Document 91Qdz0g6qq3XRLXR1pqr5e4MV

UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION CHEMICALS AND PLASTICS P.O.BOX 471. TEXAS CITY. TEXAS 77590 February 5, 1980 Mr. R. Davis Layne, Area Director U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Admin. Houston South Area Office 1100 Nasa Road 1, Suite 505 Houston, TX 77058 Re: Union Carbide Corporation - C732 Dear Mr. Layne: Thank you for your inquiry into an alleged employee exposure to diethylene amine. There is no molecular structure described as "diethylene amine"; however. Carbide does manufacture various amine compounds in Texas City. Our Medical Department restricts amine-sensitive employees from working in areas that could potentially expose them to these compounds, just as impaired individuals are restricted from certain physical activities. Employees who are medically restricted in any fashion are given a copy of that restriction as are their supervisors. These restrictions are observed. Because your inquiry does not name the employee who filed this complaint, we are unable to respond as to the facts surrounding a specific employee. Mr. R. E. Kirkland, Supervisor of the Instrument Department, was interviewed in regard to the allegations stated in your letter and stated that on no occasion has he refused to reassign an employee out of an area to which that employee was medically restricted. On November 5, 1979, a vessel vented for about 10 minutes at the Amines Unit, Bldg. 51. This vent contained a maximum of 152 ethylehediamine. The release occurred due to a failure to follow established shutdown procedures. Estab lished procedure stipulates that the vessel be filled with water to a suffi cient level to lower the temperature and pressure of the contents prior to venting. On November 5, the vessel was vented before it had sufficiently cooled which permitted the escape of ethylenediamine. In order that a similar release will not occur, the necessity of following established shutdown procedures has been reemphasized to the unit operators and departmental personnel. TC 21263 Mr. R. Davis Layne February 5, 1980 Page 2 Please feel free to contact me if I can be of any further service. Your concern for the health and safety of our employees is appreciated. Sincerely Kirk E. Martin Industrial Hygienist KEM:ir UCTC 21264