Document 6Rzr77BGKo08RoG6Od3zX59g3

Immediate GOODRICH STATEMENT ON OSHA STANDARD Contact: J. 0. Rollans Phone: (216) 379-3462 500 South Main St., Akron, Ohio 44318 AKRON, Oct. 2 -- The B.F.Goodrich Company said today the record of hearings conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not support the necessity nor the feasibility of the permanent standard for exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) in the work atmosphere of VC and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plants. Goodrich said its comments are based on a preliminary analysis of the per manent standard which was announced Tuesday afternoon by OSHA. The company said it intends to continue all plant operations and also seek further reductions in the low levels of VC exposure achieved through intensive efforts over the past several months. Goodrich said it will do whatever is required to sustain its operations, but the company intends to seek legal review of OSHA's final standard. OSHA's standard, effective Oct. 4, has three phases. The current exposure limit of 50 parts-per-million (ppm) will continue until Jan. 1, 1975. Thereafter, the standard will require that VC exposure levels be reduced to one ppm averaged over any eight-hour period and five ppm averaged over any period no longer than 15 minutes. For higher exposure levels, the standard requires that employers provide certain respiratory devices for employees, but OSHA says the wearing of respirators, until Dec. 31, 1975, "shall be at the discretion of each employee for exposures not in excess of 25 ppm." The use of respirators will be mandatory after Jan. 1, 1976, whenever VC exposure exceeds the allowable levels of one and five ppm. Goodrich said these levels were established arbitrarily and are not sup ported by the record of OSHA hearings conducted in February and this summer. (more) TQ Q S08&2 BFG34971 Immediately GOODRICH, PHILLIPS JOIN TOXICOLOGY INSTITUTE CHEMICAL DIVISION Contact: Cleveland Lane Phone: 216/379-2662 500 South Main Street; Akron, OH 44318 Dear Editor: The attached release from the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology announces that B.F.Goodrich Chemical Company has become a member of CUT. While CUT has distributed it, Goodrich is supplementing the distribution by sending it to publications which have shown an interest in our company. Corporate Communications Division The B.F.Goodrich Company 4803002 BFG34972 CHEMICAL INDUSTRY INSTITUTE OF TOXICOLOGY News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE cut RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK RALEIGH-DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA PRESS INFORMATION: Barney Wander 1121 24th St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20007 (202) 333-9283 GOODRICH, PHILLIPS JOIN TOXICOLOGY INSTITUTE B.F.Goodrich Chemical Company and Phillips Chemical Company became members of the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology (CUT) at the institute's April board of directors meeting. The two new corporate members bring the number of chemical company participants in the institute to twenty. CUT is an industry-supported organization which investigates environmental and occupational health matters involving basic, widely used chemicals which are the building-blocks of the chemical industry. B.F.Goodrich Chemical Company is a division of The B.F.Goodrich Company. Goodrich sales, worldwide, in chemicals, plastic materials and man-made rubber, were $517.2 million in 1975. "In joining CUT, Goodrich is associated with an effort of longrange and continuing significance, not only to the chemical industry but to the genral public," said T. B. Nantz, Goodrich executive vice president. (More) ICO o Ca3 C O CO BFG34973 2-- "Our substantial commitment to this new organization is another indication of the interest our company has in matters of industrial hygiene and our concern for the health and safety of our own employes and of people who use our products," Nantz added. Phillips Chemical Company, a division of Phillips Petroleum Company, had annual worldwide sales of chemicals and related products of $981.8 million in 1975. Dr. Leon Golberg, CUT president, said the decision of Goodrich and Phillips to join the institute "demonstrates the desire of these companies -- and other member companies -- to encourage unified industry participation in the scientific examination of the toxicity of commodity chemicals and improved toxicological testing prodedures." Dr. Golberg predicted the institute's membership will continue to grow as the institute becomes more active and involved in toxicological testing, research and training. CUT was formed in mid-1975. The first institute research projects, announced in March, 1976, are long-term inhalation studies of ethylene and toluene in rats. These tests are being conducted by Industrial Bio-Test laboratories, Inc., at Decatur, Illinois. CIIT's headquarters are at Research Triangle Park, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. (More) BFG34974 24803004 3-- The eighteen other CUT member companies are: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Allied Chemical Corporation