Disclaimer: These guidelines were developed under contract using generally accepted secondary sources. The protocol used by the contractor for surveying these data sources was developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). The information contained in these guidelines is intended for reference purposes only. None of the agencies have conducted a comprehensive check of the information and data contained in these sources. It provides a summary of information about chemicals that workers may be exposed to in their workplaces. The secondary sources used for supplements 111 and 1V were published before 1992 and 1993, respectively, and for the remainder of the guidelines the secondary sources used were published before September 1996. This information may be superseded by new developments in the field of industrial hygiene. Therefore readers are advised to determine whether new information is available.

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH GUIDELINE FOR PHENOL

INTRODUCTION

This guideline summarizes pertinent information about phenol for workers and employers as well as for physicians, industrial hygienists, and other occupational safety and health professionals who may need such information to conduct effective occupational safety and health programs. Recommendations may be superseded by new developments in these fields; readers are therefore advised to regard these recommendations as general guidelines and to determine whether new information is available.

SUBSTANCE IDENTIFICATION

* Formula

C(6)H(6)O

* Structure

(For Structure, see paper copy)

* Synonyms

Carbolic acid, monohydroxybenzene, hydroxybenzene, benzenol, phenylic acid, phenyl hydroxide, benzophenol, phenyl hydrate, phenylic alcohol, monophenol, phenic acid, oxybenzene

* Identifiers

1. CAS No.: 108-95-2

2. RTECS No.: SJ3325000

3. DOT UN: 1671 55 (phenol, solid); 2821 55 (phenol solutions); 2312 55 (phenol, molten); 2821 55 (phenol solutions)

4. DOT label: Poison

* Appearance and odor

Pure phenol consists of white or clear acicular crystals. At 41degreesC (105degreesF), phenol congeals into a solid that can be liquefied by mixing a very small amount of water (2 parts water: 23 parts phenol). On exposure to air and light, phenol assumes a pinkish or reddish discoloration; this discoloration is accelerated by the presence of alkalinity or impurities. Phenol has a characteristic sweet, medicinal, or tar-like odor. It is shipped in the molten state at elevated temperatures or in the solid or crystalline form; it is also available as an aqueous solution. The air odor threshold concentration for phenol is 0.04 part per million (ppm) parts of air.

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

* Physical data

1. Molecular weight: 94.11

2. Boiling point (at 760 mm Hg): 181.7 degrees C (359.1 degrees F)

3. Specific gravity (water = 1): 1.07 at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F)

4. Vapor density: 3.24

5. Melting point: 43 degrees C (109.4 degrees F)

6. Vapor pressure at 35 degrees C (77 degrees F): 0.35 mm Hg

7. Solubility: Soluble in water and benzene; very soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether, glycerol, carbon disulfide, petrolatum, volatile and fixed oils, and aqueous alkali hydroxides; almost insoluble in petroleum ether.

8. Evaporation rate: Data not available.

* Reactivity

1. Conditions contributing to instability: Heat, flames, or sparks.

2. Incompatibilities: Contact between phenol and strong oxidizers (especially calcium hypochlorite), acids, and halogens should be avoided.

3. Hazardous decomposition products: Toxic gases (such as carbon monoxide) may be released in a fire involving phenol.

4. Special precautions: Liquid phenol attacks rubber, coatings, and some forms of plastic. Hot liquid phenol attacks aluminum, magnesium, lead, and zinc metals.

* Flammability

The National Fire Protection Association has assigned a flammability rating of 2 (moderate fire hazard) to phenol.

1. Flash point: 79 degrees C (175 degrees F) (closed cup)

2. Autoignition temperature: 715 degrees C (1319 degrees F)

3. Flammable limits in air (percent by volume): Lower, 1,7; upper, 8.6

4. Extinguishant: For small fires use dry chemical, water spray, or regular foam. Use water spray, fog, or regular foam to fight large fires involving phenol.

