Document 3QJgpVJqRJvKkKrwOBRjB0M5x
FILE NAME: WR Grace (WRG)
DATE: May 11, 1964
DOC#: WRG132
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1964 Montana Board of Health report on April 1964 visit to dry mill section of Zonolite Company.
nt -y: Lipsit z & P o n t e r i o , L L C ;
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716 849 0708;
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JOHN I.NOIMON M O. AMf **C**fr4r
Jto te o t SNmtfamt
Jointe ^Soarfc of JCealj
H ele na.Montana
May 11, 196^
Mr. R. A. BleJlcb^ M u n g e r li* Zenollte Company Libby, Montana
Dear Mr, Bleich:
"* Enclosed are
ropias of a recant study made ot the dry
mill section of your plant near Libby. It is expected that a
foUov.up W l l be done In September, lJHJii to determine the dunt
control provided by the additional ran described and by Im
proved housekeeping,
'
,
We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation of you and vour staff in this matter.
Sincerely yourc.
1 / '$
BFW/bko Enel.
Benjamin F. Wake Industrial Hygiene Engineer Division of Disease Control
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On April 29, I96U a study was made of the dry mill section of the Zonollte Kill at Libby, Montana to detorminc if compliance with previous recommendations for the control of dust had been achieved. The study vas mode in the company of Nr. Bud Vlnlon, after diaeuilion of the plant operations vith Mr. Kujava, Plant Superintendent.
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The study consisted of a roview of the dust collection system and It
\i*:
improvement and the collection of five dust samples for counting to determine
any improvement In the over-all dust control procedures.
Description of Operations
It was noted that a considerable change had been made In the ventila tion system of the dry mill which appeared to reduce dustiness in some areas considerably. The backs to the screens had been replaced on nearly all machines and the rubbers on the screens were in good shape, generally, although a few were broken. Those that were broken were leaking dust badly.
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The duet work to the ventilation system had been repaired and a new
35,000 efm fan which discharged at ground level hod been installed. According
to Mr* Vinion, the plant expects, in addition, to have a south side fan (old 600)
hooked up soon. This should improve the situation on the southslde of the
mill b y reducing the considerable dustiness from sent o f the operations on
that side. Priority should be giver to this ventilation so that it is
completed by the first of September, 196b.
. .
It was noted that the rafters were heavily loaded with dust. Much of
the high dust concentrations noted were due to this dust falling off the
rafters and other places of deposit. It is unfortunate that the good work
that ha been done in the ventilation system is rcduu* by extremely poor
housekeeping.
.
The second floor continues to need special attention and may be improved with the installation of the new fan system which was not in operation at the time of this study.
The third floor on the high grade side needs more work and should be gone over carefully to determine those areas which need special attention for the control of dust.
The elevator feed box on the half deck leaked dust badly and was a main contaminator of both the half dock and the second floor. A rubber was also missing on the connector to Ho. 310 screen and should be replaced. A l l screens should be Inspected weekly and any mi sing screen backs or broken
iwaedlatcljr.________ ___ ............ .......................................................................................... . ......
According to Mr. Vinion, the southslde roll crusher and high grade
circuit will have a separate ventilation system soon. As noted previously, this work should he given priority so that it Is in ani functioning before
the first of September of 196b.
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Concentrtiono
A review of Table 1 for Ourt-In-Air indicates that even though there
have been some reduction in dust concentration! there still remain a
great deal of room for improvement to reach the maximum allowable conceit*,
tration of 30 million particles per cubic foot of over-all dustiness. While
it is recognised that the 20 million particles per cubic foot level does not
'
reduce the asbestos dustiness to exactly 9 million particles per cubic (topper) f
foot, It la felt that over-all dustiness reduction to SO rappef will be suitable ;
for the control of asbestos dust, since the 5 million particles per cubic
'
foot figure is not a precise dividing line between a safe and unsafe condition ,
but simply indicates a range at which control should be aimed.
