Document 3754QEe9QZVg2Mo2jGzbg5ynE

VINYL CHLORIDE TRAINING PROGRAM Following the discovery in 1974 that a number of workers engaged in the manufacture of vinyls resins had died of a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma, OSHA issued a standard on October 4, 1974 covering workers exposed to vinyl chloride. Certain facts of this standard that will be covered in detail in this training program require sig nificant changes from past practices. A medical surveillance program will establish each employees health and his suitability to continue in an area where exposure to vinyl chloride is a possibility. Monitoring of exposure will be required. Two techniques will be employed, individual personnel monitoring and area monitoring by on-site gas ana lyzers that will provide continuous reading of the level of vinyl chloride in the work place. Regulated areas will be established where vinyl resin is manufactured or packaged and where vinyl chloride monomer is stored or handled whenever the permissible exposure limit is exceeded. Access to regulated areas shall be limited to authorized persons, and a daily log of persons who enter shall be maintained. These regulated areas will be appropriately marked by barricades and signs. The wearing of resp irators will be required where work or exposure may exceed permissable limits. Protective clothing that fits the situation will be required for various levels of potential exposure. Training programs, such as the one being presented here, will be provided. A copy of the full standard as issued by OSHA will be made available to any employer upon request to his supervisor. UCC 093619. Vinyl Chloride is a gas with a sweet, pleasant odor. It is used to make a solid material called Poly Vinyl Chloride. As PVC, it has a multiple of uses in the plastics industry such as pipe, records, in sulation, upholstery, kitchen food wraps, shower curtains, floor tiles and many more everyday plastic products. The vinyl chloride gas has been used as an anesthetic agent and as a propellant in spray cans. Vinyl Chloride is a flanmable gas at normal atmospheric conditions with a high vapor pressure. It boils at -13 degrees Centrigade. It is more dense than air and tends to concentrate in low lying pockets. The .p lower explosive limit is 3.6% by volume and air. The upper explosive limit is 33% by volume. It readily ignites by common sources such as sparks, flame, or electrical arks. It has long been recognized that the gas in high concentrations of 6,000 to 80,000 parts per million may cause light headiness or wooziness, symptoms resembling drunkiness and even death. On removal from exposure to fresh air, the symptoms usually clear up quickly. In January 1974 three deaths due to a rare cancer of the liver, angio sarcoma, were discovered in workers who had had a long-term high level exposure to vinyl chloride. Subsequently, an intensive search of all former vinyl chloride workers and medical testing of active workers uncovered 17 cases out of 6,000 workers since 1961. This is statistically significant since only about 20 cases of this cancer affecting the walls of the blood vessels of the liver are reported each year. Angiosarcoma has also been caused by arsonic and by an X-ray dye called thoriumdioxide. Animal experimentation has also produced this condition in mice by long term exposures of 50 parts per million of vinyl chloride. z. UCC 093620 As a result of these findings, the government, through OSHA has enacted a standard regulating the exposure of workers to vinyl chloride. As a part of the standard, every employee will be offered an ex amination prior to being assigned to work in the regulated areas. The examination may be repeated annually for the first 10 years. Following this, it will be offered every 6 months. The examination will consist of a medical history with special attention directed toward drug and chemical exposures, hepatitis or other liver disease, blood trans fusions, alcoholic intake and smoking. A blood sample will be drawn for an analysis of five special liver function tests, and finally a clinical examination will be performed with special attention being directed toward detecting enlargement of the liver or spleen. These tests are not for diagnosing a cancer but are intended only as a screening to determine whether or not the employee is at any risk in continuing to work in the regulated area and whether he may safely use a respirator. Each employee will be furnished a statement advising him of the physician's opinion as to a suitability in continuing to work in the regulated area and to wear a respirator. The examination is purely voluntary on your part. If you do not choose to take it, we request you sign a statement to this