Fires involving phenol should be fought upwind from the maximum distance possible. Keep unnecessary people away; isolate the hazard area and deny entry. Emergency personnel should stay out of low areas and ventilate closed spaces before entering. Containers of phenol may explode in the heat of the fire and should be moved from the fire area if it is possible to do so safely. If this is not possible, cool fire exposed containers from the sides with water until well after the fire is out. Dike fire control water for later disposal; do not scatter this material. Stay away from the ends of containers. Firefighters should wear a full set of protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus when fighting fires involving phenol.

EXPOSURE LIMITS

* OSHA PEL

The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for phenol is 5 ppm (19 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m(3))) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration. The OSHA PEL also bears a "Skin" notation, which indicates that the cutaneous route of exposure (including mucous membranes and eyes) contributes to overall exposure [29 CFR 1910.1000, Table Z-1].

* NIOSH REL

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a recommended exposure limit (REL) for phenol of 5 ppm (19 mg/m(3)) as a TWA for up to a 10-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek and a short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 15.6 ppm (60 mg/m(3)) for periods not to exceed 15 minutes. NIOSH also assigns a "Skin" notation to phenol [NIOSH 1992].

* ACGIH TLV

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has assigned phenol a threshold limit value (TLV) of 5 ppm (19 mg/m(3)) as a TWA for a normal 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek. The ACGIH also assigns a "Skin" notation to phenol [ACGIH 1994, p. 29].

* Rationale for Limits

The NIOSH limits are based on the risk of skin, eyes, central nervous system, liver, kidneys [NIOSH 1992].

The ACGIH limit is based on the risk of irritation and systemic effects [ACGIH 1991, p. 1206].

HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION

* Routes of Exposure

Exposure to phenol can occur through inhalation, ingestion, eye or skin contact, and absorption through the skin [Sittig 1991, p. 1284].

* Summary of toxicology

1. Effects on Animals: Phenol is an irritant of the eyes, mucous membranes, and skin; absorption causes convulsions as well as liver, kidney, and other systemic damage [Hathaway et al. 1991]. In animals, the predominant effects of acute toxicity are exerted on motor centers in the spinal cord, which induces marked twitching and severe convulsions. Following absorption of a toxic dose, the heart rate first increases and then becomes slow and irregular; the blood pressure initially rises slightly and then falls markedly. There may be salivation and marked dyspnea, and the body temperature usually decreases [Clayton and Clayton 1982]. The mean lethal concentration for rats inhaling phenol vapors is 316 mg/m(3), and for mice it is 177 mg/m(3). The oral LD(50) values are 317 mg/kg and 270 mg/kg for rats and mice, respectively. In rabbits, the dermal LD(50) is 850 mg/kg [NIOSH 1991]. Prolonged oral or subcutaneous administration of phenol to animals can cause damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and genitourinary tract. Prolonged inhalation of vapor concentrations in the range of 30 to 60 ppm causes respiratory difficulties, lung damage, loss of weight, and paralysis [Clayton and Clayton 1982]. In contact with rabbit eyes, crystalline or concentrated aqueous phenol causes almost instantaneous white opacification of the corneal epithelium; 8 hours after application, the cornea is anesthetic, the surface ulcerated, and the stroma opaque. Five weeks later, scarring of the conjunctiva and opacity of the cornea occur. In addition, glaucoma has been induced experimentally in rabbits by injected 5-percent phenol subconjunctivally [Grant 1986]. Phenol administered by gavage has produced fetotoxic effects in rats and mice. An increased incidence of leukemia and lymphomas has been reported in rats receiving 2,500 ppm of phenol in drinking water for 103 weeks, although phenol was not considered to be carcinogenic. In mice treated twice weekly for 41 weeks by application of one drop of a 10-percent solution of phenol in benzene to the shaved dorsal skin, papillomas occurred in five of 14 animals after 52 weeks, and a single fibrosarcoma appeared at 72 weeks. Phenol may act as a nonspecific irritant to promote the development of tumors when it is repeatedly applied in large amounts to the skin [Hathaway et al. 1991].

