Document 0JJv2EYNXnG6wrd4O6MDR842V
. -IJdtrss all communications untilJurther notice to:-
ARTILLERY HOUSE, ARTILLERY ROW; LOUDON, S/Wl
JftyJlonf: ABBEY 397A-7
My,'tjrams. e t h y l p o r t , s o w e s t , Lo n d o n
rrctors
u.w. b o y l s
N.A.GASS L N.HAWitTON (u.S.Aj
%J. B.AUCi. KESSLER (HCTHKOLAM OS) F.G.C.MOHRlS R.W. SELLERS
O.A.SMEPAflC (o .S.a * A,U. SINGLETON E.E. SOUOSV
t .r .a . b e v a n f. *fana<jiutj)
o/eaOUR REF.
YOUR REF.
Dr* R* A* Eahoe, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati,
Ohio, U.S.A.
18th August, 1944.
Dear Bob,
For your information and records. I enclose copy of a letter from Harrison of Anglo-Iranian, together with Report No.8788 referred to therein.
Hugh Fossett returned to London last week-end and is preparing a report on his trip, a copy of which I will send to you as soon as it is available.
Best wishes.
Original by steamer: copy with enclosures by airmail.
COPY 0? LITTER
O/ea
PROM G.a .Harris on, .-mglo-Iranian Oil Company Ltd. London. RLF
!R0/1QS
TO: T.R.A. Bevan, The Associated' Ethyl' Co.Ltd. London.
dated 31st July,1944.
Dear Mr. yevan,
Lead in Atmosphere Brain Drum Filling Plant
"with reference to our conversation with Mr. Laughluad, we send herewith for your information and retention, one copy of Abadan Development Report No. 8738 which gives results of lead in atmosphere determinations carried out at the Braim Drum Filling Plant. The following is a relevant extract from Abadan's covering memorandum:-
" This report is the first part of a programme of work on lead poisoning. It was hoped to have additional information before forwarding the present report, results however are not yet available and the preliminary report is therefore sent for your information.
" One test in the five reported shewed a concentration of lead above the permissible maximum but these tests were carried out under the comparatively cool conditions. For the more arduous summer conditions we have arranged :-
(1) That the men employed in drum filling will work one week in lead contact duties followed by two weeks on lead-free occupations.
(2) Selected men, 4 from the 5 U.S. gallon drum filling plant and 8 from the large (33 and 42 I.G. drum filling unit) will be submitted each month for lead in urine and clinical tests.
(3) Lead in atmosphere tests will be carried out as frequently as results demand.
' In due course we will submit reports detailing our findings."
We will arrange to let you have copies of the subseauent reports, referred to above, as they come to hand.
0010328
.(SIGNED)
Yours sincerely, G. A. Harrison
DEVELOPMENT REPORT NO. 8788
REF: NO.TEL/,4
V'ORKS MANAGER.
CHEMICAL & DEVELOPMENT DEPT. ABADAN, 15th March, 1944.
j EAD CONTENT OF THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE AVIATION SPIRIT FILLING SHEDS
5TH INTERIM REPORT
Requested by:
F.E.A. Thompson Esq.
OBJECT;
To determine the lead content of the atmosphere at the Braim drum filling shed.
SUMMARY & CONCUR SION:
1. The air directly above the drums, -while they are being filled, contains variable concentrations of lead depend ing on the wind direction and intensity, but only one of the five tests showed lead content above the accepted limit of 1.5 mg of Pb. per 10 cu.m, of air.
2. Normally the hydrocarbon vapours emerging from the drum are responsible for the lead in the air. Other contri butory causes are occasional overflowing of the spirit due to tiie operator's neglect and a certain amount of spraying around the drum opening at high filling rates.
INTRODUCTION:
The Braim drum filling shed constists of a steel frame work and roof with no wialls and is surrounded by open space on all sides.
The drum filling equipment as shown in the sketch
(fig. 2) consists of an elevated 8 in. pipe through which the
spirit flows, and on which are welded at equal intervals short
pieces of 2 in. pipes each fitted with a cock that is set to give
the desired rate of flow.
There are fourteen such points nine
of vhich w-re in service during the tests mentioned in this re
port. By lowering and raising a special mechanism attached to
the 2 in. pipe the operator starts and stops the flov,r of the
spirit into the drum. A piece of copper tubing connected to
a water manometer is inserted in the drum opening and serves as
a level indicator.
Watching the manometer, the operator can
tell when the desired level in the drum is reached.
He 0010323
2- -
EXPERIMENTAL:
Lead contents isvere determined of the air close to one of the filling points at the Braim drum filling shed. Five separate tests were carried out on different days. The sample point was at head height slightly away from the drum in the first two tests (corresponding to the operator's position) and directly above the drum opening in the last three. The exact location of the sample point is shown in the sketch of the shed. Fig. (l), and the results and other particulars of the tests are given in Table 1.
