Formaldehyde
For Formaldehyde, cfr section is 1910.1048; action level is 0.5 part formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.5 ppm) calculated as an eight (8)-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration; pel is 0.75 parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) as an 8-hour TWA; surveillance trigger is all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL; exam frequency is prior to assignment to a job where formaldehyde exposure is at or above the action level or above the STEL and annually thereafter, verified against its source on 2026-09-17.
- Substance
- Formaldehyde verified
- CFR section
- 1910.1048
- Action level
- 0.5 part formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.5 ppm) calculated as an eight (8)-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration verified
- PEL
- 0.75 parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) as an 8-hour TWA verified
- Surveillance trigger
- all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL verified
- Exam frequency
- prior to assignment to a job where formaldehyde exposure is at or above the action level or above the STEL and annually thereafter verified
- Record retention
- Medical records shall be kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years verified
What the source says
Medical surveillance —(1) Employees covered. (i) The employer shall institute medical surveillance programs for all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL. (ii) The employer shall make medical surveillance available for employees who develop signs and symptoms of overexposure to formaldehyde and for all employees exposed to formaldehyde in emergencies. When determining whether an employee may be experiencing signs and symptoms of possible overexposure to formaldehyde, the employer may rely on the evidence that signs and symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposure will occur only in exceptional circumstances when airborne exposure is less than 0.1 ppm and when formaldehyde is present in material in concentrations less than 0.1 percent. (2) Examination by a physician. All medical procedures, including administration of medical disease questionnaires, shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician and shall be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place. (3) Medical disease questionnaire. The employer shall make the following medical surveillance available to employees prior to assignment to a job where formaldehyde exposure is at or above the action level or above the STEL and annually thereafter.
— law.cornell.edu, retrieved 2026-08-12
Where each value comes from
This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.
Action level
CFR prev | next § 1910.1048 Formaldehyde. (a) Scope and application . This standard applies to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde, i.e. from formaldehyde gas , its solutions, and materials that release formaldehyde. (b) Definitions. For purposes of this standard, the following definitions shall apply: Action level means a concentration of 0.5 part formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.5 ppm) calculated as an eight (8)-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration.
PEL
Formaldehyde means the chemical substance , HCHO, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 50-00-0. (c) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)—(1) TWA: The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeds 0.75 parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) as an 8-hour TWA.
Exam frequency
All medical procedures, including administration of medical disease questionnaires, shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed physician and shall be provided without cost to the employee, without loss of pay, and at a reasonable time and place. (3) Medical disease questionnaire. The employer shall make the following medical surveillance available to employees prior to assignment to a job where formaldehyde exposure is at or above the action level or above the STEL and annually thereafter.
Record retention
(D) The date of the most recent fit testing, the name of each tested employee, and the respirator type and facepiece selected. (5) Record retention. The employer shall retain records required by this standard for at least the following periods: (i) Exposure records and determinations shall be kept for at least 30 years. (ii) Medical records shall be kept for the duration of employment plus 30 years.
— all from law.cornell.edu, retrieved 2026-08-12
Source
- law.cornell.eduhttps://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.1048