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Construction workers regularly encounter materials that contain solvents during their daily tasks. Solvents such as paints, varnishes, turpentine, benzene, kerosene, gasoline, and petroleum distillates can negatively affect workers if they are not adequately protected.
OSHA recognizes solvent exposure levels for construction workers ranging from trace quantities to hovering in the upper exposure limits of 10,000 parts per million (ppm) and greater. To protect workers, the agency has established permissible exposure limits (PELs) for over 100 solvents, including those most commonly used in construction. Many companies adhere to current, more stringent American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold levels or other internal, more protective limits. And since OSHA has adopted ACGIH thresholds, they haven’t updated their solvent PELs for some time.
OSHA requires employers to monitor hazards in the workplace and protect workers from solvent exposure. Construction and maintenance workers are especially susceptible to solvent exposure and must understand the hazards, potential health effects, and protective measures for protection.
Section 1926.55 provides direction for preventing exposure to solvents through inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or direct contact. Safety data sheets (SDSs) and solvent labels provide initial warnings of hazardous substances; however, engineering and administrative controls provide the best defense against exposure. When such controls do not provide enough protection, other protective means, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), are required.
Protecting workers from solvent exposure requires employers to: