Toluene
Australia Safework Australia
Manufacturing
Toluene (CAS 108-88-3) is colourless, highly flammable, water insoluble liquid with an odour like benzene. It is produced during the process of refining crude oil for fuels and is often used as a substitute for benzene and as an octane booster for gasoline. You can find toluene in cleaning agents, rubber, detergents, dyes, glues and pharmaceuticals.
Examples of work with toluene includes:
- making paints, inks, lacquers, paint thinners, adhesives and fingernail polish
- tanning leather.
Baseline Testing
A baseline toluene health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Demographic, medical and occupational history
- Past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with emphasis on the central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory system
- Urinalysis – Blood Protein and Sugar
- Pathology
- Full Blood Count (FBC)
- MBA20 (Full blood examination, serum creatinine) (non-fasting)
- Urinary hippuric acid
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
Periodic Testing
Periodic Biological Monitoring should be conducted annually at minimum dependant on the risk and consists of the following tests.
- Pathology
- Urinary hippuric acid requested initially
- If hippuric acid levels are high then further request Urinary o-cresol
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
*May trigger an early periodic health assessment
High Risk
If deemed high risk, testing requirements are as follows:
- Pathology
- Urinary o-cresol
- Urinary hippuric acid
- Blood Toulens
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
* May trigger an early periodic health assessment
Post Exposure
Post exposure testing requirements include:
- Pathology
- Urinary o-cresol
- Urinary hippuric acid
- Urninary Toluene
- Blood Toulens
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
Exit Testing
Final Examination (Termination of work in a Toluene process)
A final toluene health monitoring medical contains the following tests:
- Demographic, medical and occupational history
- Past exposure questionnaire
- Medical Examination with emphasis on the central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory system
- Pathology
- Full Blood Count (FBC)
- MBA20 (Full blood examination, serum creatinine)
- Urinary hippuric acid
- Urinary o-cresol
- KINNECT Dr Review and Sign off
Further Information
Safework Australia health monitoring guidance for Toluene:
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