DISCUSSION:
The natural ventilation in the drum filling shed is usually sufficient to make the general atmosphere free from hydrocarbon and T.E.L. vapours. It-is only the air immediately above the'drums that may contain high concentrations of lead.
The results of tests given in Table 1, together with actual observation of the filling procedure confirm the follow ing statements.
1. High concentrations of lead may occur in the air directly above the drum while it is being filled.
2. Vapours emerging from the drum opening constitute the main source of lead in the air.
5. If the cock on the filling line is opened up to maintain a high filling rate, a certain amount of spraying of the spirit takes place around the drum opening, which adds considerably to the lead content of the air.
4. Occasionally the operator neglects the level indicator and the overflowing spirit contributes further to the lead in the atmosphere.
5. The rate of spillage is very low/ compared to that in the four gallon can filling and contamination of the general atmosphere because of leaky drums is negligible.
At any rate the worst spot in the shed is at the filling point, and the operative handling the filling mechanism is most likely to be affected. It is believed that frequent change over of men on this job should be sufficient safeguard against serious lead poisoning.
"Work by:
Report by:
F. ASHRAF.
F. ASHRAF.
Approved by: W.M. CATCHPOLE
Copy to:-
0010331)
Asst. General Manager (R). Asst. Works Manager (p ) .
F.E. A. Thompson Esc. Supdt. S. & E. Dept. (2) Senior Medical Officer.
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From H. Fossett * ' to . Hi 1% Rigden,.Esq
23rd July, 1944
APPEHDIX A
ETHYL FLUID AM)' BLEKDttfG.
ww-m-mmwmm ,ir -- --' - 110
mil in'
............
n
Temporary Storage Sites. -.-'"wh
.
The layout of the temporary war-time storage facilities is regarded as being excellent and needs no comment other than appreciation of the manner in which a difficult situation has been covered.. The question of the maintenance of x>ost--war stocks can only be reviewed in the light of such conditions as may then materialiseo . I personally feel however that if large . stocks of Fluid are to be carried, then the existing sites can form the nucleus of a permanent scheme, after a complete review has been mads of the experience which has been gained-during the war'phase The whole question cf the supply of Fluid*to this area in post-war years is of course subject to a number of factors which are indeterminable -at..the present time*
For requujei u,ncy of Bh lke'--jn. .gdji ing* -1; 'V>r
i-y'*
is inevitable, that with- the high output of
leaded,Spirit blending operations have to take place.-;
at'frsqufent intervals *Blending is currently taking
place' at a frequency of up to 20 times per month* It
is'noted hhwev<^i;thaiilaho.uri:-;is so adjusted that no
.one man`exceeds"six blonds' per month* This .procedure
is most .desirable'iy; 'hh-rl'
th bhr - .
Specific Mates on the three Blending Plants 0
. ilew Aviation' Area*' The1'blending platform should
be.surrounded c~5?npletel.y'Vitb. thf enclosing curb, to
.prevent any accidental .spillage- of fluid passing outside
the platfbrsu
-
KE 0.01033.
ft--r4.
.. -
3 '
A swing'joint was.leaking and required attention.
. v The floor was dirty - probably being mainly r attributable to the leakage-of the U.O.P/> inhibitor. /
VNo* 1 eductor, suction pipe had been modified
1
.r'...'5i *.**,*.
by eliminating the normal external co-axial drum flushing
hippie and teeing-in the gasoline wash connection to the .
fj`* fluid suction linei By this means the whole of the
outside of the suction pipe is wetted with ThS.L. on
immersion in a full barrel, and so the upper end is not
washed clean, during the drum flushing operation, since
it is not normal practice or necessary to fill the drum
with wash gasoline, to its full capacity. It v/as observed
that workmen handled this Suction pipe bn withdrawing it. v
from the barrel midway along its length, so contaminating
their gloves unnecessarily. With the standard- arrangement
the whole length of the outside of the
suction pipe is
completely flushed when wash gasoline is run into the
'drum.'
.
-v
./.'-.h"
It Is undei'stood that this modification ivas made to enable drums to be evacuated which have tight bungs and have to be -drilled. In this connection it is suggested that such drums, with tight , bungs be segregated and collected' in a batch Csay of .6o. to 100 drums) and the tight bungs ba removed by a suitable key attached. to an air impact wrench*.,* This equipment will readily remove the tightest bung.' The iaari performing this operation should of course be equipped in full regulation clothing. The bungs may be relubrleatad with a mixture of graphite in a. solution of soap in . glycerine - which, is insoluble in T.BL ' N .
t it-/f;.;''Xt 'is' su^ested that, this plant be modernised by the ' Installation of a" 2 /inch eductor and a six point fluid suction' xaanifoTd'- rwiih^iher.exist'ing pumps a l-ate of f eduction of 2^ to 3Q; drums per hour could be achieved :
without incurringvan excessive T.B.L. concentration:in the main, circulating XineY The T.B.L*. concentration - in . , this line would oh3.y b "22 to 25 ecs per gallon.