effect. You will again be offered the examination at the appropriate intervals. As of now, thorough investigation of all past and present vinyl chloride workers in the Texas City Plant has failed to find any cases of angiosarcoma of the liver. The results of the examination are available to you and your personal physician on request. By law, they may also be inspected by an OSHA compliance officer. They will be kept by the medical division indefinitely. Medical divisions will welcome any questions concerning acute or chronic toxicity of vinyl chloride and will be happy to provide you or your physician with any information we have. J UCC 093621 }t The vinyl chloride regulation also requires monitoring jk vinyl chloride monomer. The purpose is to determine the exposure level of each em ployee without regard to the use of respirators. Personal monitoring is performed by attaching an activated carbon tube to the collar of the employee. Air is drawn through the tube at a metered rate by a battery-powered pump attached to his belt. Vinyl chloride is absorbed on the carbon and retained for laboratory analysis. The level of ex posure is calculated for the total volume of air sampled. Individual exposure records are available to each employee and will be maintained for a period of 30 years. In production areas, multiple sampling points are strategically located. Air is drawn to an automatic central unit which monitors levels at each point by sequentially in jecting a controlled air volume directly into the gas chromatograph. Each vinyl chloride level and sampling point is indicated on a chart recorder. The instrument is calibrated once each complete cycle. These recordings indicate upsets, releases, and elevated concentrations which activate an alarm system. Data of controlled room levels in dicate personal exposures within the control room and potential ex posures outside are indicated before one leaves the control room. The permissable employee exposure levels are one part vinyl chloride per million parts of air by volume averaged over any 8-hour period with a sealing of 5 parts per million averaged over any 15 minute period. No direct liquid contact is permitted. A concentration of vinyl chloride greater than .5 parts per million is considered an action level which requires periodic monitoring and medical surveillance. The periodic monitoring frequency depends on the level of employee exposure. Exposures above the action level but lessen- the per missable level of 1 part* per million are monitored at least quarterly. -7 UCC 093622 Explosures above permissable levels are monitored at least monthly. Monitoring will also follow changes in control, production, or process that may increase the release of vinyl chloride. Regulated areas are established for production areas with levels greater than the 7 permissable exposure levels. The regulated area is defined by a line in signs. Personnel, other than production personnel assigned to a unit in the area, must check in with the shift production super visor or his delegate upon entering and leaving the area. This is done by signing the area log kept in the unit control room at Building 114. An instruction book is kept in this location and should be re viewed before entering the area. Also to be observed are: warning signs, such as those placed on waste recepticles which contain VCM or VCM containing material; signs warning of a vinyl chloride release or signs announcing that the regulated area into which unauthorized per sonnel may not enter. Where vinyl chloride exposures are over the permissable levels, authorized respiratory protection is required to be worn and a respirator program is maintained. Three types of equipment are provided in regulated areas. Air line respirators are used for hazardous operations which have exposure potentials that are known to be leftrTn a lower explosive limit which is 36,000 parts per million. This equipment is pressure demand type equipped with an auxiliary egress bottle and a full face# piece. It is used for routine work involving elevated exposures. Entering the concentrations above, 3,6^)00parts per million is authorized only for rescue, fire fighting, or securing equipment to prevent release. Air purifying cannister respirators are authorized for concentrations known to be no more than 25 parts per million. The cannister is good for 4 hours ^ or to the end of the shift, whichever comes first. When the monitor 6 UCC 093623 alarm signifies levels above 25 parts per million, airline equipment must be used. The cannister respirator is used within regulated areas generally for mobility. It will not normally be required within control rooms. A 30-minute bottled air system is provided for emergency use only. It