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: windsgroup@aol.comTel: 1+ 732.221.5687Websites: www.manta.com/c/mm41tzk/the-windsor-consulting-group-incand www.hgexperts.com/expert-witness.asp?id=49425

ConclusionConclusion

WCG