Document 3Q5v09OZbjG051jYYQDVpVv5y

0 LlA?l4 70 0 THIS LETTl .-, WAS SHhT TO THE CEUXICS TECHNICAL COHX1TTEI ALSO LEAD INDUSTRIES-ASSOCIATION 0 CAST 41KD (TRCCT NEW YORK 17, N.V. July 26, 1957 SUBJECT} HAKDLPC LEAD COKrCUS'DS IN THE CERAKCC IK'D US TRIES To Members of th* Load Industrie* Ascociatlonj Attach*! 1* a reprint with slight codifications of the chapter on th* handling of lead compounds from our recent technical data book "Lead in th* Ceramic Industrie*." These reprint* were prepared after consultation with several manufacturers of th* new type l*ad bearing frits for use in porcelain eiiaaeling of aluminum and steel. It was designed to satisfy their expressed needs for something which would help then reassure their customer* for that* frits that they could be used safely and also to prevent their misuse which might be harmful to these new markets for lead. These reprints are being supplied at no charge in quantity to the manufacturers of lead bearing frits who in turn are requested to distribute them to their custccer* using these frits. It is also de signed to encourage these customers to get in touch with us for proper guidance If they do not know where to turn for expert advice. Sincerely ycur*. Secretary 0 N 1642 --m ci, L IA21471 Q HANDLING LEAD COMPOUNDS IN THE CERAMIC INDUSTRIES Every type of lead material can he hsndVd and coo* trolled with safety if proper modern equipment t* pros ided for the protection of the health of the in* dustrial worker. This is borne (Hit by the many plant* that have u their primary function the proc essing and handling of lead and its rompounds and do ao with entire sucres* and safety. American industry Ha* made spectacular progress in the past 2$ yean, and some of the great*-*; stride* have hern made in the held of ikateriak handling. Conveying equipment, dus4 control systems and packaging convenience have changed the face of industry. Old style methods of handling raw malm rial* with shovels in dusty, unventilaled plants are a* outmoded as they arc irvf&cient. Today's man* agrmrnt has available rorlhxh of operation that were not thought possible two decades ago. Modem management knows that a dean, wdl-ventilatrd f4ant with efficient material handling rorthods is e<(t(ial for successful and profitable ojierations. U ilh the advert of hygienic plan* controls, the gen* rral u>e of lead romfwnihda in the ceramic industry is available with all of the recognized advantage* of hex* versatile material*. Thus one of the old*-* of the ceramic mstrrial* paradoxically becomes one of the newest. The ceramic engineer now has the prac* tkal advantage of safely using lead in ceramic *oat* ing> and ceramic Indies. Lower maturing tempera* turrs. shorter firing eyries, widrr firing ranges, de< reaped surface t-nsion, high gloss, lowered bleb defeats, low jMrosity, and stability of nJoml lead frit* are benefits which may l*e cxjdoilrd by using lead. The foolproof characteristic of lead rrdueca scrap Km vnd increases pnvdurtion yield. The sav* ing* in using lead far outweigh the cu*i cf |4ant hygiene measures to insure safe use. Industrial heahh precautions are by no means coo* fined to the use of lead and its compound*. Silica, ItcryUium. cadmium, antimony, selenium, tellurium and oilier element* and compound* present extreme ly hazardous exposure problems. For example. Doc* lor Schweisheimer aay* in the Srjdemher, 19S4 issue, Amorim* Clou Aei-tnr, "For several years a numl*er of ceramic plants have brri operated under contract to the Atomic Energy Commission to aupply beryllium material* for the Commission projects." He quotes A. J. Brrslin aa stating in a rrernt study, "No cascc of bery llium poisoning have occurred al the plants which have been operated in compliance with Comr.