The buzz about benzene: practical implications of the new TLV

A significant reduction in benzene concentrations and exposure promises to bring major changes to the industrial hygiene landscape.

Benzene is an everyday concern in the oil and gas industry and is widely used worldwide. It can be found in paint thinners, fuel, cigarette smoke and volcanoes. It was even detected in everyday consumer products such as sunscreen and dry shampoo, which led to several products being recalled. So, adding awareness to the effects of exposure on human health is a step in the right direction for industrial hygienists. This is what a team at GHD focused on during the webinar “The buzz about benzene” a one-hour session discussing the recent adjustments to the benzene Threshold Limit Values (TLV) by the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The adjustments reduce the benzene TLV from 0.5 parts per million (ppm) to 0.02 ppm for an 8-hour workday, while entirely removing the short-term exposure limit.

These changes will challenge various industries, including the oil and gas sector, to thoroughly reassess existing safety protocols and develop responsive strategies to comply with the new standards (where the TLV is an enforceable limit), or at least to anticipate future changes in compliance. The TLV reduction is a response to new research and aims to protect workers throughout their careers. Even if individual exposure might not pose immediate risks, minimizing exposure is always the objective. This shift is part of a larger trend focused on minimizing exposure to hazardous substances and it is vital for all businesses to understand and adapt to these evolving norms.

The recent amendments to the benzene TLV should encourage businesses to adopt enhanced safety measures to protect their workforce. Focus areas will include stringent air monitoring procedures, the application of engineering controls, and modifications to work-rest cycles and employee rotation schedules.

For air monitoring, businesses will now depend more on direct reading equipment capable of delivering immediate results. The UltraRAE 3000 Plus is the only current device capable of detecting benzene concentrations below 20 parts per billion. Some other instruments report detection limits right at the new TLV, but not below. These tools will play a pivotal role in enabling businesses to adhere to the updated benzene TLV.

Tightening engineering controls is also key. Ventilation systems to circulate air and minimize benzene concentrations are crucial. Other means of reducing benzene levels may include process changes such as closed-loop transfer systems and air quality control equipment.

Administrative controls, such as modifying work-rest cycles and rotating workers, can also be effective in managing exposures and ensuring workers are not exposed to benzene concentrations exceeding the new TLV.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), especially respirators, is critical in shielding workers from benzene exposure. Full-face air purifying respirators might not offer adequate protection, necessitating more frequent use of supplied air respirators. Yet, PPE use should always be the final option, with the primary focus being on implementing engineering and administrative controls to curtail benzene exposure.

Some businesses are already adapting to potential future regulatory changes by reducing their internal exposure limit policies, in a proactive approach that prioritizes worker health and safety.

Although the ACGIH’s new guidelines on benzene TLV reduction are enforceable regulatory limits in some regions, it may take agencies a while to apply this new regulation. Federal regulations in the United States and local policies and procedures in provinces such as Ontario may not change immediately. It is important to stay abreast of these changes and to be sure to know which ones apply in each specific situation.

Staying informed on the ever-changing regulatory landscape is important, that’s why our team at GHD works together with companies to ensure they are keeping compliant with environmental health and safety challenges. For more details on the TLV reduction, watch The buzz about benzene.