29 times the short term exposure limit of 125 parts per million. This short term exposure limit has been established to protect workers from the acute toxic effects of methylene chloride and its metabolites, which can include adverse effects on the central nervous system, metabolic conversion of methylene chloride to carbon monoxide resulting in adverse cardiac effects, and potential carcinogenic effects. Appropriate respiratory protection (e.g., supplied air respirator) was not provided, in accordance, with the provisions of the Respiratory Protection standard 29 CFR 1910.134 to protect machine operator(s) performing cleaning with C-287 solvent.