What are the safety hazards for benzene?

What are the safety hazards for benzene?

Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection.

What PPE do you need for benzene?

What Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is needed when working with benzene? Eye/Face Protection: Wear chemical safety goggles and face shield when contact is possible. Skin Protection: Wear chemical protective clothing e.g. gloves, aprons, boots.

Is benzene flammable liquid?

Benzene is classified as a 1 B flammable liquid for the purpose of conforming to the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.106. A concentration exceeding 3,250 ppm is considered a potential fire explosion hazard.

How do you use benzene safely?

Precautions for Safe Use, Handling, and Storage

1. Benzene is highly flammable.
2. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from sparks or flames.
3. Transfer of benzene from one container to another must be done in welle ventilated area.
4. Transfer only with grounded, non-sparking equipment.

What is the safe level of exposure to benzene?

NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit (REL) is 0.1 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 1 ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15-minute work period. ACGIH: The threshold limit value (TLV) is 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 2.5 ppm as a STEL (short-term exposure limit).

Does benzene explode?

EXPLOSION HAZARDS: Benzene reacts violently with oxidants and halogens, causing an explosion hazard. Benzene poses a vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors, or in sewers. Containers may explode when heated. Lower explosive (flammable) limit in air (LEL), 1.2\%; upper explosive (flammable) limit in air (UEL), 7.8\%.

Is benzene regulated?

Regulated areas. The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever the airborne concentration of benzene exceeds or can reasonably be expected to exceed the 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.

How can we protect workers from benzene?

Train workers in the hazards of working with benzene. Keep benzene in clearly labeled containers. Monitor airborne concentrations of benzene and implement OSHA-required engineering controls if the concentrations exceed recommended levels. Keep areas where benzene is used and stored properly ventilated.

What kind of hazard is benzene?

Benzene is extremely hazardous in case of inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin, leading to health effects such as these and more. Chronic exposure is known to cause cancer and other severe health conditions, including adverse reproductive problems and birth defects.

How do you get exposed to benzene?

How are people exposed to benzene? People are exposed to benzene primarily by breathing air that contains the chemical. Workers in industries that produce or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of the chemical, although federal and state regulations have reduced these exposures in recent decades.

Where is benzene stored?

Once in the bloodstream, benzene travels throughout your body and can be temporarily stored in the bone marrow and fat. Benzene is converted to products, called metabolites, in the liver and bone marrow. Some of the harmful effects of benzene exposure are caused by these metabolites.

At what temperature does benzene evaporate?

It has a relatively low boiling point (80.1 oC) and a high vapour pressure (9.95 kPa at 20 oC), causing it to evaporate rapidly at room temperature. It is slightly soluble in water (1.8 g/litre at 25 oC) and miscible with most organic solvents.