[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 29, Volume 5]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 29CFR1910.124]
[Page 411-413]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER XVII--OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR
PART 1910_OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS--Table of Contents
Subpart H_Hazardous Materials
Sec. 1910.124 General requirements for dipping and coating operations.
(a) What construction requirements apply to dip tanks? Any container
that you use as a dip tank must be strong enough to withstand any
expected load.
(b) What ventilation requirements apply to vapor areas? (1) The
ventilation that you provide to a vapor area must keep the airborne
concentration of any substance below 25% of its LFL.
(2) When a liquid in a dip tank creates an exposure hazard covered
by a standard listed in subpart Z of this part, you must control worker
exposure as required by that standard.
(3) You may use a tank cover or material that floats on the surface
of the liquid in a dip tank to replace or supplement ventilation. The
method or
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combination of methods you choose must maintain the airborne
concentration of the hazardous material and the worker's exposure within
the limits specified in paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section.
(4) When you use mechanical ventilation, it must conform to the
following standards that are incorporated by reference as specified in
Sec. 1910.6:
(i) ANSI Z9.2-1979, Fundamentals Governing the Design and Operation
of Local Exhaust Systems;
(ii) NFPA 34-1995, Standard for Dip Tanks Containing Flammable or
Combustible Liquids;
(iii) ACGIH's ``Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended
Practice'' (22nd ed., 1995); or
(iv) ANSI Z9.1-1971, Practices for Ventilation and Operation of
Open-Surface Tanks, and NFPA 34-1966, Standard for Dip Tanks Containing
Flammable or Combustible Liquids.
(5) When you use mechanical ventilation, it must draw the flow of
air into a hood or exhaust duct.
(6) When you use mechanical ventilation, each dip tank must have an
independent exhaust system unless the combination of substances being
removed will not cause a:
(i) Fire;
(ii) Explosion; or
(iii) Chemical reaction.
(c) What requirements must I follow to recirculate exhaust air into
the workplace? (1) You may not recirculate exhaust air when any
substance in that air poses a health hazard to employees or exceeds 25%
of its LFL.
(2) You must ensure that any exhaust air recirculated from a dipping
or coating operation using flammable or combustible liquids is:
(i) Free of any solid particulate that poses a health or safety
hazard for employees; and
(ii) Monitored by approved equipment.
(3) You must have a system that sounds an alarm and automatically
shuts down the operation when the vapor concentration for any substance
in the exhaust airstream exceeds 25% of its LFL.
(d) What must I do when I use an exhaust hood? You must:
(1) Provide each room having exhaust hoods with a volume of outside
air that is at least 90 percent of the volume of the exhaust air; and
(2) Ensure that the outside air supply does not damage exhaust
hoods.
(e) What requirements must I follow when an employee enters a dip
tank? When an employee enters a dip tank, you must meet the entry
requirements of Sec. 1910.146, OSHA's standard for Permit-Required
Confined Spaces, as applicable.
(f) What first-aid procedures must my employees know? Your employees
must know the first-aid procedures that are appropriate to the dipping
or coating hazards to which they are exposed.
(g) What hygiene facilities must I provide? When your employees work
with liquids that may burn, irritate, or otherwise harm their skin, you
must provide:
(1) Locker space or other storage space to prevent contamination of
the employee's street clothes;
(2) An emergency shower and eye-wash station close to the dipping or
coating operation. In place of this equipment, you may use a water hose
that is at least 4 feet (1.22 m) long and at least \3/4\ of an inch (18
mm) thick with a quick-opening valve and carrying a pressure of 25
pounds per square inch (1.62 k/cm\2\) or less; and
(3) At least one basin with a hot-water faucet for every 10
employees who work with such liquids. (See paragraph (d) of Sec.
1910.141.)
(h) What treatment and first aid must I provide? When your employees
work with liquids that may burn, irritate, or otherwise harm their skin,
you must provide:
(1) A physician's approval before an employee with a sore, burn, or
other skin lesion that requires medical treatment works in a vapor area;
(2) Treatment by a properly designated person of any small skin
abrasion, cut, rash, or open sore;
(3) Appropriate first-aid supplies that are located near the dipping
or coating operation; and
(4) For employees who work with chromic acid, periodic examinations
of their exposed body parts, especially their nostrils.
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(i) What must I do before an employee cleans a dip tank? Before
permitting an employee to clean the interior of a dip tank, you must:
(1) Drain the contents of the tank and open the cleanout doors; and
(2) Ventilate and clear any pockets where hazardous vapors may have
accumulated.
(j) What must I do to inspect and maintain my dipping or coating
operation? You must:
(1) Inspect the hoods and ductwork of the ventilation system for
corrosion or damage:
(i) At least quarterly during operation; and
(ii) Prior to operation after a prolonged shutdown.
(2) Ensure that the airflow is adequate:
(i) At least quarterly during operation; and
(ii) Prior to operation after a prolonged shutdown.
(3) Periodically inspect all dipping and coating equipment,
including covers, drains, overflow piping, and electrical and fire-
extinguishing systems, and promptly correct any deficiencies;
(4) Provide mechanical ventilation or respirators (selected and used
as specified in Sec. 1910.134, OSHA's Respiratory Protection standard)
to protect employees in the vapor area from exposure to toxic substances
released during welding, burning, or open-flame work; and
(5) Have dip tanks thoroughly cleaned of solvents and vapors before
permitting welding, burning, or open-flame work on them.
