Document 5DQrOXvYQpaGVrQNB7wB4X7Xz
THE ASSOCIATED ETHYL COMPANY LIMITED
- Ji'tr- Office: THE ADEJ.PHI, LOXPOX.W.C. 2
-1/lress all communications until fkrtlier notice to:-
T, . ...-------------- ----- -.. -
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1, KIXGSWA1,
W.C.3
iXirectors:
J. W. BOYLE H. B. HEATH EVES N . A . GASS W. N. GRUBS (U.S.A)
J. 3. AUG. KESSLER (NETHERLANDS)
R. W. SELLERS A. U. SIINNGGLLEET' ON E. E SOUBRY
L. N. HAMILTON (U-S.A) E.W.V/ESB '*j S.A)
T.a.A SEVAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR
Telephone: Temple Bar 5225 (4 lines) Inland Telegrams: Ethylport, Estrand, London
XA. 0/29
m/m.
YOUR RE?*.
21st August, 1940.
'Dr. B.'A. Kehoe , '' Dept, of Physiology, ; College of Medicine, -University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
Dear'Dr. Kehoe,
As you may well imagine ws are experiencing some concern over
potential hazards which are likely to be involved in.the event of air attack
on certain large concentrations of Ethyl Fluid which are at present being
stored in this country. The British Air Ministry have had constructed for
them directly on their own account many very large underground petrol storage
depots. The general planning.of these depots has been under the direct
control of the Works Department of the Air Ministry, but the actual work of
construction has been sub-contracted to: the various large individual oil
companies.' The development, which was initiated;several years ago, was
naturally covered with a very heavy, cloak of secrecy, and we were not directly
consulted in the first stages regarding the. lead blending facilities. In
the original'specifications, although the:gasoline tanks were placed underground,
\ the Ethyl blending plant was of a: normal design and was placed on ground level.
Subsequently, but very much later: in the development, we came into the picture,
and we pointed out the lack of logic in protecting the gasoline but leaving
the highly vulnerable Ethyl Fluid completely unprotected from either bomb blast
and/or splinters or from anti-aircraft shall splinters, the two phases being
qilite distinctive. *
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/ ..'."'t".,,. Following this it was decided to modify ^the design of the standard
open type of building by surrounding the storage area with reinforced 14" concrete
blast'walls and by providing a concrete roof. This treatment clearly offers a
very material degree of protection against bomb blast and.small splinters which might fall in a vertical direction.. It is assumed .that the 14" reinforced
.. .. concrete wails will give adequate protection against bomb blast should a bomb
fall within about 70 ftof the plant.
I have just described the situation as it exists, and there is little
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else we can do about it, although w feel that it was very unfortunate we were not consulted in the very initial stages, when naturally w would not have recommended the normal type of plant. My own reoosmmdations would then have been to embody bulk blending facilities,.the;bulk-tanks being buried well-below ground level. This would have been perfectly .feasiblefor all the pump houses are well below ground level and ; are; virtually Impregnable even against a direct hit* and, in view of the gasoline hazard.,in=an enclosed underground pump house, aa efficient forced ventilation system is in all cases Installed, It would thus be perfectly easy to ventilate the underground bulk blending room at the same time. However, as I have said, we did not con into the picture until too-lateand we are nm faced,with the position that all the blending facilities are placed above the ground,
.. ^ "The amount of Fluid held in. storage at,;;ach point;is; relatively
great,' varying from <500 to SOU^draas,'which-are'gearal-ly :-split-ieti'een two
platforms, - : Some platforms, 'however;-contain 3p0-barrels*. -
...
'rW are naturally concerned: as to what would happen in the. very . unfoxtuhate event of"one of these large storage platforms suffering a hit 'from a'heavy bomb', The target;is, >of 'Course, a small one. and, the buildings
are'camouflaged, `'"'The possibility is, therefore;, a remote one,-but naturally it is hot impossible for a stray bomb, to effect a direct hit. It. is a situation: which we pray-will never happen, -411 these-depots are being 'operated bn behalf- of tlis Air Ministry by the.Petroleum Board, and T have had ` several discussions with the Air Raid precautions Branch .of their Operating Department, ; The problems are manifold .and dependent on local circumstances /" ' to 'such'air extent that it is not possible to' be mors than, general in one's , , recommendations. - - Th 'individual problems ar being .discussed with the Superintendent of each -depot,' it.'.:',: -j
One of th major problems concerns drainage, "it is possible for a ` ,, large number'of barrels-to be shattered by blast and for the platform itself
' to'remain'-more or less intact. In'these-circumstances it,would be possible ' .for quantities' of Fluid in the border-of 5,000 gallons to be .discharged into the
.'platform' drainage"ayatam.-'- fh;.interceptor,pit, which;..has .beennormally provided follows'our current practice:and- is of.relatively small capacity. It Would bertainly; overflow ia' the-revent.rof . a catastrophe occurring in'the order which I have just indicated, la;^ormalv-peace...time conditions; it is more or less
KE 0015782
D R.i. Mo.