2. Effects on Humans: The effects of phenol exposure in humans are similar to those produced in animals: systemic absorption causes central nervous system impairment and liver and kidney damage; local effects include irritation of the eyes, skin and mucous membranes [Hathaway et al. 1991]. Because of its low volatility, phenol does not pose a serious inhalation hazard in the occupational setting; the skin is a primary route of entry [Hathaway et al. 1991; Parmeggiani 1983]. A 32-year-old man died 10 minutes after spilling a strong solution of phenol over his scalp, face, neck, shoulders, and back. There was coagulation necrosis of the skin and left eye, acute dermatitis, and acute passive congestion of the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys [NLM 1992]. An oral dose of 1 gram of phenol many be lethal to humans; however, in exceptional cases, patients have survived the ingestion of 65 grams of pure phenol or 120 grams of the crude product. Roughly 50 percent of all reported cases have been fatal. Death may be rapid and usually results from respiratory failure [Clayton and Clayton 1982]. Chronic phenol poisoning is characterized by systemic disorders such as digestive disturbances, nervous system effects, and possibly by skin discoloration and eruptions; the prognosis is grave when there is extensive damage to the liver and kidneys [Parmeggiani 1983]. Concentrated phenol solutions are severely irritating to the human eye and cause conjunctival swelling; the cornea becomes white and loses sensation. Loss of vision has occurred in some cases. In addition to systemic effects, contact with the solid or liquid can produce chemical burns. Erythema, edema, tissue necrosis, and gangrene have been reported [Hathaway et al. 1991].

* Signs and symptoms of exposure

1. Acute exposure: Acute phenol intoxication causes shock, collapse, coma, convulsions, cyanosis, and death. Ingestion of lethal amounts causes severe burns of the mouth and throat, marked abdominal pain, cyanosis, muscular weakness, collapse, coma, and death. Tremors, convulsions, and muscle twitching have also occurred. Contact of the skin with the solid or liquid can produce chemical burns, redness, edema, tissue necrosis, and gangrene; contact with the eye amy result in irritation, conjunctival swelling, whitened cornea, and blindness.

2. Chronic exposure: Chronic phenol poisoning is characterized by vomiting, difficult swallowing, excessive salivation, diarrhea, anorexia, headache, fainting, vertigo, mental disturbances, and possibly skin eruptions. Prolonged cutaneous exposure may result in deposition of dark pigment in the skin.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROCEDURES

* Emergency medical procedures: [NIOSH to supply]

5. Rescue: Remove an incapacitated worker from further exposure and implement appropriate emergency procedures (e.g., those listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet required by OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]). All workers should be familiar with emergency procedures, the location and proper use of emergency equipment, and methods of protecting themselves during rescue operations.

EXPOSURE SOURCES AND CONTROL METHODS

The following operations may involve phenol and lead to worker exposures to this substance:

* The manufacture and transportation of phenol

* Use as bonding resin in plywood manufacture and of molding resins in manufacture of molded articles, such as electrical appliances, automotive parts, foundry sand molds, and utensil handles; and during manufacture of friction materials, bonded adhesives, coated abrasives, wood particle board, and insulation materials

* Use as a peptizing agent in glue, as a blocking agent for blocked isocyanate monomers, and in the synthesis of stabilizers and preservatives for dyes, perfumes, and fungicides

* Use in synthesis of thermosetting phenolic resins, epoxy, polycarbonate, phenoxy, and polysulfone; and in synthesis of caprolactam for use in nylon 6 fibers, plastics, and films

* Use in synthesis of bisphenol-a, adipic acid, alkyphenols, agricultural chemicals, and intermediates; in synthesis of pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastic plasticizers and antioxidants, and curing agents

* Use during solvent refining of lubrication il and wax and in synthesis of additives for gasoline and lubricating fluids and intermediates

* Use in medicine as a preservative for pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, as an agent for relieving itching, as a disinfectant for septic wounds, as a cauterizing agent, and for the treatment of severe disability (muscle spasms, paralysis, and related disorders) resulting from multiple sclerosis

* Use in synthesis of intermediates in polyester production; in synthesis of corrosion-resistant polyester and polyester polyols; and in synthesis of dye intermediates

* Use in synthesis of disinfectants, surface-active agents, detergent intermediates, explosives, and synthetic cresols and xylenols

* Use in the production or manufacture of fertilizer, coke, illuminating gas, lampblack, paints, paint removers, and asbestos goods

* Use in veterinary medicine as an internal antiseptic and gastric anesthetic

Methods that are effective in controlling worker exposures to phenol, depending on the feasibility of implementation, are as follows:

* Process enclosure
* Local exhaust ventilation
* General dilution ventilation
* Personal protective equipment

Workers responding to a release or potential release of a hazardous substance must be protected as required by paragraph (q) of OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard [29 CFR 1910.120].

