Benzene – General Awareness

June 2007

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Agenda

•Introduction

•Hazards

•Sources

•Exposure Routes

•Exposure Levels

•Elimination of Hazards

•Medical Requirements

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Course Objectives

•Describe the health hazards of benzene

•Summarize the engineering and/or administrative controls that are in place to reduce employee exposure

•Describe personal hygiene habits and practices that will reduce exposure to benzene

•Name the personal protective equipment that must be worn to reduce employee exposures.

•Outline the limits of PPE use.

•Describe the requirements and purpose of the medical surveillance program

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General Information

•Clear, colorless liquid with a pleasant, sweet odor

• Odor does not provide adequate warning of hazard

•Highly flammable

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Acute vs. Chronic

•Acute

• Effects that occur over a very short period of time usually from a high dose

•Chronic

• Effects that occur over an extended period of time usually from a low dose

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Health Hazards of Benzene

•Acute exposure

• Central nervous system effects and death

• Immune system depression

• Bone marrow toxicity leading to aplastic anemia

•Chronic Exposure

• Chromosomal aberrations

• Blood disorders

• Cancer

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Health Hazards

•Symptoms of acute overexposure are:

• Breathless

• Irritable

• Euphoric or giddy

• Irritation in eyes, nose, and respiratory tract

• Headache, dizziness, nausea, or intoxication

• Severe exposures may lead to convulsions and loss of consciousness.

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Sources

•Benzene is used to make:

• plastics, rubber, resins and synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester

•Other uses include:

• as a solvent in printing and paints

• dry cleaning

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Exposure Routes

•Inhalation

•Skin absorption

•Ingestion

•Skin and/or eye contact

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Exposure Standards

•Time-weighted Average (TWA) – 1 ppm

ofor 8-hr day

•Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) – 5 ppm

ofor any 15 minute period

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Elimination of Hazards

•Engineering controls

•Administrative controls

•Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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Engineering Controls

•Workplace and tool design

•Ventilation

•Product substitution

•Isolation

•Enclosure

*If it can be documented that benzene is present less than 30 days a year then respirators can be used instead of engineering controls

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Administrative Controls

•Training

•Work schedules

•Work practices

•Personal hygiene

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Good Personal Hygiene

•Good housekeeping

•Don’t touch mouth, eyes, etc with gloves on

•Wash hands after working with benzene

•No eating or drinking

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

•Respirators

• Must have Mine Safety and Health Administration and NIOSH seal of approval

• Cartridge or canisters must be replaced before end of service life or end of the shift, whichever occurs first

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Personal Protective Equipment

•Appropriate protective clothing (boots, gloves, aprons, etc) for any part of the body that may be exposed to liquid benzene

•Splash proof safety goggles or face shield

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Medical Requirements

•If exposed to concentrations at or above 0.5 ppm as an 8-hr TWA or exposed at or above 10 ppm in the past, medical examinations and history and lab tests will be performed within 60 days and annually thereafter

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Questions

•If you have questions, contact your site safety supervisor or the H&S Department