Document 2Rgpw30kJ8EqbRyNxgj9Lx1E6

'/ '-it-' TO j, IT. v.'fv'iton^ KCG, Porn-neats MSi-iOHANDUf ,_11566 oat* May 0, 1971 fmom A. J.irfommershausen CSMCs lo s-.-BJccT D. R. Cnnham J. P. Hughes., M.B, H, E. Looms C. 0 Scilncci A. E. Strong at 2675 OB Noise Survey/Indusirial Hygiene Inspection - Cushenbury On Wednesday, April 21. a noise survey and an Industrial Hygiene Inspection ware made at your Cushenbury cement plant. The results and re-ccsasiaudations have been discussed with you and the plant people, but are briefly reported in this memo. A. NOISE The results of the noise measurements follow, along with the estimated hours of daily exposure, and the maximum permissible daily exposure without ear protection as defined by the Walsh-Kea-ley Act: Location L Situation Estimo t.d Maximum Hours Exposure' Worked Hours dBA Per Day " Per Day Mill Motor Room North end near control panels South end at C-300 Compressor Electric Shop work bench 93 6 97 6 92 1 Si 3 6 Mill Building South end near entrance Near raw mills - on floor Near finish mills - on floor Compressor room - Finis1! mills - control deck Near millers1 shack Ins ion- shack R'-V Dills - control deck 95 4 102 99 8 8 if ?! 104 97 2 3 96 6 3h 76 3 Over 8 96 2 3* Kiln Floor Near i.eud of kilns Furl flow valves ?rjry air fan - -I kiln only Cor. fro 1 roo-'S So 3 34 ICO - 3 - 1 10S i 3/4 77 5 Over 8 Cottrell - near' vibrators (?i ^ #2) 5 P- J. E. Walton -2 Hay 3, 1971 Location Situation. ' Quarry Trucks - inside cab Uphill, empty, windows up Uphill, empty, windows-down Dunnin? into crusher Downhill, loaded, windows up Downhill, leaded, windows down Toe Drill in Operation At front near controls Near back of tracks Next to compressor 006 Electric Shovel Operators, cab . Inside cab while stopping swing Inside motor room during operation Inside motor room while stopping swing Readings by State Safety Engineer Water truck - uphill with load Rotary Drill Next to engine start button Outside controls ' Inside controls Secondary crusher Shaker screens - outside Inside control room . ' Without ear protection Estimated Maximum Hours Exposure- Worked Hours dBA Fer Day Per Day; 94) 99) 90 89) 89) 112 106 102 2 o . 1 2 2 2| 8 Over 8 Over S ,, i 3/4 1* 85 7 Over 97 1/2 3 98 2 2-3/4 107 1/4 3/4. 101 2 1-3/4 101 1-3/4 94 2 84 5 Over S 93 1/2 2 77 7| Over 8 It can be seen from the table that there are three areas which have hazardous exposures and where ear protection should be mandatory These arc: - 1. Mill motor room 2. Mill'building 3. Toe drill operation The kiln floor also has ha- ardous noise exposures under present conditions. but ear protection should not be required after the ~l primary air fan is removed and boxes are built around the fuel flow valves. J. H. Wait0.1 May 3, 1971 The plant medical department is well equipped with an audi-' ometer and a sound booth, and has a capable and interested nurse. A few suggestions on audiometric testing technique were made to the plant nurse to bring-her up to date on the latest methods. Explana tions v.-ere also given to indicate the importance of doing audio metric testing only at the beginning of the shift, before noise exposure occurs. As rapidly as time permits, audiometric tests should be made on practically all of the plant employees including supervision to re-establish baseline audioaetric tests. At the time of the visit, only a few of the workmen exposed to hazardous noise levels were wearing ear plugs. Although a start has been made, a great deal more effort is needed. The plant nurse can be of considerable assistance by talking briefly to each man as she performs audiometric tests, fits ear plugs or gives out ear muffs. The ear plug now being used (Lee Sonic - which contains a metallic valve) is not on the approved list in California because it does not attenuate well at the lower frequencies and presents somewhat of a safety hazard should the wearer receive a bump on the side of the head. My recommendation is that no new plugs of . this t5*pe be purchased, their use gradually phased out, and that they be replaced by approved devices. Our current recommendations, in order of choice, are: . 1. Muff - American Optical; Model 1600 . 2. Plug - Willson "Sound Silencer"; Models EP1G0 and EP100S Model EP100 is the regular size and will fit about 90% of the ears. Model EP100S is a smaller size which will probably accommodate the remainder. 