Celanese Corporation Diamond Shamrock Corporation The Dow Chemical Company E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Eastman Kodak Company Exxon Chemical Company FMC Corporation Gulf Chemical Company Hooker Chemicals & Plastics Corporation Monsanto Company 01 in Corporation PPG Industries, Inc. Rohm & Haas Company Shell Chemical Company Stauffer Chemical Company Union Carbide Corporation -0O0- BFG34975 Immediately BFG HEARING CONSERVATION Contact: Cleveland Lane Phone: 216/379-2662 500 S. Main Street; Akron, OH 44318 DENVER, Col, April 26 -- The B.F.Goodrich Company has begun an annual examination program for all its domestic production employees as part of a balanced approach to occupational noise control. Dr. Roger W. Strassburg, BFG's director of environmental affairs, said the Company is now testing all production employees even though average noise levels in areas where they work is below the present 90 dBA standard of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In the few Goodrich work areas where average levels exceed 90 dBA, the company said, workers are required to wear hearing protection devices, such as ear muffs or plugs, the Company said. Speaking at the Colorado Hearing and Speech Center's Summit Meeting on Hearing Conservation, Strassburg said hearing examination programs should be part of a balanced approach to occupational noise control. "A balanced program combines the use of medical surveillance, audiometric testing and personal ear protectors with feasible engineering and administrative controls," Dr. Strassburg said. He added that this balanced position aims at protecting the hearing of employees while not placing an unrealistic economic burden on industry. "Both goals are desirable, achievable and necessary, and they are compatible with the objectives of government, labor and management," he said. 0- NOTE TO EDITORS: A copy of Dr. Strassburg's talk will be sent promptly on your request. 24803000 4-2676 % Immediately GOODRICH OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CITATION CHEMICAL DIVISION Contact: Cleveland Lane Phone: 216/379-2662 500 South Main Street; Akron, OH 44318 NOTE TO EDITORS: The following release from the American Occupational Medical Association announces that the Association's 1976 Citation for Health Achievement is being presented to three officials of The B.F.Goodrich Company. While the Association has distributed the release, Goodrich is supplementing the distribution by sending it to publications which have shown an interest in our Company. Corporate Communications Division The B.F.Goodrich Company FOR RELEASE: P.M., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1976 Cincinnati, April 28--Two physicians and an executive vice president of The B.F.Goodrich Company were honored today by the American Occupational Medical Association for their roles in bringing to the attention of the public and the scientific community the hazards associated with the manufacture and use of vinyl chloride. The 1976 citation for Health Achievement in Industry was presented jointly to John L. Creech, Jr., M.D., Plant Physician at The B.F.Goodrich Chemical Company in Louisville, Kentucky; to Maurice N. Johnson, M.D., Director of Environmental Health for The B.F.Goodrich Company and to Anton Vittone, Executive Vice President of The B.F.Goodrich Company and former President of The B.F.Goodrich Chemical Company. (More) 24802007 BFG34977 2--GOODRICH OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CITATION/ The Award was presented at the Association's 61st annual meeting being held this week (April 26-29) at the Cincinnati Convention Center, by George E. Spencer, M.D., President of the Association. Dr. Spencer read from the citation "to John L. Creech, M.D., for his serendipity in recognizing the hazard of vinyl chloride exposure in its relation ship to hepatic angiosarcoma; to Maurice N. Johnson, M.D., for his follow-up investigation and prompt release of information regarding vinyl chloride and steps taken for protection of the workers; and to Mr. Anton Vittone for executive action showing primary concern for the health and safety of his employees.11 The American Occupational Medical Association is an international organi zation of physicians who provide health care for the employees of private enterprises, governmental services and other institutions. Approximately 2,500 persons are in attendance at the American Occupational Health Conference, which is the combined meetings of the American Occupational Medical Association and the American Association of Industrial Nurses. 