Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003B Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(2)(ii): Where air-purifying respirators were used, the employer did not replace the air purifying element at the expiration of service life or at the beginning of each shift in which they would be used, whichever came first: a) On or about March 26, 2014, and at times prior, employees were exposed to benzene because the employer did not ensure that the organic vapor cartridges used in employee respirators were changed at the beginning of each shift or before the end of service life. Air sampling conducted on March 26, 2014, showed an employee was exposed to 10.64 parts per million (ppm) of benzene during a 25 minute sampling period while preparing samples in the lab. This exposure level was approximately 2.12 times greater than the short term exposure limit (STEL) of 5ppm.