Reducing Formaldehyde Exposure in the Preparation Room Sharing Best Practices to Protect Embalmers What is formaldehyde? Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent-smelling, volatile organic compound (VOC) that readily evaporates at normal room temperature and pressure. Since the early 1900s, formaldehyde has been used in embalming for its disinfecting and preservation qualities. Exposure to formaldehyde can cause eye irritation, difficulty breathing, coughing, skin rashes, allergic reactions, and nausea. As such, worker exposure to formaldehyde is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Worker exposures must be kept below the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.75 parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (ppm) averaged over an 8-hour time-weighted average (8-hr TWA) workday, and below the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2 ppm during any 15-minute period. How much formaldehyde can I be exposed to during an embalming? A study conducted by Stantec and NFDA in 2022 found that average worker exposure to formaldehyde while actively embalming was 0.68 ppm, ranging from 0.06 ppm to 1.4 ppm. The average exposure to formaldehyde over an 8-hour day during the study was 0.15 ppm (Allen et al., 2022). OSHA Exposure Limits for Formaldehyde • Permissible Exposure Limit (8-hr TWA): 0.75 ppm • Short Term Exposure Limit (15-min): 2 ppm How are exposures to formaldehyde controlled? Employers should follow the hierarchy of controls to eliminate or reduce exposure to an identified hazard. Elimination and Substitution refer to changes in product selection such that formaldehyde is no longer used. Engineering controls are those methods that remove a hazard at the source or place a barrier between the worker and the hazard (e.g., enclosed mixing systems, ventilation). Administrative controls are practices or policies that minimize a worker’s exposure to a hazard (e.g., reduced exposure time, training requirements, safe work practices) When other methods of control are not feasible, insufficient to reduce exposure below relevant regulatory limits, or are being installed or service, workers should be provided with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to reduce their exposure to below acceptable concentrations. PPE relevant to embalming may include respirators, gloves, goggles, and/or splash guards. REGULATION Least Effective Most Effective Elimination Physically remove the hazard Substitution Replace the hazard Engineering Controls Isolate people from the hazard Administrative Controls Change the way people work Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Protect the worker with Personal Protective Equipment 16 | Directors Digest
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