BENZENE and BENZENE AWARENESS PROGRAM

Transcription

1 and AWARENESS PROGRAM Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Dennis Jhnstn Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 1 f 5 Purpse The purpse f this prgram is t define wrk practices, administrative prcedures and engineering cntrls t prtect emplyees expsed t benzene cncentratins abve the OSHA actin level. This plan shall be implemented and kept current by the Safety Manager as required t reflect the mst recent expsure mnitring data. Scpe This prgram cvers all emplyees wh may be expsed t benzene in the curse f cmpleting jb duties. This written plan shall be made available t the Assistant Secretary, the Directr, affected emplyees and designated emplyee representatives. When wrk is perfrmed n a nn-wned r perated site, the peratr s prgram shall take precedence, hwever, this dcument cvers emplyees and cntractrs and shall be used n wned premises, r when an peratr s prgram desn t exist r is less stringent. Emplyees will be aware f prvisins f site specific cntingency/emergency plans by either r f a facility wner. The Safety Manager will develp and implement prject/task specific benzene cntrl prcedures prir t the start f activities that may include expsure t benzene. will be aware f an wner s cntingency plan prvisins and all emplyees must be infrmed where benzene is used in hst facility and aware f additinal plant safety rules. Pssible lcatins where emplyees may be expsed t benzene may include, but nt limited t: petrleum refining sites, tank gauging (tanks at prducing, pipeline & refining peratins) and field maintenance peratins. Definitins Actin Level means an airbrne cncentratin f benzene f 0.5 ppm calculated as an 8-hur timeweighted average. Benzene a txic, clrless liquid r gaseus material. Benzene has an armatic dr, is nt sluble in water and is flammable. Emplyee expsure expsure t airbrne benzene that wuld ccur if the emplyee were nt using respiratry prtective equipment. Health Effects Shrt-term verexpsure may cause irritatin f eyes, nse and skin; breathlessness, irritability, euphria, headache, dizziness r nausea. Lng term effects may result in bld disrders such as leukemia and anemia.

2 and AWARENESS PROGRAM Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Dennis Jhnstn Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 2 f 5 Key Respnsibilities Manager r Designee Supervisrs Ensure persnnel are aware f wrk that has the ptential f expsure t benzene. Ensure individuals respnsible fr mnitring areas f expsure are prperly trained. Ensure persnnel receive dcumented medical surveillance exams. Ensure that emergency exams are perfrmed if an verexpsure r suspected verexpsure ccurs. Ensure emplyees have the apprpriate persnal prtective equipment (PPE) and are prperly trained in its use and care. Ensure emplyees cmply with the benzene cntrl prgram. Safety Manager Emplyees In crdinatin with the Manager, develp and implement prject/task specific benzene cntrl prcedures prir t the start f activities that may include expsure t benzene. Crdinate mnitring activities, ensuring mnitring equipment is in prper wrking rder and, as necessary, mdifying the benzene cntrl prcedures t reflect expsure mnitring data. Maintain the benzene cntrl prgram, ntify management f any regulatry changes and ensure cmpliance with regulatry, client and crprate requirements. Crdinate training activities. Crdinate the medical surveillance prgram, including maintenance f medical recrds and administratin f exams. Ensure, that due t the flammability f benzene, fire extinguishers shall always be readily available Cmply with the benzene cntrl prgram. Knw where benzene is used at r client facilities and fllw any f additinal plant safety rules required by the client. Cmply with the medical surveillance prgram and attend examinatins as required. Maintain respiratry prtectin equipment in gd wrking rder and ntify the supervisr r Safety Representative f any prblems prir t starting wrk Review material safety data sheets r cnsult with the supervisr t identify any cntainer with benzene cntaining material. Nt smke in prhibited areas where benzene is present. Reprt expsures resulting in any symptms immediately.

