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Policies Part 5
Policies Part 5 Contents
CONTROLLING EXPOSURE
R5.48-1 RE: Chemical and Biological Substances - Exposure Limits and Designations
R5.54-1 RE: Chemical and Biological Substances - Controlling Exposure - Exposure Control Plan
Policies Part 5 - Controlling Exposure
Policy Item R5.48-1
RE: Chemical and Biological Substances - Exposure Limits and Designations
BACKGROUND
1. Explanatory Notes
Section 5.48 provides established limits for a worker's exposure to hazardous chemical substances. Generally, these exposure limits are established according to the Threshold Limit Values ("TLVs") adopted by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists ("ACGIH"). However, the Board has authority to make exceptions and adopt occupational exposure limits for specific chemical substances that are not consistent with the TLVs established by the ACGIH. This policy sets out those exceptions.
2. The Regulation
Section 5.48:
Except as otherwise determined by the Board, the employer must ensure that no worker is exposed to a substance that exceeds the ceiling limit, short-term exposure limit, or 8-hour TWA limit prescribed by ACGIH.
Section 5.57:
(1) If a substance identified in ACGIH or IARC by any of the following notations, abbreviations, or endnotes is present in the workplace, the employer must replace it, if practicable, with a material which reduces the risk to workers:
(a) ACGIH A1 or A2, or IARC 1, 2A or 2B carcinogen,
(b) reproductive critical effects,
(c) sensitization critical effect or SEN notation, or
(d) L endnote.(2) If it is not practicable to substitute a material which reduces the risk to workers, in accordance with subsection (1), the employer must implement an exposure control plan to maintain workers' exposure as low as reasonably achievable below the exposure limit established under section 5.48.
3. Preamble to Policy
The following is a preamble to be applied to those exposure limits developed by the Board as an exception to the TLVs established by the ACGIH:
An exposure level is a maximum allowed airborne concentration and is not intended to represent a fine line between safe and harmful conditions. In determining an exposure limit, it is not possible to take into account all factors that could influence the effect that exposure to the substance may have on an individual worker. Therefore, for all hazardous substances, regardless of any assigned exposure limit, the guiding principle is elimination of exposure or reduction to the lowest level that is reasonably achievable below the exposure limit.
Due to a wide variation in individual susceptibility, some workers may experience discomfort from some substances at concentrations at or below the exposure level. Others may be affected more seriously by aggravation of a pre-existing condition, or by development of an occupational disease. Furthermore, other workplace contaminants may affect an individual's response. The effects of combined chemical exposures are often unknown or poorly defined.
POLICY
1. Table of Occupational Exposure Limits for Excluded Substances
As presented in the table below, the Board has determined exposure limits for the following specific substances, notwithstanding the TLVs established by the ACGIH.
| Substance/Chemical Name | CAS No. | Unit | 8-hour TWA Limit | Short-term exposure Limit, STEL | Ceiling Limit |
| ABATE (TEMEPHOS) TOTAL DUST | 3383-96-8 | mg/m3 | 10 | 20 | |
| ACETONE | 67-64-1 | ppm | 250 | 500 | |
| ACETONE CYANOHYDRIN | 75-86-5 | ppm | 1 | ||
| ALLYL AMINE | 107-11-9 | ppm | 2 | ||
| BENZYL CHLORIDE | 100-44-7 | ppm | 1 | ||
| BROMOCHLOROMETHANE | 74-97-5 | ppm | 200 | 250 | |
| n-BUTANE | 106-97-8 | ppm | 600 | 750 | |
