Document 2Nr8DGJrjJDL8wM3DpXR76REa

FILE NAME: Union Carbide (UC) DATE: 1972 Jan 28 DOC#: UC175 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Report - US Dept of the Interior Health Study Asbestos Dust United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF MINES D e n v e r F e d e r a l C e n t e r , B u i l d i n g 20 Denver, Colorado 80225 ' ' H e a l t h and S a f e t y Technical Support Center Mr. F . H , L a r r i s o n , R e s i d e n t Calidria Asbestos Plant Union Carbide Corporation Mining and Metals D i v i s i o n Box K K i n g C i t y , CA. 9 3 9 3 0 Manager January 28, 1972 REICEiVc. J FE3 h u r ? UCC - CALiOr.IA K I N O ~ IT Y . r *. D e a r Mr. L a r r i s o n : Enclosed is a report covering the asbestos dust (health) survey of October 4-6, 1971. Thank y o u and members o f y o u r s t a f f f o r c o o p e r a t i o n during*" the survey. * Sincerely, y-- O j. Gl e n W. S u t t o n Chief, Denver Technical Center Support ce: R .J. K ro n k h y te , Main tenance Supt. and S a f e t y Engineer A ? 9 O5 U UCC 023915 UNITED STATES . DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF MINES 'HEALTH AND SAFETY TECHNICAL SUPPORT . HEALTH STUDY (ASBESTOS DUST) ' KING CALIDRIA ASBESTOS PLANT KING CITY OPERATION .UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION CITY, MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIFORNIA October 4 - 6 , 1971 By Walter Bank, Mining Engineer Amin N. ' A 1 a m e d d i n , M i n i n g E n g i n e e r K e n n e t h L. H i g h , M i n i n g E n g i n e e r y - p>r ; J / . - 4iji /S . cXc/WC Q > y - ^ 1, / -o . DENVER TECHNICAL SUPPORT CENTER M r . G i e n W. S u t t o n Chief ' Originating Office U. S. Bureau of M in es, H e a lt h and S a f e t y -Technical. Support Center - Denver F e d e r a l C e n t e r , B u i l d i n g 55' Denver, Colorado 30225 A *\ j UCC 023916 UNITED STATES . DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF MINES Mine: C a lid r ia A sbestos Plant Company: Union Carbide Corp. Mining and M etals Div. Operated by: same as above I . D . No: 4 0 0 1 3 - 0 0 - 0 4 - 0 2 7 U n d e r g r o u n d ___ Open Cut ~ ' S u r v e y b y : W a l t e r B an k, Amin A l a m e d d i n , and Ken High L o c a t i o n : King C i t y , Moriterey County, C a l i f o r n i a Survey d ates: October 4-6, 1971 ' ' ; DISTRIBUTION: . * Company o f f i c i a l s : , F . H. L a r r i s o n , R e s i d e n t Manage r ( 3) R .J. Kronkhyte, Maintenance Supt. andk Safety Engineer ? A s s i s t a n t . D i r e c t o r - H e a l t h and S a f e t y T e c h n i c a l Support ( 2) A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r -- M etal and Nonmetal Mine H e a l t h and S a f e t y (2 O r i g i n a t i n g o f f i c e : T e c h n i c a l S u p p o r t C e n t e r , D e n v e r , CO. ( 2 ) State agencies: C alifornia Div. of Industrial Safety , Dept, of In d u strial Relations 455 Golden Gate Ave. . San F r a n c i s c o , CA. 9 4 1 0 2 A t t n : W a l t e r Van S a n d t ( 1 ) , Ed wa r d D a v i e s ( 1) D i s t r i c t M a n a g e r : A l l a n L o o k , A l a m e d a , CA. S u b d i s t r i c t Mgr: Howard P o l a n d , A l a m e d a , CA. > Other: Ernie P ie r so l, Safety Director ' . Mining and M etals D i v i s i o n Union Carbide Corp. . P . 0 . Box 1 0 4 9 , Grand J u n c t i o n , (2) CO. ' 81501 ' ' UCC 023917 4 :2954 r < I d e n t i f i c a t i o n No. 40013-00-04-027 INTRODUCTION T h i s r e p o r t i s b a s e d on a s t u d y made p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 5 o f t h e F e d e r a l Me tal and Nonmetal Mine S a f e t y Act (80 S t a t . 7 7 2 , P . L . 8 9 - 5 7 7 , 30 U . S . C . 7 2 1 - 7 4 0 ) . The r e p o r t s u p p l e m e n t s the H ealth and S a f e ty Report dated September 20, 1971 p r e pared by J . L , Weddle of the B u r e a u ' s Alameda, C a l i f o r n i a office. GENERAL INFORMATION . The C a l i d r i a A s b e s t o s P l a n t , King C i t y o p e r a t i o n o f the Union Carbide C o r p o r a tio n , Mining and M etals D i v i s i o n , i s l o c a t e d about 5 m il e s s o u t h e r l y from King C ity on Wild Horse Road about one m i l e from i t s i n t e r c h a n g e on U . S . Highway 101. The m a i l i n g a d d r e s s i s Bo x K, K i n g C i t y , C a l i f o r n i a . Mr. F . H . L a r r i s o n was R e s i d e n t Manager and R . J . Kronkhyte