is a pressure demand type self-contained breathing apparatus with full-faced piece. It is approved for unknown or even explosive levels for purposes of life rescue. It should not be used for routine work. Every effort is being made to lower vinyl chloride to lessen'one part per million in the vinyl area and to maintain it at that level. On occasion, the possible exposure will rise above one part per million due primarily to leaking valves, seals, flanges, and to release through rupturedeess or safety valves. The vapor fraction analyzers located in Buildings 115,-+gfr, and should be checked at regular intervals and especially before entering a questionable area to determine vinyl chloride exposure level. Based on the level, the need for respiratory equipment can be determined. -RedTights are-located at ddCR individual "plcx-up point around the suspension -Jion-Sfllvent-area-^ When the vinyl ChlOT'Ide concentretion in Lite aie5~re~ quirps the use Of rp;piratnry p-quipmpnl-. lliMkS V-pH l-ightc will flach ft ^fla^hinrf i"prf T-iffht innU uaa I" imp i > j. I nr^ogM-ipnflpnt; gr Iphvp -the-arsat---- Nwemal npprat-jpp<; rQ^wiiiij pi'P.-ATTI inng-avp^--SutQ plac?^ Sftmplingrwnicn normally requires wearing of a fresh air mask.' Compressure checks may rpguirp rp^p-jrator? hasH on the VFA rrftd-firp^ Connecting or disconnecting hoses to unload vinyl chloride tank cars, requires fresh air respiratory equipment. Sampling of these cars also requires fresh air equipment. Vessel or confined space entry is covered by plant procedure 1D3. This procedure calls for proper isolation, emptying, electrical lock-out, cleaning, purging, ventilating, and testing of the vessel before entry is allowed. Testing may be performed by either operations or industrial hygene personnel. t- UCC 093624 CD Entry is not allowed until the test shows a safe atmosphere and a hazardous wonk permit has been filled out and approved. The opening of a pump, compressor or piping that normally contains vinyl chloride, should follow the same general procedure. No equipment whose contents include vinyl chloride should be emptied directly into the atmosphere without proper authorization to insure all necessary precautions have been taken. If possible, the equipment should be emptied to a part of the process where it will not enter the atmosphere. When cleaning vessels that contain polyvinyl chloride residues, protective clothing is to be worn to prevent skin contact with PVC residues on vessel walls. In the laboratory, samples containing high levels of vinyl chloride should be opened and handled under a ventilating hood. The use of respirators during 4&R sampling of liquid or vent streams containing vinyl chloride, should be based on VFA readings. The distribution area is also affected by the vinyl chloride regulation since the PVC resins, which are handled in vinyl shipping, contains some residual vinyl chloride monomer. "AlWiouyli vinyl -shipping is not a regulated-area, there are some actual areas^ 1 and 5 parts ner mt-11 iuns lasLinu less than 15 minuLea.--These areas .apply to suspension and non-solvent vinyl resins and include work --nnpprations such as opening and closing hatches on 1naHflf< hnrpn* "-|wr, pepping and closing hatches on van boxes, sampling hopper cars, sampling -~van boxes, and opening van boxes to be washed. ^Une paftlcular-af^uof -concern is the entering of van-boxes. Van boxes should not -tmfcil after thny'na.Kaan i..achBH Jn+gy-inj a hny prior *Q washing coul'Lcesult in a VCM-expusure over the permissabie limits^--ATso^all 7 d~be-e heehetH^for^VeM^t void exposure ovor the pomrissablo 14 in a release of vinyl chloride fall into two general categories: process upset and equipment failure. 7 UCC 093625 Each unit operating manual contains a description of normal operating conditions. Every operator should be familiar enough with his unit to recognize abnormal operating conditions. Some key points to watch are: level gages of vessels containing VCM or other materials with the VCM * content, pressure indicators for VCM containing vessels, the temperature recorders for the out of since an uncontrolled reaction might lead to venting and the rectifying column reflex recorders at the sol vent unit since loss of reflex might cause an indirect loss of VCM at the compressor traps. Decanting of water from VCM tanks to the #3 stripping tank at the suspension unit requires careful operator attention to be sure that VCM is not released to the atmosphere. Equipment failures are easy to spot but not so easy to predict. The best remedy is a thorough inspection of all processing equipment at least once each shift. Areas to especially watch for are improperly sealed safety valves, process valves which have been left partly opened or leakn'ng..