Document 44jEqQK2dZoEJkG8EqDOaL8p

Vr ArJiSTiiOwG CORK COKPAH1 VIDOR Division LANCASTER PENNSYLVANIA A study of this plant vas conducted from Larch 17 to April 7, 19AS by the Industrial Health Section, Health and Keifare Division of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company to determine the health hazards, if any, associated v:ith the manufacturing operations. Previous studies rere made in 1935, 1939 and 1943. The results of the current study led to the folioring recommendations: - <{ 1. All exhaust systems should be kept properly repaired and main tained. i msa r 2. Lead free pigments .should be used rberever possible. If pig ments containing lead in any form must be used, the Medical and Safety. Departments should be informed. 3- Inhaust ventilating systems at pigment or color scales should ' be re-designed to efficiently entrap ana remove .n dust pro duced by the operation. 4. Periodic samples of urine and/or blood should be collected from those_employees rho handle or are exposed to lead pig ments or litharge 2nd should be analyzed for lead to determine possible absorption. In collecting the samples, necessary precautions should be taken to prevent contamination from the hands or clothes of the employees and the samples should be analyzed by trained, experienced personnel. L wFt 5- Eating should be forbidden in locations rhere lead pigments are used.. Employees vrho pork in these areas should be cautioned to Trash hands and face thoroughly before eating. m fills 6. Employees handling lead pigments should be instructed as to the need for careful operating procedures to prevent dis persion of the dust into the atmosphere. PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT 1* VW~0Q0I12_ Building ,759-j. - Lithcr,;c should be weighed directly into the bucket to be used for charging, rather then being dumped in to the charging bucket from a taxed weighing bucket. The exhaust system at the welding table in the Sheet nletal Shop should be re-designed to remove the welding fumes at their source. This may best be done by the use of a flex ible, easily adjustable exhaust duct,or by lateral exhaust if the nature and size of the work will permit. Lids should be provided for the charging chutes in the Asphalt Tile 3uilding. These chutes should be kept covered except when charging is taking place. Positive exhaust ventilation should be applied to the lead melting not and at the oouring table in the Machine Shop, Building* ?30-S. The present shot blasting equipment in Building #72 should be replaced with modem equipment that will provide a more efficient method of entrapping and collecting the dust. The use of compressed air for floor cleaning should be dis continued, also dry sweeping - especially in departments where lead bearing dusts are encountered. Vacuum cleaning methods should be employed. Approved type dus t respirators should be used by _yard-men7 and~car^uSloafierT in the Sundries Department, when unloading bulk or bagged raw materials - especially when handling asbestos or siliceous materials. ~ The general ventiletion in Building #406 should be increased by the use of Trail or ceiling ventilating fans, -especially in the area of #3 Laccuer Machine, front end. Operators at ell hopper or mixer charging operations should be instructed to handle with reasonable care all bags of rawmaterial end, after emptying, the bags should be shaken within the effective range of the exhaust hoods. A separate exhaust ed hood should be provided to take care of the shaking and stacking of empty bags where required. The inlay backing-in operation should be studied to devise a method of ventilation to prevent the vapors of mineral spirits from accumulating at the rear of the machine close to the wall. - 3Housekeeping and Personal Facilities l, ty1' Housekeeping is generally good throughout the various departments Aisles are well defined and free of obstructions. Ample toilet, locker, and washing facilities are provided. A hospital supervised by a full time physician and nurses is maintained. Restaurant facilities are also available to all employees. Methods of Saa^linr and Analyses The samples were collected and analyzed by the method used and devised by the United States Public Health Service.^The following tables show the dust, metal fume, and solvent vapor concen trations found at representative operations throughout the various departments, also chemical analyses of settled dust samples and of some of the most widely used raw materials for lend, total and free silica. (1) United States Public Health Service, Public Health Bulletin Ho. 217, Determination and Control of Industrial Dust - J. J. Bloomfield and J. 11. Dallavalle, 1935* Processes The processes are essentially the sane as described in previous reports. The follordnr; chances were noted: 1. Cement is nor.- prepared entirely by mechanical oxidation, eliminating the old air dry method. 