REMOVAL_1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Petroleum fuel consists of hundreds of chemical compounds. There are certain compounds such as benzene that present significant hazards and must be properly controlled. To do so, a working limit of 100 ppm total hydrocarbon is proposed as the maximum acceptable level of exposure without respiratory protection. In a typical situation with 1% of the hydrocarbon vapors being benzene, a 100 ppmv concentration of total hydrocarbon will result in a breathing zone of less than 1 ppmv benzene. This level is one tenth of the current occupational Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) Action Levels of Hydrocarbon Components in Petroleum Fuel Gasoline >300ppm PEL LEL >10% Benzene >lppm PEL Oxygen <19.5% Toluene >100ppm PEL Xylene >I 00ppm PEL Ethyl Benzene >100ppm PEL A hydrocarbon vapor analyzer will be used to measure real time breathing zone concentration for comparison with the 100 ppmv working limit. When a persistent level of 100 ppmv is observed, appropriate respirators will be donned and other vapor measurements will be made. If hydrocarbon vapors exceed 1000 ppmv or 10 ppm benzene, work will be stopped. The field crew will be instructed to stay up wind and methods will be applied to subdue fugitive vapor emissions such as sprinkling soil with water, or the use of a copus blower. The site Safety Officer will make such determinations. If LEL is >I 0% in or around the tank, work must stop and not commence until determined safe and/or LEL <10%. If oxygen levels in the immediate work area are <19.5%, work must stop until determined safe and/or LEL >19.5%. Symptoms of Acute Overexposure Gasoline and gasoline vapors maybe irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Gasoline vapors may effect the central nervous system and may cause headaches and dizziness. A:\HEAL&SAF\TANK.001 29 January 1993 5