Formaldehyde and Formalin Safety Training

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring element in the environment. It occurs in the form of a gas at room temperature and has the ability to convert to derivative forms that are often used for industrial solutions. One of these is formalin, an aqueous solution that contains formaldehyde as well as methane for oxidation. Both formaldehyde and formalin are potentially hazardous to human and animal health, and safety training is required for those who handle these substances.

Formaldehyde Safety Training

• One of the most common and historic uses of formaldehyde is as a preserving agent for organic tissue. It has been used for embalming processes for many years, and it is also used in research laboratories where tissue is often used as a study specimen. Research staff receive safety training before being allowed to handle formaldehyde. This includes reading and comprehending the material safety data sheet (MSDS) that all manufacturers provide. MSDS information for formaldehyde includes protecting the body by wearing safety goggles, nitrile gloves made of tear-resistant synthetic latex and properly fastened lab coats.

Formalin Safety Training

• The use of formalin in laboratories includes tissue preservation as well as disinfection and sterilization. Surfaces and containers that are used for storage and study purposes are routinely sanitized with formalin in a lower mixture ratio than solutions used for tissue preservation (about 10 percent versus 70 percent dilution, respectively). Safety training for individuals handling both formalin and formaldehyde in laboratories focuses on ventilation. Work areas where these solutions are handled require use of a fume hood, a mechanical device that includes a fan for removing toxic fumes wherever formalin or formaldehyde are used.

OSHA Safety Requirements

• Those who handle formaldehyde and formalin regularly must follow OSHA requirements dealing with exposure time limits. This is important especially in industrial environments where employees will be exposed daily to these chemicals as part of their regular work. The maximum amount of time a worker should be exposed according to OSHA standards is categorized by their permissible exposure limit (PEL): 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL) at a solution rate of 2.0 parts per million (ppm) and eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure at 0.75 ppm.

Related Safety Training

• Formaldehyde and formalin are used in many industrial environments other than medicine and research. The food industry is one industry in which these substances are used, and safety training is required for workers who handle them. This applies not only to the employee themselves but to the food they work with, such as live fish. Formalin is used to kill parasites on fish that are to be processed for food. One of the dangers of formalin is that it removes oxygen from an aquatic environment. It also kills algae, which are important sources of oxygen as well by way of photosynthesis. Safety training includes avoiding temperature extremes for storing formalin. Temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit create paraformaldehyde, which is very toxic and kills fish on contact. Toxicity also increases when aquatic temperatures exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other Safety Training Facts

• The Environmental Health and Safety Organization (EHSO), a subsidiary agency of OSHA, provides information about formaldehyde safety training. According to the EHSO website, any employee who is exposed to formaldehyde concentrations of 0.1 or higher must receive training at least once a year in the proper handling of this substance. They also cite information from OSHA about safety training in addressing spills. This includes requiring work places to provide training in how to use eyewash stations, hand-held water-dispensing devices and emergency portable shower units when formaldehyde comes in contact with human skin.