3. "Swedish Wool" (disposable cotton-like material) Billeshoia - Rockford I.C. Webb, Inc. ' 301 IT. Madison Street, Rockford, Illinois 61110 Quiet-Down - Flents Products-Co. , Inc. . 103 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 3. DUST Considerable airborne dust in the working areas was noticed during the visit. Some of the dust was caused by the high velocity winds. In the mill building, however, considerable dust was being generated from transfer points. Cement dust was literally ankle deep in seme locations. In discussion with Ed Strong, Plant Manager, it was brought out that additional dust collectors are on order, with others to follow, and this should eventually alleviate the internally generated dust. J. H. Walton 4 Slay 3, 1971 The use of the 3-M disposable type masks should he encourage'd. Also, chest x-rays should be done every five years for reasons of medical surveillance, since the dust exposure will probably always be significant because of the wind situation, and the free silica exposure is not known. . The handling of asbestos was not observed during the visit; but, because of the serious health implications of the inhalation of asbestos, the use of suitable respirators during the baj dumping operation should be seriously considered. The 3-SI disposable mask is not suitable for asbestos. The American Optical disposable dust and-iriTst 'respirator, hov^ever, is satisfactory (Cat. No. R-1040). MISCELLANEOUS Since unchlorinated well water is used in the plant, it is reccnunended that arrangements be made for regular monthly bacterio logical testing. This usually is a free service of the County Health. Department. The plant has particularly good medical coverage, both at the. plant and by competent and interested outside physicians and a radiolcgist. The nurse, "Tommie" Erskine, appears to be doing an excellent job of handling her assignments. The first aid and emergency care capabilities of the nurse and supervisors are also outstanding. The plant has a good ongoing program of radiation surveillance with film badges, and periodic visits by a health ph3'Sicist for area monitoring with instruments, and employee indoctrination. The able assistance of Brent Loomis during the visit was greatly appreciated. WALSH-HEALEY PUBLIC CONTRACTS ACT Occunational Noise Exposure - Section 50-204.10 of Safety and Health Standards ------- e for Federal Supply Contracts (a) Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when the sound levels exceed those shown in Table I of this section when measured on the A scale of a standard sound level meter at slow response. When noise levels are determined by octave band analysis, the equivalent A-weighted sound level may be determined as follows: Equivalent Sound Level Contours. Octave band sound presure levels may be converted to the equivalent A-weighted sound level by plotting them on this graph and noting the A-weighted sound level corresponding to the point of'highest penetration into the sound level contours. This equivalent A-weighted sound level, which may differ from the actual A-weighted sound level of the noise, is used to determine exposure limits from Table I. I (b) When employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Table I of this section, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table, personal protection equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table. ' (c) If the variations in noise level involve maxima at intervals of 1 second or less, it is to be considered continuous. (d) In all cases where the sound levels exceed the values shown herein, a continuing, effective hearing conservation program shall be administered. Table I PERMISSIBLE NOISE EXPOSURES* Duration Per Day Hours Sound Level dBA (Slow Response) 8 6' 4 3 2 1% 1 % or less 90 92 95 97 100 102 105 110 115 When the daily noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise exposure of different levels, their combined effect should be considered, rather than the individual effect of each. If the sum of the following fractions -- Cl/Tl + C2/T2. . .Cn/Tn -- exceeds unity, then the mixed exposure should be considered to exceed the limit value. Cn indicates the total time of exposure at a specified noise level, and Tn indicates the total time of exposure permitted at that level. Exposure to impulsive or impact noise should not exceed 140 dB peak sound presure level. Yrfii