Analysis of benzene exposure considering workers characteristic in the oil and gas industry

Abstract

Abstract Operations and processes in the oil and gas industry have hazardous chemicals. Hence the possibility of having a work accident is high. Chemicals that exist are produced by activities related to the oil and gas industry processes, one of which is benzene. Because it has a severe impact on occupational health and safety, benzene exposure must be measured. Measurements were run through risk analysis to assess Hazard Index (HI) and make predictions of benzene exposure by focusing on the characteristics of workers, which can worsen the effect of the exposure. This study elaborated on several workers’ characteristics from a literature study’s human factors point of view. These characteristics were smoking, age, type of task, personal protective equipment use, exposure duration, regulations, hand washing habits, length of exposure, and nutritional status. Literature study results showed that regulatory characteristics, handwashing habits, and length of exposure were worsening the benzene exposure to workers. The other factors were in between agreed and disagreed in worsening the benzene exposure. These results perform as a base study in the further benzene analysis of oil and gas end distributor.