was M ain te n a n c e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t and S a f e t y E n g i n e e r . Mr. L a r r i s o n ` accompanied the in v e stig a to r s during part of this study, and v i s u a l o b s e r v a t i o n s and p r o v i s i o n a l recommendations were d iscu sse d with him at the end of the sampling campaign. , T o t a l m i l l e m p l o y m e n t c o n s i s t e d o f 50 men as o f ' O c t o b e r 5 , 1 9 7 1 , t h e d a t e o f t h e s u r v e y . P r o d u c t i o n c r e w s w o r k e d t h r e e 8- h o u r s h i f t s , 5 days a week, and m aintenance and d i s t r i b u t i o n crews wo r ke d t h e day s h i f t . Th er e w e r e 16 s a l a r i e d e m p l o y e e s . The m i l l went i n t o p r o d u c t i o n i n 1 9 6 3 . The p l a n t u s e s a wet m i l l i n g p r o c e s s f o r the c h r y s o t i l e a s b e s t o s and produces fo ur t y p e s o f m a t e r i a l . The s t a n d a r d gr ade i s b a g ge d and s h i p p e d i n p e r f o r a t e d m u l t i w a l l paper bags of 50 pounds ( p e l l e t s ) , 40 poun ds ( o p e n f i b e r ) and 30 p o u n d s ( o p e n f i b e r ) c a p a c i t y . The Super S tandard i s ground f i n e r and i s bag ged i n 30-pound b a g s . The High P u r i t y a s b e s t o s , us ed f o r pa pe r m a n u f a c t u r e , i s b a g g e d i n t o 5 0 , 4 0 , and 3 0 - p o u nd b a g s . The R e s i n Grade ( a s p e c i a l t y p r o d u c t ) i s b a g g e d i n 10- p o u n d b a g s p r o v i d e d w i t h p l a s t i c o u t e r s h e a t h s . The p r o d u c t i s t r a n s p o r t e d by t r u c k or- by t h e S o u t h e r n P a c i f i c R a i l r o a d ; h o w e v e r , i t i s n e v e r s h i p p e d i n b u l k . The a s b e s t o s i s s h i p p e d t o many p o i n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e U n it e d S t a t e s and o v e r s e a s . . E s t i m a t e d p r o d u c t io n fo r 1971 i s 20 ,0 0 0 t o n s , and the l i f e expectan cy of t h e o p e r a t i o n i s i n d e f i n i t e . The f o l l o w i n g s t r u c t u r e s are l o c a t e d on th e p r o p e r t y : 1 . The m i l l , w h i c h i s a m e t a l b u i l d i n g o f 1 4 , 4 0 0 s q . f e e t . 2. A wooden o f f i c e and l a b o r a t o r y b u i l d i n g o f 1,320 sq . f e e t . 3. A t w o - s t o r y metal w a r e h o u s e - o f f i c e - s h o p b u i l d i n g of 2,400 sq. feet. . . A .*795 o UCC 023918 u2-.trJEttM S ' t , / . 4. A metal, open-sided product storage shed of 10,960 ; sq. feet. 5 . A ruhb e r i z e d - c l o t h i n f l a t a b l e b u i l d i n g o f 6 , 4 2 6 square ; feet. I t ; An o r e s t o c k p i l e , e s t i m a t e d t o c o n t a i n a b o u t 3 5 , 0 0 0 t o n s , ' was l o c a t e d a c r o s s t h e ro adway. Ore was d e l i v e r e d t o t h e s t o c k p i l e by a 2 5 - t o n c a p a c i t y t r u c k and t r a i l e r , dumped on top the s t o c k p i l e , and pushed by a b u l l d o z e r to blen d t h e o r e and t o p r o v i d e a moire l e v e l s u r f a c e o r r o a d w a y f o r the ore truck. A front-end loader with a 2 1/2-yard capacity b u c k e t trammed ore from the s t o c k p i l e to t h e l o a d i n g p o i n t w h i c h l e a d s t o t h e COM b i n - t h e s t a r t o f t h e o r e p r o c e s s i n g . A t a i l i n g s p i l e , e s t i m a t e d at 1 5 ,0 0 0 t o n s , was im m e d ia t e ly , a d j a c e n t to th e ore . s t o c k p i l e . P r o d u c t r e c o v e r y was 50 p e r c e n t t h e 50 p e r c e n t ' w e t t a i l i n g s was s t a c k e d by means o f an i n - c l i n e d b e l t c o n v e y o r . When t h e w a s t e p i l e b e c o m e s t o o l a r g e and o v e r f l o w s o n t o t h e r o a d w a y , t h e w a s t e p i l e i s c u t down to s i z e and the w aste i s hauled to a nearby r a v in e by a . means o f s e l f - l o a d i n g paddle w heel s c r a p e r . W h i l e t h e d u s t s u r v e y was i n p r o c e s s , M. W a l t e r A. Van S a n d t , ' I n d u s t r i a l H y g i e n e E n g i n e e r and Mr. Ed D a v i e s , S a f e t y E n g i n e e r of the C a lifo r n ia Department of I n d u str ia l R elations v is it e d the o p e r a tio n , d is c u ss e d our sampling t e c h n iq u e s , c o ll e c t e d s e v e r a l samples fo r r e co r d p u r p o s e s , and f u r n i s h e d the . w r i t e r s w it h i n f o r m a t i o n o n , t h i s and o t h e r a s b e s t o s p l a n t s . DESCRIPTION OF STUDY Asbestos airborne dust is plant of this character. demonstrated to cause the and lung cancer. the overriding health hazard in a Airborne asbestos dust has been pneumoconiosis called asbestosis A l l c o n t r o l measures a p p l i c a b l e to m in e r a l dust, c o n t r o l can be used f o r a i r b o r n e a s b e s t o s ; h o w e v e r , th e more hazar do us n a t u r e o f a s b e s t o s r e q u i r e s more s t r i n g e n t a d h e r e n c e to good c o n t r o l p r a c t i c e s . At t h e C a l i d r i a m i l l , t h e f o l l o w i n g . c o n d i t i o n s and p r a c t i c e s were n o t e d : ' ' 1. The s t o c k p i l e was k e p t w e t most o f th e t i m e . R e p o r t e d l y , . t h e o r e c o n t a i n s 20 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e . . 2. P r e v a i l i n g winds are from the n o r t h , and blow the s t o c k p i l e - c r e a t e d d u s t away from t h e m i l l . 2 7/ 9 5 UCC 023919 3. The f r o n t end l o a d e r , n o r m a l l y use d f o r tramming ore f r o m t h e s t o c k p i l e t o t h e o r e b i n , was- p r o v i d e d w i t h an e n c l o s e d cab w i t h b l o w e r a t t a c h m e n t . The s p a r e f r o n t - e n d l o a d e r ( u s e d d u r i n g t he s u r v e y ) was n o t p r o v i d e d w i t h an enclosed cab. , 4. O f f i c e s were e n c l o s e d and i s o l a t e d from d u s t - p r o d u c in g operations. 6 5 . The a s b e s t o s p r o c e s s i n g was a wet o p e r a t i o n . 6. Production of a p ellet c r e a t i o n and d i s s e m i n a t i o n shipping operations. prior to drying decreased dust in the l a t e r p a c k a g in g and 7. H ousek eeping was a co n tin u o u s p r o c e s s . O u ts id e areas w e r e c l e a n e d as n e e d e d . Wet a r e a s i n t h e m i l l w e r e w a s h e d down a t l e a s t , o n c e a s h i f t . Dry a r e a s were s w e p t w i t h a push-broom and the s w e e p i n g s from the b a g g i n g and p a l l e t i z i n g a r e a s *w e n t b a c k i n t o t h e c i r c u i t . * - ; . \ 8. Both t h e S t a n d a r d and High Grade p r o c e s s i n g s y s t e m s were provided with dust collectors. 9. A dust c o l l e c t o r s y s t e m was b e i n g i n s t a l l e d in con j u n c t i o n with the bagger; the i n c o m p le te sy s te m was used curren tly to vacuum employees c lo t h in g . 10. USBM-approved r e s p i r a t o r s were worn by (a) the dozer o p e r a t o r ; (b) th e bagger o p e r a t o r ; ( c) the p a l l e t i z e r o p era to r; and (d) the f r o n t- e n d lo a d e r o p e r a to r . . 1 1 . The filtered was used assay o ffice a i r . A fume to clean the was a i r - c o n d i t i o n e d and p ro v id e d with hood was a v a i l a b l e . A vacuum c le a n e r bench and o th e r equipment. 1 2 . The a c c o u n t i n g and o t h e r o f f i c e s we re a i r - c o n d i t i o n e d and p r o v id e d w i t h f i l t e r e d a i r . A l l o f f i c e s were swept regularly. ' 13. In the e l e c t r i c a l shop, compressed a i r j e t s were used to clean equipment. practice. This cannot be considered a good-housekeeping . 1 4 . An e n g i n e e r i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e p r o g r a m was m a i n t a i n e d . A monthly sam p lin g program was c a r r i e d out by a r e s i d e n t l a b o r a t o r y t e c h n i c i a n who s a m p l e d s e v e n l o c a t i o n s u s i n g a U n i j e t pump and M i l l i p o r e f i l t e r s . Mr. P a u l W. M c D a n i e l s , I n d u s t r ia l Hygiene Engineer for Union Carbide Corporation, r e p o r te d ly v i s i t s the p lan t tw ice a year to check the program and to make p e r t i n e n t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s . A ,795" UCC 023920 15. A m ed ic a l s u r v e i l l a n c e program was r e p o r te d in e f f e c t . The r e p o r t e d program i n c l u d e d a p r e -e m p lo y m e n t p h y s i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n f o l l o w e d by an e x a m i n a t i o n e v e r y t h r e e y e a r s u n t i l a ge 4 0 ; t h e r e a f t e r , an a n n u a l p h y s i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n i s p r o v i de d . During the s u r v e y