| n-BUTYL ALCOHOL (n-BUTANOL) | 71-36-3 | ppm | 15 | 30 | |
| n-BUTYL ACETATE | 123-86-4 | ppm | 20 | ||
| n-BUTYL METHACRYLATE | 97-88-1 | ppm | 50 | ||
| CALCIUM CARBONATE (incl. LIMESTONE, MARBLE), TOTAL DUST | 1317-65-3 | mg/m3 | 10 | 20 | |
| CAPROLACTAM DUST | 105-60-2 | mg/m3 | 1 | 3 | |
| CARBON DIOXIDE | 124-38-9 | ppm | 5000 | 15,000 | |
| CARBON DISULFIDE | 75-15-0 | ppm | 4 | 12 | |
| CARBON MONOXIDE | 630-08-0 | ppm | 25 | 100 | |
| CARBON TETRACHLORIDE | 56-23-5 | ppm | 2 | ||
| CHLOROACETIC ACID | 79-11-8 | ppm | 0.3 | ||
| CHLOROBROMOMETHANE (see BROMOCHLOROMETHANE) | |||||
| 1-CHLORO-1,1-DIFLUOROETHANE | 75-68-3 | ppm | 1000 | ||
| CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE | 75-45-6 | ppm | 500 | 1250 | |
| CHLOROFORM | 67-66-3 | ppm | 2 | ||
| CHLOROTRIFLUOROMETHANE | 75-72-9 | ppm | 1000 | ||
| CHROMIUM, WATER SOLUBLE, Cr VI COMPOUNDS | 7440-47-3 | mg/m3 | 0.025 | 0.1 | |
| CRESOL, ALL ISOMERS | 1319-77-3, 95-48-7, 108-39-4, 106-44-5 | mg/m3 | 10 | ||
| CUMENE | 98-82-8 | ppm | 25 | 75 | |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | 75-09-02 | ppm | 25 | ||
| DICYCLOHEXYLMETHANE-4,4'-DIISOCYANATE | 5124-30-1 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETIC ACID AND ITS ESTERS | 94-75-7 | mg/m3 | 10 | 20 | |
| DIISOCYANATES, N.O.S. | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | ||
| DIMETHOXYMETHANE | 109-87-5 | ppm | 1000 | 1250 | |
| DIMETHYL ETHER | 115-10-6 | ppm | 1000 | ||
| DIMETHYL SULFATE | 77-78-1 | ppm | 0.1 | ||
| n-DIOCTYL PHTHALATE | 117-84-0 | mg/m3 | 5 | ||
| ENFLURANE | 13838-16-9 | ppm | 2 | ||
| EPICHLOROHYDRIN | 106-89-8 | ppm | 0.1 | ||
| ETHYL ACETATE | 141-78-6 | ppm | 150 | ||
| ETHYL METHACRYLATE | 97-63-2 | ppm | 50 | ||
| ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE | 106-93-4 | ppm | 0.5 | ||
| ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE (1,2-DICHLOROETHANE) | 107-06-2 | ppm | 1 | 2 | |
| ETHYLENE GLYCOL, PARTICULATE | 107-21-1 | mg/m3 | 10 | 20 | |
| ETHYLENE GLYCOL, VAPOUR | 107-21-1 | ppm | 50 | ||
| ETHYLENE OXIDE | 75-21-8 | ppm | 0.1 | 1 | |
| FLUORINE | 7782-41-4 | ppm | 0.1 | ||
| FLUROXENE | 406-90-6 | ppm | 2 | ||
| FORMALDEHYDE | 50-00-0 | ppm | 0.3 | 1 | |
| FURFURYL ALCOHOL | 98-00-0 | ppm | 5 | 10 | |
| GLYCERIN MIST, RESPIRABLE | 56-81-5 | mg/m3 | 3 | ||
| GYPSUM, TOTAL DUST | 13397-24-5 | mg/m3 | 10 | 20 | |
| HALOTHANE | 151-67-7 | ppm | 2 | ||
| HEXAMETHYLENE DIISOCYANATE |
822-06-0 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| n-HEXANE | 110-54-3 | ppm | 20 | ||
| HEXANE, ALL ISOMERS except n-HEXANE | ppm | 200 | |||
| HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, as F | 7664-39-3 | ppm | 2 | ||
| HYDROGEN SULFIDE | 7783-06-4 | ppm | 10 | ||
| HYDROQUINONE | 123-31-9 | mg/m3 | 2 | ||
| IRON OXIDE, FUME | 1309-37-1 | mg/m3 | 5 | 10 | |
| IRON PENTACARBONYL | 13463-40-6 | ppm | 0.01 | ||
| IRON SALTS, SOLUBLE, as Fe |
mg/m3 | 1 | 2 | ||
| ISOPHORONE DIISOCYANATE | 4098-71-9 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| ISOPROPYL GLYCIDYL ETHER (IGE) | 4016-14-2 | ppm | 50 | ||
| LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS | 68476-85-7 | ppm | 1000 | 1250 | |
| LITHIUM HYDROXIDE | 1310-65-2 | mg/m3 | 1 | ||
| MAGNESIUM OXIDE, RESPIRABLE DUST AND FUME, as Mg | 1309-48-4 | mg/m3 | 3 | 10 | |
| MERCURY, ARYL COMPOUNDS | 7439-97-6 | mg/m3 | 0.05 | 0.1 | |
| MESITYL OXIDE | 141-79-7 | ppm | 10 | 25 | |
| METHOXYFLURANE | 76-38-0 | ppm | 2 | ||
| 1-METHOXY-2-PROPANOL | 107-98-2 | ppm | 50 | 75 | |
| 2-METHOXY-1-PROPANOL | 1589-47-5 | ppm | 20 | 40 | |
| 1-METHOXYPROPYL-2-ACETATE | 108-65-6 | ppm | 50 | 75 | |
| 2-METHOXYPROPYL-1-ACETATE | 70657-70-4 | ppm | 20 | 40 | |
| METHYLENE BISPHENYL ISOCYANATE |