0- - 4-2876 JO s 8 Oo m BFG34918 Immediately BLOOD TEST RESULTS CHEMICAL DIVISION Contact: Robert B. Downey Phone: 216/ 524-0200 Ext. 1234 6100 Oak Tree Blvd.; Cleveland, OH 44131 PORT NECHES, TEX., June 3 -- Results of blood tests conducted among employees at the Port Neches, Texas synthetic rubber plant of The B.F.Goodrich Company have revealed no evidence of leukemia. Dr. M. N. Johnson, Goodrich Director of Environmental Health, reported. The Company reported the test results today to employees, unions at the plant, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The tests were offered by Goodrich to all styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) production personnel immediately after the Company reported that it had learned that four employees at the plant had died of leukemia since 1966. Nearly all (87 percent) of the employees volunteered to take the tests. All laboratory results were reviewed by the Company medical department. The Company will repeat examinations in a month on 23 employees whose tests were abnormal in some respect. This group includes men under treatment for chronic illnesses and some whose tests showed minor deviations from established norms. These findings are being reported to the employees individually and they are being referred to their family physicians as appropriate, said Dr. Johnson. At Goodrich's invitation, a team from NIOSH has microfilmed all available work records of employees at the Port Neches plant. Other companies in the SBR industry have reported cases of leukemia among their workers, but government and industry medical authorities have stated that they know of no agent or material used in this production which has been related to leukemia. 24603009 0- - 6-376 BFG34979 Immediately AUTOMATIC DETECTION SYSTEM FOR WASTEWATER POLLUTANTS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCready Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main Street, Akron, OH 44318 BRECKSVILLE, OHIO -- One of the first fully automatic systems in American industry for detection of pollutants in wastewater is now in operation at the B.F.Goodrich research and development center here. The new system plays a key role in the company's nationwide program to monitor the purity of wastewater discharges from all its facilities. It is the first of its kind in the rubber industry. An instrument called a computer-controlled X-ray fluorescence spectrometer performs fully automatic trace element analysis of potentially toxic elements. It can detect pollutant levels down to one part per billion, or .0000001%. It produces an immediate printout of its findings. The laboratory analyzes samples of wastewater from all Goodrich plant sites. "We program the robot-like operating instrument, load it with as many as 10 test samples and press the start button," said James Gianelos, senior research chemist. The instrument's "thinking" center, called a logic-controller, is tied in with IBM 1800 and 1130 computers. Gianelos said the equipment calibrates itself, performs all necessary calculations and determines the elemental composition of samples. Analysis is rapid, very efficient and non-destructive, saving days over traditional methods. Goodrich scientists also use the versatile instrument to help develop new products, including fire retardants, synthetic rubbers, plastics, catalysts and polymer additives. 24803010 0- - 10-875 BFG34980 Immediately RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCready Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main Street, Akron, OH 44318 POLLUTION DETECTOR -- Hugh E. Diem, research associate at the B.F.Goodrich research and development center, Brecksville, Ohio, checks the operation of a fully automatic system for detecting trace amounts of pollutants in wastewater. The system, first of its kind in the rubber industry, analyzes water samples on a regular basis to make sure that rivers and streams are not being polluted by discharges from Goodrich plants. The computercontrolled X-ray fluorescence spectrometer detects metals such as arsenic, lead, tin and selenium. TTO EO eW BFG34981 Immediately GOODRICH ESTABLISHES ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCready Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main Street, Akron, OH 44318 BRECKSVILLE, OHIO -- A scientific task force, believed to be unique in the rubber industry, has been established at the B.F.Goodrich research and development center here to detect and correct sources of environmental pollution. The industry's first completely self-contained environmental laboratory provides analytical service and determines the efficiency of corrective procedures for all divisions of the company. In one such corrective program alone -- to reduce vinyl chloride exposure in its plants -- Goodrich anticipates making capital expenditures of approximately $42 million by 1978. Dr. Paul M. Zakriski, environmental laboratory section leader, said the centralized environmental laboratory concept was developed to serve the needs of industrial hygienists and environmental engineers responsible for maintaining environmental health standards both within and outside the company's manufacturing facilities. "Procedures used at the new laboratory for detecting specific pollutants are ahead of the rubber industry in some areas of pollution control," Zakriski said. "We identify the most reliable and advanced methods, prove them in practice and extend them to the plant levels where surveillance for hazardous materials will eventually become a process-control responsibility." cl -sz loEoe&z A laboratory staff of eight specialists, supported by more than 50 othe scientists resident at the center, has continuous access to the sophisticate analytical equipment and facilities at the company's