From all points of vievr it is regarded as
adv-autageous. to speed up the rate of blending. Perhaps
the most important point is the-reduction in the length
of time to V/hich'the workmen, are exposed to the-T
operation. '
'' YY'YVV..
Yfv ` tV'.;--. ; - .. .tv
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4.
Consideration iftight be given to the incorporation
of the jet mixing principle in line with an increase in
-\ the rate of T.EL eduction.
--
Motor Benzine Blending Area.
i A slight odour of T.E.L. on the platform was traced to leakage in the eductor piping trench. This should be rectified and cleansed.
The Blending Platform floor was rather dirty.
. Ho individual clothes lockers were available, and old equipment, e.g. discarded gloves were being retained.
Blending takes place here with the main circulating pump crocked down to discharge directly through the three eductors. It would be advantageous again to modernize ; this plant by the installation of an eductor pump (about 3-50 g.p.is. and 200s head) and a 2 inch eductor and to bled with the circulating pump operating at maximum output viz. 2000 g.p.m. % this'-means .'a o point T.E.L. suction. manifold'.could be installed with a consequent reduction in time of blending. -Agalq the jot mixing principle
might be' considered, in. connection with this"proposal.
If ^agreed two 2-inch eductors will be. supplied
;free of cost for installation at this plant and also the
old Aviation plant tilth suitable nozzles 'at throats to
give the optimum'output.
. - ''
ETHYL BLEEDING - .GENERAL.
Supervision ~ Procedure -and f!B.ousskeepingn
'Ip. view of the' extremely''-large quantities of
TsE.L v:: being handledat. the present time .'and the likelihood
of ah''increase in 'the1 future, there. is always a. latent
tendency for the workmen; to become over-*familiar with
the operation. Tbi is"';.a -common and. probabl e fnjj.ing when
large quantities are' being handled as a regular practice.
The following.;notes arc offered,'by way of guidance and *
prevention
..' * `
,:
.0010335 '
5
It has been noted that foE.L. Blending operators have exhibited high urinary lead excretion figures and such a condition should not arise if meticulous attention is paid to all the details of the standing regulations covering lead blendingo
It is suggested that all personnel responsible
for supervision should revise from time to time the
regulations in force and see that ail requirements are
faithfully followed. The fact that workmen have
exhibited high lead excretion figures can only be taken
as being indicative, of sons, possibly slight but recurrent,
irregularity. '
',,
I feel that the general standard of housekeeping -
could be improved - especially in regard to the cleanliness
of floors - and bathrooms. A psychological standard of
cleanliness should be set. Individual metal clothe
lockers are'essential and these should be kept scrupulously
clean and cleared from all unessential equipmente.g,
discarded gloves, swabs etc.
;
' Equipment, should be maintained to a similar degree of c3.eanlir.>.ess e.g. drip buckets showing signs of conta mination should be discarded, and renewed - swing joints fluid pipe line etc. maintained free from-leaks*
Safety procedure should be established as
instinctive and not as a set precedent.' For example, workmen retiring from the eduction area- and removing gas masks should always move tip wind and not to a set
and established, locality. Also if T.B.LV vapour is
detectable they should resume their masks or move from, the area. These observations also apply to the,clerk and it is suggested -that this man'might form:one of the -subjects forming the physiological control. Workmen should be taught how to. handle their gloves correctly jUe. never to handle t"h3e palms- or fingers with bare han<as but; to `-'wriggle" out of te gloves and then hold them by' `the ins idea of the gauntlets* Men should be. corx*octsd if tXi&y'l'&xl to 'observe such points - by an explanation
of the "common sens'** angle - and- in this connection the psychology of net making a practice of relaying on the
protective clothing.shouldbe stressed -e.g. avoid direct contact of gloves (even if they do protect) with
all parts of the equipment which may be contaminated. Always consider -the- unexpected - e.g. it-was observed at the old Aviation Area that drums were not being chocked in position.
\
A
. 6.
v V
' The criterion .-.to set is to BEVJBR to see .
-;
T*ia.L* FLTJID5 never to: get a spot of it on'protective -
clothing, and never to smell it*
l abo r at o r y.
*"-r
..
,,'
-
'
.
It is necessary for the -ToE.Lo Seferencs Fuel '
Blending txfccette %o be installed in a proper ventilated
hooclo
-
'
f
*
'
The `irregular practice of sampling drums for
laboratory supplies.of T-.j.L is not to be encouraged,
. but that such supplies should be covered by the forward .
ordering, of litre cans
,
imkJMOJgTQCp.
It is-desired that ail fluid of US. origin
ios. Lease Lend supplies, should be used up first since,
it has. been agreed'to supply this area very largely from the UcK<T on. a~sterling basis<> A gradual conversion of
stocks will thus be achieved
.
A separate memrand*osa h&sbeen prepared on ths ' '.properties . dye. content '.etc.. of all varieties of fluid
which have "pe-sii supplied from-,time to time..- This note `also includes data on the correct maintenance of the
standard 100 0.ctana green colour* ,,
;-r: `f' "'1 f v
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-
*
KE 0010337