Benzene Benzene The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc. The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc. Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health Global Business Strategies Global Business Strategies
Sep 01, 2014
BenzeneBenzene
The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc.The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc.Industrial Hygiene and Occupational HealthIndustrial Hygiene and Occupational Health
Global Business StrategiesGlobal Business Strategies
Regulated areasRegulated areas Concentrations exceed permissible Concentrations exceed permissible
exposure limit (PEL)exposure limit (PEL)
Concentrations exceed short-term Concentrations exceed short-term exposure limits (STEL)exposure limits (STEL)
1a
Regulated areasRegulated areas Which job titles/functions are Which job titles/functions are
allowed to access regulated areas?allowed to access regulated areas?
1b
DefinitionsDefinitions Benzene vapor exposure in airBenzene vapor exposure in air
OSHA PEL – 1 ppm for 8-Hr TWA OSHA PEL – 1 ppm for 8-Hr TWA
OSHA Action Level (AL) – 0.5 OSHA Action Level (AL) – 0.5 ppm for 8-hour TWAppm for 8-hour TWA
2a
DefinitionsDefinitions OSHA STEL – 5 ppm for 15-minutesOSHA STEL – 5 ppm for 15-minutes
Engineering and administrative Engineering and administrative controlscontrols
Work practicesWork practices
2b
MonitoringMonitoring Employees are able to observe the Employees are able to observe the
monitoring.monitoring.
3a
MonitoringMonitoring Ongoing monitoring depends upon Ongoing monitoring depends upon
the following factors:the following factors:• Concentrations at or above the action Concentrations at or above the action
level, but at or below the 8-hour TWA level, but at or below the 8-hour TWA (annually)(annually)
• Concentrations above the TWA (at Concentrations above the TWA (at least every 6 months)least every 6 months)
• The STEL (as necessary)The STEL (as necessary)
3b
MonitoringMonitoring Monitoring is required after clean-Monitoring is required after clean-
up of spills, leaks, unintentional up of spills, leaks, unintentional releasesreleases
Monitoring may be stopped under Monitoring may be stopped under some conditionssome conditions
3c
MonitoringMonitoring Employees must be told of Employees must be told of
monitoring results within 15 monitoring results within 15 working days:working days:• IndividuallyIndividually• Group postingGroup posting
Written notification must include Written notification must include corrective actionscorrective actions
3d
MonitoringMonitoring Additional monitoring may be Additional monitoring may be
performed if there is a change in:performed if there is a change in:• A processA process• EquipmentEquipment• PersonnelPersonnel• Work practicesWork practices
3e
MonitoringMonitoring Written exposureWritten exposure
plan is required plan is required if employees are if employees are exposed at or exposed at or above PELabove PEL
3f
Physical hazardsPhysical hazards FlammabilityFlammability
ExplosionsExplosions
4a
Health hazardsHealth hazards Inhalation as vaporInhalation as vapor
Eye exposure Eye exposure
Skin exposure – absorption and Skin exposure – absorption and defatting (ACGIH)defatting (ACGIH)
IngestionIngestion4b
Health hazardsHealth hazards Acts as a narcoticActs as a narcotic
Blood disordersBlood disorders
Vague signs and symptomsVague signs and symptoms
Carcinogen - Acute Mylogenous Carcinogen - Acute Mylogenous Leukemia (AML)Leukemia (AML)
4c
Health hazardsHealth hazards Reproductive health changesReproductive health changes
MutagenicMutagenic
TumorigenicTumorigenic
4d
Work practicesWork practices When working with benzene, When working with benzene,
workers should never:workers should never:• store or use store or use
cosmetics, cosmetics, lip balmlip balm
• drink or smokedrink or smoke
5a
Work practicesWork practices Storage and handling proceduresStorage and handling procedures
Prohibit sources of ignitionProhibit sources of ignition
Use non-sparking toolsUse non-sparking tools
5b
Work practicesWork practices Never incinerate benzene Never incinerate benzene
cartridges, tanks, containerscartridges, tanks, containers
Review flammable and Review flammable and combustible liquids regulations - combustible liquids regulations - 29 CFR 1910.10629 CFR 1910.106
5c
Emergency proceduresEmergency procedures Have fire extinguishers availableHave fire extinguishers available
Use foam, CO2, Use foam, CO2, or dry chemical, or dry chemical, not water to fight not water to fight a benzene firea benzene fire
6a
Emergency proceduresEmergency procedures Flush eyes with water, lifting Flush eyes with water, lifting
eyelidseyelids
Flush skin with Flush skin with water and wash water and wash with soapwith soap
6b
Emergency proceduresEmergency procedures Move victim to fresh airMove victim to fresh air
Do not induce vomitingDo not induce vomiting
Get immediate medical attentionGet immediate medical attention
6c
Emergency proceduresEmergency procedures Review emergency procedures, Review emergency procedures,
