U.S. Orders 90% Reduction in Workers’ Exposure to Benzene

The Labor Department on Tuesday ordered a 90% reduction in occupational exposure to benzene, culminating a decade-long legal battle over how to reduce leukemia deaths among some 240,000 workers who breathe its fumes.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said industries will be given five months to reduce on-the-job exposure to benzene from the currently allowed 10 parts per million parts of air to a one part per million average over an eight-hour workday.

Assistant Labor Secretary and OSHA Administrator John Pendergrass said the lower limits are expected to prevent at least 326 deaths from leukemia among workers whose jobs expose them to benzene over a working lifetime of 45 years.

Significant Risk Cited

“It has been proven beyond doubt that benzene poses a significant risk of leukemia and other blood diseases to those exposed,” Pendergrass said.

OSHA tried to impose the lower limits through emergency regulations in 1977. However, in a suit brought by the American Petroleum Institute, a federal appeals court vacated the standards a year later because the agency had not first done a cost-benefit analysis to demonstrate the need. The Supreme Court in 1980 upheld the appeals court’s action.

Margaret Seminario, deputy director of occupational safety and health for the AFL-CIO, said the agency’s action Tuesday was long overdue.

“Obviously, we’re pleased,” Seminario said. “It is very similar to the standard that was issued 10 years ago. It’s unfortunate that it has taken so long.”

Petition Rejected

Several unions had petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals here in late 1984 for an order directing OSHA to adopt the new standards on an expedited basis. The court rejected the petition 14 months later. But OSHA in the interim had taken steps in a lengthy process to adopt the regulations.

The agency estimated that it will cost employers about $24 million a year to meet the new exposure limits covering 240,000 workers.

To meet the new requirements, employers are being ordered to provide their workers with protective respirators, clothing and equipment to prevent eye exposure as well as limit skin and lung exposure.

A clear, colorless, highly flammable liquid, benzene is used widely as a solvent and in the chemical, printing, rubber and petroleum industries. It also is a major ingredient in many paints, varnishes, stain removers, rubber cements and other adhesives.