Benzene

Awareness

North Slope
Training Cooperative
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

NSTC-19

Course Overview

2
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

lntroductions
Name
Company and/or position
Experience related to working in areas where there
is the possibility of benzene exposure.

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Administration and
Safety
Emergency Procedures
Restrooms/Breaks/Smoking
Safety Minute

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Goal

To provide employees with the knowledge to recognize

a benzene exposure hazard and the appropriate control
measures in areas where there are materials that
contain benzene.

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Objectives

Describe the characteristics of benzene

Describe the health effects from benzene exposure
Identify potential locations where benzene may be
found
Recognize and describe the control measures and
PPE that will protect against benzene exposure
Describe employer and employee responsibilities
for protecting against the hazards of benzene
exposure

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Standards and Terms

7
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Benzene Standards

Benzene is regulated by OSHA under 29 CFR

1910.1028.
Operators on the North Slope have company
standards which meet or exceed the OSHA
standard.

29 CFR 1910.1028 (b)

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Benzene Terms

Benzene is a liquefied or gaseous chemical with

the formula C6H6.
A regulated area is any area where airborne
concentrations of benzene exceed permissible
exposure limits (PEL).
An authorized person is any person specifically
authorized by the employer whose duties require
the person to enter a regulated area where
benzene may be present.
29 CFR 1910.10 28 (b)
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Exposure Terms

10

Employee exposure is the exposure to airborne

benzene which would occur if the employee were
not using respiratory protective equipment.
Action level is an airborne concentration of
benzene of 0.5 ppm calculated as an 8 hr. timeweighted average (TWA).
Site specific requirements for exposure limits and
action levels may be more stringent at some
locations.
29 CFR 1910.10 28 (b)
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

What Is Benzene?

11
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Benzene Molecule
Simplest member of aromatic hydrocarbons.
Molecular structure: 6 carbon atoms and 6
hydrogen atoms.
Formula: C6 H6
Hydrocarbon molecule with alternating single and
double bonds.

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

12

Benzene Characteristics
Colorless to light yellow when in the liquid state; has a
pleasant, sweet odor
Toxic as a liquid or gas; not soluble in water
Odor does not provide adequate warning of its hazard
Vapor is heavier than air and may spread long
distances to some distant source of ignition
Extremely flammable; flash point: 12 F.
Solid below 42 F.
Reacts vigorously with oxidizing materials
29 CFR 1910.10 28 , Appendix
A, I
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

13

Where Benzene is
Found on North Slope
Crude oil (0.5-3% by weight)
Diesel fuel (0.1-0.5% by weight)
NGLs (Natural gas liquids)
Various gas streams
Degreasing products
Produced water
Automotive sources
Adhesive coatings and paint

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

14

Workers Who May

Be at Risk
Production and transfer operations employees
Camp maintenance and custodial staff
Tank and pipeline cleaners
Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

15

Health Effects

16
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

How Benzene
Enters the Body

17

Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection

29 CFR 1910.10 28 , Appendix A, I

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Acute Health Effects

Drowsiness
Dizziness and headaches
Skin irritation and dermatitis
Nausea and a feeling of intoxication
Vertigo and delirium
Convulsions and loss of consciousness
Death may occur at concentrations equal to or
greater than 10,000 ppm.
29 CFR 1910.10 28 Appendix A , II
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

18

Chronic Health Effects

Carcinogenic; affects the blood-making tissues of
the body to include bone marrow abnormalities,
anemia, and other blood cell abnormalities
Can cause leukemia, multiple myeloma, and
subsequent death in workers who are exposed to
benzene for extended periods of time

29 CFR 1910.10 28 Appendix A , II

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

19

Hazard Detection and

Control

20
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Benzene Detection

21

Sometimes benzene can be detected by its

odor (34119 ppm) but it is not a reliable
indicator.
Measurements should be obtained by using
benzene detecting badges, charcoal tubes,
and gas chromatographs.
Benzene Gas Detector

Gas Chip
Detector

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Gas Tube
Detector with Hand
Pump

OSHA Exposure Limits

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 1.0 ppm for an
8 hour day and 0.67 for a 12 hour day
Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) is 5.0 ppm for
any 15 minute period during the day with 60
minutes between exposures and no more than 4
exposures in an 8 hour day.
The Action Level is 0.5 ppm for an 8 hour day.
Company standards may be more stringent than
the OSHA standard ( e.g. BP Alaska action level is
0.3)
29 CFR 1910.10 28 (b-c)
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

22

Engineering Controls
Personal enclosure
Control of process conditions
Mechanical ventilation (dilution and
exhaust)
Remote or automated operation
Leak detection and repair systems

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

23

Administrative Controls
MSDS
Signs and properly labeled containers
Periodic monitoring and notification of employees
about exposure levels
Limiting exposure to the chemical
Following company rules and policies
Training

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

24

Signs

25

Signs shall be posted at the entrance to regulated areas

DANGER
BENZENE
CANCER HAZARD
FLAMMABLE NO SMOKING
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
RESPIRATOR REQUIRED

29 CFR 1910.10 28 (j) (1)

(i)
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Labels

26

Benzene containers shall be properly

labeled
There is no requirement to label pipes.

29 CFR 1910.10 28 (j) (1) (ii)

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Personal Protective
Equipment
Respiratory Protection
Air purifying half mask to 6.7 ppm
Air purifying full face mask to 33 ppm
SCBA or supplied air w/escape pack above 33 ppm

Eye / Skin Protection

Chemical safety goggles
Face shield
Nitrile gloves for crude oil & viton for NGLs
Aprons, protective clothing and footwear

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

27

First Aid

28

Call for help.

If eyes or skin are exposed, immediately flush with
large amounts of water for 15 minutes.
Clothing should be changed if it becomes benzene
saturated.
If the victim has inhaled benzene and is not
breathing, a qualified person should give CPR.
In all cases, get medical attention.

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Compliance Program

29
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Employer
Responsibilities

30

If exposures are over the PEL, the employer must

establish and implement a written compliance
program to include:
A schedule for development and implementation of
engineering controls and work practices.
Initial and periodic monitoring.
Employee notification of monitoring results.
Medical surveillance program.
Information and training about benzene at the time of the
initial work assignment.
Respiratory protection training.
29 CFR 1910.10 28 (j) ((1) (ii)
North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19

Employee
Responsibilities

31

Read and follow procedures for the recognition and

control of benzene.
Mitigate recognized hazards.
Use the proper PPE when entering a regulated area.
Report any emergencies.

29 CFR 1910.10 28 (j) ((1) (ii)

North Slope Training Cooperativerevised 2011. All rights reserved.

Course Number: NSTC-19