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Solvents Solvents
Hazard Recognition

Many workers are unaware of the potential hazards in their work environment, which makes them more vulnerable to injury. Employers are responsible for informing employees of the hazards and the identities of workplace chemicals to which they are exposed. The following references aid in recognizing solvent hazards in the workplace.
  • OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1.15], (1999, January 20).
  • Chemical Hazard Communication. OSHA Publication 3084, (1998). Also available as a 2.5 MB PDF, 31 pages. Gives an overview of chemical hazard communication.
  • Using Solvents Safely. California Department of Health Services, Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service (HESIS), (1997, June 1). Describes methods of using solvents safely in the workplace. It includes a list of solvents that are reproductive hazards to women and men, as well as a solvent safety checklist.
  • Documentation for Immmediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH): NIOSH Chemical Listing and Documentation of Revised IDLH Values. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NTIS) Publication No. PB-94-195047, (1995, March 1). Documents the criteria and information sources that have been used by NIOSH to determine immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations (IDLHs).
  • Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 81-123, (1981, January). Contains chemical information, such as exposure limits, health hazards, chemical and physical properties, monitoring and measuring procedures, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • NORA Priority Research Areas: Work Environment and Workforce. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Occupation Research Agenda (NORA). Discusses five of the NORA priority areas categorized by work environment and workforce. Research has shown that physiologic interactions from some mixed exposures can lead to an increase in the severity of the harmful effect. For example, exposure to noise and toluene results in a two- to three-times-higher risk of hearing loss.
  • Mixed Exposures. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), National Occupation Research Agenda (NORA).
  • ToxFAQs. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Provides a series of summaries and answers to frequently asked questions about contaminants found at hazardous waste sites and hazardous substances excerpted from ATSDR's Toxicological Profiles and Public Health Statements. Each fact sheet serves as a quick and easy-to-understand guide.
  • Cleaning Solvents. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (2003, June 5). Provides links to several different fact sheets on solvent related topics.

Specific Solvents


 Safety and
 Health Topics
 
  Solvents
  OSHA Standards
  Hazard Recognition
  Exposure Evaluation
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Content Reviewed 08/29/2007
 
 


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