Document 3eZpy4rej1gBgZa383V15Vm03

FILE NAME: Phenolic Resins (PHR) DATE: 1971 June 24 DOC#: PHR019 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Union Carbide Memo Showing GE Reps Present at Safety Meeting Discussing Problem of Handling Asbestos ONION CARBIDE CORPORATION CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS ENGINEERING BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY MEMORANDUM June 24, 1971 v ^ ' -> 0 ~ */ dJLjzj RECEIVED JUN 2 8 1971 J.J.W. To: Mr. R. F. Valois Chemicals and Plastics Bound Brook, New Jersey Cc: Mr. R. E. Byrne - Niagara Falls Mr. Frank Cozzarelli - 312 Mr. M. G. Ferri - 312 Mr. D. H. Frodey Mr. R. E. Graebert Mr. C. L. Higgins - 312 - 312 - 312 Mr. H. E. Kasting - 312 Mr. N. H. Ketcham - 511 Mr. L. J. LaFrance/ - 4th Floor Mr. P. W. McDaniel Dr. C. S. McKinley 312 Mr. R. E. Nicolson dr> i 2 Mr. H. L. Robinson. F all Mr. S. P. Spence 312 Mr. J. J. Walker'*'* 511 Mr. J. P. Zuccarelli -- 312 From: Mr. R. w. Schwartz Subject : Safety Meeting Chemicals and Plastics Operations General Electric Company, Hooker Chemical Corporation and Union Carbide C o r p o r a t i o n _________ Through the efforts of Mr. Kenneth Barr, Manager - Phenolics Product Section, General Electric Company; John J. Lenihan, Vice-President and General Manager of the Durez Division of Hooker Chemical Corporation and Mr. R. E. Nicolson, Operations Manager - Thermosetting and Epoxy Resins of Union Carbide a meeting of Safety/Medical personnel of the three (3) companies met at the Hooker Chemical Corporation plant in Niagara Falls on June 18, 1971. -1 - UCC 022312 To: Mr. R. F. Valois June 24, 1971 Subject: Safety Meeting Chemicals and Plastics Operations General Electric Company, Hooker Chemical Corporation and Onion Carbide Corporation.... ......... The Intent of the meeting as understood by the conferees was to discuss hfnolic resins In actuality the discussion was broader and encompassed P. Z i e r rf? Z l . Z o l v l a g ,, , 1 ohelcals and plastics opetatioaa. Those in attendance at the meeting were as follows: General Electric Company,: David H. Guilbault Safety Administrator General Electric Company Pittsfield, Massachusetts David G. Paff, MD Associate Medical Director General Electric Company Pittsfield, Massachusetts Hooker Chemical Corporation: Louis W. Rohrdanz Corporation Coordinator Safety & Security Union Carbide Corporation: R. W. Schwartz Process Safety & Fire Protection Engineering Department Bound Brook, New Jersey Engineer UCC 022313 To: Mr. R. F. Valois - 3- June 24, 1971 Subject: Safety Meeting Chemicals and Plastics Operations General Electric Company, Hooker Chemical Corporation and Union Carbide C o r p o r a t i o n _____ _____ On the subject of asbestos, the following major points were discussed: 1. The current and proposed Threshold Limit Values were discussed. It was agreed that the engineering solution to the problem of meeting the Threshold Limit Values lay in capturing the material at the source as efficiently as possible and checking on the effectiveness of the system by monitoring the area periodically. 2. Dr. Paff described some of the current thinking on the dangers of asbestos to human beings. I will not attempt to report in de tail what he said except to indicate that the effect of asbestos on human beings is not completely understood nor has sufficient work been done to be able to say definitely how such exposure affects the human being. It must, under certain conditions of fiber size and concentration, be considered dangerous to humans. Dr. Paff is sending each one of us a summary of his remarks on this point, which will be available for anyone who wishes it. 3. With respect to asbestos, as a conversion factor, two (2) million particles (of asbestos) per cubic foot of air equals 10 to 12 fibers greater than five (5) microns in length. This is the criteria used by the General Electric Industrial Hygiene Depart ment. 4. Hooker Chemical Corporation reports that they use Mine Safety Appliance Company Dust - Foe No. 66 Respirator for protection of persons exposed to asbestos. General Electric Company stated they also use