2. Solutions of lead and manganese salts are used almost entirely in place of the dry oxides. This eliminates the exposure formerly caused by weighing and handling of the dry materials. Conclusions Inlay Department Dust concentrations, in "v lions of particles under 10 microns in great est diameter per cubic foot of air, were very low throughout the department-!'' Although atmospheric dust conditions at some operations seemed higher than in dicated by the findings, the appearance r.'as evidently caused by the presence of particles over 10 microns -"too large to enter the lungs and produce damage. Only traces of lead could be determined in the atmosphere at representa tive operations. These are of no hygienic significance. -In this department, as Tell as in most other departments, hopper changing T .. operations have been.provided with exhaust ventilation to entrap end-remove the generated dust. For the most part, the exhaust systems appeared to have been well designed, and if used efficiently, should control the dust. At several locations, there was evidence of lack of repair and^^^utenflnee Tm-irb caused a decrease in the original efficiency. Only e trace of formaldehyde could be determined beside the Accopac roll, fcn exhaust system is provided at the rolls and although it Tab in poor repair and its efficiency was low, it did remove most of the formaldehyde"vapors. - 5- No excessive acrolein concentrations were determined. Rotary Department , //H! v.ith the exception of Sample #9, at pigment weighing, the dust concentra- i7 :z tions in this department were very low. At the pigment weighing operation. Building i31-7, a dust concentration of 30 million particles per cubic foot was determined and a lead concentration of 0.079 milligram per cubic meter was determined. This is about one half of the maximum allowable concentration. During this sampling period, the leadfree blue pigments were being weighed almost entirely. Employees handling-lead pigments may be exposed to high lead concentrations from dust created duringthe weighing and dumping operations. Exhaust had been provided at-the color scale, but air velocities produced were too low to measure and little, if^any, pro- tection was urowided. Exhaust booths, originally baffled with canvas curtains, had been pro vided at the charging hoppers. The canvas curtains have been removed and the resulting large face area has caused the air velocities into the booths to drop to a range of 50 to 75 lineal feet per minute, which is too low to control the d uast. nnrv ?.vm * Samples #63 and #64> collected during stone dressing, show that there is a marked reduction in dust concentration when the exhaust hose is used. The * operator at this operation was adequately protected by an air line respirator. The balance of the dust concentrations found in the Cork Mill are compar atively low - far below those determined in previous surveys. Great improvement 3 was observed in the housekeeping and in the maintenance of exhaust systems in this building Sizing Department Dust concentrations in this department were low and the free silica con tent of the dust res negligible. No potential health hazard was detected. Bar Cleaning This operation is done in a separate building. The bags are attached to an exhaust duct which draws the bag inside out and into the e:uiaust duct. That dust is dispersed into the atmosphere is produced by hand handling prior to cleaning. At the time of sampling in this area, .bags that had contained wood flour principally,and a very few with serpentine, were being cleaned. The dust con centration found, considering the comparatively non-toxic nature of the dust, does not indicate any health hazard. However, when cleaning bags that had con tained more toxic substances, such as asbestos or highly_siliceous material, a dust concentration in the same rang iT would indicate a potential healthlaazard. Linotile Department l>ust concentrations were low and no potential hazard*was observed. Callender Department ." * The only potential hazard detected in this department was at the opera tions involving the handling of lead pigments. * A mixed saiaple of colors #35 end #38 was analyzed and found to contain 35*5 per cent lead. An air sample, #49, collected et the color weighing operation showed the presence of an average lead concentration of 3-71 milligrams of lead per cubic meter. Samples #46 and #48, ( -7- collected at the charging hoppers, showed 0.199 =nd 0.072 milligram of lead per Sj j j*?! cubic meter. An exhaust hood, located about five end one-half feet above the scales, was ineffective in controlling the dust produced in scooping, weighing end handling of the pigments. In order to be effective, the exhaust hood should create an air velocity of at least 150 lineal feet per minute past the location of dust generation and away from the breathing none of the operator. This hood had a face velocity of 100 to 125 feet per minute, but ms