21st August, 1340.
DATE..
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iBoiflBXioais 3 .ni.adHo ot ai dOBOncan ~o SoriJeas IsoJLioX vino a t dadi osirar.'-iu: I cadi*
&its
#ftt4ss#xild^#ff40i^sioJ?
utmost,
oX/.oaa4ltJjeo,wJ4 a**^^yn&ev9g*Jj&$iyi f IS*?!#0?*:.? fhese plgffbs are
trso rsgeTW84d>dgm^rW^3^P9^pfej9.^
f&* <%9ofc$tim is
^concerned r Sr.la &ae [instanqearJheyjSipy ;teritut3< -ia-tli* f^fflt.,e.,lsolated
>n a v^eouatrj istere tfcewto*/i*t&*
#M?o?f*era'ay
providing natural drainage.. :):^a ihfse 0c-th..g5er^1,;;drainage at
the depot, after passing through a gasoline interceptor, is led into a deep
TTB.f&;pjss&iteay:ii1-aiai..oth;@rcftlrUSatMCdW
be led into a
v&aall;ditraa^Jilohsi^tTPgS'xthreugh, pto2feM`r.^jbt.Meda^M-ttlet.o,-^ other
-nsldosq cpoint* tte'ftiuX diaohergaimay
i*$?$cr0?n&f$ot into
3d>t
poslt|fjacwh5li.
a
orxeoIcffitinXelpajEosewaff.B c o t S od al noli-Ilsd&az lio on jiiiidDcddr, lo aupiartoet
. .-.XT3xfiriooG.!. lo t s crx'A o-yrsl s -;cf era bv'-nlloJ. ecf oJ- erodf
r^rlr r:nd ,>;dx:r>or
=--r. h c~ .a t o x s `rillX'-aoethat.fifsth^Sthyloinfeewcep^?ro^hoyidrflcQ^J,it is
-'pqr by no m&mi ineMeoivshM 'thatLldrgdrimsat|,ti^sj# Ipjyl,-Mft ]?i4i'rerted
*--%bn&idferaM'e~thodghfitO'^M's pos sfcMMtyexmdr.la.rffrh kir.p^tsn^a ^..decided
rix' that%-s^lXXintqrd'eptor;can/ibasrsgardedt-ia t&su-M'ght pf;i;a ^^^a-r/^0 are
,-a It 3^herafof#, "propbs lag otaxrsoeOTedd',ArulTO`S being inssrposatqclj 1$ >i-hf f^ajLns
STVJEf ' jii|||^!|j|j^^
In the event of a catastrophese ectj&dWOttJdijhftve-.fche effect j.qol.|,^|||ing
the Fluid inside the surrounding' eurh. of the platform. As an immediate JIM ~1ireat!&3ffi;^ff0r & Ilri^d<TtEisos^sa'ooad^^floqd&d'^i.tli water and "im
34Siiijiiisp^ " "'3byr**m oiannsa
into thejJ
nalAsr
vid/leal* fps*' :^3&aia
jc'rxj:
irohably
bf>r p-.;ts;*lcc 'o Hr sir
a-nn j socWi*550? ,
xrumt---o;lA'bo
'"Z's refits*. cr^moPmm^iB^ MtFeiteai
ocnnrc'lc ,
afrfc-he
to the
surro^r-diog* grpfiad^11
1 *osv,!"' '- :Ji y' -:j'!l 8S3 odd ^laoqxs y -Qio .Mt s
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p;j u .-o ,'ii':j :I.-,;!)i i,ij
a t . _* .-j o '-f-i ' f> -f.
` ` :'s 'y >hbuid-TOVo'JitJclehf'i.t 'thlr. poiut tjbat, ths a
build ^ge are
naOv/i oitttf.tfid in- remote coiners cf the depots. Hitch. in nearly all caces*, are
Ao nol corsti'L-rted'Va. vir/ip''countair-r' rbtL,lcj?ge cpnorct-c.-arcnc, or roads are
neofi-forU-i ^ac-cr.*!. r Ihort '&;>*& rmuxwd in- ail,.^c'.s:a KpfA3.
road
erne COd&OitB
to thr! nintf'orrc Vadn.^ ' y:`iloh 'dir^oA >hiV-y `^Idib'cV )".rar
herroi^ c;ld m**' *3*er`h^
be brough.;^, poHslhiii.ty,
ox of
may^e *, v?>;,
i-Jiorc n'
xb a .f5ailoa3
sdi cf. viuJ.d brifip? eoJiV overrfhe"-V^rdUndin'? 'groo"d,j.,. df.r)thorafieo,ttci afea
das
'fhouid be Irrp-' it is vctryVHfin.lt tr i-o o j t - nd c*- loHtive mol ho, of treatment'o^erytcn'ysbicilnVJtrV *rfes^i3^o^S^cscarcos con bc- OTganised.
