Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 009 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1052(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of methylene chloride exceeded or could reasonably be expected to exceed either the 8-hour Time Weighted Average Permissible Exposure Limit or the 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. No regulated area had been established to the vicinity of Converting Machine #1 (and other Converting Machines) during the cleaning operation involving use of C-287 solvent containing methylene chloride, to limit access to authorized employee(s), having adequate training, and equipped with adequate personal protective equipment, including supplied air respiratory protection.