-> pump compressor or agitator seals which are leaking or any other'^con- dition which is out of the ordinary. In the event of a massive release of vinyl chloride the standard operating procedures will be implemented at once. Key steps in these procedures are: 1. Activate the daily system in the infected area. 2. Alert all personnel to clear the area using the PA system if available. Clear the endangered area of personnel at least 25 feet upwind and 50 feet down wind of the visible vinyl chloride cloud. Personnel should exit crosswind. If the wind direction indi cates the endangered area may extend beyond the con fines of the particular unit, the chief operator should notify the affected personnel of the danger. 3. Sound the plant fire alarm and toxic gas alarm. 4. Isolate the affected area. If possible, rope the area off and post warning signs. Road blocks should be set up if required. 5. Isolate the relief source by remote valves or pumping arrangements outlined in unit procedures. e UCC 093626 6. Use all available water to dispurse the cloud and form a water curtain. 7. Only specially trained personnel equipped with properly protective equipment including skin and respiratory should reenter the area. Obvious sources of ignition such as internal combustion engines, welding machines and so forth should be shut down. 8. If a fire occurs, do not extinguish until the source of fuel is shut off. Union Carbide is extremely concerned about the health of its employees and has participated actively in the investigation of the vinyl chloride health hazard. There is little dispute that vinyl chloride is carsogenic to man, but the level of exposure which is hazardous, can now be definitely established with present evidence. Workers who've developed angiosarcoma have all had many years ofhigh level exposures to vinyl chloride. It is well known that exposure levels have been dramatically reduced since the 40's. Further, there has been no evidence that man or animals have developed cancer at exposure levels of less than 50 parts per million. We urge that you protect your health by learning and following the work procedures and practices that have beeb set forth. Please cooperate with the Industrial Hygene Monitoring and Medical Surveillance Programs that have been outlined. Q UCC 093627 V V' \ UCC 093628 VINYL CHLORIDE TRAINING PROGRAM '>>**- x r/2-3 -hs4sv~ y***' ^ ^S'*"1'- Q^ML^f /'JZsd i/J~t Following the discovery in 1974 that a number of workers engaged in the ^ manufacture of vinyl* resins had died of a rare form of liver cancer called angiosarcoma, OSHA issued a standard on October 4, 1974 covering workers cxposed-tu viflyl~chlurhie. Certain facts of this standard that will be covered in detail in this training program require sig nificant changes from past practices. A medical surveillance program will establish each employees health and his suitability to continue in an area where exposure to vinyl chloride is a possibility. >*- **Monitoring of exposure wilt-be required. Two techniques -wi+1 be employed, individual personnel monitoring and area monitoring by on-site gas ana lyzers that wi^provide continuous reading of the level of vinyl chloride oajl t*A* in the work place. Regulated areas wihh-^o established where vinyl resin is manufactured or packaged and where vinyl chloride monomer is stored or handled whenever the permissible exposure limit is exceeded. Access to regulated areas sha44--he limited to authorized persons, and a daily log of persons who ente^-shall-be maintained. These regulated areas wW-- Jje-appropriately marked by barricades and signs. The wearing of resp- irators wiH-be required where work or exposure may exceed permissable limits. Protective clothing that fits the situation required for various levels of potential exposure. Training programs, such as the one being presented here, wilt-be provided. A copy of the full standard as issued by OSHA *444-bi. Blade available to any employe&upon request j(/nis supervisor. UCC 093629 G) Vinyl Chloride is a gas with a sweet, pleasant odor. It is used to make a solid material called Poly Vinyl Chloride. As PVC, it has a multiple & uses in the plastics industry such as pipe, records, in sulation, upholstery, kitchen food wraps, shower curtains, floor tiles and many more everyday plastic products. The vinyl chloride gas has been used as an anesthetic agent and as a propellant in spray cans. Vinyl Chloride is a flanmable gas at normal atmospheric conditions with a high vapor pressure. It boils at -13 degrees Centrigade. It is more dense than air and tends to concentrate in low lying pockets. The lower explosive limit is 3.6% by volume and air. The upper explosive limit is 33% by volume. It readily