s a m p l i n g , the w e a t h e r was c l e a r and dry w i t h a s l i g h t wi nd b l o w i n g i n t e r m i t t e n t l y . At noon, the t e m p e r a t u r e was about 90 d e g r e e s and t h e h u m i d i t y was about 13 p e r c e n t . . The e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f the c o n t r o l m ea su res w i l l be d i s cussed later in this report. S i x t y - s i x s a m p l e s w e r e c o l l e c t e d . Of t h e s e , two N u c l e p o r e samp les were s u b m i t t e d to Dr. P h i l l i p DeNee, S a f e t y Research Center, Bruceton, Pennsylvania for evalu ation . Results of h i s work w i l l not be in clu d ed in h i s r e p o r t. A s e t t l e d dust sample and a sample of the p u r i f i e d produce, c o l l e c t e d from the f i l t e r p r e ss, were submitted to the Field Health Group a n a l y t i c a l l a b o r a t o r y ; r e s u l t s o f t h e s e a i i a l y s e s are included in Appendix I. Sixty-two airborne asbestos dust s a m p l e s w e r e c o l l e c t e d on membrane f i l t e r s u s i n g pumps > calibrated , at the m ill o f f i c e to p u ll 1.4 l i t e r s per minute of air; these samples were counted in the Denver Field H ea lth Group l a b o r a t o r y at a p p r o x i m a t e l y 460 m a g n i f i c a t i o n with phase c o n t r a s t i l l u m i n a t i o n a cco rd in g to the method e s t a b l i s h e d by the U.S. P u b lic Health S e r v ic e . F u l l - s h i f t e x p o s u r e s a m p l e s w e r e c o l l e c t e d o f t h r e e i n d i v i d u a l s who were exposed presumably to high asbestos dust concentrations s u f f i c i e n t samples were c o lle c t e d of other rep resen ta tiv e i n d i v i d u a l s o r o f l o c a t i o n s w h e r e men w o r k e d t o i n d i c a t e the dust exposure le v e ls . DISCUSSION AND RESULTS I n 1 9 6 7 , t h e p u b l i s h e d TLV _1/ wa s 5 m p p c f ( m i l l i o n s o f p a r t ic le s per cubic foot of air) for asbestos-bearing dusts when c o l l e c t e d c o n v e n t i o n a l l y w ith th e im p in g e r or midget im pinger and counted c o n v e n t i o n a l l y w it h the s t a n d a r d iz e d l i g h t - f i e l d c o u n t i n g method. The number c o n c e n t r a t i o n represented the v isib le fragments (small) of asbestos fibers p l u s t h e many a s s o c i a t e d m i n e r a l d u s t p a r t i c l e s . In 1968, the p u b lish e d "Notice of Intended Changes" proposed t h a t ( 1 ) t h e 5 mppc f b e r e d u c e d t o 2 m p p c f ; and ( 2) an a l t e r n a t i v e f i g u r e o f 12 f i b e r s / m l ( f i b e r s p e r m i l l i l i t e r ) greater than 5 microns in length be adopted -- this figure JJ T h r e s h o l d L i m i t V a l u e s f o r 196 7 , Re c omme nde d an d I n t e n d e d C h a n g e s ; A m e r i c a n C o n f e r e n c e o f G o v e r n m e n t a l Ind us t r i a l H ygienists, 1967. 7 95 rs O UCC 023921. was t o b e b a s e d on t h e membr ane f i l t e r met h od at:: 430 X p h a s e c o n t r a s t magn i f i c a t i o n . The above two propo s e d cha ng es were re t a i n e d i n 1969 ; in 19 70 t h e p u b l i s h e d p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s ( 1) d i s pe a s e d en t i r e l y w i t h t h e i m p i n g e r s a m p l i n g m e t h o d and i t s n umb e r c on c e n t r a t i o n f i g u r e ; and ( 2) recommended th a t th e a l t ern a t i v e v a l u e b e c h a n g e d f r om 12 f i b e r s / m l g r e a t e r t h an 5 mi c r o n s i n length to 5 fib ers/m l greater than 5 microns in length. In 1971, the "Notice of Intended Changes" r e ta in e d the 1970 p r o p o s a l , and s p e c i f i e d th e membrane f i l t e r method at 400-450X m agnification phase contrast illu m in a tio n . Also, an e x c u r s i o n l i m i t n o t t o e x c e e d 10 f i b e r s / m l may b e p e r m i t t e d f o i 1 5 - m i n u t e p e r i o d s e a c h h o u r up t o f i v e t i m e s daily. For purposes of th is h e a lth stu d y , i t i s b e lie v e d that the 1 9 7 1 p r o p o s e d TLV f i g u r e and s a m p l i n g m e t h o d p r o v i d e s t h e b e s t i n d i c a t i o n o f t h e a s b e s t o s d u s t h e a l t h h a z a r d . This,, v a lu e has a l s o been a c c ep te d by the U.S. Department of / Labor and on December 7 an emergency s t a n d a r d o f 5 f i b e r s / m l was p u b l i s h e d i n the F e d e r a l R e g i s t e r . T h e r e f o r e , the pro p o s e d 5 f i b e r s / m l (on a t i m e - w e i g h t e d b a s i s ) i s used as the threshold lim it value. . . F i b e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n and p e r t i n e n t d a t a f o r the i n d i v i d u a l airborne dust samples are l i s t e d in Appendix I I . Fiber con c e n t r a t i o n d a t a are summarized i n F i g u r e s 1 , 2 , and 3. F i g u r e 1 s u m m a r i z e s t h e t i m e - w e i g h t e d e x p o s u r e s o f t h r e e men The b a g g e r o p e r a t o r was e x p o s e d t o e i g h t t i m e s t h e TLV and h a d a o n e - h o u r e x p o s u r e o f 12 t i m e s t h e TLV f i g u r e . The p a l l e t i z e r o p e r a t o r , working nearby, was exposed to 6 times the TLV and a l s o h a d a o n e - h o u r e x p o s u r e o f 12 t i m e s t h e TLV f i g u r e . B o t h men w e r e p r o v i d e d w i t h U . S . B u r e a u o f Mi n es approved r e sp ir a to r s which they wore when working in obvious dusty atmospheres. . The e x h a u s t s y s t e m at the ba g g in g o p e r a t i o n was in adeq uate t o c o n t r o l t h e s p i l l a g e and d u s t e m i s s i o n , and .as t h e n e w l y f i l l ed p e r fo r a t e d m u lt i - w a ll b ags were con vey e d to the p a l l e t i z e r , d u s t y a i r s e e p e d from t h e b a g ' s porias and c o n - t r i b u t e d t o t h e a s b e s t o s dus t l o a d o f t h e a m b i e n t a i r . Whei b ags broke during the baggin g ope r a t i o n , the exhau s t s y stem a t f l o o r l e v e l f a i l e d t o cap t u r e t h e s p i l l a g e ; iswe e p i n g t h e dus t s p i l l a g e t o t h e f l o o r 1aun de r c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e d us t l o ad i n t h e a i r . As p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i o n e d , an a d d i t i o n a 1 dus t - c o l l e c t i n g s y s tern was i n p r o c e s s o f i ns t a l !1a t i o n a t this area. ' 5 ' ' UCC 023.922 ' - .795 J The e x h a u s t s y s t e m at t h e top o f t h e p e l l e t i z e r a d m i t t e d l y was n o t w o r k i n g p r o p e r l y and r e q u i r e d r e p a i r s . When b r o k e n , b a g s were d r o p p e d t o t h e f l o o r b e n e a t h t h e p a l l e t i z e r , and s u b s e q u e n t l y the bags and a s b e s to s were removed. The f o r e m a n ' s t i m e - w e i g h t e d e x p o s u r e was 7 . 6 f i b e r s / m l with one sample recording a one-hour exposure of four times the .TLV f i g u r e . The f o r e m a n made h i s r o u n d s u n a c c o m p a n i e d by t h e man c o l l e c t i n g s a m p l e s . Th e s o u r c e o f t h e d u s t c o n t r ib u t in g to the foreman's exposure is considered (p r o v isio n a lly ) to be the general m ill atmosphere. Other workers' airborne asbestos dust exposures were obtained o n a w h e n - s a m p l e d b a s i s . As s h o wn i n F i g u r e 2 , t h e e x p o s u r e s o f t h e m e c h a n i c , t h e b a g g e r o f t h e r e s i n - g r a d e a s b e s t o s , and the f i l t e r - p r e s s operator were w ithin acceptable lim its when sampled; the ex p o su re ( a r i t h m e t i c average) o f the loader o p e r a t o r was s i x t i m e s t h e TLV f i g u r e w i t h a o n e - h o u r e x p o s u r e o f e l e v e n t i m e s t h e TLV f i g u r e . A number of working areas were sampled to a s s i s t in e v a lu a tin g the workers' exposures; the airborne asbestos fiber concen t r a t i o n s are summarized in Figure 3. , Mine yar d " g e n e r a l atm osphe re " s am p le s c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g the g r e a t e r part o f the workday s u g g e s t that wind d i s p e r s a l from the ore s t o c k p i l e or t a i l i n g s p i l e was not a s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r i n the w o r k e r s ' samples c o l l e c t e d i n the m i l l . But i t i s r e c o g n i z e d t h a t at times the wind d i r e c t i o n and v e l o c i t y may b e c o m e s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r s i n c o n t r i b u t i n g t o a h a z a r d o u s dust environment. Low a s b e s t o s f i b e r c o n c e n t r a t i o n s w e r e o b t a i n e d i n t h e a c c o u n t in g o f f i c e , the main (upper f l o o r ) o f f i c e , the w eld in g sh o p , and the a s s a y o f f i c e . The r o l l m i l l a r e a o f t h e m i l l had an a r i t h m e t i c a v e r a g e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f 8 . 