< *ion recommendations." UTnTe we are primarily itseuvsing the handling of lead com pounds it should be remembered that, basically, the same precaution* are neerseary in plants where no lead is now leing used. Dust of any kind t* likely to be a health hazard. Proper handling of lead compound* in the ceramic industry requires: \. Proper Plant Hygieno 2, Proper Instruction and Supervision of Vorkera 3. Regular Checks by Plant Physician or Medical Director I. Proper Plant Hr?i*oa A. Adequate pre-employment examination *f all plant workers. This should include previous crocking historic*, chest X-rays, and blood examination*. B. AH 0}vetatSon* which disperse .dust should be controlled by dated system* or local exhaust ven tilation. Lead compounds for the ceramic user are conveni ently packaged so that unloading, j4an( storage and movrmrnt to the location where the package* are to he emptied present no exposure problems. Dust hoods should be Incited wbrte dry materials are charged or di.whargrd from processing eqcipment and should surround the operation as com pletely a* possible. Air vrlority of 200 linear feet per minute at the hood fare ia the generally accepted standard equirrmmt. Exhaust from hood ventilat ing systrtm must be diw hargrd outside of the plant, preferably into doth screen dust arrestors having not lea* than one-half square foot of effective area of cloth per cubic foot of dust-ladm air per minute pasting through M. Bins, elevator*, chute*, covered conveyors, covered mixers, rtr. ran usually be made dust-free by draw ing off dut laden air at critical points. By mainUlning a slight negative pressure in the dewed rquip- h f N 1642.01 - ., iPRPwr^iJ Wi ^ nuwii*^[jfl Li^lZ merit, h d ic air may enter the system, but dust will rot twc*j<. Relatixely small air volumes are required to achieve du5tle*rt operation (or elurcJ equipment. Exhausted duM-laden air should be projterljr filtered before discharge outside the |4ant. Dut control and elimination are important to all indu'trios today and therr are manv reliable and qualified manufacturers of equipment to do the job properly. C Only there local or genera! control U impos sible, workers should be provided with respirators specifically approx ed by l. S. Bureau of Minrs for this type of protection. D. Adequate * ash room facilities should be pro* x idrd. Hot water and soap should be provided, along with indixiduil hand towels. The band towels may be paper. Shower facilities are recommended. E. Proper locker room facilities should be pro vided. Workers handling toxic materials should have separate lockers for street clothes and work clothes to prevent rontaminalioa. F. A suitable aod separate place should be pro* vided for the workers to nL No food should be eatra until the worker has washed and no eating should be allowed in the department or area where toxic material, are used. Workers should not s-soke on the job while handling toxic materials. 2. Propor Instruction and Supervision The |*u q*ox. correct u-e, and maintenaiKX of resjnra- tors should be explained to the workers and ea/orred. There arc several good tyjies of approved respirators on the market. Be sure that workers are provided with respirators that fit the individual. Respirators aligned to one individual should be regarded as 2eronal as toothbrush and should not be inter changed. Respirators worn by a single workman usually tend to fit better and more comfortably after repeated use. Sjure respirator filters, bead bands aod other parts should be readily available. Respirators must be maintained in order to be effective. Air supplied respirators are preferred where U la practical to ue them as they are generally more comfortable and positive in their action. Most authorities agree that the use of respirators Is no substitute for adequate plant engineering, la practical plant operation, however, situations do ariw during which engineering controls are telng developed, or where repairs are necessary. The use of respirators in thr^e situilions is extremely impor tant for prof*f plant hygiene. 3. Ewyular Chocks by Plant Physician or Madical Diractor Musi practicing physicians these days rarely have orra*k>n to treat rax-s of heavy metal intoxication or pcuoning. Therefore the jJant doctor sltould be informed of any toxic materia'* being bandied. The plant doctor will then be in a position to study the pro!>L m and outline a regular safety program. Balaraacas `"Oceujxalional Lead Exposure and Lead Poisoning/* a l>o*Xlcl puhh-hed by the American Public Health Axoiialion. 1790 Broadway, New ^ork 19, N. V. and available from them at 75c s copy , considered the most comprehensive and authoritative reference of it* w opr ox Uus subject. There are busk (rmusmUl a4 prt*** i|ta> rln is auaf ritin fwwpHfl lo mlssts sal slUe m r<iwriii| aid ssrllrwl csairwl mi trad, TW ImI lodwMeies Amt UiAaW wtQ U |kl M furwish UfamadM sorb |frtw. 0 0 LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION 40 EAST 42*d SUCET, NEW YOKIC 17. K T. 