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Ambient Air Monitoring/Respirator Requirements <br />Benzene, a constituent of petroleum products, will be used as an indicator parameter for ambient air <br />monitoring. Because benzene is a suspected carcinogen and, therefore, highly regulated, it will be useful as <br />a conservative indicator parameter. The following discussion assumes that exposure to benzene is a <br />possibility; thus, a safety measure for other potential air-borne contaminants is achieved. <br />Breathing zone vapor at a concentration of 1.0 ppm or greater at the drilling or excavation area, <br />as detected by PID, requires site personnel to use a respirator with organic vapor cartridges <br />while working in the exclusion zone. As a reference, the OSHA-PEL for benzene is 1.0 ppm. <br />Breathing zone vapor at a concentration of 1.0 ppm or greater requires the site manager to <br />monitor the site perimeter (concentrating in the down wind direction). <br />Breathing zone vapor concentrations that reach or exceed 10 ppm at the drilling or excavation <br />area, as detected by the PID, requires site personnel to use a full-face respirator with organic <br />vapor cartridges while working in the exclusion zone. <br />Breathing zone vapor concentrations that reach or exceed 50 ppm at the drilling or excavation <br />area, as detected by the PID, requires site activities to be stopped until concentrations decrease. <br />The site manager should continuously monitor the site perimeter. <br />If breathing zone vapor concentrations are detected at the site perimeter, the site manager shall <br />monitor the perimeter at 30-minute intervals. <br />If the vapor concentrations continue to reach or exceed a value of 10 ppm at the site perimeter <br />for 15 minutes, drilling or excavation activities shall be stopped. Appropriate regulatory <br />agencies should be contacted (see contact sheet). The site manager shall continue to monitor <br />conditions until levels are reduced to background conditions. <br />SKIN/CLOTHES PROTECTION <br />Steel-toed boots will be worn during all activities. <br />Hard hats will be worn during all activities. <br />Disposable Tyvek suits, steel-toed rubber boots or steel-toed boots covered with disposable boots, and <br />nitrile rubber gloves will be worn when deemed necessary by the Site Safety Officer. <br />Disposable nitrile rubber gloves will be worn for sampling (changed after each sample). <br />Disposable clothing will be discarded to an appropriate storage container as necessary. <br />EYE/EAR PROTECTION <br />Safety glasses will be worn during all activities. <br />Hearing protection will be worn during all drilling activities.