Document 5L1wkLZazMDMOnvzRYQ70j8Oz

Hobart L. Leabke, H.D Oran D. Steffey March 26, 1979 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ACTIVITIES - MARCH, 1979 The fourth quarter, 1978 Conqulsta Radiation Monitoring Program Results have been received and have been reviewed These reporta indicate no unusual conditions relative to the present acceptable radiation exposure roles and regulations. An Interoffice Communication has been distributed relative to OSHA Instruction STD 1-24.1, which establishes policy for Inspection and compliance procedure and presents interpretations of the Preservation of Employee Exposure and Medical Records. This OSHA Directive has been transmitted to the OSHA Field Offices and will be used by the compliance officers for their evaluation of this sensitive subject. A copy of the OSHA Lead Standard, along with a summary of the partial stay of the standard ordered by the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, has been furnished Mr. Pat Scott, Research and Development Department. These were to be used by Mr. Scott In his work relative to lead in CONOCO products. Also furnished for his use wad toxicological information on methanol. NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin No. 31 on the Adverse Health Effects of Smoking and the Occupational Environment has bean reviewed. This bulletin deals with the increasing evidence of adverse health effects due to the combined actions of tobacco uss and exposure to Chernies! and physical agents in the workplace. The Hetlonal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health recommends that the use of and/or carrying of tobacco products into the workplace be curtailed in situations Where employees may he exposed to physical or chemical substances which can interact with tobacco products. A review has been made of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed amendment to 10C7R, parts 19 and 20, that would eliminate the accumulated dose averaging formula 5(N-18), and the associated Form HRC-4 exposure history, and Impose annual dose limiting standards while retaining quarterly standards. Related amendments would express in terms of the new annuel standards, the standard for doss to minors, the requirements for the provision of personnel monitoring equipment, and the requirements for control of total dose to all workers including transient and moonlighting workers. MCD 000000658 Robert L. Lembke, M.D. Page Two March 26, 1979 Toxicological Information has been furnished to Mr. Bobby R. Shelton, BOS, relative to a number of substances found In cooling tower water additives. Complaints had been registered with BOS that some type of Irritating substances were being emitted from the air conditioning duct8 of the R&D Material Science Building. Since a refinery cooling tower is located near this building it was suspected that cooling water additives were being picked up in the air conditioning intake and being spread throughout the work areas* A number of substances in the cooling tower water additives are irritating and could cause dermatitis. Industrial Hygiene/Medical inspection schedules have been completed for refineries, most of the chemical plants, and Carbon Black plants. A date yet needs to be set with the Oklahoma City Chemical Plant and with the Conqulsta Mining and Milling Operations. This sets a busy schedule which extends from middle April through November. Greater demand on the time of Corporate Medical Industrial Hygiene and toxicology increase the great need for help in this office. This extends to the areas where Safety Material Data needs to be reviewed and updated, where recent toxicological information needs to be reviewed and filed, where time needs to be given to reviewing and keeping abreast with the volume of government regulations, where time la not sufficient to allow industrial hygiene to work on important task force groups and to attend important meetings such as API and similar Important organizational working groups. It is recommended that serious thought be given to a way where an additional parson might ba added to this important work if this office la to render the service which is expected of it. A summary of general recommendations for handling and use of insecticides end pesticides has been written for use by Dr. Lembke. This included the safe storage of all materials, the giving of close attention to labels, instructions and ingredients, along with information for the attending physician in the event of poisoning, the matter of protective clothing end equipment, the disposal of materials and their containers and the suggested cautions to take when applying materials, including the protection of children and pets. Leak wipe tests for radioactive materials used at Lake Charles Chemical Plant and Wrenshall Refinery have been received and evaluated. The Lake Charles Chemical Plant has been aided in amendments