!
KE 0015783
o&ex . te/innA- ieJ
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Then I imagine that the only logical method of approach is to obtain a mechanic
0da?atorcM&'Jiaeihe
remove all- thd''contaminated-' $S*th and
"tettry it. -'-"1 This Jpr6CMars eonia-uMdihttiy be'put`~ittd dew, bai^ it would
onthil"'delay' in obtaiSihg^th# qi'ipfiiht', 7t'h': problem''again being gait .clear,
-li depots-at the moment IfoWstraetioaal 'tdrfe on extensions 'id still ts-progress and
s `large mechanical exoat'atore1 hfe:oh the site..-f; %{t;r-sh
' exiti.\
seh s'da^si. pptf/si:
t aollose^'a'digtfom^S- ifii&aacf '^biiS .focreh' xvdijt
-rj~j ~sl ^ ''Another `factdr'^MCh-mighi be'-int'cltedils^th^*question of\Inoen&iary
5 -bombs. " 'I{,thia]te that'tM-reinforced^dohdrete^rcof`woaM'undOnbtedly give
``direct -''prctectiCh'sgiinet^^aetr&tion' of ah'ineendi-&ry bomb j. and it; is;.a problem
Which Soe^'hot caah'e toe mash - eonberh. 7J RGV?sver,'-aniyott-probablydno^^ the
technicue of sttcekino an oil insteJlpf ton is to drop a.wave-of..high*'explosive
fcomno, and then for those to be followed up by a largo number of incendiaries.
- True It *z jest
that our 'to-"'s\;j cl itform mayiauffer severe damage
from hi ~h explo^ 5 *-* ? end lor?*1- cnestitjer of.vlui'd-,^aild'be lying shout upon
-:Mch en Inccrsd: n bemb might fsJl. 3: -> ot -at > .all; clear as to .'exactly
` "-hot would haoT-on'in these c* recant-rice's. There should,he adequate, water
supplies for firs fi^ttinTM. ond the pl-i'/forar fehemeelrea, (if.undaaaged) will
hem
fyrtems. ihc noint vMo'i concerns, mediae the .probability that ,
J c, ocol of gthyh ^3 old '-f-jif be ignite;, by or incendiary"bomb., The temperature
r to so hign that 1 imagine this would be so. , '..itijr > .? "o
' ~n r i am 'afraid1'I 'have - bees rather'long-winded i-a giylng-.yqu,,a^.,outline
:'J1 pfpp||ff:.|^^
i; lilfplr
make many useful suggestions which would be of great value to. us., .
!'s ': {crc it. in otlicr very important minted, phase, sail this concerns
' the',possibility of the ^ork-ita at the depots oxperianciu^ a yery^everq direct
exposure to'tetratxhyl lefdp It in cfcr;V-i',.; that if a n~jox' catastrophe
occurs ccmcthing fce.6 got to bo done about it ond sorrtbcdy has got,,to do the
work.
ire recommend log that ei'f-ficisut coiij-.lrtn sot
standard Sthyl
_ manShich, obeyId be c g u *1J* effccii-f-, - "Tij.r.oonpr.lEoe mJ.bbef^boqts^and a " ' ccm^iotcly'eMlotibr-suit of. oilskin, this erihodjiac a hnod^c,preying ths head
and only trio slug 1-hc gas mast- face picco. It s.eeas clear j theiofbrei that the
mistoi ifchemcolvcs should be complotely prot-cotoc against direct tqi^qsu'r''*' hut they
,4'` 'msv^ b'-4 forced to wovk in oih^&vyi concentration of T._T. for n^ny usys.
.tfsj-v ,^in;^ --T -O ..... .............. - ' '
f,-,
s~" 'f* ' ';This~ probability was dioenssed nt oonct. ccnsiderab.'iiy lefig^h between
^l/inoberts'-.n end
during
cccscioa cf; *. joint tobj* ^jih^tiotion of
,, r r many of, fhoae depot p * "rDr. Uohsrtccn - felt that, &3,thougn "a" " jicmijEseliy he1 complexly' pict^ctcd ho.rosild feel inclined to,
-'.psbphyloc vie trontHFit,
y hit >nn<eWiticsa?. precaution.
another
^. fjictor "hic he rf2i w*'.Id *>u,T>port .-thi? courre. It must bo
possible
" f;r:+,^e v-r>cie:f tc suffer e> ccv'evc erpocuro with no
and
K% 0015784
or mPg. R.A. Kehoe.
21st August, 1940.
