Occupational Exposureto 1,3-Butadiene

29 CFR 1910.1051

Chemical Identification

Gaseous monomer: CH2=CH-CH=CH2

Stored as liquid under pressure Stabilizer added to prevent formation of

polymer during storage

Production and Use

US production, 1991: 3 billion pounds (almost all by ethylene co-product process)

Used in manufacture of

» Rubber (about 60% of total)» Precursors of Nylon» Rocket propellants» Lubricating oil additives» Agricultural fungicides

» Latexes» Resins» Industrial solvents» Anthroquinone dyes

Health Effects

CNS effects (e.g., headaches, nausea, blurred vision) from very high acute exposures

Eye, nose, and throat irritation Irritation and frostbite from contact with liquefied

butadiene Leukemia and other lymphohematopoietic

cancers and possible reproductive effects from chronic exposures

Benefits of Standard

7600 US workers exposed to significant concentrations of butadiene, as high as 10 ppm

New standard estimated to prevent at least 59 cancer deaths over a 45-year working lifetime

History of Butadiene (BD) Rulemaking

1971 - OSHA adopted original standard for BD: 1000 ppm (TWA) Source: 1968 ACGIH TLVs

1983 - NTP determined BD causes cancer in rodents; OSHA and EPA published RFI

History (cont’d)

1984 - EPA published ANPR under TSCA; various unions petitioned OSHA for ETS; petitions denied

1985 - EPA completed risk assessment and referred BD to OSHA

1986 - OSHA published ANPR 1990 - OSHA published PR with 2

ppm TWA and 10 ppm STEL

History (cont’d)

1992 - IARC designated BD as probable human carcinogen

1996 - Joint labor/industry group submitted voluntary agreement outlining recommendations for final rule; OSHA requested comments on recommenda- tions; final rule published November 4, 1996: PELs of 1 ppm TWA, 10 ppm STEL, and AL of 0.5 ppm

Unique Features of Standard

Respirators - Short replacement intervals specified for air-purifying cartridges/canisters because of rapid breakthrough and migration of BD through filter elements

Medical Surveillance - Periodic review of aggregated information from medical screening program to determine whether employees adversely affected by BD

Unique Features (cont’d)

Written Exposure Goal Program» Required where exposures > AL» Includes the following unless employer can show

they are not feasible, effective, or necessary:– Leak detection and prevention– Local exhaust ventilation maintenance– Pump exposure control technology– Gauging devices to limit exposure– Unloading devices to limit exposure– Engineering controls in control rooms

(a) Scope and Application

All occupational exposures to 1,3-Butadiene (BD)

Exceptions» Objective data» Liquid mixtures containing 0.1% or less BD

by volume» BD or liquid mixtures in intact containers or

sealed transportation pipelines

(b) Definitions

“Business day” - any Monday through Friday, except those days designated as federal, state, local or company specific holidays

“Complete Blood Count (CBC)”» White blood cell count (WBC)» Hematocrit (Hct)» Hemoglobin (Hgb)» Differential count of white blood cells» Red blood cell morphology» Red blood cell indices» Platelet count

(b) Definitions (cont’d)

“Day” - any part of a calendar day “Emergency situation” - any occurrence

such as, but not limited to, equipment failure, rupture of containers, or failure of control equipment that may or does result in an uncontrolled significant release of BD

(c) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)

8-Hour TWA: 1 ppm STEL: 5 ppm

There is also an Action Level (AL) of 0.5 ppm established by the standard.

(d) Exposure Monitoring

Representative; breathing zone samples Initial monitoring unless

» Objective data exist

» Equivalent monitoring within previous two years

Periodic monitoring

» Where results at or above AL but at or below both PELs

» Where either PEL exceeded

(d) Exposure Monitoring (cont’d)

Termination of monitoring Additional monitoring Accuracy of monitoring Employee notification of results Observation of monitoring

(e) Regulated Areas

Wherever exposures exceed or can be expected to exceed either PEL

Limited access Demarcation of area Communication with other employers

(f) Methods of Compliance

Engineering controls and work practices Respirators as supplemental protection Written compliance plan Employee rotation as a method of

compliance prohibited

(g) Exposure Goal Program

Written plan Required where exposure exceeds AL Updated as necessary Respirator use not required

(g) Exposure Goal Program (cont’d)

Includes the following (unless not feasible, not effective, or not necessary to reduce exposures below AL)» Leak detection and prevention program

» Local exhaust ventilation maintenance

» Pump exposure control technology

» Gauging devices to limit exposure

» Unloading devices to limit exposure

» Engineering controls in control rooms

(h) Respiratory Protection

Allowable during time to implement engineering and work practice controls and as supplement where such are not adequate to achieve PELs; for non-routine, infrequent, and limited-duration operations; in emergencies

Respirator program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 (b) - (d) [except (d)(1)(iii), (d)(3)(iii)(B)(1), and (2)] and (f) - (m)

Selection governed by Table 1; NIOSH-approved under 42 CFR Part 84

PAPRs or supplied air respirators provided for employees who cannot use negative pressure respirators

(h) Respiratory Protection (cont’d)

Replacement intervals for cartridges/ canisters governed by» Table 1 or» 90% of expiration-of-service life or» NIOSH-approved end-of-service-life

indicator (when available) Replacement mandatory any time an

employee can smell BD

(i) Protective Clothing and Equipment

To prevent eye contact and limit dermal exposure

Eye and face protection governed by 29 CFR 1910.133

(j) Emergency Situations

Written plan for applicable elements of29 CFR 1910.38, “Employee Emergency

Plans and Fire Prevention Plans”29 CFR 1910.120, “Hazardous Waste

Operations and Emergency Response”

(k) Medical Screening and Surveillance

Coverage» Currently exposed employees» Previously exposed employees

Administration by physician or other licensed health care professional

Frequency» Health questionnaire and complete blood count annually» Physical examinations initially, every 3 years or more

frequently at discretion of licensed health care professional, and at termination if 12 or more months have elapsed

» Within 48 hours following an emergency

(k) Medical Screening and Surveillance (cont’d)

Content

» For anticipated exposure

» For emergency exposure Written medical opinion to employer and

employee within 15 business days Periodic review of aggregated medical screening

data to determine whether employee population adversely affected by exposure; employees informed of any information learned

(l) Communication of BD Hazards to Employees

Communication of hazards as required by Hazard Communication Standard

Training program for employees potentially exposed at or above the AL or STEL to be repeated annually

Contents of training program beyond the Hazard Communication Standard » Medical screening and surveillance» Contents of standard and appendices» Rights to employee medical and exposure records

(m) Recordkeeping

Objective data for exemption from initial monitoring - maintain for duration of reliance on data

Exposure measurements - maintain for 30 years Respirator fit test records - maintain until next fit

test Medical screening and surveillance - maintain for

duration of employment plus 30 years

(n) Dates

Effective date: February 2, 1997 Start-up dates:

» Initial monitoring within 60 days of effective date» Engineering controls within 2 years of effective

date» Exposure goal program within 3 years of effective

date» Other requirements, including feasible work

practice controls, within 180 days of effective date

(o) Appendices

Informational» A - Substance Safety Data Sheet for 1,3-Butadiene» B - Substance Technical Guidelines for 1,3-

Butadiene» C - Medical Screening and Surveillance for 1,3-

Butadiene» D - Sampling and Analytical Method for 1,3-

Butadiene» F - Medical Questionnaires

Reserved - Appendix E