Good sources of information about control methods are as follows:

1. ACGIH [1992]. Industrial ventilation--a manual of recommended practice. 21st ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

2. Burton DJ [1986]. Industrial ventilation--a self study companion. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.

3. Alden JL, Kane JM [1982]. Design of industrial ventilation systems. New York, NY: Industrial Press, Inc.

4. Wadden RA, Scheff PA [1987]. Engineering design for control of workplace hazards. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

5. Plog BA [1988]. Fundamentals of industrial hygiene. Chicago, IL: National Safety Council.

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE

OSHA is currently developing requirements for medical surveillance. When these requirements are promulgated, readers should refer to them for additional information and to determine whether employers whose employees are exposed to phenol are required to implement medical surveillance procedures.

* Medical Screening

Workers who may be exposed to chemical hazards should be monitored in a systematic program of medical surveillance that is intended to prevent occupational injury and disease. The program should include education of employers and workers about work-related hazards, early detection of adverse health effects, and referral of workers for diagnosis and treatment. The occurrence of disease or other work-related adverse health effects should prompt immediate evaluation of primary preventive measures (e.g., industrial hygiene monitoring, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment). A medical surveillance program is intended to supplement, not replace, such measures. To detect and control work-related health effects, medical evaluations should be performed (1) before job placement, (2) periodically during the term of employment, and (3) at the time of job transfer or termination.

* Preplacement medical evaluation

Before a worker is placed in a job with a potential for exposure to phenol, a licensed health care professional should evaluate and document the worker's baseline health status with thorough medical, environmental, and occupational histories, a physical examination, and physiologic and laboratory tests appropriate for the anticipated occupational risks. These should concentrate on the function and integrity of the skin, central nervous system, respiratory system, liver, and kidneys. Medical surveillance for respiratory disease should be conducted using the principles and methods recommended by the American Thoracic Society.

A preplacement medical evaluation is recommended to assess medical conditions that may be aggravated or may result in increased risk when a worker is exposed to phenol at or below the prescribed exposure limit. The health care professional should consider the probable frequency, intensity, and duration of exposure as well as the nature and degree of any applicable medical condition. Such conditions (which should not be regarded as absolute contraindications to job placement) include a history and other findings consistent with diseases of the skin, central nervous system, respiratory system, liver, and kidneys.

* Periodic medical evaluations

Occupational health interviews and physical examinations should be performed at regular intervals during the employment period, as mandated by any applicable Federal, State, or local standard. Where no standard exists and the hazard is minimal, evaluations should be conducted every 3 to 5 years or as frequently as recommended by an experienced occupational health physician. Additional examinations may be necessary if a worker develops symptoms attributable to phenol exposure. The interviews, examinations, and medical screening tests should focus on identifying the adverse effects of phenol on the skin, central nervous system, respiratory system, liver, or kidneys. Current health status should be compared with the baseline health status of the individual worker or with expected values for a suitable reference population.

* Termination medical evaluations

The medical, environmental, and occupational history interviews, the physical examination, and selected physiologic or laboratory tests that were conducted at the time of placement should be repeated at the time of job transfer or termination to determine the worker's medical status at the end of his or her employment. Any changes in the worker's health status should be compared with those expected for a suitable reference population.

* Biological monitoring

Biological monitoring involves sampling and analyzing body tissues or fluids to provide an index of exposure to a toxic substance or metabolite. A worker's exposure to phenol can be determined by analyzing a urine sample taken at the end of the shift for total phenol. A 250 mg total phenol per gram creatinine level corresponds to an airborne phenol exposure at the TLV (5 ppm). It should be noted that dermal absorption of phenol may also contribute to the urinary levels found.