ignites by conmon sources such as sparks, flame, or electrical arks. It has long been recognized that the gas in high concentrations of 6,000 to 80,000 parts per million may cause light headiness or wooziness, symptoms resembling drunkiness and even death. On removal from exposure to fresh air, the symptoms usually clear up quickly. In January 1974 three deaths due to a rare cancer of the liver, angio sarcoma, were discovered in workers who had had a long-term high level exposure to vinyl chloride. Subsequently, an intensive search of all former vinyl chloride workers and medical testing of active workers uncovered 17 cases out of 6,000 workers since 1961. This is statistically significant since only about 20 cases of this cancer affecting the walls of the blood vessels of the liver are reported each year. Angiosarcoma has also been caused by arsenic and by an X-ray dye called thoriumdioxide. Animal experimentation has also produced this condition in mice by long term exposures of 50 parts per million of vinyl chloride. UCC 093630 pr - As a result of these findings, the government, through OSHA has enacted a standard regulating the exposure of workers to vinyl chloride. As a part of the standard, every employee will be offered an ex amination prior to being assigned to work in the regulated areas. The examination may be repeated annually for the first 10 years. Following this, it will be offered every 6 months. The examinational consist* of a medical history with special attention directed toward drug and chemical exposures, hepatitis or other liver disease, blood trans- fusions, alcoholic intake and smoking. A blood sample ws3d -be drawn for an analysis of five special liver function tests, and finally a clinical examinationa^ase performed with special attention beiti--- directed toward detecting enlargement of the liver or spleen. These tests are not for diagnosing a cancer but are intended only as a screening to determine whether or not the employee is at any risk in continuing to work in the regulated^area and whether he may safely use a respirator. Each employee Mill-^i? furnished a statement advising him of the physician's opinion as to a suitability in continuing to work in the regulated area and to wear a respirator. The examination is purely voluntary on your part. If you do not choose to take it, we request you sign a statement to this effect. You will again be offered the examination at the appropriate intervals. As of now, thorough investigation of all past and present vinyl chloride workers in the Texas City Plant has failed to find any cases of angiosarcoma of the liver. The results of the examination are available to you and your personal physician on request. By law, they may also be inspected by an OSHA compliance officer. They will be kept by the medical division indefinitely. Medical divisions will welcome any questions concerning acute or chronic toxicity of vinyl chloride and will be happy to provide you or your physician with any information we have. UCC 093631  &***- The vinyl chloride regulation also requires monitorings vinyl chloride monomer. The purpose is to determine the exposure level of each em ployee without regard to the use of respirators. Personal monitoring is performed by attaching an activated carbon tube to the collar of the employee. Air is drawn through the tube at a metered rate by a aolsc>rb&/ battery-powered pump attached tglw5.belt.. Vinyl chloride is -absorbed on"the rnrhnn nriii^rtirmjiilJ1Frii^_lnhnrntnrj annljrrj- The level of ex- posure is calculated^ffr^The total volume of air sampled^ Individuals^, exposure records are available to each employee and will be maintain!^ for a period of 30 years. In production areas, multiple "implinj <rw ~i i points are strategically located. Air is drawn to an automatic ^ central unit which monitors levels at each point by sequentially in- jL /**** jecting a controlled air volume directly into the gas chromatograph. , Each vinyl chloride level and sampling point is indicated on a chart feAtUrf* ' 0 recorder. The instrument is calibrated once each complete cycle. These recordings indicate upsets, releases, and elevated concentrations % which activate an alarm system. Pata nf -rm^r^lTmf mom levels in~ cfiLdle pci sunul -exposures within tho control muiii htttJ puLential -sx^pusmx's outside arc indicated bcfora-one .loaves tlm mnLiol I'uum. The permissable employee exposure levels are one part vinyl chloride per million parts of air.by volume averaged over any 8-hour period with axsgafeifg of 5 parts per million averaged over any 15 minute period. No direct liquid contact is permitted. A concentration of vinyl chloride greater thany^ part* per million is considered an action level which requires periodic