Document 2q22aK4BxX96p6JOOBrJ80RnL

UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION NEW YORK, NEW YORK From: A. B. Steele cc: See attached list March 25, 1974 Vinyl Resin Operations Flash Report VINYL CHLORIDE MONOMER Comments on recent activities relating to regulation of vinyl chloride monomer exposure in PVC resin operations: John Stender, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, visited our Texas City PVC operations on Saturday, March 16th to discuss practices and procedures used to minimize exposure of workmen to vinyl chloride monomer and to inspect in detail the facilities and operation of a typical PVC suspension resin unit. He seemed favorably impressed with the layout and operation; with the controls and methods used to monitor the workplace environment of workers assigned to these operations. Representatives of companies supporting the Vinyl Chloride Research Program, through co-ordination by the Manufacturing Chemists Association, met in Washington on Tuesday, March 19th to discuss the recom mended Work Standard for the Manufacture of Synthetic Polymer from Vinyl Chloride as authored by Dr. Marcus M. Key and his associates in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and forwarded to the Assistant Secretary of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Admin istration (OSHA). The industry members are in unanimous agreement that adoption of the NIOSH Work Standard would shut down the entire PVC industry due to requirements that would limit vinyl chloride monomer below detectable levels (1 PPM) in working environment, in the air and other streams exiting the process units, and in the product shipped from the process units. Sponsoring members of the Vinyl Chloride Research Program drafted a statement of deep concern to the Assistant Secretary of Labor of OSHA and proposed that he not issue a temporary regulation, but rather follow the procedures that would lead to a permanent Standard following appropriate hearings where the proposals of the industry could be given impartial hearing. DISPERSION RESINS One hundred six (106) per cent of plan for the week. A project based on a redox catalyst system was initiated to try to reduce free VCM in latex. BLP catalyst facility construction is 30 per cent complete. SUSPENSION RESINS UCC 095237 Production through the 20th is at an 18.2MM pound monthly rate, 103 per cent of plan. Copolymer production is being resumed on the north line. DISTRIBUTION LIST -- WEEKLY FLASH REPORT -- VINYL OPERATIONS E. Bell G. P. Bigelow P. E. Bouffard L. D. Burnett J. L. Carvajal B. B. Cowser E. F. Cox R. G. Davis M. E. Eisenhour C. R. Field R. L. Frantz J. E. Giffin R. J. Hanna J. M. Herbert M. H. Jellinek W. R. Manning S. A. Mortimer A. B. Steele G. F. Tacquard R. N. Wheeler R. C. Wise 312 33 28 28 514 515 312 312 515 28 515 514 511 28 32 511 28 28 515 514 28 Bound Brook (Bldg. 72C) New York New York New York South Charleston (Plant) Texas City Bound Brook (Bldg. 200) Bound Brook (Bldg. 72) Texas City New York Texas City South Charleston (Plant) South Charleston (Technical Center) New York New York South Charleston (Technical Center) New York New York Texas City South Charleston (Plant) New York From: A. B. Steele UCC 095238