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SOUTH CHAHLCSTOM PLANT
UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS
f. O. SOX *004. SOUTH CHAHLCSTOM, M. V*. 2SMS
February 22. 1974
Technical Task Group on Vinyl Chloride Manufacturing Chemists Association
Gentlemen:
Attached is a draft of die work practice prepared at our Chicago meeting on February 20. 1974.
We plan to discuss this with Mr* Vernon Rose and others of NIOSH on Wednesday. February 27. 1974*
RNWJr/ra Attachment
Very truly yours.
R. N. Wheeler, Jr. Chairman Subcommittee on Work Practices
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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH WRK PRACTICE STANDARD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OK SYNTHETIC POLYMER CONTAINING VINYL CHLORIDE
I.Scope and Application
This standard applies to the. prooesn of mami featuring `.ynthetio polymer containing vinyl chloride (chiorechene, Chemical Abstract* Registry No 75015).
II, iMrpose
The purpose ot this work practice standard is to limit exposure of workers to vinyl ehloridd monomor in synthetic poly"'**1 manufactur* 1ng. Tills work practice standard shall not apply to synthetic polymer containing 0.1% or less or vinyl chloride monomer,
III. Definitions
a) "Regulated areas" means an area where entry and exit is restricted and controlled
b) "Waste resin" means any resin or other reaction products removed tram vessels which contain freely eriuai.itwj vinyl chloride unnomer.
c) "Closed container" is any container which is used to prevent the physical contact oi waste material containing freely emanating vinyl chloride monomer lrom Contact with the individual,
d) "Contaminated" refers to the pm-rnee ol l reeiy imirwing vinyl chloride monomer which would not nv'iii11 y he found or expected a no where, it eould com,ritune to employee exposure.
c) "Saturated" refers to clothing Contain!mated with materials contain ing freely emanating vinyl chloride Monomer so that the clothing may become a source of exposure.
f) "Immediate" means without delay, at onco.
g) "Prompt" means within a reasonable time. This refers to situations loss otijct't.
h) "Working level" rofurs to the atmospheric concert lt*at Jon of a con taminant or material which. In the light of current knowledge and technology, may be achieved.
*SV 0000648
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IV environmental (Workplace Air)
a) Concentration*
Vinyl chloride monomer concentrations* in the breathing zone of employees nliai) not exceed a working level of 50 \%im determined as a time-weighted average (TWA) exposure for an eight-hour work day.
b) Sampling, Calibration, and Analysis
Procedures for the collection of environmental samples shall be uu provided ior in Appendix I* ol this; work practices; standard or by an equivalent method. Analysis of samples shall he as provided In Appendix J I * or by any method shown to be equivalent in precision, sensitivity, and accuracy to the specified method.
V. Medical
a) Medical surveillance os specified in this section of the work practices standard for manufacturing of polyvinyl chloride resins shali apply to all employees engaged in this operation.
b) Medical surveillance shall ho required or made available t:o workers covered by this work practices standard no less frequently than every twelve (12) months. This medical program shall ho considered the practical minimum and these examinations should be reviewed every three (1) years for revisions and supplemental testing where indicated.
u) Tito ^replacement and annual examinations shall consist of;
1) History
A. Medical history 0. Comfn'Ohcrisi ve work hi story C. Specific past exposures to VCM-PVC D. Cancer background history
7) Physical
Complete physical examination by a physician
1) Radiological Examination
A. 1* x 17 chest x*ray A, Hinds
4) Pulmonary Function
A. FVC * reVi
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SV 0000649
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5) Blood Work
A. Complete blood count
(1) rod blood count: (?) while :>Kiod count And differential (d) hemoglobin (4) henwtocrit
B. Platelet count
C. Blood chemistry
(J) bilirubin (2) SUO-T (3) SGP-7 (4) alkaline phosphatase (5) LDH (G> BUN (7) total protein (8) albumin
6) Urinalysis
A. Routine urine chemistries K. Microscopic
7) Other
Other lusts ao may be Indicated based on medical findings* history, or state of the art.
d) If an employee shows an abnormal test or finding, more frequent examinations shall be performed.