multimi11 ion-dollar science complex. BFG34982 (more) 2--GOODRICH ESTABLISHES ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY/ Zakriski said Goodrich scientists have taken the latest technology from other applications and put it to work in pollution correction. The company recently completed its first pilot plant test of a catalyst similar to automotive exhaust system catalysts which will reduce environmental pollution. "We thought of an operating auto engine as a chemical process," Zakriski said, "with waste exiting through the exhaust system and being converted into carbon dioxide and water in the process. Our pilot plant test, performed in the field by the laboratory staff, indicate that exhaust system catalysts can be as effective on rooftops as they are on auto exhausts, removing pollutants emitted by factory ventilators and stacks." Equally important is the laboratory's responsibility to consider the environmental impact of new products and processes ahead of their commercial development, Zakriski added. "The facility acts as the company's consultant in these matters, conducting experiments which in many cases represent the most advanced state of the art in pollution measurement and control." The Center for Disease Control, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, has licensed the new facility as a clinical laboratory to conduct analyses on biological samples for medical diagnosis. The laboratory is equipped with the most advanced atomic absorption spectrometer, which measures amounts of metals in air, water, blood or urine, and gas chromatographs interfaced with a computer to detect specific kinds of air and water pollution. The gas chromatograph is routinely employed in measuring the level of exposure individuals may have had to hazardous materials. "Because the environmental laboratory is located at the company's research and development center, it can function in capacities beyond the laboratory's own personnel strength," Zakriski said. BFG34983 (more) roeo8^gr 3--GOODRICH ESTABLISHES ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY/ "When the problem demands, tests can be performed with X-ray fluorescence. X-ray diffraction, gas chromatography - mass spectrometry, infrared spectrometry, liquid chromatography and electron or optical microscopy equipment. Carbon tube personnel-monitoring technology helps identify hazardous jobs, functions and areas, by measuring specific pollutants with high-sensitivity flame-ionization gas chromatography." Zakriski emphasized the environmental laboratory's serious commitment to field work. Most field sampling involves collecting a sample and returning it to the laboratory for assay. "However, to perform certain evaluations, we take the laboratory to the plant site to measure the major pollutants on the spot. Having identified the pollutants and reliable tests for them, we assay at the plant site for the pollutant." On such occasions, environmental laboratory specialists utilize plant laboratories. In some instances the specialists conduct training programs while at the plant to transfer technology to the environmental engineers and industrial hygienists at each plant location, which will enable them to carry on the testing as a process control function. As for the future, Zakriski believes that industry will place even more emphasis on advancing the state of the art and quickening the response of instrumentation and technology to deal with environmental problems. "Industry is continually improving its ability to anticipate and respond to potential environmental problems," he said. "The analytical capabilities related to pollution can be located at each plant site and be so specific and so rapid that pollution problems will, eventually, be reduced to a quality control function. This effort," Zakriski added, "will result in rapid analyses at such frequency and with such sensitivity that possible harmful discharges will be avoided." a? 10-2075 0- - P BFG34984 Immediately RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCready Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main St., Akron, OH 44318 Rapid measurement of the total organic chemical pollution present in any sample of water is possible with this test which determines the chemical-oxygen demand of water. Robert K. Zimmer, environmental technician at the new B.F.Goodrich environmental laboratory in Brecksville, Ohio, conducts the analysis. The laboratory keeps close check on water emissions from all Goodrich plant sites in the United States. 0- - 10-2075 fiTOSOSKS BFG34985 Immediately RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCready Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main St., Akron, OH 44318 Measuring the presence of vinyl chloride in a work environment requires the utmost care and precision. Richard D. Hardesty, a research assistant at the new B.F.Goodrich environmental laboratory in Brecksville, Ohio, uses a syringe and a solution containing vinyl chloride gas as a step in the procedure which detects traces of vinyl chloride. 