If your facility uses methylene chloride (MeCl)–also known as dichloromethane (DCM)–and you missed the May 5, 2025 deadline for initial exposure monitoring, you’re not alone. You can act now to meet this rule.
⚠️ Wait…What’s the Rule?
Under USEPA’s final rule for MeCl, facilities using MeCl must comply with new, stricter exposure limits:
- 2 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)
- 16 ppm as a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL)
? What If You Missed the Deadline?
If your facility didn’t complete initial monitoring by May 5, 2025, you are technically noncompliant; however, USEPA has proposed extensions for certain sectors, and enforcement is currently a low priority while the agency finalizes new compliance dates.
✅ Does This Apply to Your Business?
This rule impacts a wide range of industries, including:
- Paint and coating removal
- Plastics, rubber, and adhesives manufacturing
- Metal cleaning, degreasing, and processing
- Pharmaceuticals
- Laboratories
- Furniture refinishing
- Aerospace and automotive sectors
If you use MeCl in any of these processes, or as a solvent, cleaner, or bonding agent, your operations are likely affected.
?️ Steps to Get Back on Track
Immediate actions you can take to ensure your company’s compliance are outlined below:
- Conduct Initial Monitoring
- Measure airborne MeCl concentrations.
- Identify regulated areas and potential exposure points.
- Demarcate Regulated Areas
- Post warning signs and restrict access to storage areas.
- Provide respirators where required.
- Develop an Exposure Control Plan
- Justify continued use of MeCl.
- Outline engineering controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and administrative measures.
- Notify Employees
- Inform all potentially exposed individuals within 30 days of completing the plan.
- Provide access to records within 15 days of request.
- Update Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Ensure relevant SDSs are current and readily accessible.
- Train all personnel who handle MeCl within your operations.
- Schedule Periodic Monitoring
- Reassess exposure at least every 5 years or immediately when conditions change.Include this monitoring within your facility’s compliance calendar as a reminder.
? Need Help?
EHS Support is here to guide you through compliance. Our team of experts can:
- Conduct air monitoring and exposure assessments
- Develop or update your Exposure Control Plan
- Perform Job Safety Assessments (JSAs)
- Guide you through compliance strategies tailored to your operations
We understand the urgency and complexity of this rule, and we’re ready to help you protect your team and your business.
? Considering a Transition Away from MeCl?
If your company is exploring alternatives to MeCl, we at EHS Support can identify safer products and operational alternatives that support a smooth transition for your team and your customers.
Contact Monica Meyer at Monica.Meyer@ehs-support.com or Katie Milk at Katie.Milk@ehs-support.com to ensure seamless compliance with these regulations.