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TABLE X
Dust-in-Air for years noted Concentrations in Millions of Particles per Cubic Foot of Air (KFFCF)
1956
1959
1962
1963
196b
6th Floor 9th Floor H h Floor 3rd Floor 2nd Floor Half Deck 1st Floor
hot Determined
1T.9 31.8
23.7
W.3 Not Determined 63.O
"5573
~~
51.8 26.2
2*1.8
27.3
Mot Determined
7.5
Hx7o~~
69.5 90.0 Co. 5 ;
392 3*. 3 U U .8 & 50.9
30,6
6325--*6
32-3 50.0
77.8
59.6 A
26.8
Hot Determined
37.6
30.6 22.0 59-2
Hot Determine
Maximum Allowable Concentration SO MPPCF Total Maximum Allowable Concentration 5 MPPCF Asbestos
A constant effort should be made, however, to achieve the reduction in total dustiness so that the 5 million particles per cubic feet of asbestos laden air is achieved at sometime in the future.
Toxicology
In a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical A ssociation, April 6, 196b by Selikoff and others, it 1 indicated that the ^^riidilVyttiSdefs^lnsulatlon-vorkera-have.xelatively-.liaht. -intejni^ tt e n t. *
exposure to asbestos. Of 632 insulation workers, who entered the trade before 19*3 and were traced through 1962, forty-five died of cancer or the
lung or pleura, whereas only 6.6 such deaths were expected. Three of the pleural tumors were mesotheliomas; there was also one peritoneal mesothelio ma* Four mesotheliomas in a total of 259 deaths is an exceedingly high
or Incidence for such a rare tumor. In addition, an unexpectedly large number
o f men died of cancer the stomach, colon, or rectum (29 compared with 9. * expected). Other cancers were not increased 20.5 were expected, 21 occurred. Twelve men died of asbestosis*"
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In addition, "The recent demonstration, by South African and British
Investigator* of pleural and peritoneal neoplasms among Individual vho had
chance environmental exposure to asbestos many year* before raises the very
Important question of possible widespread carcinogenic air pollution " It
vas sito demonstrated that asbestos bodies were found in a man not employed
in an Industry but living next door to an asbestos factory. "Asbestds ex
posure In Industry will not be limited to the particular craft that utilises
the material. The floating fibers do not respect Job classifications. Thus,
for example, Insulation workers undoubtedly shore their exposure with their
workmates In other trades; Intimate contact with asbestos Is possible for
electricians, plumbers, sheet-metal workers, steomfltters, laborers, carpen
ters, boiler makers, and foremen."
.
While the above situation docs not apply specifically to the operations of your plant, the asbestos content of the material with which you are working appears to provide s o w serious potential for the development of disease If not properly controlled. In addition, the discharge of large volumes of asbestos-laden duet at ground level sets up a condition where all embers of the plant can be exposed in addition to those who work in the dry mill. Tills presents a problem that needs to be dealt with in view of the informa tion submitted and the findings on other workers employed using, similar materials.
Conclusions and Riccm--r.cr.f-uiona
.
Bused on the findings of this study and in view of past experience,
lb is recommended that a review of pant studies be code to determine areas
producing dustiness. In addition, the following re^'-mmendatlona are sub
mitted;
1* That a careful program of housekeeping be Instituted so that dust collected on rafters does not reach the subsidence point. Careful cleaning of the floors should be done on u sufficiently frequent and routine basis as to prevent dust from falling off the reftere or from collecting on the floor to such a degree that this dust is n contributor to the overall load generated by the machines.
2. That a special priority be given to the installation of the additional fan described so that those areas tv^t now sufficiently ventilated are brought under control by the rirst of September, 1961*.
3. That the blower discharge--presently at- ground level-- be elevated to such a degree that re-entry is not so prevalent. It la expected that
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right direction. It may also be desirable to consider collecting the e x haust dust by means of a cyclone or other suitable dust collecting device.
h. That continued efrort be made by the company to determine the dust concentrations in the building by fraquent sampling and analysis and by frequent observation of the dust collection systems to determine that they are operating at maximum efficiency, -
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