(1) A regulated area must be established by an employer where listed carcinogens are manufactured, processed, used, repackaged, released, handled or stored.

(2) All such areas must be controlled in accordance with the requirements for the following category or categories describing the operation involved:

(a) Isolated systems. Employees working with carcinogens within an isolated system such as a "glove box" must wash their hands and arms upon completion of the assigned task and before engaging in other activities not associated with the isolated system.

(b) Closed system operation. Within regulated areas where carcinogens are stored in sealed containers, or contained in a closed system including piping systems with any sample ports or openings closed while carcinogens are contained within:

(i) Access must be restricted to authorized employees only;

(ii) Employees must wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated areas, close to the point of exit and before engaging in other activities.

(d) Transfer from a closed system. Charging or discharging point operations, or otherwise opening a closed system. In operations involving "laboratory-type hoods," or in locations where a carcinogen is contained in an otherwise "closed system," but is transferred, charged, or discharged into other normally closed containers, the provisions of this section shall apply.

(i) Access must be restricted to authorized employees only;

(ii) Each operation must be provided with continuous local exhaust ventilation so that air movement is always from ordinary work areas to the operation. Exhaust air must not be discharged to regulated areas, nonregulated areas or the external environment unless decontaminated. Clean makeup air must be introduced in sufficient volume to maintain the correct operation of the local exhaust system.

(iii) Employees must be provided with, and required to wear, clean, full body protective clothing (smocks, coveralls, or long-sleeved shirt and pants), shoe covers and gloves prior to entering the regulated area.

(iv) Each employee engaged in handling operations involving the following carcinogens must be provided with and required to wear and use a NIOSH-certified self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode, or any supplied air respirator that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive pressure mode in combination with an auxiliary self-contained positive-pressure breathing apparatus as required in chapter 296-842 WAC. A respirator affording higher levels of protection than this respirator may be substituted.

(A) Methyl Chloromethyl Ether;

(B) bis-Chloromethyl Ether;

(D) beta-Propiolactone;

(E) 4-Amino Diphenyl.

(v) Each employee engaged in handling operations involving the following carcinogens must be provided with, and required to wear and use, NIOSH-certified air-purifying, half-mask respirator with particulate filters as required in chapter 296-842 WAC. A respirator affording higher levels of protection than this respirator may be substituted.

(A) 4-Nitrobiphenyl;

(B) alpha-Naphthylamine;

(D) 3-3'Dichlorobenzidine (and its salts);

(E) beta-Naphthylamine;

(F) Benzidine;

(G) 2-acetylamino fluroene;

(H) 4-imethylaminoazobenzene;

(I) n-nitrosodimethylamine.

must be provided with, and required to wear and use, a half-face, filter-type respirator certified for solid or liquid particulates with minimum efficiency rating of 95% as required in chapter 296-842 WAC. A respirator affording higher levels of protection than this respirator may be substituted.

(vi) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees must remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers must be identified, as required under WAC 296-62-07302.

(vii) Employees must wash hands, forearms, face and neck on each exit from the regulated area, close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities.

(viii) Employees must shower after the last exit of the day.

(ix) Drinking fountains are prohibited in the regulated area.

(e) Maintenance and decontamination activities. In clean up of leaks or spills, maintenance or repair operations on contaminated systems or equipment, or any operations involving work in an area where direct contact with carcinogens could result, each authorized employee entering the area must:

(i) Be provided with and required to wear, clean, impervious garments, including gloves, boots and continuous-air supplied hood in accordance with WAC 296-800-160, and respiratory protective equipment required by this chapter 296-842 WAC;

(ii) Be decontaminated before removing the protective garments and hood;

(iii) Shower upon removing the protective garments and hood.

(f) Laboratory activities. The requirements of this subdivision shall apply to research and quality control activities involving the use of carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302.

(i) Mechanical pipetting aids must be used for all pipetting procedures.

(ii) Experiments, procedures and equipment which could produce aerosols must be confined to laboratory-type hoods or glove boxes.

(iii) Surfaces on which carcinogens are handled must be protected from contamination.

(iv) Contaminated wastes and animal carcasses must be collected in impervious containers which are closed and decontaminated prior to removal from the work area. Such wastes and carcasses must be incinerated in such a manner that no carcinogenic products are released.

(v) All other forms of listed carcinogens must be inactivated prior to disposal.

(vi) Laboratory vacuum systems must be protected with high efficiency scrubbers or with disposable absolute filters.

(vii) Employees engaged in animal support activities must be:

(A) Provided with, and required to wear, a complete protective clothing change, clean each day, including coveralls or pants and shirt, foot covers, head covers, gloves, and appropriate respiratory protective equipment or devices; and

(B) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees must remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers must be identified as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2) and (3).

(C) Required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated area close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities; and

(D) Required to shower after the last exit of the day.

(viii) Employees, other than those engaged only in animal support activities, each day must be:

(A) Provided with and required to wear a clean change of appropriate laboratory clothing, such as a solid front gown, surgical scrub suit, or fully buttoned laboratory coat.

(B) Prior to each exit from a regulated area, employees must remove and leave protective clothing and equipment at the point of exit and at the last exit of the day, to place used clothing and equipment in impervious containers at the point of exit for purposes of decontamination or disposal. The contents of such impervious containers shall be identified as required under WAC 296-62-07310 (2) and (3).

(C) Required to wash hands, forearms, face and neck upon each exit from the regulated area close to the point of exit, and before engaging in other activities.

(ix) Air pressure in laboratory areas and animal rooms where carcinogens are handled and bioassay studies are performed must be negative in relation to the pressure in surrounding areas. Exhaust air must not be discharged to regulated areas, nonregulated areas or the external environment unless decontaminated.

(x) There must not be any connection between regulated areas and any other areas through the ventilation system.

(xi) A current inventory of the carcinogens must be maintained.

(xii) Ventilated apparatus such as laboratory-type hoods, must be tested at least semiannually or immediately after ventilation modification or maintenance operations, by personnel fully qualified to certify correct containment and operation.

PDFWAC 296-62-07306

Requirements for areas containing carcinogens listed in WAC 296-62-07302.