Last month, NIOSH published preliminary field studies on worker exposures to volatile chemicals during oil and gas extraction flowback and production testing operations.
The findings suggest that benzene exposure can exceed the NIOSH REL and STEL, and present an occupational exposure risk during certain flowback work activities. Primary point sources of worker exposures to hydrocarbon vapor emissions are opening thief hatches and gauging tanks; additional exposures may occur due to fugitive emissions from equipment in other areas in the flowback process (e.g. chokes, separators, piping and valves), especially while performing maintenance on these items.
NIOSH researchers identified the following general recommendations to reduce the potential for occupational exposure:
- Develop alternative tank gauging procedures so workers do not have to routinely open hatches on the tops of the tanks and manually gauge the level of liquid.
- Develop dedicated sampling ports, other than the thief hatches, that minimize workers’ exposures to volatile organic compound emissions while manually tank gauging.
- Provide worker training to ensure flowback technicians understand the hazards of exposure to benzene and other hydrocarbons and the importance of monitoring atmospheric conditions for LEL concentrations.
- Limit the time spent in proximity to hydrocarbon sources.
- Monitor workers to determine their exposure to benzene and other contaminants.
- Establish a controlled perimeter (similar to the high pressure zone established during hydraulic fracturing) around flowback tanks. Limit entry and require that any portable tents or sunshades remain outside and upwind of the controlled area.
- Provide workers with calibrated portable flammable gas monitors with alarms at appropriate levels. The actions to be taken if the alarm sounds should be defined before the detector system is put into use.
- Use appropriate respiratory protection in areas where potentially high concentrations of hydrocarbons can occur as an interim measure until engineering controls are implemented. Note that OSHA regulations (29 CFR 1910.134) require a comprehensive respiratory protection program be established when respirators are used in the workplace.
- Use appropriate impermeable gloves to protect against dermal exposures during work around flowback and production tanks and when transferring process fluids.
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