Vf. labeling and Posting
a) Signs
1) Durances to the regulated arcus shall bo prominently ported with legible signs bearing the following;
* T?AH(;t:K! CANOES 5U?PrCT AGt'NT ANNA AUTHORJX.hn I'llKSOKtffclb ONLY
b) Labe} s for Monomer Containers
Vinyl chloride memumer Jn containers or vessels located ouir.ido the regulated area shall be labeled as fell own;
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RSV 0000650
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ViNVL CE'SLOESBE
DANGERI
EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE LIQUID AND GAS UNDER PRESSURE _
HARMFUL IF INHALED
MAY POLYMERIZE VIOLENTLY UNDER FIRE CONDITIONS OR LOSS OR REMOVAL OF INHIBITOR
Keep owoy from heat, sparks, ond open Romo. Keep container closed.
Use with adequate vcniiieliofl. Avoid breathing vapor. Avoid contact with skin.
Keep cylinder out of sun and owoy from heat.
Container should be grounded when being emptied.
Never drop cylinder.
FIRST AID: If inhaled, remove to fresh oir. If not breathing give orliticioi retpirotion, preferably mouth*to*mout!i. If breothing is difficult, give oxygen. Coll o phyticiorr.
In cose of: Fire -- Use woler sproy, dry chemical, or CO.*.
Spill or Leak - For small spills, cvocuoie orea and pcrmil to evoporoto. For largo spills or le aks, evacuate area. Dike or flush to ground and lot evaporate. Do not Ousts tosewer because of explosion hozord.
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c) Waste Resins
Waste resins shall bo removed from the reguloted area for disposal and shall be placed In closed containers Itaviny the following label!
WASTE VINYL CHLORIDE RESIN PANCCR1, KAY CONTAIN VINYL CHLORIDE MONOMER
ixrmwr.t.Y kmkwablr VINYL CHLORIDE IS A CANCER SUSi'ECT AKNT
d) Equipment
r-quifimo.iu., nvibm'iAl and clothing uontominatod with vinyl chloride monomer shall not be removed from the regulated area imicae it has been decontaminated or placed in closed containers bearing the following .legend i
DANKER! CONTAMINATED WITH VINYL CIIX-OKIIM! MONOMER CANCER SUSPECT AGENT
VI1 * Personal Protective Equipment and ClotLiny
a) Clothing
Protective gloves, footwear or foot Coverings* and protective head covering shall be worn as appropriate. This provision shall also oprly to reactor cleaning operations whore levels of vinyl chloride monomer are below SO ppm within tho reactor onviz*oinOnt
Tor reactor cleaning operations where levels within the reactor environment: are in excess of M> ppm, impervious clothing >jh*ll bo woi'ti to prevent skin contact of vinyl chloride monomer nr other materials containing vinyl chloride monomer.
b) Respiratory Protection
1) General IZ.
When the limits of exposure prescribed in Section A fa) cannot be root by limiting the concentration oi vinyl chloride monomer in the work environment; through feasible engineering />an<t , an r.npUiynr must- eel alii i r.h and enforce a program of rivyii tvlory pi%k notion detailing the required protection of each worker expoted.
Respiratory protection as defined below shall be provided and used when o variance which allows the use of respirators as a moans of control ling <fX|>o*nirft fyt. routine operations hac; boon grained or wliiJn aotion on an application for a variance 1 r. pending.
RSV 0000652
?) Non-Routine Operation*
Thu requirements set; forth In this section shall apply for non-routoe operations such as brief exposure to concentrations in excess of the working level as a result of maintenance or repair activities* emunjoncy *<koatinns* or other short-time non standard work routines. A respiratory protection program mooting the general requirements outlined in Section 3.5 of the American National Standard Fractious* lor Respiratory Protection Eftn.2-J963 shall bo established and enforced ny the employer. This program chal) include instructions on the selection* fitting, use* testing for leakage, cleaning* and muintonunoc of tho respiratory protec
tive devices.
3) Reactor Cleaning and Maintenance
Whore employees are engaged in clowning and maintenance opera tions inside polymerization roactors at a concentration maintained below 50 ppm* respiratory protection shall be made available in case of excursion above this Jimit or as may bo nuedod for coeape from the reactor. Where employees aro engaged in meaning and maintenance operations inside polymerination reactors at concentra tions in excess of 5D ppm, they shall be provided with and wear an air-supplied respirator. The type of respiratory protection to be used shall be of an air-supplied type, self-contained* or by air lines. Sources of air for the respiratory protection shall be free of contaminants.
