Tankermen work on barges transporting petroleum to and from tanker ships and refineries. Industrial hygiene data shows that tankermen exposure to benzene may exceed the permissible exposure limit. We were asked to review OSHA-mandated benzene medical surveillance of tankermen. Methods: Medical records from 22 employees were obtained, coded, and analyzed. Results: 5/22 (23%) employees had incomplete exams and 7/22 (32%) had abnormal results of Complete Blood Counts or indices (CBC) on most recent examinations. Three had multiple abnormalities on CBC. 34/118 (29.3%) of all exams were incomplete, according to the OSHA Benzene Standard Medical Guidelines (§5218 California Code of Regulations, Benzene, Appendix C). One clinic had 12/20 (60%) incomplete examinations during the last three years. One worker had increasingly abnormal CBC results over 5 years prior to referral to a hematologist. That worker was diagnosed subsequently with B-cell lymphoma. Conclusion: The CBC has value for medical surveillance for Benzene only if the recommendations of the OSHA Benzene Standard for Medical Surveillance are followed so complete evaluations are performed. Particularly important are the review of trends in counts and indices over time and immediate followup of abnormal results. Recommendations: Evaluation of the quality of benzene medical surveillance in the petroleum industry is needed. Employers should regularly evaluate medical surveillance providers to insure that trends are assessed and referrals are timely. NIOSH is conducting an industrial hygiene evaluation regarding exposure levels to assure that adequate engineering controls and personal protective equipment is in place to reduce exposure to the lowest feasible level.
Learning Objectives: To understand the current gaps in benzene medical surveillance. To describe what a complete benzene medical surveillance examination should include
Keywords: Occupational Surveillance, Petrochemcial Production
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.