BENZENE TRAINING

Goals: This safety session will teach trainees that:

• Benzene is a very useful workplace substance—and a very hazardous one.

• Unfortunately, exposure to benzene can be very hazardous to your health, and the substance is also highly flammable.

• By following OSHA’s protective procedures, employees can greatly reduce their risk of dangerous exposure to benzene.

• Employer must train employees to understand and use signs, labels, and material safety data sheets (SDSs) in accordance with the hazard communication standard.

• Employer must ensure that employees use protective clothing and equipment to prevent eye contact and limit skin exposure to liquid benzene.

• In addition, they must provide medical surveillance for employees whose jobs expose them to benzene and remove employees from jobs with benzene exposure when advised to do so by a physician. 

• Applicable Regulations: 29 CFR 1910.1028, .134, .1200, and 1926.1128 1. Benzene is a component of products derived from coal and petroleum and is found in gasoline and other fuels.

• Benzene is used in the manufacture of plastics, detergents, pesticides, and other chemicals.

• In addition, it’s an ingredient in adhesives, varnishes, and other products. 

• 2. Benzene can be hazardous to your health in many ways:

• One of the biggest risks comes from inhaling benzene, which can cause lung and respiratory problems—in severe cases, people may experience tremors and convulsions and occasionally even die.

• Benzene is a carcinogen that can cause leukemia—long-term exposure may also affect bone marrow production. Even limited direct contact can irritate the skin or eyes. It can also be absorbed through the skin, causing more long-term problems. 

3. In addition to being a health hazard, benzene is highly flammable. 

4. OSHA has set permissible exposure limits for benzene and it is regulated under the hazard communication standard HAZCOM & GHS training is also required. 

5. Employers must have a written program that explains how they’ll reduce employee exposure to or below the PELs.

They can do this with engineering and work practice controls and, where necessary, a respiratory protection and fit testing program.

A-1 Trainer 

6. We identify the presence of benzene with air monitoring.

• Employers must share the results of these measurements with their employees and tell

• them what protective measures are being taken to reduce exposure.

• Areas where airborne benzene is—or is likely to be—above the PELs are also regulated.

• These areas are posted with special signs, with entry permitted only to authorized employees.

• You need permission to enter an area with a DANGER BENZENE CANCER HAZARD 

FLAMMABLE—NO SMOKING AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

RESPIRATOR REQUIRED

• OSHA requires workers to wear respirators in these regulated areas.

• Workers must also wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety goggles, gloves, and clothing, to prevent eye and skin contact with benzene. 

7. We’ve focused on benzene’s health hazards today, but we don’t want to forget that it’s also highly flammable. Discussion Points:

• How and where is benzene found in our workplace?

• Conclusion: Benzene is both a serious health risk and highly flammable.

• Following the safety rules is necessary to be safe around it.

• Benzene Awareness Course Time: 2-4hrs

• Handouts, Lecture, Video and Test.

Class Ratio 1-25 employees.