0 f i b e r s / m l . The h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n of 17 f ib e r s /m l of sample B-105 in d ic a t e s a need for b e t te r d u s t c o n t r o l . m ea s ur e s at t h i s "wet" o p e r a t i o n . The cause o f t h i s h i g h c o n c e n t r a t i o n was n o t a p p a r e n t . The f o r e m a n ' s o f f i c e samp le r e s u l t s y i e l d e d an a r i t h m e t i c average of 7.5 f ib e r s /m l with a high co n c e n tr a tio n in sample B - 2 3 o f 11 f i b e r s n o t e d b e t w e e n 1 : 3 8 and 2 : 3 8 p . m . The o f f i c e door opened t o an area p a r t i t i o n e d from t h e du sty b a g g in g and p a l l e t i z i n g a r e a , so the s p e c i f i c cause of th ese c o n c e n t r a t i o n s was n o t o b v i o u s . The d u s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n s are p r o v i s i o n a l l y a t t r i b u t e d to the ambient a i r dust lo a d and the .dust from the workers' c lo th in g during the time they occupied the o f fic e . _ 6 4 - UCC 023923 The e l e c t r i c s h o p a r e s s a m p l e r e s u l t s y i e l d e d an a r i t h m e t i c average of 3.2 fib ers/m l. This concentration is attributed l a r g e l y to s a m p le B- 1 03 which was c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g a p e r i o d when, a c o m p r e s s e d - a i r j e t was used f o r c l e a n i n g some e l e c t r i cal equipment. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The t i m e - w e i g h t e d e x p o s u r e s o f t h e b a g g e r and p a l l e t i z e r o p erator were very h ig h . Although c o n sid er a b le e f f o r t has b e e n made t o c o n t r o l d u s t i n t he m i l l , a i r s a m p l i n g r e v e a l e d t h a t the a i r q u a l i t y i s not s a t i s f a c t o r y and must be improved. Engineering methods, such as, but not lim ite d to the following re c o m m e n d a t i o n s s h a l l be used to meet the exposure l i m i t s prescribed in the standard. 1. En clos ure o f oper a t i o n s t o p r e v e n t s Pi l i a g e and di s p e r s i o n o f m a t e r i a l s h a l l , wh e r e f e a s i b l e , b e ut i l i z e d . Th e b a g g e r a r e a s h o u l d b e e n c l o s e d , and i f p r o p e r l y de s i gne d an d op e r a t e d , c a n p r o t e e t t h e b a g g e r and r e d uc e t h e dus t i o acf 0 f the. amb l e n t a i r . The dus t c o n t r o l s y s t e m b e {. n g i n s t a i l e d sh ould be complet e d . * 2 . E n c l o s u r e s , h oo ds , an d o t h e r d e v i c e s t o cone a i n an d c o l l e c t ma t e r i a l , e s p e c i a H y a i r b o r n e d u s t s h a l l b e ma i n t a i ne d u n d e r ne g a t i v e p r e s s ure thr ough the use o f l o c a l exh ans t ven t i 1ati on. 3. The a i r c o l l e et ed by the l o c a l exhau s t v e n t i 1at ion s y s te m s h a l l b e c l e a n e d t h r o ugh t h e u s e o f a de q ua t e , we 11 mai n t ained bag c o l l e c tors , or o th er d ev ices eq u a lly e f f i c i ent , an d t h e f i l t e r e d a i r s h a l l be d i s c h a r g e d o u t s i d e th e work a r e a an d n o t be r e c i r c u l a t e d . 4. Vacuum c l e a n i n g s h a l l b e u s e d r a t h e r than manual s wee pi ng or b l o w i n g w i t h compr e s s e d a i r . 5 . The d u s t c o l l e c t i on d e v i c e s and s y s t em mus t b e mai n t a i n e d an d u t i l i z e d i n a man ne r t h a t w i l l r e s u l t i n i t s op e ra t i n g i n an e f f e c t i v e manner. I f t h e d u s t c o n t r o l s y s t e m s h o u ld f a i l , o p e r a t i o n s should be suspended u n t i l r e p a ir s are com p leted and th e s y s t e m i s ca p a b le o f m a i n t a i n i n g dust concentrations below the standard. 6-. E n c a p s u l a t e t h e f i l l e d b a g s w i t h p l a s t i c h a g s i n t h e same way the r e s i n - g r a d e a s b e s t o s bags are h a n d l e d . 