The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes methyl alcohol, also known as methanol, as a colorless liquid with a strong odor. Methyl alcohol is used as an alternative fuel and in solvents, deicers and in the manufacturing of plastics, polyesters and other chemicals.
It is a poisonous substance reports NIOSH that can be absorbed through the eyes, skin, lungs and digestive system. A physical danger of methyl alcohol is its vapors can spread along the ground and collect in poorly-ventilated, low-lying or confined areas allowing for hazardous concentrations to develop quickly in some circumstances.
Workers in industries that use methyl alcohol may be harmed by exposure with the level of harm depending upon the dose, duration and work being done. NIOSH lists examples of workers at risk of exposure, including:
- Factory workers in plants that manufacture plastics
- Transportation workers exposed to the deicing of vehicles
- Workers in alternative fuel industries
- Workers exposed to certain solvents or cleaning agents
“To help protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for methyl alcohol,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Methanol was listed by California as known to cause developmental toxicity back in 2012 under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, more commonly referred to as Proposition 65.”
Dedicated to helping companies and institutions safeguard workers and maintain regulatory compliance are the industrial hygiene and environmental professionals at Clark Seif Clark. CSC offers testing, monitoring, consulting and training services to identify and mitigate exposure risks associated with methyl alcohol and many other hazards in the workplace.
CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about methyl alcohol and potential occupational exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/CEigVx218Sg
To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.
— WebWireID291281 —
