• Hospitals use formaldehyde when performing autopsies and as a disinfectant.corridor image by les sanders from Fotolia.com
  
  Formaldehyde is often used inside hospital autopsy rooms and as a disinfectant in operating rooms. It is a colorless, flammable gas that can take also take the form of a liquid or solid. Exposure to the chemical can cause short-term health effects such as skin irritation, burning of the eyes and nose and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). It can also cause long-term health effects such as Dermatitis (skin disease with reddening or blistering), reproductive system damage and cancer (brain or respiratory). This is why medical schools must implement safety programs when using formaldehyde.
  
  

University of Rochester

• With two medical schools, three medical centers and three hospitals, the University of Rochester in New York provides two programs in formaldehyde safety. The first is a general summary of safety in the workplace for employees working in laboratories and the second is the Formaldehyde Spill Response program. The Formaldehyde Spill Response program addresses safety procedure in patient care areas and research laboratories that handle formaldehyde. It provides guidelines for storage, spill procedure and possible health hazards. All aspects of the program comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) standards.
  
  University of Rochester Medical Center
  601 Elmwood Ave.
  Rochester, NY 14642
  585-275-2121
  http://rochester.edu/
  
  

University of Chicago

• The University of Chicago (UC) is home to the Pritzker School of Medicine and the University of Chicago Medical Center. Its Formaldehyde Program was developed to ensure that all laboratories using the substance monitor employee exposure, keep records of formaldehyde measurements and exposure, and maintain regulated safety areas. Employees must wear respiratory protection when working with concentrations of formaldehyde of 7.5 parts per million (ppm) or more. They must wear protective clothing and personal protective equipment. Medical surveillance is made available to employees who have been exposed to the chemical and all employees must complete annual training.
  
  University of Chicago
  Environmental Health and Safety
  6054 S. Drexel Avenue
  Chicago, IL 60637
  773-702-9999
  http://www.uchicago.edu/index.shtml
  
  

University of California, San Francisco

• The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), home of UCSF Medical Center and Children's Hospital, requires a Formaldehyde Training safety program for all laboratory personnel. The program teaches safety practices like using personal protective equipment (PPE) and spill protection. It also educates participates about common uses of formaldehyde and the possible health effects. The program is available online.
  
  UCSF Medical School
  513 Parnassus Ave
  San Francisco, CA 94143
  415-476-9000
  http://ucsf.edu/