101-68-8 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| METHYLENE bis (4- CYCLOHEXYL-ISOCYANATE) |
5124-30-1 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| 4,4'-METHYLENEDIANILINE | 101-77-9 | ppm | 0.01 | ||
| METHYL ETHYL KETONE (MEK) | 78-93-3 | ppm | 50 | 100 | |
| METHYL PROPYL KETONE (2-PENTANONE) | 107-87-9 | ppm | 150 | 250 | |
| alpha-METHYL STYRENE | 98-83-9 | ppm | 50 | 75 | 100 |
| 1,5-NAPHTHYLENE DIISOCYANATE | 3173-72-6 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| NICKEL, ELEMENTAL, SOLUBLE INORGANIC COMPOUNDS (NOS) | 7440-02-0 | mg/m3 | 0.05 | ||
| NICKEL, INSOLUBLE INORGANIC COMPOUNDS (NOS) | 7440-02-0 | mg/m3 | 0.05 | ||
| NICKEL CARBONYL | 13463-39-3 | ppm | 0.001 | ||
| NITROGEN DIOXIDE | 10102-44-0 | ppm | 1 | ||
| 2-NITROPROPANE | 79-46-9 | ppm | 5 | ||
| NITROUS OXIDE | 10024-97-2 | ppm | 25 | ||
| OIL MIST, MINERAL, MILDLY REFINED | mg/m3 | 0.2 | |||
| OIL MIST, MINERAL, SEVERELY REFINED | mg/m3 | 1 | |||
| PHENYL ISOCYANATE | 103-71-9 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| PHENYL MERCAPTAN | 108-98-5 | ppm | 0.1 | ||
| PIPERAZINE AND ITS SALTS, as PIPERAZINE | 142-64-3 | mg/m3 | 0.3 | 1 | |
| PIPERIDINE | 110-89-4 | ppm | 1 | ||
| PLASTER OF PARIS, TOTAL DUST | 26499-65-0 | mg/m3 | 10 | 20 | |
| POLYVINYL CHLORIDE, TOTAL DUST | 9002-86-2 | mg/m3 | 5 | ||
| RHODIUM, METAL AND INSOLUBLE COMPOUNDS, as Rh | 7440-16-6 | mg/m3 | 0.1 | 0.3 | |
| RHODIUM, SOLUBLE COMPOUNDS, as Rh | 7440-16-6 | mg/m3 | 0.001 | 0.003 | |
| SELENIUM AND COMPOUNDS, as Se | 7782-49-2 | mg/m3 | 0.1 | ||
| SILICA, AMORPHOUS: | |||||
| DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, UNCALCINED, TOTAL DUST | 61790-53-2 | mg/m3 | 4 | ||
| DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, UNCALCINED, RESPIRABLE DUST | 61790-53-2 | mg/m3 | 1.5 | ||
| PRECIPITATED SILICA and SILICA GEL, TOTAL DUST | 112926-00-8 | mg/m3 | 4 | ||
| PRECIPITATED SILICA and SILICA GEL, RESPIRABLE DUST | 112926-00-8 | mg/m3 | 1.5 | ||
| SILICA FUME, TOTAL DUST | 69012-64-2 | mg/m3 | 4 | ||
| SILICA FUME, RESPIRABLE DUST | 69012-64-2 | mg/m3 | 1.5 | ||
| SILICON TETRAHYDRIDE (SILANE) | 7803-62-5 | ppm | 0.5 | 1 | |
| SILVER AND COMPOUNDS, as Ag | 7440-22-4 | mg/m3 | 0.01 | 0.03 | |
| STODDARD SOLVENT (MINERAL SPIRITS) | 8052-41-3 | mg/m3 | 290 | 580 | |
| STYRENE | 100-42-5 | ppm | 50 | 75 | |
| 1,1,2,2-TETRACHLORO-1,2-DIFLUOROETHANE | 76-12-0 | ppm | 200 | ||
| TETRAETHYL LEAD, as Pb | 78-00-2 | mg/m3 | 0.075 | ||
| TETRAMETHYL LEAD, as Pb | 75-74-1 | mg/m3 | 0.075 | ||
| 2,4-TOLUENE DIISOCYANATE (TDI) | 584-84-9 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| 2,6-TOLUENE DIISOCYANATE | 91-08-7 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| 1,1,2-TRICHLORO-1,2,2-TRIFLUOROETHANE | 76-13-1 | ppm | 500 | 1250 | |
| TRIMETHYL HEXAMETHYLENE DIISOCYANATE | 28679-16-5 | ppm | 0.005 | 0.01 | |
| TRI-n-BUTYLTIN COMPOUNDS | 688-73-3 | mg/m3 | 0.05 | ||
| URANIUM COMPOUNDS, NATURAL, SOLUBLE, as U | 7440-61-1 | mg/m3 | 0.05 | ||
| VANADIUM PENTOXIDE, RESPIRABLE DUST and FUME, as V2O5 | 1314-62-1 | mg/m3 | 0.05 | ||
| VANADIUM PENTOXIDE, TOTAL DUST, as V2O5 | 1314-62-1 | mg/m3 | 0.2 | ||
| VEGETABLE OIL MIST, RESPIRABLE FRACTION, EXCEPT CASTOR, CASHEW NUT, OR SIMILAR IRRITATING OILS | 8008-89-7 | mg/m3 | 3 | ||
| VINYLIDENE CHLORIDE | 75-35-4 | ppm | 1 | ||
| VINYL TOLUENE, ALL ISOMERS | 25013-15-4 | ppm | 25 | 75 | |
| WOOD DUST: | |||||
| ALLERGENIC | mg/m3 | 1 | |||
| NON-ALLERGENIC, HARDWOOD | mg/m3 | 1 | |||
| NON-ALLERGENIC, SOFTWOOD | mg/m3 | 2.5 | |||
| ZINC STEARATE, TOTAL DUST | 557-05-1 | mg/m3 | 10 | 20 |
2. Dusts
The Board categorizes particulates that are insoluble or poorly soluble in water and do not cause toxic effects other than by inflammation or the mechanism of "lung overload", as “nuisance dusts”.
