Do workers run risks when handling benzene?

Rules for protecting workers handling benzene are extremely strict.

When assessing the health risk of a substance, it is important to consider two criteria: the level of exposure and the degree of hazard. In the case of benzene, the rules for working places are very strict. Because benzene is volatile, inhalation is the major route of exposure. National and international standards seek to limit this exposure by imposing strict occupational exposure limits; the European Commission imposes a limit of 1 ppm ("part per million", or, in other words, 3.25 milligrams per cubic meter). Industry standards are usually more stringent than this, and often include occupational monitoring programmes to confirm that workplace controls and practices are as safe as possible.