to their Radioactive Materials License for addition of two Cesium-137 sources. A number of Technical Service Product Sheets and Marketing Material Safety Date Sheets have been received. Mbet of these have been filed in the proper binders. Others will be filed as soon as time permits for proper adjustment of indexes. MCD 000000659 Robert L. Leabke, M.D Page Three March 26, 1979 Mr. Lowell Betow, Ponca City Refinery, has been supplied with a copy of the Lead Standard and the partial stay along with copies of the NIOSH Analytical and Monitoring Procedures and the NIOSH Criteria Document Procedure for Monitoring for Lead. This is for the purpose of use for monitoring for lead and other heavy metals in the catalyst dusts during turnaround operations of the Ponca City Refinery FCC units. A radiological survey has been made of the x-ray room in the new Medical facilities. Personal direct reading dosimeters and G-M survey meter were used to evaluate the amount of x-radiation, from chest and thoracic shots, which might be scattered and which might be transmitted by way of the primary beam through walls. The results Indicated the room to be well shielded and scattered radiation to be very low and at safe levels. A number of thermoluminescent dosimeters were attached In strategic locations within the room and In adjacent rooms. These will be evaluated at the end of a three to four week period and will give an idea of chronic radiation accumulations, if any* A copy of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Guide No. 8.13, entitled Instruction Concerning Prenatal Radiation Exposure, was sent to Mr. Jim Sweeney, Conquista Project. This is relative to questions concerning a young female laboratory worker at the milling site. A number of Petroleum Product Specification Revisions have been received and have been filed In proper binders. Many of these are slight changes in Industrial lubricant blending stocks and are needed by Corporate Industrial Hygiene In aiding members of the Corporate Medical Division In defining toxicology of various CONOCO products at times of emergency exposures not only to our own employees but to the general public. Corporate Industrial Hygiene will be participating In a Radiation Safety Course which Is a Proposed CONOCO Research and Development Department Training Program. The purpose of this course would be to prepare technically trained personnel In the use of radioactive materials. The course would be designed to meet minimm Federal and state regulatory requirements. A minimum of "class room" participation on the part of Corporate Industrial Hygiene is expected since the plan Is to use members of the OSD School of Radiation Technology. A preliminary verbal poll Indicates an interest among several of the refinery and chemical plant personnel. MCD 000000660 Robert L. Lembke, M.D Page Four March 26, 1979 In reviewing an ORC memorandum concerning Health Standards Updates: Hexavalent Chrome - This Is considered a high priority Item, and a lot of work is going on. Beryllium - OSHA is working full blast on this standard at this time and it has the full attention of tha front office. Respirators - In the future, for exposure to any hazardous substance where a respirator may be used, a quantitative fit test will be required. Hltrosoaalnes - There is increasing pressure on OSHA to put out a standard dealing with this group of substances. Noise - OSHA's Alice Suter is still going ahead with plans for a standard set at 85 db. Carcinogens in the Laboratory - There la some pressure and a fair amount of sympathy in OSHA for the introduction of a standard for working with carcinogens in the laboratory. OSHA needs data for its standard, especially some input from industry on what they do and do not do to protect their laboratory workers. Lead - OSHA is planning to require that all laboratories that do analysis of lead monitoring samples be certified by the CDC. Heat Stress - This is actually being worked on in the Office of Safety Standards. Dr. Purswell has a very strong interest in this subject, and is actively organising a project to work on it. Other personnel have been hired specifically to work on the project. Cancer Policy - The Interagency Regulatory Liaison Group (HLC) Report, "Scientific Basis for Identifying Potential Carcinogens end Estimating Their Risks" is a very Important new development and may represent a major new approach to the cancer policy of OSHA. Time has not permitted a complete detailed study of this report. Many more comments were made in the review by ORC which have to do with Enforcement and Health Standards Updates and these bear close attention and an awareness of what changes may come about. With a very busy month, along with time taken to move with the Division to new quarters, the Annual Corporate Safety Meeting held in Houston was attended in part. Oran D. Steffey Industrial Hygienist rla MOD 000000661