Hazardous process
Manufacture, handling and use of benzene and substances containing benzene
A hazardous process listed in the First Schedule to the Factories Act 1948 (s.2(cb)).
Typical industries: Benzene production and any operation using benzene as feedstock or solvent.
Principal hazards
- Benzene vapour (proven human carcinogen, flammable)
Health effects
Acute narcosis; chronic bone-marrow toxicity - aplastic anaemia, and leukaemia (AML); fire/explosion injury.
Key engineering controls
Substitution of benzene wherever possible; fully closed transfer/sampling and LEV; continuous benzene exposure monitoring against statutory limit; LDAR; flame-proof areas; biological monitoring; restricted access and medical surveillance.
PPE
- Air-fed / supplied-air respirators for any potential exposure
- Chemical (benzene-resistant) gloves and suits
- Goggles/face shields
- Anti-static FR clothing
- Personal vapour monitors
Statutory vs annotation: only the industry name is First-Schedule statutory text. The hazards, health effects, controls and PPE are standard occupational-hygiene practice, not statutory text.
This page is a statutory / occupational-health reference for factory Occupational Health Centres. It is not medical or legal advice. Verify against the current bare Act, Rules and your State amendments before acting.
MedFactoryTrack statutory health surveillance for this process.
Open MedFactory →