located so far above the floor that the air velocity at the pigment drums and scales was under 25 feet per minute. The charging hoppers were provided with etihaust creating an air velocity of 150 to 250 lineal feet per minute into the hopper. This is adequate to control dust prod-cad during charging. The atmospheric lead_ deter mined in the vicinity of the hoppers was probably caused by careless. handling of containers end by dust created during pigment weighing. /* * * * The batch weighing and charging operations vary from day to day,depending on the type material being made. The lead intake of the various workers will also vary, depending on the batch formula and the individual working habits.. At operations of this type, air sampling does not elvrays give t reliable in- . dication of the degree of exposure. Routine urine and blood analyses should be performed on those operators who handle the lead pigments to determine the de- gree of lead absorption. ' At the time of this survey, the Accofloor'mixing was not in. operation. & I -V I 0- l t ( -8 Mechanical Oxidation Department During neighing of litharge. Building #59-A, the operator was exposed to 0.538 milligrams of lead per cubic meter of air. This r/as an intermittent { operation, usually carried on about twice daily, An exhaust duct, located immediately behind the scales, produced an air velocity of 150 to 200 lineal feet per minute across the top of the bucket, which is adequate to control the ( dust produced at the scales. Even with careful handling, there was .a small amount of spillage during transfer of the litharge from the drum to the weigh / ing bucket. This spillage was removed by dry -sweeping. Relocation of the supply drum nearer to the scale and nearer to the exhaust duct would help de crease the lead dust dissemination. It was noticed that the litharge was weigh ed into one bucket, which had evidently been tared, and then dumped into other ( buckets. This dumping created nost of the dust at the weighing operation. .After the weighing operation is completed, the air-borne litharge is either removed rapidly by the exhaust system, or settles to the floor.Another air _ sample taken a few minutes after weighing showed the presence of only a trace of lead. Tests made during and after the charging of litharge into ^the kettle's failed to show any atmospheric lead. -w. 7- Other samples in this department failed to show significant concentrations 1 of: air-borne contaminants. ' ~* Paint and Backing Department Only one sample collected in the Paint and Backing Section (Building #673} w showed significant dust concentrations. Sample #81, taken during the charging 1 -9j of backing material, shotted a concentration of 21.5 million psxticles per cubic foot of air. It was noticed that most of the dust here tras produced by the handling of bogs outside of the ranee of the exhaust system. Because of the short duration of this operation and the lor.- free silica content of the dust, no health hazard is indicated here. No high leed pigments r.ere being used at the time of the survey end air borne lead concentrations are negligible. Exhaust has been prorided at the charging hoppers rhica should control dust produced during dumping, provided care is exercised in handling the bags rnd material. Maintenance Shons Of the samples taken a a representative operations in the Maintenance ( Shops, only sample #147 and sample #162, shot: any significant concentrations. Semple #147 shors a lead- concentration of .079 milligram per cubic meter of air - approximately one-half of the maximum allon&ble concentration. The leac a melting pot is enclosed in a hood connected to a natural draft stack. Ilo control measures are-applied at the point of pouring, at nhich point probably most of * v this lead concentration is disoersed. . - Sample #162, taken at the shot blast operator's position and at his''' / breathing level, shoxs a high dust concentration. This du^t contains a consider able amount of lead. The concentration of lead found exceeds the maadm^m allow able limit by five times. The present respiratory protection provided 'will not ' adequately protect against lead dust. The entire shot blas. equipment and true of building housing this operation is antiquated. Under present methods^ of' * * r_ \ v;. operation, complete control of the dust is not feasible.