monitoring and medical surveillance. The periodic monitoring frequency depends on the level of employee .jsxfrlosurcr -Explosurgs^above the action level but Ja&san the per missable level of 1 parts per million are monitored at least quarterly. UCC 093632 Ekbjfosures above permissable levels are monitored at least monthly. Monitoring will also follow changes in control, production, or process that may increase th^ rpT^asp of vinyl chloride^7*Regulated areas are established for production areas with levels greater than the permissable exposure levels. The regulated area is defined by a m-ca S - ii T (<7 / 2. line in signs/] Personnel, other than production personnel assigned . to a unit in the area, must check in with the shift production super^^^^^,^ visor or his delegate upon entering and leaving the area. This is done by signing the area log kept in the unit control room at Building y 114. An instruction book is/^kept in this location and should be re j viewed before entering the area. Also to be observed are: warning signs, such as those placed on waste recepticles which contain VCM or VCM containing material; signs warning of a vinyl chloride release or signs announcing that the regulated area into which unauthorized per sonnel may not enter. Where vinyl chloride exposures are over the permissable levels, authorized respiratory protection is required to be worn and a respirator program is maintained. Three types of equipment are provided in regulated areas. Air line respirators are used for hazardous operations which have exposure potentials that are hnown~to~bo-left in a lower explosive 4ii,ii l which is 3G,fruu parts per- million^. This equipment is pressure demand type^ equipped with an auxiliary egress bottle and a full faced piece. It is used for routine work involving elevated exposures. Entering the concentrations above, 3,600 parts per million is authorized only for rescue, fire fighting, or securing equipment to prevent release. Air purifying cannister respirators are authorized for concentrations known to be no more than 25 parts per million. The cannister is good for 4 hours or to the end of the shift, whichever comes first. When the monitor UCC 093633 (0 alarm signifies levels above 25 parts per million, airline equipment must be used. The cannister respirator is used within regulated areas generally for mobility. It will not normally be required within control rooms. A 30-minute bottled air system is provided for emergency use only. It is a pressure demand type self-contained breathing apparatus with full-face^ piece. It is approved for unknown or even explosive levels for purposes of life rescue. It should not be used for routine work. Every effort is being made to lower vinyl chloride to iessan one part per million in the Lgbr^ A vinyl area and to maintain it that level. On occasion, the possible S.y exposurfew^n rise above one part per million due primarily to leaking valves, seals, flanges, and to release through rupturedness. or safety valves. The vapor fraction analyzers located in Buildings 115, 120,^sSF' should be checked at regular intervals and especially before entering a questionable area to determine vinyl chloride exposure level. Based on the level, the need for respiratory equipment can be determined. Red flights are located at each individual pick-up /^^nerFsnTveHt^area. When the vinyl chloride concentration in the area re quires the use of respiratory equipment, these red lights will flash. A flashing red light means that you must wear respiratory equipment or leave ^ the area. Normal operations requiring precautions are: autofj>lafife sampling which normally requires wearing of a fresh air mask. Compressor# checks may require respirators based on the VFA reading. Connecting or disconnecting hoses to unload vinyl chloride tank cars, requires fresh air respiratory equipment. Sampling of these cars also requires fresh air equipment. Vessel or confined space entry is covered by plant procedure 1D3. This procedure calls for proper isolation, emptying, electrical lock-out, cleaning, purging, ventilating, and testing of the vessel before entry is allowed. Testing may be performed by either operations or industrial hyqfene personnel. r UCC 093634 (3 Entry is not allowed until the test shows a safe atmosphere and a hazardous work permit has been filled out and approved. The opening of a pump* compressor or piping that normally contains vinyl chloride, should follow the same general procedure. No equipment whose contents include vinyl chloride should be emptied directly into.the atmosphere without proper authorization to insure all necessary precautions have been taken. If possible, the equipment should be emptied to a part of the process where it will