Health Hazards and Exposure
Health hazards generally associated with crude oils include:
- Inhalation of the toxic volatile hydrocarbon components, such as benzene, and
- dermatitis from repeated or prolonged skin contact can cause dermatitis or skin cancer.
Inhalation and skin contact are serious health hazards.
Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL)
- Cleanup workers typically work more than 8 hours/day for 7-14 days in a row.
- Workers should be informed that OELs based on standard times are not appropriate for monitoring.
- OELs don't include skin contact, absorption and ingestion, which are common in cleanups.
- Check with your site supervisor for additional guidance!
Be cautious during cleanup operations. If you are unsure, ask your supervisor before proceeding!
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-4. What are the two primary health hazards to which oil spill cleanup workers are exposed?
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