Document 916qRnx2Qpy2yrVpvj5Gr9NOD

Managers' Notice No. 977 October 3, 1974 Subject: GOODRICH STATEMENT ON OSHA STANDARD The attached news release has been given to the national wire services. Plant managers and sales offices can give it to local newsmen who call requesting information. No additional statement is to be made beyond this release. Newsmen with additional questions should be referred to The B.F.Goodrich Corporate Communications in Akron. Attachment Distribution: Cleveland Office (Plants, Sales Offices & Technical Centers) R. B. Downey H Manager, Public Relations and Advertising B.F.Goodrich Chemical Co. | 20400001 BFG03255 THE B.F.GOODRICH COMPANY For Release: Immediately Contact: JohnJ. Bell Phone: (216) 379-3549 500 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44318 Subject: GOODRICH STATEMENT ON OSHA STANDARD 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 permanent 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. fmnroi BFG03256 20400002 2- - Goodrich said these levels were established arbitrarily and are not oupported by the record of OSHA hearings conducted in February and this summer. Technology to attain these levels does not exist today, Goodrich said. Therefore, the full-time use of respirators by all employees would be re quired in 197 6. There was ample evidence submitted by industry and other expert witnesses at the OSHA hearings this summer, the company pointed out, on the impracticality of using respirators on this basis. Goodrich said it has already lowered the average VC exposure levels in its plants from 35-40 ppm early this year to an average of 12-13 ppm. This is acknowledged in OSHA's review of its permanent standard. The company said it has reached the point where additional improvelents come harder and take longer to achieve. It is not a question of economics, Goodrich said. These efforts have the company's highest priority. The challenge now, the company's statement continued, is to develop and prove out new technology which, of course, cannot be predicted nor scheduled according to an arbitrary timetable. Efforts will continue, the company added, to enable Goodrich to meet the steadily growing demand for the numerous applications of PVC, many of which are vital to the national economy. Goodrich is committed to achieving the lowest practicable exposure levels for vinyl chloride as quickly as this is technologically feasible. 0- 10-274 BFG03257 20400003 i