7 UCC 023924 A: 795 To d i m i n i s h t h e e x p o s u r e o f t h e l o a d e r o p e r a t o r , t h e f o l l o w i n g recommen da tio ns are made: ' 1. Keep the s t o c k p i l e w et. 2. P r o v i d e an e n c l o s e d cab w i t h f i l t e r e d a i r on the l o a d e r s ; the-spare loader in use during the survey did not have such * a cab , 3. Improve the ho u se k e e p in g in the immediate area. For e xa m p l e , t h e c o n c r e t e ramp l e a d x n g t o t h e c o n v e y o r s y s t e m was hid d en b en eath s p i l l e d o re. . The use o f r e s p i r a t o r s i n the work a r e a s h a l l n o t be co n s i d e r e d as a s u b s t i t u t e for e n g i n e e r i n g c o n t r o l s and t h e i r continued use over prolonged periods s h a ll not be permitted. However, to p r o te c t the workers p r io r to the a p p lica tio n of engineering controls which r e su lt in exposures and/or con centrations below the standard, respiratory protective de v i c e s s h a l l be p r o v id e d , m a in ta in e d and t h e i r use r e q u ire d . The r e s p i r a t o r y p r o t e c t i o n program s h a l l i n c l u d e adequate?" t r a i n i n g and s u p e r v i s i o n o f e m p lo y e e s i n t h e t e s t i n g o f respiratory protective devices for f it before their use. The e m p l o y e e s s h a l l be r e q u i r e d t o t e s t h i s r e s p i r a t o r y . p r o tec tiv e device before each use in order to insure a proper fit. - R esp iratory p r o t e c t i ve d e v ic e s to be to the follow in g: s h a l l be lim ited 1 . F o r an a t m o s p h e r e c o n t a i n i n g n o t mo r e th an 2 5 f i b e r s / ml g r e a t e r than 5 micr ons i n l e n g t h o ve r an 8-h our a v er age o r more t h a n 50 f i b e r s / ml o v e r a n y pe r i o d o'f 15 mi nu t e s , a r e u s a b l e o r s i n g l e us e f i l t e r t y p e re s p i ra to r , op e r a t i n g w i t h n e g a t i v e p r e s s ure d u r i n g t h e i n h a l a t i on ph as e o f b r e a t h i n g , a p p r o v e d by t h e B u r e a u o f Min e s unde r S eh e d u l e 21 B s h a l l be used. 2 . For an a t m o s p h e r e co n t a i n i n g no t more th an 250 f i b e r s /ml g r e a t e r t h a n 5 m i c r o n s i n l e n g th 0 Ve r an 8- h o u r ave r a g e o r more t h a n 500 f i b e r s / r a l o v e r any pe r i od o f 15 min ut e s , a powered f i l t e r p o s i t i v e p r e ss ure re sp i r a t o r approve d by t h e B u r e a u o f Mi n e s unde r S ch e d u l e 21 B s h a l l b e us e d . Th e t a i l i n g s p i l e , when d r i e d , i s an o b v i o u s s o u r c e o f a i r - bo rne dust during windy c o n d it io n s . Keeping the t a i l i n g s Pi l e wet con t i n u o u s l y an d r em ovi ng i t to a more d i s t a n t l o c a t i o n w i l l m i n i m i z e dus t c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e m i l l , s h o p , and o f f l e e areas ; however, o ther measures must be taken to mini- mi z e i t s i mp a c t on t h e c o mmun i t y e n v i r o n m e n t . 8 A 7952 UCC 023925 UCC 023926 IOC 95 90 6t0 85 ci 4 80 tH 75 Ut) 70 O H 65 O vi S 60 in 55 A 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 -- 5 VX H 59 -OU t (t-1 P. O V4 42 t 60 6t 0 PQ 20 No. of samples : M O 4J 61 0J Cu O u Q) N CLi 32 0 -3.2 High -A- 17/ I 4 Time -w e i gh t e d average 'A h O * t OCD Low :v K I -CC 0 0J-> POu 20 7.6 -3 .4 ^ Proposed Threshold Limit Value Figure 1. Asbestos Fiber Concentrations in M ill, Time-Weighted Exposures -X i-KJAX-S--2.4---- Aak&.a.LP.B F i b e r . C p n c g n t . r a . t i o n E x p o s u r e s i n M i l l -- On a W h e n - S a m p l e d B a s i s 2 O A s b e s t o s F i b e r s / m l ,. >5 m i c r o n s i n L e n g t h o Hi Ln O Ui O Ui O Ln O M CO \ U i O U i O U i O U i O Ln O - CD CD *ad M CO Me ch a n i c U> Bagger, resin-grade material ip N3 So F ilter press operator O 8; Loader operator NJ Ui 5 H CCD O H O CS CD fD fD D- SrHfc CD cr o aH H* 3H* UCC 023927 t-1 o > H w H* ij <P fHt* 09 E3f* tn 3* C*D 0a> 09 ft n> h* A : 7 90 't Atmosphere on a When-Sampled B a s i s - W * -' H* D39 Hrt U) a > Q CQ a CD rCcT H LQ t rt o CQ ^3 H* cCrD* H n 3o n 3rCDt H3rr F* OC3O ) H H* OeCO or3t rt F* O C3O A s b e s t o s F i b e r s / m L , >5 m i c r o n s i n l e n g t h Hoi Ln HO LHa Ofs-) lMa o(_j CQ B H* CD CO Lower o f f i c e , accounting Lo Upper o f f i c e , main Co o- Electrical shop U> k ' Welding shop 3o > fs tr1 o H O pi H 00 3" <> rsrt Chl 3rt OQ rt rt Frt UCC 023928 A ' 7 9 6 APPENDIX Mineral Analyses S ample No. B-902 Description Percent Free S i