Course Overview

Formaldehyde is one of the most widely used industrial chemicals in the world, with over four million workers potentially exposed. In healthcare settings, formaldehyde serves as a critical disinfectant, tissue preservative, and sterilant. Pathology labs use it to preserve specimens. Dialysis units use it in reprocessing. Mortuaries depend on it for embalming. Yet this colorless, pungent gas poses serious health risks—from acute irritation to chronic effects including cancer.

The challenge is that formaldehyde is both essential and hazardous. Workers must use it, but exposure must be minimized. Many healthcare employees don’t fully understand the routes of exposure, recognize early symptoms of overexposure, or know the engineering controls and work practices that prevent harmful exposure. Without proper training, workers may unknowingly exceed permissible exposure limits, fail to use required PPE correctly, or respond inappropriately to spills and exposure incidents.

This comprehensive training course prepares healthcare workers to use formaldehyde safely. Employees learn common uses of formaldehyde in healthcare settings, routes of exposure (inhalation, skin contact, ingestion), acute and chronic health effects including cancer risk, OSHA permissible exposure limits and action levels, when medical surveillance is required, proper response to exposure incidents and spills, and engineering controls, work practices, and PPE that minimize exposure. The goal is protecting worker health while enabling the safe use of this necessary but hazardous chemical.

Build a Safer, More Compliant Workplace

What You’ll Learn

Upon completing this course, your employees will be able to:

✓ Identify common uses of formaldehyde in healthcare including tissue preservation, disinfection, and dialysis reprocessing

✓ Recognize routes of exposure including inhalation of vapors, dermal contact, and potential ingestion

✓ Understand health effects from acute irritation (eyes, nose, throat, skin) to chronic effects including cancer risk

✓ Know OSHA exposure limits including the permissible exposure limit (PEL), short-term exposure limit (STEL), and action level

✓ Identify when medical surveillance is required and what medical monitoring entails

✓ Respond appropriately to exposure incidents including first aid measures and reporting requirements

✓ Apply safe work practices and use proper engineering controls, ventilation, and personal protective equipment

Course Content

Lesson 1: Introduction and Objectives

Formaldehyde prevalence in healthcare, importance of worker protection, and OSHA Formaldehyde Standard overview

Lesson 2: Exposure: Routes, Hazards, Symptoms

Healthcare uses (tissue preservation, embalming, dialysis reprocessing, disinfection), physical properties and formulations, routes of exposure (inhalation, skin/eye contact, ingestion), acute effects (irritation, respiratory symptoms), and chronic effects (sensitization, cancer risk)

Lesson 3: Exposure Limits and Medical Surveillance

OSHA limits (PEL: 0.75 ppm, STEL: 2 ppm, action level: 0.5 ppm), when medical surveillance is required, components of medical exams, and employee rights

Lesson 4: Exposure Incidents and Spill Response

First aid for eye, skin, inhalation, and ingestion exposure, when to seek medical care, reporting incidents, and spill containment and cleanup procedures

Lesson 5: Exposure Controls and Prevention

Engineering controls (ventilation, closed systems), work practice controls, proper PPE selection and use (gloves, eye protection, respirators), and hygiene practices

Who This Course Is For

🔬 Pathology & Laboratory Staff

Technicians and pathologists handling tissue specimens preserved in formalin

⚰️ Mortuary & Autopsy Personnel

Staff performing embalming procedures or autopsies using formaldehyde

🏥 Dialysis Unit Staff

Technicians who reprocess dialyzers using formaldehyde-based solutions

🧼 Environmental Services

Staff who use formaldehyde-based disinfectants or clean areas where formaldehyde is used

👨‍⚕️ Nursing & Clinical Staff

Healthcare workers who may encounter formaldehyde in specimen collection or handling

🔧 Facilities & Maintenance Workers

Personnel who may encounter formaldehyde in HVAC systems or during construction/renovation

Certificate & Compliance

Upon successful completion, learners receive an official certificate of completion documenting their formaldehyde safety training for OSHA compliance records and healthcare facility safety programs.

The course includes assessments that verify understanding of exposure routes, health effects, exposure limits, and protective measures. Certificates are generated immediately and can be downloaded or printed for employee files.

Supports Compliance With:

  • OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1048: Formaldehyde Standard
  • OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requirements
  • State OSHA formaldehyde regulations
  • Joint Commission environment of care standards
  • CAP laboratory accreditation safety requirements
  • EPA chemical safety requirements

Choose How Your Team Learns

🖥️ Use Our LMS

Immediate access with zero setup

  • Fast & Easy Setup

  • Automatic progress tracking and reporting

  • Built-in certificate generation

  • No technical expertise required

  • Automated Course Recertification

📦 Use Your Own LMS

Purchase SCORM files for your system

  • Integrate with your existing platform

  • Maintain centralized training records

  • Compatible with all major LMS platforms

  • Full technical specifications provided

  • Dedicated support included

Why Choose Evolve?

🎯

Expert-Developed Content

Courses feature realistic scenarios, engaging multimedia, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning. Content developed by compliance experts ensures accuracy and relevance.

📱

Accessible Anywhere

Complete training anytime, anywhere on PCs, tablets, or smartphones. Your team can learn at their own pace without disrupting daily operations or scheduling conflicts.

🎬

Engaging & Effective

Scenario-based learning & interactive elements promote retention better than lecture-style courses

📊

Trackable and Reportable

Monitor completion rates, track progress, and generate compliance reports. Maintain detailed records for audits and regulatory requirements.

💰

Transparent Pricing

Simple per-seat pricing with no hidden fees, surprise charges, or mandatory bundles. Volume discounts make compliance training affordable for organizations of any size.

⚡

Easy Implementation

Begin training your team immediately – no lengthy implementation or waiting periods

📈

Scalable Solutions

Whether training 5 employees or 500, our platform scales to meet your organization’s needs. Custom course bundles available to address your specific training requirements and budget.

✓

Consistent Quality Training

Every learner receives the same high-quality, up-to-date content. Standardized training ensures your entire organization maintains consistent compliance knowledge.

💬

Ongoing Support

Dedicated customer support available to assist with questions, technical issues, or training customization needs.

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PROTECT YOUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS TODAY

Safe Use of a Necessary but Hazardous Chemical

Formaldehyde is essential for many healthcare processes, but exposure must be controlled. Give your employees the knowledge to recognize hazards, apply protective measures, and work safely with this carcinogenic chemical.

Trusted by pathology laboratories, dialysis centers, mortuaries, and healthcare facilities committed to chemical safety