Document 2qLpgEJdBbOyLOv2e0rpNYV8L

~f Fioat Ih* detl 0l 'J NV.> '/^ Journal of Commerce, July 22, 1974 GERARD D,, INGENTHRON H. J. Corbett * P. R. Graham W. B. Papageorge ' P. S. Park G. Roush J, J. Spano P, L. Wright Attached FYI. GDI Plastics Corner New Exposure Level Plan Submitted at Hearings By Firestone Plastics Firestone Plastics Co., one J\>r VGM productlng plants, j opment, at an Impromptu o1 the larger producers ot pol effective Oct. % 3ST4, a celling j press conference said that the yvinyl chloride in the U. 9., ot 25 ppm with a TWA aver- j final standard would not be so brought forth. ,a new proposed . age of 10 ppm was recom- ' tough as to force a shutdown standard for employe safety, mended. Levels above 25 ppm of the vinyl chloride industry. at the OSEA hearings In would require die utilization of He seemed to indicate that thet Washington. respiratory protection. Effec standard would be fixed some Todd C. Walker, prtsident of I tive Oct. 5,1375, a ceiling of 10 ; where "between zero and 25. the company* with headquar- i ppm and a maximum TWA of ; ppm." ters in Pottstown, Pa., sop- j 5 ppm was recommended. Administrative Law Judge ported an exposure level of 25' Levels above 10 ppm would re- : Gordon Myatt fixed Ausgust 21 ppm time weighted average quire respiratory protection. . as the fine! day for submission (TWA) coupled with a 40 ppm At the conclusion of the | of post-hearing comments and ceiling. i 1 `"Dus exposure levch should j he maintained as the per- I hearings on July 11, Daniel P. | Boyd, director of the OSHA j Office of Standards Devel . manent standard until forther *' ongoing medical ex perimentation and study -- of exhibits. He also announced that the Foster D. Snell Go. had been retained by OSHA to conduct a technological and feasibility study on the ques tion. . the human as well as animal . experience -- is completed and more definite conclusions _ have been reached concerning the nature and consequences - vinyl chloride may have on in dustry employes," Mr. Walker said. Firestone had retained an Journal of Commerce. July 23, 74 independent organization to conduct an extensive feasibil ity study based oc known tech Both Sides Heard - At OSHA Hearings quested OSHA to exempt from nology. It was estimated that Arguments both for and coverage under the standards 1 It might cost as much as $20 ; against tight controls over any manufacturer using PVC million for Firestone to meet < conditions at plants toandttng resin containing less then 0.2 the 25 ppm TWA and 40 (pro . ceiling which It recommended. Mr. Walker thus disagreed with the recommendations of , . The Society of the Plastics In- ; dustry for stepped reductions. It will be recalled that such a 1 proposal was presented at the' i hearings on June 26 by Anton.1 Vittone, <airoian of SFTs Committee of VGM andi PVC 'Producers, and president of B,, F. Goodrich Chemical Co_ SPTs recommendation was as t follows: j J'vinyis were made a the re- } cent OSHA hearings in Wash.togtoo. Jobns-MaoviHe Coip,, which ' now lists itself as the .largest 1 producer of iPVC pope in the ' United States, asked OSHA to exempt manufacturers of PVC pipe and fittings from the pro posed standards. A suggested ^ alternative was to develop a ' separate statufordfor the PVC , pipe industry. The Goodyear Tire & Rubi ber Co. recommended the es- per cent uncombined mono mer. Later end representatives of the membership of tiie American Chemical Society supported the proposed OSHA standard. The International Association of 'Machinists and Aerospace Workers warned that VCM is creating a psy chological problem among long-term workers, who are worried about what may be happening to them as a result of their past exposure. Antho For VCM producihg plants, ' tabbahmeiii of separata start- ny Mazzochi of the Oil; Chem recommended thaat effective Oct. 5,1574 a ceiling at 40 fgxn o VCM and a maximum daily ) weighted average of 25 ppm be the rule. Levels above 40 y i dards for producers at VC -monomer, FVC resin, and fub[ rtcators. If said that: it "tails i to see bow OSHA can gcaeiv ; tiQcally -condhate that ex- ical and Atomic Workers In ternational Union questioned industry claims as to the tech nical infeasfbility of the pro posed standard. He also rugged ppm would require the use at posure to vinyl chloride at ' that fabricators be included in practical and effective respi- > ' ccucentratians of 50 ppm can the coverage. The United Rub ratoiy protection. Effective Oct. 5, 1775, a ceiling level of constitute serious bcaitfa KaTjr-ri hjiyrvati* " ber Workers supported OSHA. The ACS endorsed the pro 25 ppm with no TWA would be the rule. Levels above 25 ppm ; would require the use of respi- The Armstrong Cork Co. re- posed "no detectable" stan dard because 04 the lack of available data establishing a ; ratory protection .. |fl cafe level of eqiosure to vinyl' chloride, but recommended 'that periodic review of the standard be made io light of new data. Ia cross exam ination, some representatives of companies involved with VCM mud PVC who belong to the ACS said that they felt the ACS position was not truly RSV 0006809 representative opinion- cd the membership, since, as far as they knew, ndbody inthe vinyl