Occupational Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene 29 CFR 1910.1051
Mar 31, 2015
Occupational Exposureto 1,3-Butadiene
29 CFR 1910.1051
Chemical Identification
Gaseous monomer: CH2=CH-CH=CH2
Stored as liquid under pressure Stabilizer added to prevent formation of
polymer during storage
Production and Use
US production, 1991: 3 billion pounds (almost all by ethylene co-product process)
Used in manufacture of
» Rubber (about 60% of total)» Precursors of Nylon» Rocket propellants» Lubricating oil additives» Agricultural fungicides
» Latexes» Resins» Industrial solvents» Anthroquinone dyes
Health Effects
CNS effects (e.g., headaches, nausea, blurred vision) from very high acute exposures
Eye, nose, and throat irritation Irritation and frostbite from contact with liquefied
butadiene Leukemia and other lymphohematopoietic
cancers and possible reproductive effects from chronic exposures
Benefits of Standard
7600 US workers exposed to significant concentrations of butadiene, as high as 10 ppm
New standard estimated to prevent at least 59 cancer deaths over a 45-year working lifetime
History of Butadiene (BD) Rulemaking
1971 - OSHA adopted original standard for BD: 1000 ppm (TWA) Source: 1968 ACGIH TLVs
1983 - NTP determined BD causes cancer in rodents; OSHA and EPA published RFI
History (cont’d)
1984 - EPA published ANPR under TSCA; various unions petitioned OSHA for ETS; petitions denied
1985 - EPA completed risk assessment and referred BD to OSHA
1986 - OSHA published ANPR 1990 - OSHA published PR with 2
ppm TWA and 10 ppm STEL
History (cont’d)
1992 - IARC designated BD as probable human carcinogen
1996 - Joint labor/industry group submitted voluntary agreement outlining recommendations for final rule; OSHA requested comments on recommenda- tions; final rule published November 4, 1996: PELs of 1 ppm TWA, 10 ppm STEL, and AL of 0.5 ppm
Unique Features of Standard
Respirators - Short replacement intervals specified for air-purifying cartridges/canisters because of rapid breakthrough and migration of BD through filter elements
Medical Surveillance - Periodic review of aggregated information from medical screening program to determine whether employees adversely affected by BD
Unique Features (cont’d)
Written Exposure Goal Program» Required where exposures > AL» Includes the following unless employer can show
they are not feasible, effective, or necessary:– Leak detection and prevention– Local exhaust ventilation maintenance– Pump exposure control technology– Gauging devices to limit exposure– Unloading devices to limit exposure– Engineering controls in control rooms
(a) Scope and Application
All occupational exposures to 1,3-Butadiene (BD)
Exceptions» Objective data» Liquid mixtures containing 0.1% or less BD
by volume» BD or liquid mixtures in intact containers or
sealed transportation pipelines
(b) Definitions
“Business day” - any Monday through Friday, except those days designated as federal, state, local or company specific holidays
“Complete Blood Count (CBC)”» White blood cell count (WBC)» Hematocrit (Hct)» Hemoglobin (Hgb)» Differential count of white blood cells» Red blood cell morphology» Red blood cell indices» Platelet count
(b) Definitions (cont’d)
“Day” - any part of a calendar day “Emergency situation” - any occurrence
such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment that may or does result in an uncontrolled significant release of BD
(c) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
8-Hour TWA: 1 ppm STEL: 5 ppm
There is also an Action Level (AL) of 0.5 ppm established by the standard.
(d) Exposure Monitoring
Representative; breathing zone samples Initial monitoring unless
» Objective data exist
» Equivalent monitoring within previous two years
Periodic monitoring
» Where results at or above AL but at or below both PELs
» Where either PEL exceeded
(d) Exposure Monitoring (cont’d)
Termination of monitoring Additional monitoring Accuracy of monitoring Employee notification of results Observation of monitoring
(e) Regulated Areas
Wherever exposures exceed or can be expected to exceed either PEL
Limited access Demarcation of area Communication with other employers
(f) Methods of Compliance
Engineering controls and work practices Respirators as supplemental protection Written compliance plan Employee rotation as a method of
compliance prohibited
(g) Exposure Goal Program
Written plan Required where exposure exceeds AL Updated as necessary Respirator use not required
(g) Exposure Goal Program (cont’d)
Includes the following (unless not feasible, not effective, or not necessary to reduce exposures below AL)» Leak detection and prevention program
» Local exhaust ventilation maintenance
» Pump exposure control technology
» Gauging devices to limit exposure
» Unloading devices to limit exposure
» Engineering controls in control rooms
(h) Respiratory Protection
Allowable during time to implement engineering and work practice controls and as supplement where such are not adequate to achieve PELs; for non-routine, infrequent, and limited-duration operations; in emergencies
Respirator program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 (b) - (d) [except (d)(1)(iii), (d)(3)(iii)(B)(1), and (2)] and (f) - (m)
Selection governed by Table 1; NIOSH-approved under 42 CFR Part 84
PAPRs or supplied air respirators provided for employees who cannot use negative pressure respirators
(h) Respiratory Protection (cont’d)
Replacement intervals for cartridges/ canisters governed by» Table 1 or» 90% of expiration-of-service life or» NIOSH-approved end-of-service-life
indicator (when available) Replacement mandatory any time an
employee can smell BD
(i) Protective Clothing and Equipment
To prevent eye contact and limit dermal exposure
Eye and face protection governed by 29 CFR 1910.133
(j) Emergency Situations
Written plan for applicable elements of29 CFR 1910.38, “Employee Emergency
Plans and Fire Prevention Plans”29 CFR 1910.120, “Hazardous Waste
Operations and Emergency Response”
(k) Medical Screening and Surveillance
Coverage» Currently exposed employees» Previously exposed employees
Administration by physician or other licensed health care professional
Frequency» Health questionnaire and complete blood count annually» Physical examinations initially, every 3 years or more
frequently at discretion of licensed health care professional, and at termination if 12 or more months have elapsed
» Within 48 hours following an emergency
(k) Medical Screening and Surveillance (cont’d)
Content
» For anticipated exposure
» For emergency exposure Written medical opinion to employer and
employee within 15 business days Periodic review of aggregated medical screening
data to determine whether employee population adversely affected by exposure; employees informed of any information learned
(l) Communication of BD Hazards to Employees
Communication of hazards as required by Hazard Communication Standard
Training program for employees potentially exposed at or above the AL or STEL to be repeated annually
Contents of training program beyond the Hazard Communication Standard » Medical screening and surveillance» Contents of standard and appendices» Rights to employee medical and exposure records
(m) Recordkeeping
Objective data for exemption from initial monitoring - maintain for duration of reliance on data
Exposure measurements - maintain for 30 years Respirator fit test records - maintain until next fit
test Medical screening and surveillance - maintain for
duration of employment plus 30 years
(n) Dates
Effective date: February 2, 1997 Start-up dates:
» Initial monitoring within 60 days of effective date» Engineering controls within 2 years of effective
date» Exposure goal program within 3 years of effective
date» Other requirements, including feasible work
practice controls, within 180 days of effective date
(o) Appendices
Informational» A - Substance Safety Data Sheet for 1,3-Butadiene» B - Substance Technical Guidelines for 1,3-
Butadiene» C - Medical Screening and Surveillance for 1,3-
Butadiene» D - Sampling and Analytical Method for 1,3-
Butadiene» F - Medical Questionnaires
Reserved - Appendix E