*' 1 (A- - 10 Dozes used in the Inlay and Rotary Departments are brought into this shot blast room, coated with cn accumulation of dusts. After placing the box in proper position Tor cleaning, the operator stands outside the actual blast room in iron! of glass panelled doors, directing the stream of steel shot propelled by air against the box. The building doors directly behind the operator are also closed during blasting. This coniines the operator in an area approruLnately 50 square feet. Some of the heavy dust concentration created in the blast room itself seeps through the doors of the blast room into the \rorking area. It. the blast room, a propeller fan on one side blows the dust towards an exhaust duct on the opposite side. This exhausts the dust to a point about one and one-half feet above the roof level on the outside of the building. No attempt is made to collect this dust. Comparatively low concentrations of zinc, and no concentrations of lead, were determined at the galvanized sheet metal welding.operation in the Sheet hletal Shop. An exhaust hood had beer, provided about four feet above the welding table. ' The hood was too far above the work to be efficient in removing the ^ welding fumes and its principal effect, if any, would be to draw the fumes across the faces of the welders. In order to protect men welding on galvanized material from exposure to zinc fumes and to lead, which is frequently present as an im purity, local exhaust ventilation^should be used. This would remove the fumes et the place of origin. If the nature and size of the work permits, this may be done efficiently by the use of lateral slot exhaust, if the work varies greatly in size or shape, an exhaust duct of flexible, easily Adjustable, tubing ;S". jis usually preferred._______________________________________________ - 11 - In the Electrical Shop, carbon tetrachloride was occasionally used for cleaning motors. As the work was done in an exhausted booth, no health hazard was indicated. Several potentially hazardous operations were not in progress during the survey and no evaluation could be ns.de. These included degreasing in Building -"30-N, metallizing in Building jf'30-A, and cleaning with carbon tetrachloride in the Heter and Instrument Section, Building #2. Asohalt Tile Dersrtnent High dust concentrations were found at only two locations in the Asphalt Tile Department while grease-proof tile was being run. These were at the hopper loading operation, 3rd floor, and at the scrap receiving location under the scrap grinder. At both locations, the periods of-high dust concentration were intermittent and of short duration. Exhaust ventilation was provided at each charging hopper and was used only during actual charging. TThen the charging of one hopper was conpleted, a deeper in the exhaust duct was closed and the work proceeded to another hopper. The exhaust provided was adequate to control .. > the dust produced during charging. However, it was customary to leave the lids to the charging chutes open at r.n tines. As soon as the exhaust had been turned off, the dust and gases produced by the'mixers were blown out of the chute and contaminated the immediate area.- * An irritating gas or vapor is produced during the mixing of the ingredient; for the grease-proof tile. It was not/possible to identify the vapor, although the odor was strongly suggestive of the petroleum distillates. It is probable ( - 12 - that the vapor wus produced by the heating of the various oils added to the mix. u The irritating, condition was noticed principally during unloading of the B & \ Miser on the 4th floor, end at the hopper charging area on the 3rd floor. A man cooler fail is located at the 3 ^hopper on the 4th floor. The vapors or. the 3rd floor can be controlled by seeping the loading chutes closed. Yard Department Exceedingly high dust concentrations were found at rood flour, asbestos and whiting car unloading operations. Samples #132 and #133, taken r.'iiile un loading and stacking bags of Super-fine fir rood flour, and Sample '37, taken vhile unloading waiting, show concentrations exceeding 50 million dust particles oer cubic foot of air - a standard now being suggested for non-toxic and nonsiliceous dusts. Ho respirators are worn by the men while unloading, Samples 134 ana #135 show very high dust concentrations for asbestos, . exceeding the maximum allowable' limit of 5 million particles per cubic foot of air. Although the exposure to the asbestos dust is not constant, it is, however, frequent enough to warrant dust control Measures either by exhaust control equip ment or by the use of personal-respiratory protective devices. The same crews a* mf men are used daily for unloading various raw materials. This means that their Exposure to high dust concentrations of one kind or another is quite frequent. Cut Order Department, Building.#150 - Inspection and Trimming Building. #155, Crate Shop Dept., Building #435. 