[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 46, Volume 7]
[Revised as of October 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 46CFR197.505]

[Page 439]
 
                           TITLE 46--SHIPPING
 
   CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 197--GENERAL PROVISIONS--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart C--Benzene
 
Sec. 197.505  Definitions.

    As used in this subpart--
    Action level means an airborne concentration of benzene of 0.5 parts 
of benzene per million parts of air calculated as an eight hour time-
weighted average, generated from vessels regulated by this subpart.
    Authorized person means a person specifically authorized by the 
person in charge of the vessel to enter a regulated area.
    Benzene means liquefied or gaseous benzene (C6 
H6; Chemical Abstracts Service Registry No. 71-43-2) and 
includes benzene contained in liquid mixtures and the benzene vapors 
released by these mixtures. The term does not include trace amounts of 
unreacted benzene contained in solid materials.
    Breathing zone means the area within one foot of a person's mouth 
and nose.
    Employee means an individual who is on board a vessel by reason of 
that individual's employment and who is employed directly by the owner, 
charterer, managing operator, or agent of that vessel.
    Employer means the owner, charterer, managing operator, or agent of 
a vessel.
    Emergency means an occurrence, such as an equipment failure, a 
container rupture, or a control equipment failure, which results or may 
result in an unexpected release of benzene.
    Operations involving benzene means any operation that could subject 
a worker to benzene exposures above the PEL, including cargo transfer 
operations involving connecting or disconnecting liquid or vapor hoses; 
cargo tank gauging and sampling; and cargo tank gas freeing, venting, 
and cleaning.
    Performance standard means the standard in Sec. 197.520.
    Person in charge means--
    (1) For a self propelled vessel, the master or licensed operator of 
the vessel; and
    (2) For an unmanned barge,
    (i) The licensed operator of the vessel for barge tows;
    (ii) Where there is no licensed operator, the tankerman who signs 
the declaration of inspection for a cargo transfer for an operation 
involving benzene; or
    (iii) Where there is no licensed operator or tankerman, the 
individual in charge of the vessel when it is moored at a fleet, 
terminal, or other place.
    Permissible exposure limits or PELs mean the exposure limits 
specified in Sec. 197.515.
    Personal exposure means the concentration of airborne benzene to 
which a person would be exposed if that person were not using a properly 
fitted respirator in compliance with Sec. 197.550 and the personal 
protective clothing and equipment in compliance with Sec. 197.555.
    Regulated area means an area designated in compliance with 
Sec. 197.535.
    Short-term exposure limit or STEL means an airborne concentration of 
five parts of benzene per million parts of air (five ppm), as averaged 
over any 15 minute period.
    Time-weighted average exposure limit or TWA means an airborne 
concentration of one part of benzene per million parts of air (one ppm), 
as averaged over an eight-hour period. This eight hour period covers the 
time, up to eight hours, that the employee works in any 24 hour period. 
If the exposure period is less than eight hours within the 24 hour 
period, the difference between eight hours and the time of exposure 
(that is, the unexposed time) is averaged into the TWA. If the exposure 
period exceeds eight hours in any 24 hour period, sum the products of 
each exposure level multiplied by the time at that exposure level. The 
TWA is the value of that sum divided by eight hours.
    Vapor control or recovery system means a system of piping and 
equipment used to collect vapors by transporting the vapors from a tank 
being loaded to a tank being unloaded or by collecting the vapors and 
containing them, recovering them, dispersing them in a location remote 
from personnel, or destroying them.