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OSHA Formaldehyde (updated 2009) (Online CEU Course)

Terry Jo Gile MT(ASCP)MA Ed.

MediaLab's OSHA Formaldehyde course is one of the few online courses currently available that addresses the important OSHA Formaldehyde standard. OSHA has fined hospitals and health care facilities up to $112,000 for failure to provide and document employee formaldehyde training.

This course is essential for any laboratory that uses formaldehyde or formalin. Facts about formaldehyde, safety risks, proper handling procedure, monitoring, spill clean-up, and personal protective equipment and are all covered in this comprehensive course.

OSHA requires initial and annual formaldehyde training for all employees who may be exposed to formaldehyde at levels at or above 0.1 ppm, unless the employer can demonstrate that employees are not exposed to this level. For practical purposes, this means that all employees who work in the pathology gross room are probably candidates for initial and annual formaldehyde training. Please seen the appropriate citation from the OSHA formaldehyde standard below.

1910.1048(n)(1) Participation. The employer shall assure that all employees who are assigned to workplaces where there is exposure to formaldehyde participate in a training program, except that where the employer can show, using objective data, that employees are not exposed to formaldehyde at or above 0.1 ppm, the employer is not required to provide training.

1910.1048(n)(2) Frequency. Employers shall provide such information and training to employees at the time of initial assignment, and whenever a new exposure to formaldehyde is introduced into the work area. The training shall be repeated at least annually.

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Continuing Education Credits

Objectives

  • Describe the characteristics of formaldehyde, and symptoms of overexposure to formaldehyde.
  • Be aware of the relevant OSHA standards.
  • Describe appropriate environmental monitoring procedures.
  • Explain how to protect yourself from the dangers of formaldehyde.

Course Outline

Click on a link in the outline to view a sample page from this course.

Additional Information

Level of Instruction: Basic.

Intended Audience: Laboratory, histology, and pathology personnel who may be exposed to formaldehyde.

Author credentials: Terry Jo Gile, MT(ASCP)MA Ed. "The Safety Lady®" has over 45 years experience as a certified medical technologist. She has a bachelor's degree in Biology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and a master's degree in Education from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. For 20 years she was a member of the management team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital Department of Laboratories in St. Louis, Missouri, and served as the Safety Officer as well as a laboratory safety consultant to the BJC Health System. As President of her own consulting firm, Safety Lady, LLC, she is a world renowned speaker and consultant helping organizations create safety savvy laboratories.





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