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. Research has shown benzene to be a carcinogen (cancer-causing). With exposures from less than five years to more than 30 years, individuals have developed, and died from, leukemia. Long-term exposure may affect bone marrow and blood production. Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death.

Benzene is addressed in specific standards for the general industry, shipyard employment, and the construction industry.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, preambles to final rules (background to final rules), directives (instructions for compliance officers), and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to benzene.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment
• 1910.134, Respiratory protection. The amended respiratory protection standard added requirements for Assigned Protection Factors. This has resulted in amendments to the Benzene standard at 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(2)(i) and 29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(3)(i).
  


• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1028, Benzene
  • Appendix A, Substance safety data sheet, benzene
  • Appendix B, Substance technical guidelines, benzene
  • Appendix C, Medical surveillance guidelines for benzene
  • Appendix D, Sampling and analytical methods for benzene monitoring and measurement procedures

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1915.1028, Benzene. The requirements applicable to shipyard employment under this section are identical to those set forth by 29 CFR 1910.1028.

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances
  • 1926.1128, Benzene. The requirements applicable to construction work under this section are identical to those set forth by 29 CFR 1910.1028.

Preambles to Final Rules

• Air Contaminants (1989)
  


• Search all available preambles to final rules.

Federal Registers

• Standard on Benzene; Extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Approval of Information Collection (Paperwork) Requirements. Notice 74:39978-39979, (2009, August 10).
  


• Search all available Federal Registers.

Directives

• Subpart B, Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment. CPL 02-01-042, (2005, September 7).
  


• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Correct manner to interpret air sample measurements of an employee's asbestos exposure when the samples are overloaded. (2006, January 17).
  


• Respirator selection requirements prescribed in the OSHA standard on benzene exposure. (1994, January 10).
  


• Benzene Standard - Clarification of scope pertaining to Gasoline operations. (1989, December 26).
  


• Respiratory Protection Tables. (1989, December 18).
  


• Monitoring employee exposures to airborne benzene. (1989, November 13).
  


• Interpretation of Blood Test Parameters Under the Benzene Standard. (1989, July 20).
  


• Clarification on respirator use relating to the benzene standard. (1989, April 6).
  


• Applicability of the Benzene Standard and respirator requirements for bulk gasoline storage facilities. (1988, May 23).
  


• Application of PEL for benzene to extended work shifts. (1988, March 22).
  


• Medical Surveillance requirements of the Benzene Standard. (1988, March 14).
  


• Search all available standard interpretations.

Hazard Recognition

Many workers are unaware of the potential hazards in their work environment, which makes them more vulnerable to injury. The following references aid in recognizing hazards and the health effects associated with benzene in the workplace.

• Report on Carcinogens (RoC) (latest edition). US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Toxicology Program (NTP). Identifies and discusses agents, substances, mixtures, or exposure circumstances that may pose a hazard to human health by virtue of their carcinogenicity.
  • Benzene [155 KB PDF, 3 pages]. Summarizes toxicological information relating to benzene, including short-term toxicity and long-term carcinogenicity.
    
  
  
• Toxicological Profile for Benzene. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (2007, August). Includes links to information on health effects, chemical and physical information, potential for human exposure, and more.
  


• Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Benzene. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 74-137, (1974, July). Presents information collected by NIOSH to be used in recommending a standard for benzene and includes a discussion of worker exposure, biological effects, evaluation procedures, and possible control measures.
• Revised Recommendation for an Occupational Exposure Standard for Benzene. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (1976, August). Provides revisions to the 1974 document, including worker exposure limits.
  


• Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Lists fact sheets that describe the effects on human health of substances that are defined as hazardous by the 1990 amendments of the Clean Air Act.
  • Benzene. Contains a discussion of health effects related to benzene and its exposure.
    
  
  
• Documentation for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication, (1994, May).
  • Benzene. Contains toxicological and health information related to benzene, including acute toxicity data.

Exposure Evaluation

Individuals employed in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of benzene. These industries include benzene production (petrochemicals, petroleum refining, and coke and coal chemical manufacturing), rubber tire manufacturing, and storage or transport of benzene and petroleum products containing benzene. Other workers who may be exposed to benzene because of their occupations include steel workers, printers, rubber workers, shoe makers, laboratory technicians, firefighters, and gas station employees. The following references provide information about the management of occupational exposures to benzene.

• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005-149, (2007, September).
  • Benzene. Provides a physical description, exposure limits, measurement method, personal protection and sanitation, first aid, respirator recommendations, exposure routes, symptoms, target organs, and cancer sites.
    
  
  
• Benzene. OSHA Chemical Sampling Information. Provides a general description, exposure limits, health factors, and monitoring methods used by OSHA.
  


• Benzene (C₆H₆) [60 KB PDF, 20 pages]. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Provides medical management guidelines for acute and chronic exposure evaluation of benzene.
  


• Sampling and Analytical Methods. OSHA Methods.
  • Benzene. Method 1005, (2002, September). Covers active sampling charcoal tubes as well as the passive monitors from SKC 575-002 and 3M 3520 badges.
  • Organic Vapors. Method 07, (2000, May). Covers determination of benzene in workplace air.
  With slight modification, this method is a generalized version of validated NIOSH methodology.
  • Benzene. Method 12, (1980, August). Covers the validated sampling and analysis method for the determination of benzene in workplace air.
    
    
• NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM). US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-154, (2003). NMAM is a collection of methods for sampling and analysis of contaminants in workplace air, and in the blood and urine of workers who are occupationally exposed. NMAM also includes chapters on quality assurance, sampling, portable instrumentation, etc.
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (Screening) [93 KB PDF, 8 pages]. Method 2549, (1996, May 15).
  • Benzene by Portable GC [20 KB PDF, 4 pages]. Method 3700, (1994, August 15).
  • Hydrocarbons, Aromatic [39 KB PDF, 134 pages]. Method 1501, (2003, March 15).
  • Hydrocarbons, BP 36°-216 °C BP [127 KB PDF, 8 pages]. Method 1500, (2003, March 15).
    
    
• Occupational Safety and Health Guideline for Benzene. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Summarizes information on permissible exposure limits, chemical and physical properties, and health hazards.

Possible Solutions

Exposure to benzene is controlled by limiting evaporation and preventing splashes and spills. Where exposures may occur, the preferred controls are engineering controls such as the use of hoods, canopies, and proper ventilation coordinated with the use of personal protective equipment. For instances where engineering controls are not feasible, respirators and similar personal protective equipment may be used. The following references provide possible solutions for benzene hazards in the workplace.

• Process Safety Management. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides references that aid in the safe management of hazardous chemicals, including benzene.
  


• Emergency Preparedness and Response. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Outlines procedures to be used in emergency situations.
  


• Benzene [604 KB PDF, 6 pages]. New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheet, (2001, January). Provides information on the hazards of benzene, plus a discussion of ways to control exposure to benzene.
  


• For additional information on general safety and health concerns, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:
  • Dermal Exposure
  • Hazard Communication
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Sampling and Analysis
  • Ventilation

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

• Hazardous and Toxic Substances
  


• Solvents

Training

• Small Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 260 KB PDF, 56 pages.
  • Flammable and Combustible Materials
  • Hazardous Substances Communication
  • Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing

Other Resources

• NIOSH Contact Information. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). A toll-free technical information service that provides convenient public access to NIOSH and its information resources.

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