2 No excessive or toxic concentrations-of dust or solvent vapors, were found in these departments. Tube Winding Department, 3uilding #158 - Sample #138, taken while cleaning up, -is the only sample to show a dust ( - 13- concentre,t.ion exceeding 50 million particles per cubic foot of air, the suggested standard for this type of dust, which is principally paper. The exposure to this *- high dust concentration is, however, limited to approximately fifteen minutes per day - the length of time it tales to blow off the dust from machines and floor. During this cleaning period, operators other than the cleaner leave the department. Substitution of vacuum cleaning for the blowing off would eliminate the unsightly condition created and the necessity for having the workmen leave the department. Laccuer Department - Buildinc #06 i\'o excessive or toxic dust concentrations were found in this department. Hor/ever, high and irritating concentrations of acetate vapors were found at the front end near #3 lacquer machine guide. The need for better general ventila <( tion in this area is indicated. Adhesives Department. Building #405 The highest dust concentrations found in this department were on the 2nd Jg| floor (Samples #143 and. #145) and at the unloading of bulk "clay from freight' .' cars (Sample 144). At the cement mixer (Sample #143) the dust is dispersed chiefly from the candling of bags of raw materials out of range of the exhaust hood. Sample #145 was taken at the Fuller-Eaton Unit while the hopper was being charged with clay. Some leakage of fine dust was noted. Sample #'144 shows a high dust concentration. The exposure, however, is cot daily but often enough to warrant the use of an approved dust respirator by the workmen considering the free silica content of the dust. |c? / i - 14 Saturation Department - Building 90 In this Department, the only hich end excessive dust concentrations found (Samples 153 and 155) were at the charging hoppers of the coating paint mixers and""in the area near the top of the dry paper festoons. The exhaust ventilation applied at the charging hoppers is adequate 'to remove the dust when dumping. However, as in the case of similar operations in other departments, dust is dispersed by the shaking and stacking of empty bags / out of the range of the exhaust hood. Considering the free silica content of the dust and in vise of the fact that this .is a somewhat constant operation, approved respirators should be supplied and used until a method of handling empty bags % under exhaust ventilation is devised. Considering the type of dust, Sample 155 does"not indicate a health haz ard. However, there is a nuisance factor to be considered. The present practice of enclosing the festoons should prevent the spread of this dust. Felt Coatlne i.'.ixinc and Print Coating Departments - &uildin~ 92 No excessive or toxic dust concentrations were found in these departments. The concentrations of ammonia found`ere Ion and do not indicate any health hazard. c Disolav Department The dust concentration found in this Department (Sample 160) is of no Ijygienic significance. However, it does create a nuisance. The present bag collector located adjacent to the wood saw requires frequent shaking down. This is done by hitting the bag with a board and considerable fine^dust is dispersed in the process. .c saint - 15 Print Department, Building #23 Shoe Filler Department. 3uilding #78 The concentrations of solvent vapors found at the breathing level of men in these departments are lor and do not indicate any health hazard. Inlay Backing-In The concentration of mineral spirits found around the Inlay Backing-In machine, although below the toxic limits, is nevertheless irritating. Theheaviest concentration was found at the rear end of the backing-in machine. Due t to the irritating effect of these fumes, the need for more general ventilation on this floor is advisable. ( L i J ( Silica Dust The hazards of silica dust v.'ith special reference to the lungs has long been appreciated. It has been firnly established that the inhalation of this dust results in a fibrosis of the lungs which disease is knot-n r.s "silicosis" and its :>resence, for same reason yet ill-defined, results in extraordinary predisposition to oulnonary tuberculosis. It should be borne in mind that sil icosis develops very slowly, baling from five to fifteen and even treaty to. twenty-five years to become established. This rate of progress is influenced mainly by the dosage of silica ~:hiob the lungs.receive end this dosage, in turn, depends upon three variablesj the amount of free silica in the dust, the quantity and particle sice of dust in the air, ana the e::tent of exposure. Individual idiosyncrasy night be included as a fourth variable. However, little is Imora of the variation in susceptibility in those exposed to dust. The threshold limits adopted by the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists at their 194S meeting Fere as follows: Silica high (above 50 free Si^) medium (5 to 50% free SiC^) low (below 5% free Si02) Million particles per cubic foot 5 20 50 The toxicity of clay and slate depends upon their free silica content. The threshold limit for slate adopted by the Governmental Industrial Hygienists is 50 million particles per cubic foot of air having a free silica content oeloF 5%. Sodium Carbonate Sodium carbonate, sometimes called sal-soda or washing soda, 16 a Fhite, finely crystallized powder. It has no marked action on the