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Substance Specific ChemicalsOSHA Requirements

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Substance Specific There are OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits

(PELs) for 470 chemicals, but only 28 have substance specific standards

Most are carcinogens or present other serious health hazards

Detailed requirements within each standard for compliance

Permissible Exposure Limits

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List of Chemicals Asbestos Alpha-Napththylamine 3,3-Dichlorobenzidine Beta-Napthylamine 4-Aminodiphenyl Beta-Propiolactone 4-Dimethylaminoazobenzene Vinyl chloride Lead Benzene Cotton dust Acrylonitrile Formaldehyde 4-Nitrobiphenyl

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List of Chemicals

Methyl chloromethyl ether Bis-Chloromethyl ether Benzidine Ethyleneimine 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane 2-Acetylaminofluorene N-Nitrosodimethylamine Inorganic Arsenic Cadmium Coke oven emissions Ethylene oxide Methylenedianiline 1,2-Butadiene Methylene Chloride

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Substance Specific

These standards typically specify:Action Level (usually one-half of the 8-hr PEL)Exposure monitoring Medical surveillance- may require specific tests Information and trainingWritten compliance plans Respiratory protection/PPEHygiene facilities and practicesEstablishment of regulated areas

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Specific Chemicals Benzene

29 CFR 1910.1028

Inorganic Arsenic 29 CFR 1910.1018

Lead 29 CFR 1910.1025; 29 CFR 1926.62

Vinyl Chloride 29 CFR 1910.1017

Hydrogen Sulfide

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BenzenePermissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 1 ppm (8-hr

Time Weighted Average (TWA); Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) = 5 ppm “skin”

Action Level is below typical PID sensitivity

Colorless liquid with sweet aromatic odor

Poor warning properties: mean odor threshold is 34 ppm

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Flammable liquidTypically found combined with other

petroleum hydrocarbonsAir monitoring options include:

Benzene specific instruments such as the UltraRae Benzene PGM-7200

Detector tubes (e.g. Draeger) Sample media for laboratory analysis

Benzene

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Benzene Health Hazards

Target organs: Blood forming systems, bone marrow Central nervous system Eyes, skin, respiratory system

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Benzene Exposure Symptoms

Acute exposure: Breathless, irritable, giddy, headache, dizzy, nausea Eye, nose, respiratory tract irritation Convulsion/coma from severe exposure Skin blistering

Chronic exposure: Leukemia Aplastic anemia Dermatitis

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Benzene Medical Exams

Medical surveillance for: > Action Level 30 days per year > PEL 10 days per year Emergency exposure

If blood chemistry indicate benzene impacts Referral for specialized exams Extensive protocols for removal/job protection

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Inorganic ArsenicPEL = 10 µg/M3 (0.01 mg/m3)Action Level = 5 µg/M3 (.005 mg/m3)Properties vary by compoundMost commonly found at former pesticide sitesArsenic air monitoring requires a sampling pump,

media, and laboratory analysis. Total dust/respirator dust monitoring is useful after the ratio of arsenic to total dust is known.

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Target Organs Skin Respiratory system Kidney, liver, GI

tract Central nervous

system Possible fetal

effects

Inorganic Arsenic

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Inorganic Arsenic Symptoms

Acute exposure: Poisoning by inhalation is rare

Chronic exposure: Dermatitis, ulcerations to skin/nasal

septum Weakness Loss of appetite Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Cancer (skin, lung, possibly liver)

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LeadTwo lead substance-specific standards

General Industry – 29 CFR 1910.1025 Construction – 29 CFR 1926.62

URS often involved with construction version Applies to remediation, verses investigation Removal of lead-impacted soils Lead-based paint work; demolition activities

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Lead

OSHA PEL is 0.050 mg/M3 (50 µg/M3) as TWA

Action Level is 0.030 mg/M3 (30 µg/M3) as TWA

Air monitoring requires sampling pump, filter media, and laboratory analysis. XRF lead paint instruments provide real time measurement of lead content in paint, but not airborne concentrations.

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Lead Health Hazards Target Organs

GI tract Central nervous system Kidneys Blood Gingival tissue Reproductive system

Acute exposure: Gastroenteritis

Chronic exposure: Anemia, constipation, abdominal

pain Peripheral nerve damage

(wrist/ankle drop) Colic Gum lead line Fetal neural impacts

Lead accumulates in the body

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Lead RequirementsOne of the more stringent standards:

Blood lead determination prior to job; periodic

Mandatory minimum Level C PPE Regulated work areas Shower and change facilities Exposure monitoring

Some exceptions; check with your Regional HSE Manager

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Vinyl ChloridePEL = 1 ppm

Action Level = 0.5 ppm

Colorless liquid/gas with faint odor

High vapor pressure/vapor density

Extreme fire/explosive hazard

Incompatible with oxidizers, copper, aluminum,

iron, steel

Typically found in landfill gases as a by-product of chlorinated solvent degradation

Air monitoring requires sample pump, filter media, and laboratory analysis or detector tubes

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Vinyl Chloride Health HazardsRoutes of entry

Respiratory Ingestion – personal hygiene is very

important

Target Organs Liver (carcinogen) Central nervous system Blood Respiratory system Lymphatic system Possible reproductive system

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Vinyl Chloride SymptomsAcute Exposure

Frostbite on liquid contact Low toxicity by inhalation

Chronic Exposure: Sluggishness Abdominal pain Gastrointestinal bleeding Enlarged liver Pallor or blueness of extremities Liver cancer

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Vinyl Chloride Medical Surveillance

Any employee exposed >0.5 ppm Action Level will be provided the opportunity for exams/testing

Provided at time of initial assignment, or upon beginning medical surveillance, or as a result of emergency exposure

General physical exam/medical history with specific attention to: Detecting enlargement/dysfunction of the liver, spleen

or kidneys Abnormalities in skin, connective tissues, or

pulmonary system

Written physician’s statement of findings, including opinion regarding use of PPE and respirators

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Hydrogen SulfideOSHA PEL = 10 ppm; 20 ppm ceiling

California STEL = 15 ppm (15 minutes)

Dense, low-lying gasHigh vapor pressure (>17 atm)Fire/explosion hazardPotential exposure sources include

sewers, landfills, and petroleum refining, paper/pulp mills

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Hydrogen Sulfide Hydrogen Sulfide gas:

Smells like rotten eggs

Most people can detect it at 0.008 ppm

Odor is not a reliable indicator of hazard

Sense of smell can become fatigued; increasing levels may no longer be detectable without instruments

Air monitoring options include H2S specific monitors as part of most four-gas confined space monitoring units, and detection tubes

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H2S Health HazardsAcute Exposures:

Respiratory paralysis (chemical asphyxiate) leading to unconsciousness and death

At lower concentrations: Headache, dizziness, upset stomach Eye effects at exposures slightly above PEL

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Hydrogen Sulfide Each person should have own H2S

detector

Wear it on belt, pants, or chest (never on hardhat)

Detector must have audible alarm at 10 ppm Dual audible/vibration alarm is

preferred

If alarm sounds, notify others and evacuate