3 and AWARENESS PROGRAM Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Dennis Jhnstn Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 3 f 5 Prcedure Permissible Expsure Limits The time-weighted average limit (TWA) fr benzene is: 8-hur TWA 1 ppm 12-hur TWA 0.67 ppm The shrt-term expsure limit (STEL) fr benzene is 5 ppm. Regulated Areas shall establish regulated areas wherever airbrne cncentratin f benzene exceeds r can reasnably be expected t exceed the PEL r STEL. will cntrl access t regulated areas and limit access t authrized persnnel. The fllwing signage shall be psted in all regulated areas when the ptential exists fr benzene vaprs t be in excess f the PEL: DANGER REGULATED AREA CANCER CAUSING AGENT FLAMMABLE NO SMOKING AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY RESPRIATOR REQUIRED Methds f Cmpliance The benzene cntrl prgram shall be written and implemented t cmply with OSHA regulatin 29 CFR (Benzene). shall establish and implement a written prgram t reduce emplyee expsure t r belw the PEL primarily by means f engineering and wrk practice cntrls t ensure cmpliance with the benzene cntrl prgram and federal and state requirements. Expsure Mnitring Expsure mnitring shall be perfrmed fr the 8-hur and 12-hur TWAs r fr the 15 minute STEL expsure when: Regulated areas are established An emergency ccurs that culd require a regulated area A change in the prductin, prcess, cntrl equipment, persnnel r wrk practices may result in new r additinal expsure t benzene Cleanup f a spill, leak repair, r rupture ccurs If the mnitring required reveals emplyee expsure at r abve the actin level but at r belw the TWA, shall repeat the mnitring fr each emplyee at least every year. If the initial mnitring reveals emplyee expsure t be belw the actin level may discntinue the mnitring.

4 and AWARENESS PROGRAM Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Dennis Jhnstn Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 4 f 5 If the mnitring reveals that emplyee expsures, as indicated by at least tw cnsecutive measurements taken at least 7 days apart, are belw the actin level may discntinue t mnitr. Direct reading detectin instruments (Drager CMS is recmmended) will be used where benzene vaprs may be present in wrk areas nt previusly mnitred. Persnal mnitring will be perfrmed by use f vapr mnitring badges fllwing manufacturer requirements. All samples shall be analyzed at an AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Assciatin) certified labratry. Medical Surveillance Baseline and annual medical exams shall be prvided t emplyees that may wrk r are anticipated t participate in peratins mre than 10 times per year r may wrk in areas where benzene expsures may exceed the PEL ver 30 days per year. shall make available a medical surveillance prgram fr emplyees wh are r may be expsed t benzene at r abve the actin level 30 r mre days per year; fr emplyees wh are r may be expsed t benzene at r abve the PELs 10 r mre days per year; fr emplyees wh have been expsed t mre than 10 ppm f benzene fr 30 r mre days in a year prir t the effective date f the standard when emplyed by their current emplyer. Ntificatin f mnitring results shall be prvided t emplyees in writing within 15 wrking days f receipt f results. Persnal Prtective Equipment PPE will be selected n the basis f its ability t prevent absrptin, inhalatin and ingestin. PPE will reflect the needs f the emplyee based n wrk cnditins, amunt and duratin f expsure and ther knwn envirnmental factrs but shall cntain as a minimum; bts, prper eye prtectin, glves, sleeves, aprns and thers as determined. PPE shall be prvided and wrn when apprpriate t prevent eye cntact and limit dermal expsure t liquid benzene. PPE must meet the requirements f 29 CFR and prvided at n cst t the emplyees. Respiratry Prtectin A respiratry prtectin prgram shall be established in accrdance with 29 CFR Respiratry prtectin is required: During the time perid necessary t implement engineering cntrls r wrk practices. When engineering and wrk practices are nt feasible. In emergencies. Apprved respiratrs shall be selected accrding t airbrne cncentratins f benzene r cnditin f use. 0 t 0.67 ppm n respiratr required 0.67 t 6.7 ppm half-mask respiratr with OV cartridges 6.7 t 33 ppm full-face respiratr with OV cartridges

5 and AWARENESS PROGRAM Preparatin: Safety Mgr Authrity: Dennis Jhnstn Issuing Dept: Safety Page: Page 5 f 5 Greater than 33 ppm Due t the plicy f nt permitting SCBA n emplyee shall enter a space cntaining mre than 33 ppm. Recrdkeeping Medical surveillance recrds shall be maintained fr 30 years after terminatin f emplyment Expsure mnitring recrds shall be maintained fr 30 years after cmpletin f the prject Expsure and medical mnitring recrds shall be made available t affected emplyees r their representatives and t OSHA upn request Cmmunicatin f Benzene Hazards Signs and labels shall be psted at entrances f regulated areas The benzene cntrl prgram shall be updated by the Safety Manager Prject site specific cntingency and emergency prcedures shall be updated by the Safety Manager and made available t prject staff prir t beginning wrk at the specific site.