Reducing Formaldehyde Exposure in the Preparation Room Sharing Best Practices to Protect Embalmers What are the best practices for controls at my funeral home? During every embalming: Elimination/Substitution • Choose least concentrated solution of embalming fluid possible for a given case Engineering Controls • Operate ventilation system as designed by a certified HVAC professional (recommended at least 15 air changes per hour) • Open windows/doors to provide additional fresh air when possible • Limit exposure to formaldehyde and bloodborne pathogens through use of a drain tube Administrative Controls • Follow work practices to avoid spills • If a spill occurs, clean up immediately • Keep the lid on the embalming fluid machine when in use and on the embalming wastewater receptacle • When mixing solutions, always add arterial fluids to water rather than water to arterial fluids • Carefully monitor and restrict use of the most highly concentrated formaldehyde products, such as osmotic gels, hardening compounds, and disinfecting sprays PPE • Employees may elect to use a properly fitted respirator, even when measured exposures do not exceed OSHA regulatory limits • Use all appropriate PPE to avoid skin and eye contact with formaldehyde-containing products (and any chemical products of any type) • Wash your hands with soap and water after removing PPE Once per month: • Check your funeral home’s 30-day cleaning, decontamination, and inspection schedule to ensure proper functioning of eyewash stations and emergency drench showers • If using, check the filters on employee respirators At least once per year: • Schedule a routine HVAC maintenance appointment • Review OSHA, state, and local regulations and guidelines • Review chemical inventory and update hazard communication and training on embalming fluid constituents as necessary • Conduct and document exposure monitoring to ensure formaldehyde exposures do not exceed acceptable exposure limits REGULATION Directors Digest | 17
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