VALERO-KROTZ SPRINGS
SHG #5
Page 1 of 3
Approved 7/22/97
BENZENE GUIDELINES
1.0
Purpose
To prevent employee exposure to benzene.
2.0
Scope
This procedure applies to both Valero and contractor personnel working at the Krotz Springs
facility.
3.0
Definitions
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4.0
PPM - One part of a substance to a million parts of another substance.
TWA - Time Weighted Average
PEL - OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit
STEL - OSHA Short Term Exposure Limit
Acute Exposure - short term exposure
Chronic Exposure - Repeated or long term exposure
Procedure
4.1
Industrial Hygiene monitoring
Industrial Hygiene monitoring shall be performed for the 8 hour TWA or the 15 minute
STEL exposure when:
1)
2)
3)
4.2
Temporary Regulated Areas are established.
During any emergency which could require a Temporary Regulated Area.
Job tasks which are repetitive and need TWA and STEL monitoring data to
determine exposure/shift levels of benzene.
Area Preparation
An attempt shall be made to gas free and clean all product lines and/or equipment that
will be opened as a result of construction or maintenance activity. If potential benzene
levels during preparation, work or emergency response activities indicate that personnel
in the area could be exposed to benzene in excess of 1 PPM, the area of potential hazard
will be cleared of all personnel and a temporary regulated area established.
NOTE:
4.3
Products that contain benzene may include but are not limited to: Crude
Oil, Finished Gasoline, Reformer Charge, Reformate, Light Straight Run
Gasoline, Cat Gasoline and Heavy Cat Naphtha, Jet Fuel and some
Laboratory Solvents.
Area Benzene Concentration
VALERO-KROTZ SPRINGS
SHG #5
Page 2 of 3
Approved 7/22/97
Any area or equipment to be opened that contains or may contain benzene shall be
surveyed for benzene concentration. An area representative shall initiate a benzene
concentration survey using a Draeger CMS unit or the Photovac Snapshot. Multiple
readings shall be obtained to determine the actual size of area needing to be barricaded
and the level of respiratory protection required.
4.4
4.5
Regulated Area
4.4.1
Temporary Regulated Areas will be established wherever the airborne
concentration of benzene can reasonably be expected to exceed the OSHA
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.
4.4.2
Regulated Areas will be established where the concentrations of benzene on a
continuous basis exceeds the OSHA 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.
Barricades
Any Regulated Area, temporary or permanent, will be barricaded at least 25’ in all
directions and signs posted reading:
DANGER
BENZENE
CANCER HAZARD
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
RESPIRATOR REQUIRED
4.6
5.0
Respirators Requirements:
4.6.1
For unknown concentrations of benzene, a positive pressure hose line (fresh air)
or self contained breathing apparatus will be used.
4.6.2
For benzene concentrations below 50 PPM and equal to or more than 10 PPM, a
full-face respirator with organic vapor cartridges will be used.
4.6.3
For benzene concentrations below 10 PPM and equal to or more than 0.5 PPM, a
½ mask respirator with organic vapor cartridges will be used.
Medical Surveillance Program
5.1
Employee Benzene Exposure Testing After Potential Overexposure
Biological testing will be done if a work activity or emergency event creates conditions that
could have resulted in exposure of personnel in excess of the OSHA permissible limit.
5.1.1 Personnel Testing - If benzene levels measured indicate a potential that
the personnel in the area of the measurement could have been exposed to
benzene in excess of 1 PPM as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA)
VALERO-KROTZ SPRINGS
SHG #5
Page 3 of 3
Approved 7/22/97
or 5 PPM as a fifteen minute average STEL (i.e., the short term exposure
limit) without proper respiratory protection, the potentially affected
personnel will report to the Krotz Springs safety office and be tested for the
presence of urinary phenol according to the following conditions:
The sample will be collected no sooner than two hours after the initial
exposure. The specimen should be collected before the end of the work
shift if possible or the individual(s) involved asked to stay until 2 hours
have elapsed to provide the sample.
If the individual cannot provide a sample at the end of the shift, they will be
asked to provide a sample within 24 hours. If the individual is scheduled to
report to work the following day, the sample will be collected prior to the
start of that day’s work activities.
Samples collected will be analyzed for urinary phenol within 72 hours at an
approved test laboratory.
If the urinary phenol test is below 75-mg phenol/l of urine, no further testing
is required.
If the urinary phenol test is 75 mg/l or more, the individual will be further
tested to obtain a complete blood count as per OSHA 1910.1028
guidelines, at monthly intervals, for three months following the emergency
exposure.
A written opinion from the company provided physician/medical service
shall be given the individual and to Valero within five work days of receipt
of these results but in no case later than fifteen days after the examination.
5.1.2
Job Assignment - When a referral to a Hematologist/Internist is made
under the Medical Surveillance Program, the employee shall be removed
from the areas where exposures may exceed the Action Level until such
time as the physician’s determination is made whether the employee shall
be returned to his usual job or whether the employee should be removed
permanently.
5.1.3
Medical Records - Any employee or authorized representative of that
employee, requesting medical records, shall be provided with the medical
records and information requested.