l i c a F ilter-p ress product B-904 , 11S e t t i e 4 d u s t n e a r COM b i n Remarks Diffractometer scan showed broad lin es i d e n t i f i e d as being from s e r p e n t i n e 1/ S ame 1/ A d d i t i o n a l m inera l and e l e m e n t a l i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l be added to t h i s r e p o r t when a v a i l a b l e . . ! UCC 0239.29 A i 79 ou APPENDIX I I UCC 023930 S ample No . Date S a m p l i n g Time Start Stop Job T i t l e or D escription Location/Operation Fibers/ml >5 m ^ r n n B-l ' 10/5/71 B-4 B- 7 B-10 . B-I 3 B-17 B-21 B- 2 4 0 80 7 0850 0945 10 38 1135 1235 1336 1430 0850 0944 1037 1135 1235 1336 1430 , 1600 Bagger operator Mill floor, operating f o r k l i f t , BZ.1 / Mill floor, weighing bagged product. M ill floor, bagging & p alletizin g bags. Same as a b o v e . M i l l f l o o r , odd j o b s . Mill floor, bagging Mill floor, p a lletizin g . M ill floor, mise. & cle anup. 20 . 23 52 51 26 53 59 43 B-2 B-5 B-8 w . V \J B- 1 1 CO CD B-1 4 NJ B-1 8 it i--i-i B- 2 5 10/5/71 0 80 6 0851 0949 1044 1140 1238 -L3 3 4 1434 0850 P a l l e t i z e r 0948 1041 1140 1238 1334 Xh J h 1600 M i l l f l o o r , maintenance . 18 & mise. BZ. Mill floor, bagging. Mill floor, operating fo r k lift. 42 3.2 M i l l f l o o r , m a in t e n a n c e 26 & mise. Mill floor, bagging. 55 M i l l f l o o r , p a l l e t i z i n g 48 & cleanup. Mill floor, bagging. 61 Mill floor, bagging & 31 cleanup. APPENDIX I I UCC 023931 S ample Sampling Time . Fibers/ml No . Date Start. Stop T i t l e o r D e s c r i p t i o n L o c a t i o n / O p e r a t i o n >5 m i c r o n s B- 3 1 0 /5 /7 1 0813 0 9 0 8 Fo r e ma n I A s b e s t o s o l a n t . --------------- ' o " n B-6 0909 0949 B-9 0949 1052 rounds, BZ. same as a b o v e . CO 5.1 CD B-12 B-16 1053 1206 1206 1306 same as a b o v e . same as a b o v e . 3,5 lx. 20 B-20 B-2 7 1306 1403 1403 1500 same same as above. as above. 5.3 7.3 "=r B-28 1501 1601 same as a b o v e . same as a b o v e . 3.4 3.5 B-119' B-12 0 B-121 10/5/71 1225 1330 1431 1325 1430 1531 Mechanic . Mill, varied locations; 0.1 ' r e p a ir work , BZ. same as a b o v e . 0.0 same as a b o v e . 0.1 B-122 10/5/71 B-12 3 B-124 1243 1343 1345 1446 1445 ` 1546 Bagger, resin grade M ill, r e sin grade bagging area, misc. operations, same as a b o v e . same as a b o v e . 2.9 BZ. 1.4 1.4 B-12 5 8-126 B-12 7 10/5/71 1302 1402 1502 1402 1502 1602 Loader operator Outside m i l l , tramming 11 o r e , BZ . same as a b o v e . 20 same as a b o v e . 57 B- 20 3 B-204 B-20 7 B-105 B- 1 1 1 B-116 10/5/71 10/5/71 1050 1204 1306 0923 1025 ' 1126 . 1204 1306 1452 1023 1125 1226 F ilter press operator Mill, f i l t e r press area, op . p r e s s ; BZ. same as a b o v e . same as a b o v e . _ Mill, roll m ill general atmo. same as above., same as a b o v e . feed; . 0.5 0.5 0.23 17 5,3 1,6 2 UCC 023932 S ample No. B- 1 5 Date 10/5/71 B- 1 9 B-2 3 B-26 B-20 1 1Q/S/71 B-205 B-202 10/5/71 B-206 B-10 1 B-106 B-110 10/5/71 B-102 10/5/71 B- 10 7 B-112 B-10 3 1 0 /5 /7 1 B- 1 0 8 B-114 B- 1 0 4 B-10 9 B--11 3 10/5/71 Sampling Start 1150 Time Stop 1236 1237 1338 1438 1337 1438 1600 10 30 1248 ' 1248 1508 1040 1256 256 . 1 5 0 0 0815 0916 1017 0915 1016 1117 0850 0 950 0952 1055 1052 1155 0904 1004 1005 1106 1105 1206 0913 1014 1115 1013 1114 1215 APPENDIX I I Job T i t l e or D e sc r ip tio n F ilte r press operator Location/Operation F ibers/m l >5 m i c r o n s M ill, foreman's g en era l atmo. same as above. same as above . ' same as above.' office; 9.0 r 6.9 11 3.3 Mi n e y a r d <? f l a g g en era l atmo. same as above. pole; O' . 0 0 `0 .1 7 . Mine y a r d , w e ld in g g en era l atmo. same as above. area; ' 0.044 0.26 Assay lab .; general same as above. s ame as ab o v e , ' atmo. 1.7 1,9 0.12 L o w e r o f f i c e , a c c o u n t i n g ; 1.1 g e n e r a l atmo. s ame s ame 1.5 . 0.2 E le c tr ic a l shop; a t m. same as above. same as above. general . 9.3 0.29 0.10 Upper o f f i c e ; gene.ral atmo . 0 . 9 9 same as above. 0.33 ' same as above. . 0.10 3 S ample No. B-115 B- 1 1 7 B- 1 1 8 Date 10/5/71 ' APPENDIX I I S a m p l i n g Time Start Stop 1242 1342 1342 1,442 1442 1542 Job T i t l e or D e s c r ip t io n Location/Operation Fibers/ml >5 ml c r o n s Welding shop; general . atmo. same as a b o v e . same as above. 0.31 0.73 0.00 UCC 023933 --J 40 NJ O