Benzene Awareness

How benzene hurts you

How it gets in

Benzene can affect your health if you breathe it in, or if it gets on your skin or eyes. It is also harmful if you swallow it.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, II.A · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, II.B.1 · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, II.B.2 · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, I.C

The hazards benzene labels and SDSs must address

When benzene's hazards are classified for labels and Safety Data Sheets, at least these hazards must be addressed.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, VIII · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, II.B · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix C, II

Three numbers to know

"Exposure" means what you would breathe without a respirator. Wearing a respirator protects you, but it does not lower your measured exposure.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(c)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(c)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(b) "Action level" · 29 CFR 1910.1028(b) "Employee exposure" · 29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(i)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(a)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(a)(2)(vi)

The sign at a regulated area

A regulated area is set up wherever benzene in the air exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, 1 ppm as an 8-hour average or 5 ppm for 15 minutes. Signs are posted at its entrances.

DANGER

The signal word. The regulated area exists because benzene in the air exceeds, or can reasonably be expected to exceed, a permissible exposure limit.

Cancer hazard

Cancer is one of the hazards that must be addressed for benzene. Long-term exposure can damage your blood and may cause leukemia.

Flammable

Benzene liquid is highly flammable and its vapor may form explosive mixtures in air. That is why the sign also says DO NOT SMOKE.

Respirator required

Inside this area you must wear the respiratory protection your employer provides.

Authorized personnel only

Access to regulated areas is limited to authorized persons. If you are not authorized, do not go in.

Sample sign for training only, using the legend the standard requires.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(d)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(d)(2) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(2)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, II.B.2 · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, VIII

Controls first, then respirators

Your employer must use engineering controls and work practices to keep exposure at or below the limits, unless they can show those controls are not feasible or a listed exception applies. Where feasible controls are not enough, respirators are added on top of them.

Respirators must be used during

• Periods needed to install or implement feasible controls
• Work where the employer establishes controls are not feasible, for example some maintenance and repair, and vessel cleaning
• Work where feasible controls are not yet sufficient, or are not required, to get exposure to or below the limits
• Emergencies

Cartridges and canisters

For air-purifying respirators, the cartridge or canister must be replaced at the end of its service life or at the beginning of each shift it is used, whichever comes first.

One exception: if NIOSH approves an air-purifying element with an end-of-service-life indicator for benzene, that element may be used until the indicator shows no further useful life. Without one, yesterday's cartridge is not today's protection.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(f)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(f)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(1) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(1)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(1)(iii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(1)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(2)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(2)(iii)

Skin, eyes and fire

Protective clothing and equipment

Protective clothing and equipment must be worn where appropriate to prevent eye contact and limit skin contact with liquid benzene. Your employer provides it at no cost to you and must make sure it is used.

OSHA's substance data sheet for benzene (Appendix A) tells you to:

• Wear protective clothing, such as boots, gloves, sleeves and aprons, over any part of your body that could be exposed to liquid benzene
• Wear splash-proof safety goggles if benzene could get into your eyes, and a face shield too if your face could be splashed

Fire

• All sources of ignition must be controlled
• Use nonsparking tools when opening or closing benzene containers
• Smoking is prohibited where benzene is used or stored

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(h) · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, III.B · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, III.C · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, VIII

Air monitoring: your results and your right to watch

You may be asked to wear an air sampler in your breathing zone. This is how your exposure is measured.

• How often: if your exposure is at or above the action level but at or below the TWA, monitoring is repeated at least every year. If it is above the TWA, at least every six months.
• Your results: within 15 working days after the employer receives results, you must be notified, either individually in writing or by posting in an accessible place.
• Over the limit: the notice must state the corrective action being taken, or refer to a document that states it.
• Watch it done: you or your designated representative must be given an opportunity to observe the monitoring.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(3)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(7)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(7)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(l)(1)

Medical surveillance and training

Medical surveillance

Your employer must make a medical surveillance program available to you if, for example, you are or may be exposed:

• at or above the action level on 30 or more days per year, or
• at or above the PELs on 10 or more days per year.

Exams are without cost to you, at a reasonable time and place, and are repeated annually. Because benzene can damage blood without symptoms, these exams include blood tests. You get a copy of the physician's written opinion within 15 days of each exam.

Training

You must be trained when you are first assigned to a work area where benzene is present. If exposures are above the action level, training is repeated at least annually.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(i)(1)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(i)(1)(iv) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(i)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(i)(7)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(3)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(i)(3)(i)(B) · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, II.B.2

When benzene gets out

An emergency is any occurrence, such as equipment failure, a ruptured container or failed control equipment, that may or does result in an unexpected significant release of benzene.

• Report it. If you were exposed in an emergency, your employer must have you give a urine sample at the end of your shift and have it tested within 72 hours. A good practice is to report any emergency exposure to your supervisor right away so this can happen.
• After cleanup or repair, your employer must monitor to make sure exposures are back to where they were before the incident.
• Never enter a vessel or confined space where benzene might be high without proper safety equipment and at least one other person who stays outside.

Reference: 29 CFR 1910.1028(b) "Emergency" · 29 CFR 1910.1028(i)(4)(i) · 29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(5)(ii) · 29 CFR 1910.1028 Appendix A, IV.C