VIII* Apprisal of Employees
ttaeh employee exposed to vinyl chloride monomer shall bo apprised of all hazards* the consequences of overexposure, appropriate emergency procedures* proper conditions for safe use* and precaution* to minimise
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IX. Work Fractious
a) Emergency Procedures
Specific emergency procedures shall be prescribed. The procedures
shall bo readily available, in writing* to tho employees. The employees
shall bo
liarlzed with these procedures* and trained and rehearsed
in their application.
b) tftglneering Procedures
Engineering procedures shall be established to reduce exposure of employees to vinyl chloride monomer vapors In poiyAter aonufactui'ing. Where local exhaust ventilation is used* it shall bo designed and
maintained to proven? tho accumulation of or recirculation of vinyl
chloride monomer vapor into the work area.
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c) General Housekeeping
2) Emphasis shall be placed upon inwiindiato clean up of spills, periodic inspection, prompt repair of equipment and leaks, and proper storage and disposal oi materials to prevent airborne
contamination and accidental akin contact with vinyl chloride monomer.
b) There stull be periodic tests for leaks and for omission oi vinyl chloride monomer which may result from work practices. The frequency of these tests shall bo such as to insure the integrity of equipment and adherence to proper work practices. Tests shall bo performed at least daily or move frequently i f ambient work atmospheric concentre Cions of vinyl chloride monomer am In excess of the working level.
3) For waste material and contaminated equipment handling, see , Section VI (c) and VI (U) on Labeling <md Pouting.
d) Special Precautions
Vinyl chloride monomer is a gas at ambient temperatures. There fore, waste nvH.eri*!, equipment* and other sources of the monomer in closed containers shall not bo plucud in areas of excessive temperature or sunlight since build up of Internal pressure may result in rupture of thu container, fire or explosion.
e) keactor and Vessel nntvy
A reactor and vessel entry procedure shall he developed, nmployr.i-o
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xod with the procedure in writing, and shall be train-
ed and rehearsed in the techniques p'oviried for in the procedure.
Atmospheres within UiO. vessel shall be purged to where vinyl chloride monomer contained therein is below #>o ppm and the oxygen content contained therein is sufficient for supporting life. Where either* the vinyl chloride monomnr concentration cannot b<=? reduced below
50 ppm or where there is insufficient oxygon or where other toxic materials may be present in concentrations dangerous to life, an air*-
supplied respirator system and protective clothing, au stated in Section Vil^2>, of this wnrk practice standard r.iiaii hit provided by the employer
and uu>-d by the employee.
AU piping to And from the veaoeJ cliail ho blanked or otherwise isolated prior to entry.
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X Sanitation
4) General
Storage or consumption of food, utormge or use of container* of bwvir<fjrj, utorage of application of cosmetics, smoking scoragt of fi<king materials, tobacco products or othor product:; for chewing, or the chewing ot such product:;, are prohibited in regulated areas*
b) Showoru and Hand Washing Facilities
Showers, hand washing facilities, ond uovp and Water Alkali he available to all VCM-PVC workers. !>ployees engaged in reactor cleaning or other operations requiring vessel entry shall showor ot Urn end of the vmrk shirt.
c) Clothing
Clothing saturated with vinyl chloride monomer or with other process streams containing vinyl chloride monomer shall bo promptly removed and replaced with uncontaminutod clothing.
XI. Monitoring and Record-Keeping Requirements
a) Workplace Areas
1) Concentrations of vinyl chloride monomer in the work room area Shall he monitored at strategic sampling points. Adequate records of these concentration* shall he maintained and held available for inspection for a period ot twenty (VO) yearn.
2) Sampling frequency and patterns shall be adequate to represent the work room area environment and to demonstrate the integrity of the equipment: and work practices.
h) Personnel Monitoring
After the initial determination, campling shall he of such frequency and pat.Lfij^u as to represent with accuracy the levels of exposure of employees. In no capo shall the sampling bc done vv intnrv/i) n*i-aLer than six <&) months* Uecords shall be maintained for twenty (VO) years for all sample schedules to include the sampling data, analytical methods, typo of respiratory protection in use (if applicable), and tho concentra tion* of vinyl chloride monomer* Record* shall be maintained so that they (My he classified by employee.
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llaoh worker shall have access to hia sample results as they pertain to occupational exposure*
Reactor or other vessel environments shall be periodically nonitored at frequent intervals for vinyl chloride monomer concentrations* during the times they arc occupied ty an employee. Records of these measuremoney ultall l>n Maintained as hereinbefore provided. XII, Tank Car Unloading
CoOh unloading line and each vapor equalizing line shall be equipped with vent connections permitting* ot the completion oi unloading* pressure to be vented, uihJ the hose purged with an inert gas to a point remote from employ005' workplace.
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