0- - 10-2075 9T0E08&2! BFG34986 Immediately RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCreacJy Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main St., Akron, OH 44318 Vinyl chloride analysis requires use of the most sensitive gas chromatographs. John W. Born, B.F.Goodrich scientist at the company's new environmental laboratory in Brecksville, Ohio, checks the chromatograph's analysis of one of hundreds of samples analyzed each month to monitor environmental conditions at Goodrich manufacturing plants. 0- - 10-2075 Z V Q S Q Q frz BFG34987 Immediately RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCready Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main St., Akron, OH 44318 Samples of boiler stack sulfur dioxide emissions are collected in this midget impinger, which is returned to the new B.F.Goodrich environmental laboratory in Brecksville, Ohio for analysis. R. K. Zimmer, Goodrich environmental technician, conducts training courses for plant engineering personnel during his initial plant visits. Local technicians then become qualified to conduct their own periodic sampling programs at all U.S. plants of the company. 10-2075 0- - X4803018 BFG34988 Immediately RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Contact: James McCready Phone: (216) 379-3412 500 South Main St., Akron, OH 44318 Detecting lead in blood samples is one of the functions of this atomic absorption instrument used at the new B.F.Goodrich environmental laboratory, Brecksville, Ohio. Joann A. Wallbrown, a clinical technician, conducts the analysis. The equipment directs a light beam at the blood sample that has been atomized in an air-acetylene flame at temperatures above 2,000 degrees F. The atomized lead In the curtain of flame absorbs the liight beam--the more lead in the blood sample, the more of the light beam is absorbed. The Center for Disease Control of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, has licensed the new facility as a clinical laboratory to search for metals contained in blood and urine. BFG34989 11 a.m., Dec. 4, 1975 GOODRICH ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF NEW VINYL CHLORIDE CONTAINMENT PROGRAMS Contact: Cleveland Lane Phone: 216/379-2662 500 South Main Street; Akron, Ohio 44318 NEW YORK, Dec. 4 -- The largest research and development program in The B.F.Goodrich Company's history has enabled the company to continue and expand production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) while complying with existing or expected Federal regulations on vinyl chloride gas exposure. Goodrich President John D. Ong said at a press briefing here today that the company, the nation's largest producer of PVC plastic, has implemented the results of its research with a major capital investment program. PVC is the second largest-selling plastic in the United States. Goodrich operates five PVC plants and one plant that produces the vinyl chloride (VC) monomer from which PVC is manufactured. "We now believe that the chances are extremely remote of future angiosarcoma cases resulting from vinyl chloride exposure in our current operations," Ong said. Angiosarcoma is a rare form of cancer which has resulted in the deaths of about 40 workers in PVC polymerization plants around the world. "However," Ong added, "we still face the possibility that, because of the long latency period, we will see other cases of angiosarcoma among workers who experienced exposures at high levels in the past." Ong outlined these results of Goodrich's vinyl chloride containment programs: --The company's PVC and vinyl chloride plants are operating at levels of 1 to 3 parts of vinyl chloride per million parts of air (ppm) in work areas. These are average levels, and employee exposure as measured by personal j monitoring is considerably lower. With the use of respiratory equipment when required, worker exposure is being kept below levels required by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). BFG34990 (more) 2--BFG ANNOUNCES NEW VC CONTAINMENT PROGRAMS/ --Vinyl chloride emissions to the atmosphere from Goodrich plants have been reduced to a few hundredths of one part per million at plant fences, and are virtually non-detectable within a short distance from the plants. --Goodrich is now able to supply general-purpose PVC resins that are so low in entrapped vinyl chloride gas that the company believes processors using this material will not have to establish "regulated areas" in their plants. (OSHA regulations require establishment of regulated areas when average vinyl chloride levels in work atmospheres exceed 0.5 ppm.) Ong also announced that Goodrich has developed new technology, a "Clean Reactor" system which, together with previous improvements, greatly reduces the frequency of polymerization reactor entry and cleaning. Ong said the new system will virtually eliminate employee exposure to vinyl chloride gas in cleaning procedures. The new technology involves a combination of new processes and techniques and the use of materials for treating the interiors of new or used reactors to prevent the build-up of solid deposits, even after a number of charges. "Our goal," said Ong, "is a completely closed, automated and essentially leak-proof reaction system that will require no reactor opening or entry except for periodic maintenance." Ong reported that Goodrich's new PVC production facility at Louisville, Ky., is now undergoing start-up procedures and will be in production in January. "We believe this new facility will be as good as or better than any other PVC plant in the country in preventing employee exposure to vinyl chloride, or escape of this gas to the environment, and in the amount of vinyl chloride remaini^ in the PVC resin produced," he said. Js, .