Mandatory Formalin Certification-4

This formalin certification is mandatory to participate in any of the labs for BIO 260, BIO 241, BIO 242.  Read the following page and follow the instructions at the end.

Background: 

Many of the chemicals that laboratory workers come into contact with can be hazardous.  Formaldehyde, which is commonly used in many laboratories, is no exception.  health problems from mishandling formaldehyde can be serious.  They can range from the short-term discomfort associated with minor burns or skin irritation to chronic effects from a lifetime of overexposure.  In 1992, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an updated standard for working safely with materials that contain formaldehyde.  Laboratory employees need to be aware of this standard and the rules and procedures that it establishes for working with formaldehyde.

Objectives:

To help employees recognize the hazards in working with formaldehyde, and how to handle is safely, this education and training program is designed to prevent basic information about the OSHA Formaldehyde Standard and the procedures it sets up for working safely with formaldehyde.  Upon completion of the program, employees should

  • Know the potential health hazards associated with overexposure to formaldehyde.
  • Understand the concepts of "permissible exposure limits " (PELs) and "short-term exposure limits" (STELs).
  • Know where to find information about formaldehyde content and exposure on a substance's container label and Material Safety Data Sheets.
  • Understand the roles of ventilation systems and personal protective equipment in working safely with formaldehyde.
  • Be able to follow proper spill clean-up and decontamination procedures in case of incidents involving formaldehyde.
  • Know what basic first aid is appropriate for different types of formaldehyde overexposure.
  • Be aware of the basic information regarding the "medical surveillance plan" in the Formaldehyde Standard.

Continue to the following:

1.  View the PowerPoint Presentation on formalin in this module.

2.  Watch the OSHA Standard video in this module.

3.  View / download your copy of the safety guidelines and emergency map.

4.  Take the quiz at the end.  You must have 5 correct out of 7 to pass.  If you do not pass the first time you will be allowed a total of 3 attempts to pass the quiz.  This is mandatory to participate in the labs.