Document 6bZqq5NDM98NVrZEbEJXpBrJR

Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union ANTHONY MAZZOCCHI, DIRECTOR CITIZENSHIP-LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT 1126 - 16TH STREET, N. W. WASHINGTON. D. C. 20036 PHONE-. 223-2166 AIR MAIL SPECIAL DELIVERY October 11, 1971 Mr. Albert Bardin Acting Regional Administrator Occupational Safety and Health Administration United States Department of Labor 311 Ninth Avenue, Room 920 New York, New York.10001 NOTE: TH IS DOCUMENT nDmID Dear Mr. Bardin: NOT COME FROM PPG FILES We hereby request an immediate imminent danger inspection of th Mobil Oil Refinery in Pnulsboro, New Jersey. Furthermore, we wish to take the unusual step of asking your department to give advance notice of the impending inspection to both the company and union representatives. OCAW Local 8-831 is the authorized bargaining re presentative for the 1000 maintenance and operating employees at this facility. Both the Local and Internationul Union believe that the health hazards at this refinery are so severe and complex that advance notice arrangements should be made to permit our health and safety specialists to accompany your inspector. So far we have been able to pinpoint the following health hazards. Your industrial hygienists should come equipped with the appropriate air sampling devices. This list, however, is by no means inclusive of all the hazards in the refinery: a) asbestos--pipe coverings made of asbestos are cut without ventilation; other exposure is suffered when workers rip asbestos out of furnaces. It has been reported to us that the Local Union has reason to believe that the insulation workers are dying from a seemingly high incidence of cancer and lung disease. b) acids--sulfuric acid mists prevalent; acid fumes in wax area. c) tetraethyIlead--workers in the blending operation report high blood levels of lead and exhibit suspicious illnesses. . d) phenol unit--overexposure to caustic soda and phenol fumes. e) generalized overexposure to aromatics and ketones; particular problems with benzene, cumene, toluene, carbon tetrachloride, chlorine and kerosene in the laboratory. f) mercury problem with instruments 0Q24502 j g) reports of dizziness in the filter plant7 w4 ' `~ - -0) h) excessive carbon monoxide gas in compressor area and TC units. i) severe noise problems, particularly in compressor area. Again, I reiterate that this is by no means a complete list. The number of safety hazards in this refinery are innumerable. Falls, fractured bones, burns and lacerations are common occurrences. The attached leaflet will give you more information on this aspect. Therefore because of the importance of your inspection in identifying all the hazards, I request that you give advance notice of your inspection to Mr. Steven Wodka, a health and safety specialist in our office here in Washington who wishes to accompany your inspector. In Paulsboro, the local union representative is Mr. Harry Bailey, 331 DuBois Avenue, Woodbury, New Jersey 08096. His home phone number is (609) 845-5230. Please notify him concurrently with Mr. Wodka. Both Mr. Wodka and Mr. Bailey request copies of the citations, notice of proposed penalties, and the inspection report. These violations have not been considered previously by any Government agency and no other agency is currently being brought into the picture by us. The various violations have been the subject of grievances, but resolution has been unsatisfactory. This letter may be released in entirety to the employer. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this grave matter. Sincerely yours Anthony Mnzzoeelii, Director 0 it izensh i p-l,cg i s la t ive De par ( men t Enc. cc: Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Harry Bailey, OCAW Local 8-831 Richard Meyer, Pres. OCAW Local Ray Rogowski Ed Steiger 8-831 | BB 0024503 1