- (more) BFG34991 3--BF6 ANNOUNCES NEW VC CONTAINMENT PROGRAMS/ While Goodrich's PVC production capacity has been somewhat reduced by vinyl chloride containment programs, Ong said, the new Louisville capacity will boost supplies sufficiently to meet expected growing demand. Ong also said the company is well on its way to completing installation of new stripping columns at all PVC plants. These columns, a Goodrich development, remove all but traces of vinyl chloride from PVC as it comes from reactors. By recovering and recycling vinyl chloride, the amount of this gas which might otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere is substantially reduced. Ong said the company has carried out and is continuing the largest research, development and engineering program in the company's history. More than 135 scientists and technologists have spent more than 425,000 man hours in this program. With respect to the $42 million estimated cost of capital programs to contain vinyl chloride in Goodrich's operations for the period 1974 through 1977, described last year, Ong stated that it might be possible to reduce this total by 10 to 15 percent as a result of the technical developments from these programs. "Even though the containment technology we have developed is proprietary, and could give Goodrich a competitive advantage," Ong said, "we consider it our responsibility to make it available on an unrestricted basis to all competitors in the PVC and vinyl chloride monomer industry in the United States and abroad. Modest license fees will partially offset Goodrich's large research, development and engineering costs." (more) BFG34992 4--BFG ANNOUNCES NEW VC CONTAINMENT PROGRAMS/ He reported that several license agreements have already been signed on the recently announced stripping column technology. Considerable interest has been shown, here and abroad, in the newer "Clean Reactor" technology, he added, and the company is making available new containment developments in vinyl chloride monomer production to licensees of its monomer process, worldwide. Stating that PVC industry capacity will grow from more than five billion pounds this year to seven billion pounds by 1980, Ong said: "We intend to continue our efforts to reduce vinyl chloride exposure resulting from all our operations and products, and to continue our research and development efforts to refine our techniques and develop new ones. "We are now confident that, with the employment of the new vinyl chloride confinement technologies, the use of PVC will continue to grow, and Goodrich intends to continue its leadership position in this industry." 0- - 12-475 BFG34993 JO 00 Cpo tpo Co from PUBLIC RELATIONS B E Goodrich 500 South Main AKRON, OHIO 44318 Phone: 216- 379-3412 Released in Frankfort, Ky. only FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRANKFORT, Ky., Fab. 19 ---- Adoption by the State of Kentucky of a time--weighted average of 50 parts-per-million as a standard for vinyl chloride vapor in the work atmosphere "is consistent with available information" on exposure levels, according to Anton Vittone, presi dent of the 8, F. Goodrich Chemical Company, Vittone said this goal has been "essentially achieved" at the Company's polyvinyl chloride operations at Louisville and the firm's vinyl chloride monomer plant at Calvert City, He made his comments in a statement here today at a meeting of the Standards Board of the Kentucky Department of Labor, The meeting was called following the Company's reports last month that it had discovered and was investigating the possible occupational relationship of the deaths of four former polyvinyl chloride production workers from a rare type of liver cancer, angiosarcoma, Vittone said today that the Company's discovery of these deaths was to its knowledge "the first evidence indicating a possible relationship between human angiosarcoma and chlorinated hydrocarbons used in the production of polyvinyl chloride resins," Since then, he added, the Company has adopted measures "that amount to self-imposed emer gency work standards." Thesp include efforts to implement the interim work practices that were recommended to Goodrich on January 31 by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, State and federal health officials inspected the Louisville plant on Jan, 24, At today's meeting, the Company also submitted a copy of its statement on Feb, 15 at a |& GO fact-finding hearing conducted in Washington, D,C., by the Occupational Safety and Health ^3 Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, Q Phillip H, Lawrence, manager of the Company's Louisville plant, and Dr, John L, Creech, plant physician, were with Vittone at today's meeting. BFG34994 t-2M LITHO. IN U.S.A.