1,3-Butadiene safety data sheet

Under 1910.1051 and its Appendix A, the permissible exposure limit for 1,3-butadiene (BD) is 1 part per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), and the short-term exposure limit is 5 ppm averaged over any 15-minute period in the 8-hour workday. See 1910.1051 and the Substance Safety Data Sheet for 1,3-Butadiene (Appendix A) for these limits.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, the action level for 1,3-butadiene (BD) is 0.5 ppm as an 8-hour TWA, and employers must offer medical screening and surveillance when employees are exposed above this level on 30 or more days per year. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A guidance for the medical-surveillance trigger.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, an employer must offer a medical examination within 48 hours to any employee exposed to 1,3-butadiene in an emergency situation. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A medical requirements.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, employees with certain past exposure histories remain eligible for medical surveillance — for example, exposure at or above the PEL for 30 days a year for 10 or more years, exposure at or above the action level for 60 days a year for 10 or more years, or exposure above 10 ppm for 30 days in any past year. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A medical requirements.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, only NIOSH‑approved respirators are permitted for 1,3-butadiene when respirators are necessary, and employers must implement a complete respiratory protection program including training, maintenance, fit testing, inspection, cleaning, and program evaluation. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A respirator guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, respirators may be used only when engineering and work practice controls are not technically feasible, while such controls are being installed, to supplement failing controls, for brief intermittent or non-routine operations, or in emergencies. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A respirator exceptions.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, when a cartridge respirator is permitted, the cartridge must be replaced at least every 4 hours for exposures below 5 ppm BD and at least every 3 hours when exposure is between 5 and 10 ppm. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A respirator cartridge guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, if an employee can smell 1,3-butadiene while wearing a respirator, they must go immediately to fresh air and change the cartridge or canister before re-entering an area where BD exposure may occur. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A respirator instructions.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, employers must provide and require use of impervious clothing, gloves, face shields (minimum eight inches), splash-proof safety goggles, and other protective clothing necessary to prevent skin freezing and eye injury from liquefied 1,3-butadiene. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A PPE guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, if liquefied 1,3-butadiene contacts the eye, flush repeatedly with large amounts of water while lifting the eyelids and get medical attention immediately; if the skin is contacted, remove contaminated clothing and flush the area with large amounts of tepid water and seek medical attention for frostbite. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A emergency first aid procedures.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, move the affected person to fresh air immediately, start CPR if breathing has stopped (only if trained), keep them warm and at rest, and get medical attention right away. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A breathing exposure guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, 1,3-butadiene is a flammable gas with a lower explosive limit (LEL) of 2% and an upper explosive limit (UEL) of 11.5%; its vapor is heavier than air and can travel to ignition sources and flash back, and it has an autoignition temperature of 420 °C (788 °F). Employers must plan controls for these hazards. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A fire hazard information.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, BD cylinders should be protected from physical damage, stored outside or in a detached location when possible, or inside in a cool, dry, well‑ventilated noncombustible area away from ignition sources; store cylinders vertically and do not stack them, and do not store with oxidizers. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A storage guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, when BD is spilled or leaked: restrict access to those not wearing PPE, eliminate ignition sources, ventilate the area, allow small liquid quantities to evaporate safely, stop/control the leak if safe to do so, and remove leaking cylinders to a safe place for repair or controlled emptying. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A spill and leak procedures.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, discarded or disposed 1,3-butadiene is a hazardous waste listed as D001 for ignitability, and its transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal must comply with applicable Federal hazardous waste regulations in 40 CFR parts 262, 263, 264, 268, and 270; disposal must occur at properly permitted facilities. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A disposal guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, employers must inform employees each year about the information contained in Appendix A and instruct them in proper work practices for using BD, emergency procedures, and correct use of protective equipment. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A access to information and training requirements.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, employees or their designated representatives have the right to observe the employer's exposure monitoring procedures for BD, to record the results, and to be provided with and wear protective clothing and equipment when monitoring occurs in areas that require PPE. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A observation of monitoring.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, employers must keep records of BD exposures and medical examinations for at least 30 years and must release these exposure and medical records to the employee or their representative upon request. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A recordkeeping requirements.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, employees should not keep food, beverages, or smoking materials in areas where BD exposure occurs, nor should they eat or drink in such areas. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A workplace practice guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, good industrial hygiene practice recommends using engineering and work-practice controls (for example ventilation and process containment) to reduce 1,3-butadiene concentrations to the permissible exposure limits; respirators are only for limited circumstances when such controls are infeasible or temporary. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A control recommendations.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, at elevated temperatures (such as in a fire), 1,3-butadiene can self-polymerize with heat evolution and possibly form explosive peroxides; polymerization inside a container can lead to violent rupture. Employers should consider inhibitors and fire controls. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A polymerization and fire hazard discussion.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, firefighting for BD includes stopping the flow of gas, using water to cool fire-exposed containers, having fire extinguishers and quick-drenching facilities available, and knowing their locations and operation before an emergency. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A firefighting guidance.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, electrical installations in Class I hazardous locations where BD may be present should follow the National Electrical Code (Article 500/501), and explosion-proof equipment suitable for Group B or isolated Group D equipment should be used as described in the referenced NFPA and NEC guidance in the Appendix. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A electrical equipment section.

Under 1910.1051 and Appendix A, if an employer determines employees are being overexposed to BD, the employer must inform affected employees of the actions being taken to reduce exposures to within permissible limits and the schedule for implementing those actions. See 1910.1051 and the Appendix A employer notification requirements.