not enter the atmosphere. When cleani vessels that contain polyvinyl chloride residues, protective clothi tforn to prevenXzfr&t skin contact with PVC residues on vessel walls. In the laboratory, samples containing high levels of vinyl chloride should be opened and handled under a ventilating hood. The use of respirators during fut sampling of liquid or vent streams containing vinyl chloride, should be based on VFA readings. The distribution area is also affected by the vinyl chloride regulation since the PVC resins, which are handled in vinyl / shipping, contains some residual vinyl chloride monomer. -ATtheuqh vinyl - strfppThg--i^not ^-f^guTatgd~^ea, there are^soroe-actuad areas^between___ 1 and less than I1? These areas ppjy to suspension and non-solvent vinyl resins and In111111111 uifrT ' oepmno and closing natches"on" varl buxesr-sampling hopper, Gari^,--samp!-inr; 'van boxesr-and opening van boxes-toLJic-^wageflT~ Qoc^partieular ar-ea^af -jnnrorn 17 thr rntrrinri rrf-ynn hmrr~ Van boxes should not be entered until after they've been washed. Entering a van box prior to washing could result in a VCM exposure over the peran'ssable limits. Also, all checked for VCM levels before entering in order to avoid exposure over the permissable limits. Conditions which may result in a release of vinyl chloride fall into two general categories: process upset and equipment failure. 7 Each unit operating manual contains a description of normal operating conditions. Every operator should be familiar enough with his unit to i i recognize abnormal operating conditions. Some key points to watch are: ! level gages of vessels containing VCM or other materials with the VCM j content, pressure indicators for VCM containing vessels, the temperature recorders for the out of since an uncontrolled reaction might ; i lead to venting and the rectifying column reflex recorders at the sol vent unit since loss of reflex might cause an indirect loss of VCM at the compressor traps. Decanting of water from VCM tanks to the #3 stripping tank at the suspension unit requires careful operator attention to be sure that VCM is not released to the atmosphere. Equipment failures are easy to spot but not so easy to predict. The best remedy is a thorough inspection of all processing equipment at least once each shift. Areas to especially watch for are improperly sealed safety valves, process valves which have been left partly opened or leaking,,.,/ ,,o"T pump compressor or agitator seals which are leaking or any other'^con- dition which is out of the ordinary. In the event of a massive release of vinyl chloride the standard operating procedures will be implemented at once. Key steps in these procedures are: 1. Activate the daily system in the infected area. 2. Alert all personnel to clear the area using the PA system if available. Clear the endangered area of personnel at least 25 feet upwind and 50 feet down wind of the visible vinyl chloride cloud. Personnel should exit crosswind. If the wind direction indi cates the endangered area may extend beyond the con fines of the particular unit, the chief operator should notify the affected personnel of the danger. 3. Sound the plant fire alarm and toxic gas alarm. 4. Isolate the affected area. If possible, rope the area cff and post warning signs. Road blocks should be set up if required. 5. Isolate the relief source by remote valves or pumping arrenc-=-ents outlined in unit procedures. UCC 093636 6. Use all available water to disperse the cloud and form a water curtain. 7. Only specially trained personnel equipped with properly protective equipment including skin and respiratory should reenter the area. Obvious sources of ignition such as internal combustion engines, welding machines and so forth should be shut down. 8. If a fire occurs, do not extinguish until the source of fuel is shut off. Union Carbide is extremely concerned about the health of its employees and has participated actively in the investigation of the vinyl chloride health hazard. There is little dispute that vinyl chloride is car genic to man, but the level of exposure which is hazardous, can now be definitely established with present evidence. Workers who've developed angiosarcoma have all had many years ofhigh level exposures to vinyl chloride. It is well known that exposure levels have been dramatically reduced since the 40's. Further, there has been no evidence that man or animals have developed cancer at exposure levels of less than 50 parts per million. We urge that you protect your health by learning and following the work procedures and practices that have beeb set forth. Please cooperate with the Industrial Hygene Monitoring and Medical Surveillance Programs that have been outlined. UCC 093637