including:including:• Written planWritten plan• Emergency contact phone numbersEmergency contact phone numbers• Emergency contact personsEmergency contact persons
Remove all ignition sourcesRemove all ignition sources
6d
Emergency proceduresEmergency procedures Evacuate the areaEvacuate the area
Wear appropriate PPE in clean-up Wear appropriate PPE in clean-up areaarea
Properly dispose of all wasteProperly dispose of all waste
6e
PPEPPE Depending on the process, the Depending on the process, the
following PPE might be needed:following PPE might be needed:• Impermeable clothingImpermeable clothing• Impermeable glovesImpermeable gloves• GogglesGoggles• Face shieldsFace shields• Other protective gearOther protective gear
7a
PPEPPE Understand the processes for Understand the processes for
proper:proper:• SelectionSelection• UseUse• InspectionInspection• CleaningCleaning• DisposalDisposal• DecontaminationDecontamination
7b
Use and limitations of Use and limitations of respiratorsrespirators Respirators are required:Respirators are required:
• during periods necessary to install or during periods necessary to install or put into effect engineering controlsput into effect engineering controls
• during periods necessary to install or during periods necessary to install or put into effect work practice controlsput into effect work practice controls
8a
Use and limitations of Use and limitations of respiratorsrespirators Respirators are required:Respirators are required:
• where exposure levels are above the where exposure levels are above the TWA or STELTWA or STEL
• where engineering controls and work where engineering controls and work practice controls are not sufficient to practice controls are not sufficient to keep exposures below the TWAkeep exposures below the TWA
8b
Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance Medical surveillance is required for Medical surveillance is required for
all employees exposed:all employees exposed:• at or above the action level for at at or above the action level for at
least 30 daysleast 30 days• at or above the PEL 10 or more days at or above the PEL 10 or more days
per yearper year• to solvents containing more than to solvents containing more than
0.1% benzene0.1% benzene
9a
Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance Exposure thresholds are Exposure thresholds are
determined without PPE usedetermined without PPE use
9b
Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance Examinations are:Examinations are:
• prior to assignment to an area where prior to assignment to an area where exposure may be at or above the exposure may be at or above the conditions previously listedconditions previously listed
• annuallyannually• after exposure in an emergencyafter exposure in an emergency• as a follow-up to previous examsas a follow-up to previous exams
9c
Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance Examinations are:Examinations are:
• at intervals recommended by the at intervals recommended by the company physiciancompany physician
• whenever an employee shows signs whenever an employee shows signs and symptoms of toxic levels of and symptoms of toxic levels of exposureexposure
9d
Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance Employees who are required to use Employees who are required to use
respirators at least 30 days per respirators at least 30 days per year will have a pulmonary year will have a pulmonary function test every 3 yearsfunction test every 3 years
Medical exams are thorough and Medical exams are thorough and emphasize blood chemistryemphasize blood chemistry
9e
Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance Related conditions not directly Related conditions not directly
related to benzene may be related to benzene may be included in examinationsincluded in examinations
Employees receive a copy of the Employees receive a copy of the physician’s written opinion within physician’s written opinion within 15 days after it is received by the 15 days after it is received by the companycompany
9f
Medical surveillanceMedical surveillance Records are retained by the Records are retained by the
employer for the duration of employer for the duration of employment plus 30 yearsemployment plus 30 years
9g
Signs and labelsSigns and labels Post and maintain signs around Post and maintain signs around
regulated areas, as well as regulated areas, as well as entrances and access pointsentrances and access points
10a
Signs and labelsSigns and labels Labels are required on all Labels are required on all
containerscontainers Report any faded or missing signsReport any faded or missing signs
10b
Benzene standard available to Benzene standard available to all at-risk employeesall at-risk employees 29 CFR 1910.102829 CFR 1910.1028
11a
Offices located in Washington, DC and New York Metro Area
Email: [email protected]: 1+ 732.221.5687Websites: www.manta.com/c/mm41tzk/the-windsor-consulting-group-incand www.hgexperts.com/expert-witness.asp?id=49425
ConclusionConclusion
WCG