BENZENE AWARENESS SAFETY

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BENZENE AWARENESS SAFETY
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BENZENE AWARENESS SAFETY

• The following Awareness level Benzene Safety
  Program has been established to reduce employee
  exposure and potential hazards that may be
  encountered during various operations conducted
  at assigned work locations.

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BENZENE AWARENESS SAFETY

• Employees are not expected to perform emergency
  response cleanup where concentrations of Benzene
  have the potential to be above the PEL
  (Permissible Exposure Limit) of 1ppm (part per
  million). Should employees be assigned such
  duties, specialize training will be provided.

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BENZENE AWARENESS SAFETY

• Employees may work in locations such as
• Petroleum pipeline sites
• Above and below ground tank removal
• Emergency response to gasoline and oil spills and
  
• Soil remediation sites.

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BENZENE AWARENESS SAFETY

• Employees shall be made aware of the host
  facilities contingency plans and programs for
  preventing exposure to Benzene.

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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE

• What Benzene is
• Benzene is a chemical that is a colorless or
  light yellow liquid at room temperature. It has a
  sweet odor and is highly flammable.
• Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly. Its
  vapor is heavier than air and may sink into
  low-lying areas.
• Benzene dissolves only slightly in water and will
  float on top of water.

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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE

• Where Benzene is found and how it is used
• Benzene is formed from both natural processes and
  human activities.
• Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and
  forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of
  crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
• Benzene is widely used in the United States . It
  ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production
  volume.
• Some industries use benzene to make other
  chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins,
  and nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also
  used to make some types of lubricants, rubbers,
  dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.

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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE

• How you could be exposed to Benzene
• Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from
  tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle
  exhaust, and industrial emissions.
• Indoor air generally contains levels of benzene
  higher than those in outdoor air. The benzene in
  indoor air comes from products that contain
  benzene such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and
  detergents.
• The air around hazardous waste sites or gas
  stations can contain higher levels of benzene
  than in other areas.

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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE

• How you could be exposed to Benzene
• Benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or
  from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can
  contaminate well water.
• People working in industries that make or use
  benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of
  it.
• A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco
  smoke.

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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE

• How Benzene works
• Benzene works by causing cells not to work
  correctly. For example, it can cause bone marrow
  not to produce enough red blood cells, which can
  lead to anemia. Also, it can damage the immune
  system by changing blood levels of antibodies and
  causing the loss of white blood cells.
• The seriousness of poisoning caused by benzene
  depends on the amount, route, and length of time
  of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting
  medical condition of the exposed person.

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IMMEDIATE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE TO
BENZENE

• People who breathe in high levels of benzene may
  develop the following signs and symptoms within
  minutes to several hours

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Death (at very high levels)

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LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO BENZENE
Long-term exposure means exposure of a year or
more.

• The major effect of benzene from long-term
  exposure is on the blood. Benzene causes harmful
  effects on the bone marrow and can cause a
  decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia.
  It can also cause excessive bleeding and can
  affect the immune system, increasing the chance
  for infection.
• Some women who breathed high levels of benzene
  for many months had irregular menstrual periods
  and a decrease in the size of their ovaries. It
  is not known whether benzene exposure affects the
  developing fetus in pregnant women or fertility
  in men.

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LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO BENZENE

• Animal studies have shown low birth weights,
  delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage
  when pregnant animals breathed benzene.
• The Department of Health and Human Services
  (DHHS) has determined that benzene causes cancer
  in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of
  benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of
  the blood-forming organs.

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HOW BENZENE POISONING IS TREATED

• Benzene poisoning is treated with supportive
  medical care in a hospital setting. No specific
  antidote exists for benzene poisoning. The most
  important thing is for victims to seek medical
  treatment as soon as possible.

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IDENTIFICATION

• Liquefied or gaseous Benzene (C6H6) is a clear,
  colorless sweet-smelling aromatic highly
  flammable hydrocarbon that can usually be found
  naturally occurring in crude oil, and in
  processed intermediate or finished product
  hydrocarbon streams at petrochemical or refining
  operation facilities.

