Actually, personal monitoring of the worker is what I think the Methylene Chloride Standard requires. Monitoring the lab won't cut it. And without reviewing the standard to be sure, the action limit is usually 1/2 of the PEL.
I'll look later when I have a moment and correct this if need be.
Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist
President: Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.
Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE
181 Thompson St., #23
New York, NY 10012 212-777-0062
-----Original Message-----
From: Ralph Stuart <ras2047**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Sent: Fri, Apr 15, 2016 11:25 am
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Spray booths for select carcinogens
>Methylene chloride is an IARC Group 2A potential human carcinogen. As such, it becomes a "particularly hazardous substance" under the OSHA lab standard and according to the standard, must be handled in a "containment."
>Is a spray booth considered a "containment?"
Potentially, if it is able to keep the worker exposure levels below PEL of 25 ppm. The good news is that you can document the containment or lack thereof pretty straightforwardly by sampling the workplace during use of the methylene chloride.
Let me know if you have any questions about this.
- Ralph
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu