WAC 296-155-160. Gases, vapors, fumes, dusts, and mists

(1) You must avoid exposure of employees to inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or contact with any material or substance at a concentration above those specified in chapter 296-841 WAC. (2) To achieve compliance with subsection (1) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, you must use protective equipment or other protective measures to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in WAC 296-62-07515 [ 296-841-20025 ]. Any equipment and technical measures used for this purpose must first be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, you must comply with WAC 296-155-220 . (3) Whenever internal combustion equipment exhausts in enclosed spaces, you must make and record tests to ensure that employees are not exposed to unsafe concentrations of toxic gases or oxygen deficient atmospheres. See chapter 296-62 WAC, the general occupational health standards and chapter 296-841 WAC, identifying and controlling respiratory hazards. (4) Whenever any employee is exposed to asbestos, the provisions of the general occupational health standards, chapter 296-62 WAC apply. (5) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply to the exposure of employees to formaldehyde. Whenever any employee is exposed to formaldehyde, the requirements of chapter 296-856 WAC apply.