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i <br /> 3 of 4 Pages <br /> The safety officer has the authority to suspend work anytime he <br /> determines the safety provisions are inadequate to ensure worker <br /> a� safety. <br /> CHEMICAL HAZARDS <br /> The hazardous chemicals that may be encountered at the site are <br /> petroleum hydrocarbons, including benzene, toluene, ethyl <br /> benzene, and xylene. A summary of relevant chemical physical <br /> and toxicological properties for each chemical hazard is listed <br /> below. <br /> Benzene: <br /> Benzene is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor. It is a <br /> relatively volatile chemical (vapor pressure = 75 mm Hg @ 68 F) <br /> that may possibly be present in soils in both the liquid or <br /> vapor form. The flash point of benzene is only 12 F thereby <br /> classifying it as a flammable liquid. Benzene is recognized by <br /> the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health as a <br /> potential human carcinogen. <br /> Benzene can enter the body through all four routes of exposure: <br /> ( 1 ) inhalation; (2) absorption; (3) ingestion; and (4) <br /> injection. Target organs are the blood, central nervous system, <br /> skin bone marrow, eyes, and respiratory system. Acute exposure <br /> effects include irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory <br /> %*SW system as well as headache, nausea, staggered gait, depression, <br /> and abdominal pain. The chronic effects of over-exposure is the <br /> potential for cancer. The PEL for benzene is 10. 0 ppm. <br /> Toluene: <br /> Toluene is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor. It is less <br /> volatile than benzene (vapor pressure = 22 mm Hg @ 68 F) and may <br /> possibly be present in both the liquid and vapor state. The <br /> flash point of toluene is 40 F classifying it as a flammable <br /> liquid. <br /> Toluene can enter the body through all four routes of exposure: <br /> ( 1 ) inhalation; (2) absorption; (3 ) ingestion; and (4) <br /> injection. Target organs are the central nervous system, liver, <br /> kidneys and skin. Acute exposure effects include fatigue, <br /> dizziness, headache, euphoria, dilated pupils, paralysis. The <br /> PEL for toluene is 2010 Fpm. <br /> Ethyl Benzene: <br /> Ethyl benzene is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor. It <br /> has a relatively low volatility ( vapor pressure = 7. 1 mm Hg @ <br /> 68 F) and may possibly be present in both the liquid and vapor <br /> state. The flash point of ethyl benzene is 59 F classifying it <br /> as a flammable liquid. <br /> Ethyl benzene can enter the body through all four routes of <br /> exposure: ( 1) inhalation; (2) absorption; (3) ingestion; and ( 4) <br /> injection. Target organs are the eyes, upper respiratory <br />