Working Safely with Formaldehyde

Course Description:

Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical compound that can cause serious health effects and is commonly used in laboratory operations. This training session is meant for employees working in laboratories or other environments where formaldehyde is present and who may be exposed to a formaldehyde concentration of 0.1 parts per million or higher. The main purpose of this session is to help you work safely with or around formaldehyde.

Why “Working Safely with Formaldehyde” Matters:

Formaldehyde solutions are toxic by direct contact and can also release toxic formaldehyde gas. Acute overexposure to formaldehyde and formaldehyde solutions causes severe eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can result in skin sensitization, including severe blistering, injury to organs, and an increased risk of cancer.

Key Points:

The main points from this training session include:

• The hazards posed by formaldehyde are real and can be serious;
• Monitor for signs or symptoms of contamination or overexposure and report these at once;
• In most cases, protective measures are required, not optional; and
• Never cut corners when working with or around formaldehyde. Follow safe work procedures, and use the equipment that is designed to protect you.