this unit. 5. Dr. Paff recommended that each of us obtain and study a document called "Documentation of Threshold Limit Values" published by the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists. This document g i v e s the pertinent backup scientific information and data on which the Threshold Limit Values for various products were based. He states that it will substantially increase our knowledge of how the Threshold Limit Values were reached, and the significance of the data. UCC 022314 Mr. R. F. Valois June 24, 1971 Subject: Safety Meeting Chemicals and Plastics Operations General Electric Company, Hooker Chemical Corporation and Union 6. The writer mentioned the a v a l l a b i l y o ^ and Metals Divi- marketed by Union Carbide ^ g f trlc were very interested and sion. Both Hooker a n d ^ e r a t u r e which I later requested through asked for samples and de 's M i ning and Metals Division in f o u o - u p uciiou. 7. There wee a limited dl*'"*8^ "h"hg1^ " " ing1polnt and concluding handling asheecoe "in clneral Electric and ^ "oi triala hut no real sue- c&ss in this field* * 8. Coaeidarable di.cus.roe a uoi relative to the problem of cap8,,eh ae the handling turing asbestos dust in ^a-innnts agreed that activities at of the empty bags. All Pwere not completely satisfactory, their company along these lin . h the best approach Hooker Chemical Corporation *PP gravity through a closed wherein they d- P P ed " ^ v i c e ^ h i c h Knsifies, wraps and binds chute into * trtcked to a landfill site and buried, the bags, which are then true oarticularly dangerous (Union Carbide practices at ^ / ^ ^ ^ e i y on the floor in that the bags are thrown ra ,,heel truck to a loading after emptying, t h e n `S e d ^ v e r t o a private scavenger, possibly dock where they are tur ultimate disposal practice is ZXoZTll can he ineineceied . destruction at temperatures over 900 F. _ . items of mutual interest in =2*5 ^ i ^ r ^ e ^ M safety in chemicals and plastics , difficulties and short- - e^efon. U C C 022315  . To: Mr. R. F. Valois - 5 - June 23, 1971 Subject: Safety Meeting Chemicals and Plastics Operations General Electric Company, Hooker Chemical Corporation and Union Carbide Corporation Considerable time was spent discussing procedures requiring coordination among Engineering groups, Plant Safety personnel, and Production people. I believe that Group I Engineering Department procedures excel in this field. All were concerned about the implementation of the new Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act. The sheer volume of the law and the possible changes in present practices are the principal concerns. It was the consensus of the group that many high noise level problems would have to be resolved by the use of ear protection as opposed to reduction of levels by engineering and construction means. To some degree this is con trary to the specific law which states that ear protection can not be used where engineering solutions are possible (Walsh-Healey Act). General Elec tric is sending each of the conferees a technical bulletin on personal "air plugs" developed by their company. The short discussion was held on the explosibility of the fine phenolic resins. It was agreed that current industry practices in fire protection and explosion venting, backed up by facilities engineered to minimize the problem, and good housekeeping were the solution to the problem. Those persons involved in this meeting were very compatible, interested in the broad field of safety in chemicals and plastics, and were of the opinion that considerable benefit would accrue to all from future meetings of this group particularly as the Occupational Safety and Health Act implementation progresses. No specific action was taken to arrange any meeting in the future. From a personnel safety and materials handling standpoint, I would urge that Union Carbide's effort in the field of pelletized asbestos and bulk handling closed system activities use in phenolic production, be pursued vigorously, as possible solutions to the potentially dangerous handling procedures at Bound Brook. ' "" RWS/jlb UCC 022316