'fgwavf t- mm *J it Twr -+*** JlJtSS.Sgli*11 V i... i *1; v iii ' w *j ij f%*W 775^^^ *4 ?3 1Trfi m t * \ r * \ r >j - 1 1 r 0 1 a $ HANDLING LEAD COMPOUNDS IN THE CERAMIC INDUSTRIES Every type of lead material rtn be KindW and con trolled with aafety if proper modern equipment M provided for tbe protection of the health of the in dustrial worker. ThU ts borne out by the many plant* that Have a* their primary function the proc essing and handling of lead and its compounds and do *o with entire success and safety. American industry ha* made spectacular progress io the past 25 years, and tome of the greatest strides have been made in the field of materials handling. Com eying equipment, dust control systems and packaging commienoe have changed the face of industry. Old style methods of handling raw mate* rial* with shovel* in dusty, unvcntilated plant* are a* outmoded a* they are inefficient. Today** mao* agement ha* available rorthod* of operation that ucre not thought possible two decades ago. Modena management knows that a dean. wrfl-\mtilated plant with efficient material handling enrthod* b essential for successful and profitable operations. With the sdxent of hygienic plant control*, the gem era! u>c of lead cocnjiounds in the ceramic indurtry is available with all of the recognized #d\anUgrs of these versatile material*. Thu* one of the oldest of the crramic material* paradoxically becomes one of the newerf. The ceramic engineer now has the pruo* tiraJ advantage of *afcly using lead in ceramic coat* ings and ceramic bodies. Lower maturing tempera* lures shorter firing cycles, wider firing ranges, de creased surface tension, high gloss, lowered bleb defects, low |>orasity, and stability of colored lead frit* are benefit* which may be exploited by using Irai Tbe foolproof characteristic of lead reduces crap loss and increases production yield. The sav ing* in using lead far outweigh the cost of plant hygiene measures to insure safe uw. Industrial health precautions are by no meanr coo* fined to the use of lead and its conqounds. Silica, beryllium, cadmium, antimony, seVnium, tellurium and other elements and compounds present extra* ly hazardous exposure problem*. For example. Doc* lor TT. Schweisheimer says in the Srptemler, 1954 Uue, Amrricmtk Chu Rcrsrsr, "For several years a number/ erramic plants have been operated under contract to the Atomic Energy Commission to supply beryllium materials for the Commission project*." He quotes A. J. Brrdio as staling in a recent study, "No cases of beryllium poisoning have occurred at the plants which have been operated in compliance with Commission recommendations." UTiile we are primarily discussing the handling of lead com* pounds, it should be remembered that, basically, the same precautions are rxcr***ry in plants where no lead Is now being used. Dust of any kind b lldy lc be a health hazard. Proper handling of Irad compounds in the ceramic industry requires: 1. Proper Plant Hygiene 2, Proper lest ruction and Supervision of UToftera 1 Regular Checks by Plant Physician or Medical Director 1. Proper Plant Hygiono A. Adequate pre-employment tior of aJB plant weekers. This should include previous working histories, chest X-rays, and blood examinations. B. All operation* *hicb disperse dust should he controlled by closed system* or local exhaust Tea(Halloa. fa-ad compounds for the erramic user are cocrvenicntly packaged so that unloading, plant storage and movement to the location where tbe packages are to be emptied present no exposure problems. Dust hoods should be located where dry materials are charged or dtsrhargf-d from proenwing equip ment end should surround the operation as coo* Ideftly as possible. .Air v clarity of 200 linear feet per minute at the hood fare is the generally accepted standard requirement. Exhaust from hood ventilai* ing systems aiK l* discharged outside of tbe plant, preferably into dotbserrea dust arrestors having not lew th*e or*--half square foot of effective area of doth per cubic foot of dust-laden air per minute passing through it Rina, elevator*, chutes, covered eonrryora, covered mixers, etc. ran usually be made dust-free by draw* ing off dust-laden air a! critical points. Dy maintain* ing a slight negative pressure in the closed equip \ T M.w. II, JVXirwjlHlljjU'lJll m Il^KU.U 1 JUL,yg'.g W^up* .U -JJP HU U- t 11. WU l;W|l..