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IDENTIFICATION

• It is further described by the following physical
  and chemical characteristics
• Boiling Point (C 760 mmHg) 80.1C or 176F
• Melting Point (C) 5.5C
• Specific Gravity (H2O 1) 0.879
• Vapor Pressure (mm Hg) 7 4.6 _at_ 20C
• Percent Volatile by Vol () 99
• Vapor Density (Air 1) 2.77
• Evaporation Rate (BuAc 1) 6.0
• Solubility in Water () Insoluble

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IDENTIFICATION

•  

NFPA Hazard Ratings Health 2 Flammability
3 Reactivity 0 Special Hazards None
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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE
Toxicity

• Airborne The maximum time-weighted average (TWA)
  exposure limit is 1 part of benzene vapor per
  million parts of air (1 ppm) for an 8-hour
  workday and the maximum short-term exposure limit
  (STEL) is 5 ppm for any 15-minute period.
• Dermal Eye contact shall be prevented and skin
  contact with liquid benzene shall be limited.

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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE
Toxicity

• Appearance and Odor Benzene is a clear,
  colorless liquid with a pleasant, sweet odor. The
  odor of benzene does not provide adequate warning
  of its hazard.

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FACTS ABOUT BENZENE

• Health Hazard Data
• Ways in which benzene affects your health
• If you inhale it
• If it comes in contact with your skin or eyes
• If you happen to swallow it.

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EFFECTS OF OVER-EXPOSURE

• Short-term (acute) overexposure
• If you are overexposed to high concentrations of
  benzene, well above the levels where its odor is
  first recognizable, you may feel breathless,
  irritable, euphoric, or giddy you may experience
  irritation in eyes, nose, and respiratory tract.
  You may develop a headache, feel dizzy,
  nauseated, or intoxicated. Severe exposures may
  lead to convulsions and loss of consciousness.

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EFFECTS OF OVER-EXPOSURE

• Long-term (chronic) exposure
• Repeated or prolonged exposure to benzene, even
  at relatively low concentrations, may result in
  various blood disorders, ranging from anemia to
  leukemia, an irreversible, fatal disease. Many
  blood disorders associated with benzene exposure
  may occur without symptoms.

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EFFECTS OF OVER-EXPOSURE

• The by-products of Benzene should be considered
  toxic and the same precautions shall be used when
  around or otherwise handling Benzene containing
  materials.

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FIRST AID MEASURES

• Eye Contact Flush with water for at least 15
  minutes. Get medical assistance.
• Skin Contact Wash with soap and water
  thoroughly. Immediately remove soaked clothing.
  Wash clothing separately before re-use.
• Inhalation Move person to fresh air. If
  breathing has stopped, perform artificial
  respiration. Get medical assistance immediately.
• Ingestion Do not induce vomiting. Do not give
  liquids. Get medical assistance immediately.
  Small amounts that enter the mouth should be
  rinsed out thoroughly.

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POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTSACCUTE CHRONIC

• Symptoms of exposure include toxic by any route,
  headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, breathing
  difficulties, collapse. May cause anemia, liver
  and kidney damage. Irritation on contact with
  skin or eyes may cause eye damage.
• Benzene is a known, proven carcinogenic substance
  per NTP, IARC, OSHA.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• Determination of employee exposure is made from
  breathing zone air samples that are
  representative of each employees average
  exposure to airborne benzene. Representative
  8-hour TWA employee exposures shall be determined
  on the basis of one sample or samples
  representing the full shift exposure for each job
  classification in each work area.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• Determinations of compliance with the STEL shall
  be made from 15 minute employee breathing zone
  samples measured at operations where there is
  reason to believe exposures are high, such as
  where tanks are opened, filled, unloaded, or
  gauged where containers or process equipment are
  opened and where benzene is used for cleaning or
  as a solvent in an uncontrolled situation.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• Initial monitoring must be conducted at each
  covered work place or work operation to determine
  accurately the airborne concentrations of benzene
  to which employees may be exposed.
• Periodic monitoring and monitoring frequency
  requirements must be met if the monitoring
  reveals employee exposure at or above the action
  level but at or below the TWA. This shall be
  repeated at least every year. IF the monitoring
  reveals employee exposure above the TWA, the
  monitoring shall be repeated for each such
  employee every (6) six months.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• The Company may alter the monitoring schedule
  from every six months to annually for any
  employee for whom two consecutive measurements
  taken at least 7 days apart indicate that the
  employee exposure has decreased to the TWA or
  below, but is at or above the action level.
  Monitoring for the STEL shall be repeated as
  necessary to evaluate exposure of employees
  subject to short-term exposures.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• Monitoring can be terminated if the initial
  monitoring reveals employee exposure to be below
  the action level, except as otherwise required.
  If the periodic monitoring reveals that employee
  exposures, as indicated by at least two
  consecutive measurements taken at least 7 days
  apart, are below the action level, then APEX may
  discontinue the monitoring for that employee,
  except as otherwise required.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• Additional monitoring shall be conducted when
  there has been a change in the production,
  process, control equipment, personnel, or work
  practices which may result in new or additional
  exposures to benzene or when there is any reason
  to suspect a change which may result in new or
  additional exposures.
• Whenever spills, ruptures, or other breakdowns
  occur that may lead to employee exposure,
  monitoring (using area or personal sampling)
  after the cleanup of the spill or repair of the
  leak, rupture or other breakdown will be done to
  ensure that exposures have returned to the level
  that existed prior to the incident.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• Monitoring accuracy shall be accurate to a
  confidence level of 95, to within plus or minus
  25 percent for airborne concentrations of
  benzene.
• Employees shall be notified of all monitoring
  results, within 15 working days after the receipt
  of the results of any monitoring performed, in
  writing, individually or by posting of results in
  an appropriate location that is accessible to
  affected employees.

