Document 6bqzzQoy9g8rp19xybmRxapRR

FILE NAME Rogers Corporation ROG DATE 1979 DOC ROG051 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Environmental Engineering Report - MMD Asbestos Monitoring - 2nd Quarter ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING REPORT FILE NUMBER MMD 79-2 REPORT DATE 7/2/79 AFFECTED ORGANIZATION Manchester SURVEY DATE 31,6 SUBJECT MMD Asbestos Monitoring - 2nd Quarter 1979 ACTION WAH CGM LHaack RJMikulak INFO RCB CAB VRLandi REFER Routine monitoring run PURPOSE Monitoring of the degree of worker exposure to asbestos concentrations in the MMD plant occurs on regular basis in order to ensure and maintain OSHA compliance This particular study represents one in series of ongoing systematic analyses carried out in order to achieve this goal SUMMARY The results obtained from the initial analysis confirmed that airborne asbestos fiber concentrations are below the existing OSHA standard of 2.0 fibers for 8 hours in all monitored production areas except one Analysis of the air samples obtained from our monitoring of the GLP Line Blender Operator showed ont airborne fiber concentration above this standard The results of our initial study and of the follow up analysis are reported herein A brief explanation of the methodology used in this study the data obtained and a discussion of said data make up the body . of this report Monitored by RJFitzpatrick Analysed RJFitzpatrick Roffee Roffee Env Eng Mgr Approval Date 31-6 & 6/18/79 Date 5-6 19-6 Date 7/2/79 Rogers 00326 TABLE OF CONTENTS Background II Methodology A. Sampling B. Analysis of Samples III Results IV Discussion Page 2 Page 2 Page 2 & 3 Page 4 Page 5 Rogers 00327 MMD Asbestos Monitoring - 2nd Quarter 1979 BACKGROUND Page 2 From 31-6 follow 6/18 Environmental Engineering personnel conducted a series of unannounced airborne asbestos monitoring runs in the MMD plant This type of testing is specifically designed to determine the extent of worker exposure to airborne fibers in various production areas where asbestos is utilized The specific techniques which were used to obtain samples and determine fiber concentration are as follows METHODOLOGY 1 SAMPLING All monitoring runs were carried out using NIOSH approved air sampling pumps and collecting filters Two different types of sampling pumps were employed in the study MSA Model S 2 units and Bendix Type C115 2 units Filters used were Millipore Aerosol AAWG 037 A0 0.8u All samples taken were of the personal type That is to say a pump was placed directly on the worker to be tested with a cassette containing the millipore collecting filter situated in the worker's breathing zone The duration of the sampling time in the vast majority of these tests was ninety minutes Results of this TWA time weighted average are considered to be representative of the workers eight hour exposure to airborne asbestos fibers While sampling in the beater room we also thought it advisable to monitor the peak worker exposure to airborne asbestos A fifteen minute monitoring run was done during the period of addition of asbestos into the beaters As will be shown later the degree of worker exposure under these conditions is well below the OSHA standard of 10 fibs for a fifteen minute period Individual data sheets were filled out for each worker and contained the following information date location monitor number air flow duration of test filter number total air volume collected operator , grade run etc. setting name 2 ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES Subsequent to sample collection Environmental Engineering follows the NIOSH prescribed technique for fiber counting Pie shaped wedges ( 1/8 of the total filter area are mounted on slides using a specially pre pared mounting medium composed of equal parts dimethyl phthalate and ethyl oxalate plus some dissolved filter added for viscosity Slides are counted under 400x using a Balplan Phase Contrast Microscope Counting fields are delineated using a Porton Reticule which has been calibrated with a stage micrometer Rogers 00328 MMD Asbestos Monitoring *** 2nd Quarter 1979 Page 3 Under this NIOSH prescribed method any fiber falling into a specific size range 5-100 in length 3 aspect ratio is to be counted as possible airborne asbestos It should be noted here that the determina-determina- tion of airborne asbestos concentration based on this criterion is a relatively nonspecific technique 3 RESULTS Page 4 I if Initial Study Results II ut Follow Results 31-6 31-6 4 31-6 6/18 PA tele LAR E ERAT Mn eh NO Rogers 00329 MMD Asbestos Monitoring - 2nd Quarter 1979 Page 4 Area Sampled Grade Being Run I Inspection and Scaler Inspection and Scaler Paper Machine Paper Machine Calendar Slitter 220A 220A 102 102 R102B Calendar Slitter R102B Kneader 2 466 Larger Slitter Beater Room 102 102 Beater Room 102 Beater Room 102 Beater Room 102 725 925 725 925 Large rge 735 Blender Blender 462 462 466 735 466 745 466 GLP Line 660 Kneader # 462 Blender Oper GLP Line 660 II Blender Oper Line 660 Mill GLP Line 660 Mill GLP Line 660 Type of Sample Filter Particulates Field Particulates Filter TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA Peak Peak TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA TWA 79-15 79-16 79-17 79-18 79-19 79-20 79-21 79-22 .13 .26 .17 .17 .24 25 .71 .16 22 .16 .55 .32 . .54 .43 .36 .36 .07 .41 .38 1.99 2.60 1.99 5.26 9,615.09,6515.05 19,230.1 12,573.5 12,573.5 17,750 17,750 18,490 52,513 11,833.91 ,83 .9 16,271.6 11,833.91 40,679.040,6679.06 23,667.823,6267.82 39,939.45 39,939.45 31,803.63 26,626.3 5,177.33 30,324.39 30,324.39 28,105.54 28,105.54 147 184.26 192,301.0192,4301.04 147 184.26 389,039.8 389,039.8 TWA TWA TWA 79-23 79-25 79-26 3.56 1.08 1.08 1.37 263,304 263,304 2,663,304.5 79,878.89 79,878.89 101,327.85 Air c.c. Volume Fiber " Sampled = *** 178,000 178,000 155,750 168,750 180,000 168,000 147,900 151,875 30,000 30,000 151,300 165,000 176,000 140,000 148,600 153,000 168,750 168,750 186,000 180,000 157,500 171,000 .05 .11 .08 .08 .10 .11 .36 .08 .54 .40 .27 14 +23 .23 .18 .03 .18 .18 .79 1.07 .93 2.2 170,000 150,750 166,500 1.5 .53 .61 * Violation Airborne Asbestos Rogers 00330 MMD Asbestos Monitoring - 2nd Quarter 1979 DISCUSSION Page 5 As stated previously the only problem which was observed during our initial work was an airborne fiber concentration of 2.2 fibs in the breathing zone of the GLP Line Blender Operator This value is in violation of present OSHA standards and as a result we felt a follow study was in order The data attained during our second personal monitoring run at this particular work area indicated on airborne fiber concentration of 1.5 fibs c which is within the OSHA limit of 2.0 2.0 fibs One possible explanation for the apparent variability in our results is that the initial test and the follow test were performed of two different GLP line operators It is conceivable that differences in work practices could account for the variability in the results Assuming that this is the reason for the discrepancy we suggest that work practices in this area be examined closely for the purpose of acheiving and maintaining worker safety It should also be stated here that the grade being run during testing of the GLP line was 660. Because 660 contains fiberglass as well as asbestos the argument that our results in this area may be artificially high is not without some justification However the testing methods we use are the same ones that are used by government agencies for compliance determination Therefore according to NIOSH procedures for determination of asbestos levels all obtained in excess of 2.0 fibers should be considered a violation of the OSHA standard 2 i tee HE asnmwant Rogers 00331