DATE
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conditions may ba so disorganised that it is impassible for us to send skilled medical help. Dr. .Robertson has prepared a memorandum expressing his am personal views, and he feels that even in the event of the latter situation the prophylactic treatment recommended would be of some material benefit.
I am sending-you herewith a copy of Dr, Robertson's personal memorandum to me on the subject, and also a copy of the form in which I transmitted it to the Petroleum Board, since we decided to follow the suggestions. It was after discussing this aspect with Ray that we mads the decision to pat forward Br. Robertson's recommendations as w felt that the situation was assuming a considerable degree of latent urgency.
I have now placed the facts before you and it is quite possible you may disagree with our action, VFe would naturally value your reactions. On the other hand should they be favourable the knowledge would be of great satisfaction to ue as it would give us some indication of the value which could be placed on the proposals.
Yours very truly,
Original by steamer.
4
K 0015785
The Prophylactic Treatment of Blenders Exposed to Lead After Damage to T.E.L. Plant
by Dr. J. Douglas Robertson.
Memorandum on suggested prophylactic treatment of men having a greater exposure to or contact with tetraethyl lead than in their ordinary blending duties, e.g. dealing with a bombed TEL plant when there is much spilling of fluid.
The following treatment i3 based on the work of Kehce (T.A.M.A. 1925, 85, 108 and J. of Med. Cincinnati 19:30, March 3.) who has employed some or all of the following measures in the treatment of established lead poisoning. It is suggested that by employing these measures prophylactically the danger of lead poisoning may be minimised.
At the end of each day's work,dealing with the damage, workers should observe the following routine:
1. Before leaving the station ingestion of the following powder:
Sodium bicarbonate Magnesium carbonate Calcium carbonate aa gr x
This powder achieves its results by preventing the combination of lead and tissue, the lead being left free for excretion in soluble form.
2. During the next half hour to one hour, two pints of water should be drunk. This will provide a diuresis and aid excretion of lead in the urine.
3. Rest quietly at home without undue exercise.
4. Avoid alcohol.
5. First thing the next morning before eating or drinking a dose of Epsom Salts should be taken. This aids the free secretion of lead into gut and its subsequent excretion.
These measures should be continued daily and so long as the undue exposure to TEL exists.
I would suggest the following or some such simple notice might be hung up at some convenient place at each plant.
Instructions to workers when any untoward accident to the plant arises and fluid is spilt.
At the end of the day's work carry out the following instructions
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N21168.01
carefully. 1. Take the white "alkali" powder mixed with jg tumbler of 'water before
leaving the station. 2. During the next hour drink 2 pints of water. 3. Rest quietly at home and do. not drink alcohol. 4. First thing next morning take a dose of Epsom salt3. Garry out these instructions daily until the lead fluid has been dealt with.
kB 0015787
THE ASSOCIATED ETHYL CO. LTD,
MEMORANDUM.: ON PRECAUTIONS TO 3E APPLIED IN THE EVENT OF SEVERE DAMAGE TO ETHYL BLINDING OS ,STORAGE PLANTS.
In the event of, say, an air attack, a large store of Ethyl Fluid represents a potential hazard of a considerable degree. It is possible for a very much greater quantity of Ethyl Fluid to be spilt than could possibly be experienced during the course of normal operations.
The workmen detailed to deal with a major leakage will, of course, be provided with the normal protective clothing, including gas masks, and the situation will be handled in accordance with the general regulations promulgated by the Medical Department of the Associated Ethyl Co. governing the handling and blending of Ethyl Fluid. These precautions in themselves should give complete protection to the workmen.
It is conceivable in such an emergency that, for same reason which might not be subject to normal control, workmen might be directly exposed to tetraethyl lead. In any case, with the normal protective measures, several days' work might be involved in disposing of a large quantity of Fluid which might be spilt, giving rise to an abnormal exposure.
The object of this memorandum is to set forth some additional medical
precautions to be followed after such an emergency. The measures suggested should
be continued daily as long as the undue exposure vo Ethyl Fluid exists. It
should be emphasised that the measures are purely an added precaution and will
exert a prophylactic effect, if through faulty clothing or gas masks the men might
experience accidentally a direct exposure.
The following instructions should be
given to all workmen involved:
Instructions to workers when any untoward accident arises whereby Ethyl Fluid is spilt.
(1) At the end of the day's work all the special clothing'will be removed and a shower bath taken, strictly in accordance with the normal blending regulations.
(2) Take the white alkaline powder mixed with half a tumbler of water before leaving the station.
(3) During the next half hour drink two pints of water.
(4) Rest quietly at home and do not drink alcohol.
(5) First thing next morning take a dose of Epsom or Glauber salts or a Seidlitz powder.
(6) Carry out these instructions daily until the Ethyl Fluid has been disposed of.
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