What You Need to Know About Benzene Safety
Working with benzene comes with significant health risks, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), no level of benzene exposure is deemed safe.
This is why taking strict benzene safety measures in the workplace is critical if you work with or around the chemical. Following OSHA benzene standards can protect not only your life and health, but that of your team. Read more to learn about benzene safety protocols and how to protect your workplace.
What Is Benzene and Where Is It Used?
Benzene is a toxic and volatile chemical found in coal tar and crude oil and used during chemical synthesis. It has broad applications as a solvent, but its toxic and carcinogenic properties make it dangerous for common use.
Benzene hazards aren’t limited solely to health. Its volatility means it’s highly flammable and explosive. It can be easily ignited by heat, sparks, or flames, and it reacts violently with oxidizing agents and strong acids.
Symptoms of Benzene Exposure
The seriousness of benzene poisoning and its exact symptoms can vary based on the amount, route, exposure time, person’s age, and preexisting medical conditions.
Short-Term Effects of Benzene Exposure
People who are exposed to high levels of benzene can start experiencing symptoms within minutes or hours, depending on the concentration. At very high levels, benzene exposure can lead to death.
People who breathe in benzene can experience drowsiness, dizziness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Inhaling large amounts can cause airway swelling and fluid in the lungs.
Consumption through tainted food or drink can result in a burning sensation, vomiting, stomach irritation, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, and rapid or irregular heartbeat. Death is possible at very high levels.
Direct benzene exposure to the eyes or skin can cause tissue injury and irritation. It’s important to realize that benzene can be absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes, later causing systemic problems.
Long-Term Effects of Benzene Exposure
If you’re exposed to benzene hazards for a year or more, the most likely effect is some kind of blood disorder.
Benzene can impact the bone marrow to cause a decrease in the production of red blood cells, leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding.
Benzene exposure also affects the immune system, reducing levels of white blood cells and/or antibodies. This makes you more susceptible to infections of all kinds.
Additionally, benzene is classified as a known carcinogen. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Finally, benzene can impact reproductive health. Months of high benzene exposure can cause irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in ovary size. The effects on fertility in humans are uncertain. Animal studies show that when pregnant animals breathe benzene, they experience low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage.
Who Is at Risk of Benzene Exposure?
The good news is that we’ve implemented benzene regulations that minimize the risk of significant benzene exposure to the average citizen by controlling its use, storage, and transportation. However, the general public can still be at risk in the event of a spill, uncontrolled release, or underground storage tank leak. Additionally, using or being around certain products can lead to benzene exposure – gasoline, glue, paint, furniture wax, and detergents are all examples, but tobacco smoke is an especially large risk factor. Being near a concentration of vehicle exhaust or industrial emissions can also be a benzene hazard.
However, the people most at risk of significant benzene exposure are those who work with or around the chemical. Workers at oil refineries, chemical plants, rubber tire manufacturing, and those involved in the storage or transportation of benzene have the highest risk. OSHA’s benzene standards exist to control the risk to these workers.
OSHA Benzene Standards
OSHA’s benzene regulations help protect workers who could be exposed to benzene hazards.
OSHA benzene standards include requirements for:
- Storage in sturdy, leak-proof containers
- Proper GHS labeling, including hazard pictograms and statements
- Isolation from ignition sources and other flammable materials
- Monitoring to ensure that workers’ exposure is within Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
- Medical surveillance of workers with potential exposure
- Having a spill response plan
- Benzene-specific awareness training for workers
Medical surveillance can be an especially important part of workplace benzene safety because exposure to small but hazardous amounts of the chemical may not be readily apparent to the people who are exposed. Regular blood tests ensure that benzene exposure is caught earlier than it otherwise might be.
How to Treat Benzene Poisoning
No specific antidote is available for benzene poisoning, which is one of the reasons why prevention is key. The best thing you can do in case of exposure is to remove any source of continuing exposure and seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
If the benzene is exposed to air, immediately move into an area with fresh air. If the release was indoors, get out of the building. If the release was outside, leave the release area. In cases of a widespread release, it may be necessary to shelter in place wherever you are.
Once you’ve removed yourself from the source of exposure, remove any clothing that may have benzene on it, cutting the clothing away rather than pulling it over the head. Until it can be properly disposed of, contaminated clothing should be double-bagged and sealed.
Wash yourself as quickly and thoroughly as possible with large amounts of soap or water to remove all traces of benzene from your body. If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, remove any contact lenses and dispose of them, then flush your eyes with plain water continuously for 10 to 15 minutes.
Once you’ve eliminated the possibility of continuing exposure, seek medical treatment immediately.
Benzene Safety Through Online Training
OSHA requires employers to provide benzene awareness training to employees who work with or around benzene every year. These courses include information on benzene hazards so that workers understand the risks, as well as safety measures like how to limit benzene exposure and follow benzene regulations.
We’ve been an OSHA-authorized training provider for over 20 years, and our Benzene Awareness Training course is online, self-paced, and mobile-friendly. It can be purchased standalone, in bulk, or as part of a comprehensive training business solution.
Enroll today to stay safe and compliant!