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EXPOSURE DETERMINATION AND LIMITS

• Whenever PELs are exceeded, the written
  notification shall contain the corrective action
  taken to reduce the employee exposure to or below
  the PEL, or shall refer to a document available
  to the employee which states the corrective
  action to be taken.

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CONTROLS

• Benzene liquid is highly flammable and its vapors
  may form explosive mixtures in air. Fire
  extinguishers must be readily available for use.
  Smoking is prohibited in areas where Benzene is
  stored or used.
• Regulated areas are then established wherever the
  airborne concentration of benzene exceeds or can
  reasonably be expected to exceed the permissible
  exposure limits, either the 8-hour time-weighted
  average exposure of 1 ppm or the short term
  exposure limit of 5 ppm for 15 minutes. Access
  to these regulated areas is then limited to
  authorized personnel who will be provided with
  appropriate levels of personal protective
  equipment.

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CONTROLS

• Safe work practices are then instituted which
  could consist of or involve product line removal,
  blinding, blanking, draining, cleaning, steaming,
  purging, high-pressure washing, or neutralizing.
  Safe-work procedures such as lock-out/tag-out,
  hot-work, or confined space entry are implemented
  to further control exposure potentials.

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• PPE will be worn where appropriate to prevent eye
  contact and limit dermal (skin) exposure to
  liquid benzene.

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Employees can expect to wear one or more
  combinations of the following provided equipment,
  as based on the work permit requirements,
  operators instructions, or established PPE
  guidelines
• ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses with rigid side shields
• Chemical splash-proof goggles
• Full face-shield
• Chemical/hydrocarbon-resistant suit/coverall/cloth
  ing
• Chemical/hydrocarbon-resistant gloves
• Chemical/hydrocarbon-resistant over-shoes/boots

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• This equipment will be inspected prior to use and
  maintained in a safe working condition. If any
  defects are found or occur during use, this
  equipment will not be allowed for use and will be
  provided and replaced at no cost to the employee.
• Respiratory Protection
• Whenever the described engineering and work
  practice controls are determined to be
  ineffective at reducing employee Benzene exposure
  potentials, then respiratory protection will be
  provided.

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Respiratory Protection
• Respirators shall be used in the following
  circumstances
• During the time period necessary to install or
  implement feasible engineering and work practice
  controls
• In work operations for which assessments
  establishes that compliance with either the TWA
  or STEL through the use of engineering or work
  practice controls is not feasible, such as some
  maintenance and repair activities or vessel
  cleaning

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Respiratory Protection
• Other operations where engineering and work
  practice controls are infeasible because
  exposures are intermittent in nature and limited
  in duration
• In work situations where feasible engineering and
  work practice controls are not yet sufficient or
  are not required to reduce exposure to or below
  the PELs
• In emergency cleanup situations can reasonably be
  expected to be encountered

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Respiratory Protection
• In work situations where feasible engineering and
  work practice controls are not yet sufficient or
  are not required to reduce exposure to or below
  the PELs
• In emergency cleanup situations can reasonably be
  expected to be encountered

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REFERENCES

• Regional Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Public Response Hotline (CDC)
• 800-CDC-INFO
• 888-232-6348 (TTY)
• E-mail inquiries cdcinfo_at_cdc.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and
  Health (NIOSH), Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards