Document 91Q7Oap9nB0Qgv8m26Q9w81dR
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STATEMENT OF FACTS
A. Historical Background
Westinghouse was a pioneer in che field on Industrial Hygiene with the
history of che department going back to the early 1930's.
The initial effort was evaluating and controlling employe exposure to
silica particulate in che foundry operations. Efforts were then directed
toward developing a system of evaluating che chemicals and materials used in
the Westinghouse manufacturing processes to determine the potential employe
health hazards and determining what controls, precautions and protective clothing was necessary to minimize the hazards. This system was then
integrated into a Westinghouse Corporate Standards Product
Specification/Material (PDS/M) Card System as a means of communicating this information to the Westinghouse plant.
Once the hazardous materials were identified, then Safe Practice Data Sheets (SPDS) were developed and prepared, SPDS included the phyhsical
properties, the Westinghouse material numbers, which contained this hazardous
material, the hazards, fire information, first aid information, and how to
safely handle and control the material.
Until 1970 there was limited personnel monitoring of employe exposure to
toxic substances at the Westinghouse plants, with the exception being the
monitoring of employe radiation exposure. If the Corporete Industrial Hygiene
Department was involved in what monitoring was performed, these records were
well maintained. However, maintenance of such historical records et the
Westinghouse plants varies from excellent to non-existent. Medical
surveillance, e.g. audiometric exams, periodic physicals, bioaaaay samples,
was much more relevent including the maintenance of such records.
When the Occupational Safety and Health Act came into being in 1971, more
emphasis was placed on employe exposure to toxic materials. Industrial
Hygiene Training Courses were developed and offered for the plant industrial
hygiene and safety representatives. Additional monitoring equipment was
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purchased and made available to the W'escinghouse plants. Therefore, documentation of employe exposures to toxic materials or physical agents increased such that there has been more personnel monitoring of employe exposure in the last 5 years than there was in the previous 40 years.
The format of the Wescinghouse SPD5 was revised'to reflect the changes in the OSKA Occupation health Standards, e.g. personnel monitoring requirements, permissible exposure limits and employe training requirements concerning the potential health hazards of toxic materials.
Plant audits were established to review the Westinghouse plant Industrial Hygiene and Safety Programs with a written report issued to the plant discussing the findings and recommendations.
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