A “nuisance dust” will have an exposure limit or TLV of 10 mg/m3 for total particulate. It is recognized that the respirable fraction of “nuisance dusts” may also be measured. The equivalent exposure limit for respirable particulate is 3 mg/m3. Respirable particulate refers to the fraction of inhaled dust that is capable of passing through the upper respiratory tract to the gas exchange region of the lung. Total particulate refers to a wide range of particle sizes capable of being deposited in the various regions of the respiratory tract.
PRACTICE
For any relevant PRACTICE information regarding exposure limits or appropriate sampling methods for dusts, readers should consult the Guidelines available on the WCB website.
| EFFECTIVE DATE: | August 1, 2004 |
| AUTHORITY: | s. 5.48, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation |
| CROSS REFERENCES: | |
| HISTORY: | This item was originally developed to implement the amendments made to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, effective October 29, 2003 pertaining to occupational exposure limits. A review of the policy was conducted to ensure that all substances for which an exception was warranted were listed, and there was no duplication with the information provided by the ACGIH. |
| APPLICATION: | The amended policy comes into effect on August 1, 2004 and applies to all regulatory violations discovered on or after that date. Regulatory violations discovered before August 1, 2004 will continue to be dealt with under the previous policy. |
Policy Item R5.54-1 RE: Chemical and Biological Substances - Controlling Exposure - Exposure Control Plan
BACKGROUND
1. Explanatory Notes
Section 5.54 sets out the requirement for an exposure control plan in certain circumstances and the necessary elements if an exposure control plan is required. Among those elements is health monitoring under section 5.54(2)(f).
2. The Regulation
Section 5.54:
(1) An exposure control plan must be implemented when
(a) exposure monitoring under section 5.53(3) indicates that a worker is or may be exposed to an air contaminant in excess of 50% of its exposure limit,
(b) measurement is not possible at 50% of the applicable exposure limit, or
(c) otherwise required by this Regulation.(2) The exposure control plan must incorporate the following elements:
(a) a statement of purpose and responsibilities;
(b) risk identification, assessment and control;
(c) education and training;
(d) written work procedures, when required;
(e) hygiene facilities and decontamination procedures, when required;
(f) health monitoring, when required;
(g) documentation, when required.(3) The plan must be reviewed at least annually and updated as necessary by the employer, in consultation with the joint committee or the worker health and safety representative, as applicable.
POLICY
At the request of persons outside the Board or Board staff, the Board may arrange for samples to be analyzed as part of a health monitoring program under section 5.54(2)(f). The Board will have the results organized into broad categories of body burden levels and reported to the person who made the request and to Board staff and industry representatives concerned with the particular program.
The actual body burden levels of individuals are confidential and will only be revealed to a worker if the worker inquires, and to anyone else with the worker's written authorization. Questions regarding specific analysis results should be referred to the Board staff concerned with the particular program.
PRACTICE
For any relevant PRACTICE information, readers should consult the Prevention Division's Guidelines available on the WCB website.
| EFFECTIVE DATE: | April 1, 2001 |
| AUTHORITY: | s. 5.54(2)(f), Occupational Health and Safety Regulation |
| CROSS REFERENCES: | |
| HISTORY: | Replaces Policy No. 13.01(6) of the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual |
| APPLICATION: | This Item results from the 2000/2001 "editorial" consolidation of all prevention policies into the Prevention Manual. The POLICY in this Item merely continues the substantive requirements of Policy No. 13.01(6), as they existed prior to the Effective Date, with any wording changes necessary to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since Policy No. 13.01(6) was issued. |
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