WORKPLACE MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT

Determination of a worker's exposure to airborne phenol is made using an XAD-7 tube (100/50 mg sections, 15/50 mesh). Samples are collected at a maximum flow rate of 0.1 liter/minute until a maximum collection volume of 24 liters is reached. The sample is then treated with methanol. Analysis is conducted by gas chromatography using a flame ionization detector (GC/FID). This method is fully validated and is described in the OSHA Computerized Information System [OSHA 1994] and in NIOSH Method No. 2546 [NIOSH 1994b].

PERSONAL HYGIENE PROCEDURES

If phenol contacts the skin, workers should immediately wash the affected areas with soap and water.

Clothing contaminated with phenol should be removed immediately, and provisions should be made for the safe removal of the chemical from the clothing. Persons laundering the clothes should be informed of the hazardous properties of phenol, particularly its potential for causing irritation and tissue corrosion.

A worker who handles phenol should thoroughly wash hands, forearms, and face with soap and water before eating, using tobacco products, using toilet facilities, applying cosmetics, or taking medication.

Workers should not eat, drink, use tobacco products, apply cosmetics, or take medication in areas where phenol or a solution containing phenol is handled, processed, or stored.

STORAGE

Phenol should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in tightly sealed containers that are labeled in accordance with OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard [29 CFR 1910.1200]. Containers of phenol should be protected from physical damage and ignition sources, and should be stored separately from strong oxidizers (especially calcium hypochlorite), acids, and halogens.

SPILLS AND LEAKS

In the event of a spill or leak involving phenol, persons not wearing protective equipment and clothing should be restricted from contaminated areas until cleanup has been completed. The following steps should be undertaken following a spill or leak:

1. Do not touch the spilled material; stop the leak if it is possible to do so without risk.

2. Notify safety personnel.

3. Remove all sources of heat and ignition.

4. Ventilate the area of the spill or leak.

5. Use non-sparking tools.

6. Water spray may be used to reduce vapors.

7. For small dry spills, use a clean shovel and place the material into a clean, dry container; cover and remove the container from the spill area.

8. For small liquid spills, take up with sand or other noncombustible absorbent material and place into closed containers for later disposal.

9. For large liquid spills, build dikes far ahead of the spill to contain the phenol for later reclamation or disposal.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements for emergency planning, reportable quantities of hazardous releases, community right-to-know, and hazardous waste management may change over time. Users are therefore advised to determine periodically whether new information is available.

* Emergency planning requirements

Employers owning or operating a facility at which there are 10,000 pounds or more of phenol must comply with EPA's emergency planning requirements [40 CFR Part 355.30]. (If phenol is in the form of a finely divided powder or is handled in solution or in molten form, the employer must comply with these requirements if 500 pounds or more of phenol are present at the facility.)

* Reportable quantity requirements for hazardous releases

A hazardous substance release is defined by EPA as any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or discarding of contaminated containers) of hazardous substances. In the event of a release that is above the reportable quantity for that chemical, employers are required to notify the proper Federal, State, and local authorities [40 CFR 355.40].

The reportable quantity of phenol is 1,000 pounds. If an amount equal to or greater than this quantity is released within a 24-hour period in a manner that will expose persons outside the facility, employers are required to do the following:

- Notify the National Response Center immediately at (800) 424-8802 or at (202) 426-2675 in Washington, D.C. [40 CFR 302.6].

- Notify the emergency response commission of the State likely to be affected by the release [40 CFR 355.40].

- Notify the community emergency coordinator to the local emergency planning committee (or relevant local emergency response personnel) of any area likely to be affected by the release [40 CFR 355.40].

* Community right-to-know requirements

Employers who own or operate facilities in SIC codes 20 to 39 that employ 10 or more workers and that manufacture 25,000 pounds or more of phenol per calendar year or otherwise use 10,000 pounds or more of phenol per calendar year are required by EPA [40 CFR Part 372.30] to submit a Toxic Chemical Release Inventory form (Form R) to EPA reporting the amount of phenol emitted or released from their facility annually.