flesh, clothing, or - 3on metals. It is slightly caustic if swallowed or if the dust is breathed into the lungs. Zinc Zinc and other metal oxide fumes may produce zinc "chills" or "metal fume fever", but, as a rule, though uncomfortable end sometimes briefly disabling, they ere not dangerous unless combined with lead, arsenic, cadmium, or other tox ic fumes. However, arsenic and le&d are very often present as impurities in zinc. Zinc fumes are-not',' -strictly speeding, poisonous and do not have any de tectable after effects.' liuch of the injury attributed to then is probably due tc other metals with which they-are so often contaminated. It is estimated that chills rill not occur if the air breathed does not contain" more than 15 ailligraas of zinc per cubic meter of air. This is the threshold limit adopted by the Gov ernmental Industrial Hygienists. Acetates For the acetates, experience seems to show that methyl acetate is the least narcotic but somewhat more irritating to the eyes and the upper air pass ages than the higher members of the group. It has been hnown to cause a tight feeling in the chest and breathlessness. Ethyl acetate is more narcotic than methyl, although Bangger regards it as the safest of ell the organic solvents, formal butyl said aryl acetates are about the same in irritating and narcotic properties, but butyl is 25 per cent more volatile than aryl. Both are more active than the lower acetates end may cause burning of eyes, nose, throat, cough tightness in the chest, bronchial catarrh, headache end indigestion, as has been J-cnown for years. Many men and women can use it without even discomfort, and both I c -5counterbalance an increasing physiological ectivity if the comparison were made on the basis of concentration in the air. Toluol is less volatile than benzol. Regarding the toxicity of toluol for men, on exact appraisal of its hazards is difficult because only exceptionally' is there an exclusive exposure to toluol, since in most industries it is frequently mixed T,itn xylol and benzol. Two hundred parts per million has been adopted as the threshold limit by the Govern mental Industrial Hygienists. Shellac Solution The shellac is a skin irritant and may cause a dermatitis in susceptible individuals. Ammonium Hydroxide Since ammonia has a penetrating, intensely pungent, suffocating "odor, end is strongly irritant, there is'little likelihood that one Till remain dangerous ly long in an atmosphere seriously contaminated with ammonia if one is conscious end able to escape. However, serious injury may result if escape from the Vapor or gas is impossible, or if one is subjected to the action of the aqueous solu tion (ammonia rater or ammonium hydroxide.) Aqueous ammonia exerts a local irritant action; strong solutions cause tissue dest*ru c*tion on contact, whether acting on eyes, skin, mucous membrane, gastro-intestinal mucosa, oxnpulmonary tissue. Concentrated solutions of ammonia remaining in contact 7.1th the eye for even a short time may cause serious ocular damage, which may result in prolonged severe visual disturbances or permanent scarring of the cornea. The consequence; of skin contact with ammonia water vary from a relatively mild dermatitis to ___________________________________________________ I_________________________ _ 6- - - severe bums, depending upon the strength of the solution, length of contact, end individual skin sensitivity. Ammonia gas, readily given off by aqueous solutions of ammonia, may cause severe irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory nucosa. The threshold limit for ammonia adopted by the Governmental Industrial Hygienists is 100 parts per million. Kerosene The .toxicity of kerosene is similar to other aliphatic hydrocarbons - naphtha, gasoline and benzene. ICerosene being less volatile than ahe others t.-ou1q be .less active. The most pronounced effect of these hydrocarbons is on the nervous system, for instance "naphtha" jags and possibly some chronic effects. Eorever, these substances may exert some irritant action on the respir- A. atory tract. The Governmental Industrial Hygienists have adopted a threshold limit for gasoline of $00 parts per million. Triethannl gwine The literature on .triethanolamine is chiefly concerned rith its chemistry and uses; only a feir studies concerning its physiological action are available and these are, on experimental animals. ' Victor H. Kindsvatter of the University t * #i * of Pennsylvania reported in the Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, June 1940, that the pathology of the liver, kidney, spleen, adrenal, heart, lung, optic and peripheral nerves of the animals exposed to varying concentrations over a-period of several months indicated only slight reversible effects on live' and kidney, and that restitution to normal readily took place as demonstrated . by animals rith normal livers and nearly normal kidneys after maximum exposure * -/ i