* Hazardous waste management requirements

EPA considers a waste to be hazardous if it exhibits any of the following characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity as defined in 40 CFR 261.21-261.24. Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) [40 USC 6901 et seq.], EPA has specifically listed many chemical wastes as hazardous. Phenol is listed as a hazardous waste under RCRA and has been assigned EPA Hazardous Waste No. U188. It is approved for land disposal after treatment and only if the concentration of phenol in the waste or treatment residual does not exceed 6.2 mg/kg.

Providing detailed information about the removal and disposal of specific chemicals is beyond the scope of this guideline. The U.S. Department of Transportation, EPA, and State and local regulations should be followed to ensure that removal, transport, and disposal of this substance are conducted in accordance with existing regulations. To be certain that chemical waste disposal meets EPA regulatory requirements, employers should address any questions to the RCRA hotline at (703) 412-9810 (in the Washington, D.C. area) or toll-free at (800) 424-9346 (outside Washington, D.C.). In addition, relevant State and local authorities should be contacted for information on any requirements they may have for the waste removal and disposal of this substance.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

* Conditions for respirator use

Good industrial hygiene practice requires that engineering controls be used where feasible to reduce workplace concentrations of hazardous materials to the prescribed exposure limit. However, some situations may require the use of respirators to control exposure. Respirators must be worn if the ambient concentration of phenol exceeds prescribed exposure limits. Respirators may be used (1) before engineering controls have been installed, (2) during work operations such as maintenance or repair activities that involve unknown exposures, (3) during operations that require entry into tanks or closed vessels, and (4) during emergencies. Workers should only use respirators that have been approved by NIOSH and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

* Respiratory protection program

Employers should institute a complete respiratory protection program that, at a minimum, complies with the requirements of OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard [29 CFR 1910.134]. Such a program must include respirator selection, an evaluation of the worker's ability to perform the work while wearing a respirator, the regular training of personnel, respirator fit testing, periodic workplace monitoring, and regular respirator maintenance, inspection, and cleaning. The implementation of an adequate respiratory protection program (including selection of the correct respirator) requires that a knowledgeable person be in charge of the program and that the program be evaluated regularly. For additional information on the selection and use of respirators and on the medical screening of respirator users, consult the latest edition of the NIOSH Respirator Decision Logic [NIOSH 1987b] and the NIOSH Guide to Industrial Respiratory Protection [NIOSH 1987a].

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Workers should use appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment that must be carefully selected, used, and maintained to be effective in preventing skin contact with phenol. The selection of the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g., gloves, sleeves, encapsulating suits) should be based on the extent of the worker's potential exposure to phenol. The resistance of various materials to permeation by phenol (>70 percent) is shown below:

(*) Not recommended, degradation may occur

To evaluate the use of these PPE materials with phenol, users should consult the best available performance data and manufacturers' recommendations. Significant differences have been demonstrated in the chemical resistance of generically similar PPE materials (e.g., butyl) produced by different manufacturers. In addition, the chemical resistance of a mixture may be significantly different from that of any of its neat components.

Any chemical-resistant clothing that is used should be periodically evaluated to determine its effectiveness in preventing dermal contact. Safety showers and eye wash stations should be located close to operations that involve phenol.

Splash-proof chemical safety goggles or face shields (20 to 30 cm long, minimum) should be worn during any operation in which a solvent, caustic, or other toxic substance may be splashed into the eyes.

In addition to the possible need for wearing protective outer apparel (e.g., aprons, encapsulating suits), workers should wear work uniforms, coveralls, or similar full-body coverings that are laundered each day. Employers should provide lockers or other closed areas to store work and street clothing separately. Employers should collect work clothing at the end of each work shift and provide for its laundering. Laundry personnel should be informed about the potential hazards of handling contaminated clothing and instructed about measures to minimize their health risk.

Protective clothing should be kept free of oil and grease and should be inspected and maintained regularly to preserve its effectiveness.

Protective clothing may interfere with the body's heat dissipation, especially during hot weather or during work in hot or poorly ventilated work environments.

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