Document 931z1Oy3x1N5x0QqbkpREnVMR

FILE NAME: Scotts (SCTS) DATE: 1975 June 13 DOC#: SCTS006 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Letter to Pres, of Scotts with Results of Plant Visit and Several Asbestos Concerns Noted SECXOHIB-7IT9 i! I i I .L ) yA M'^lntwn.'itiowil VTrn.ln/i/innn am! u v. . Va;>IJ In!nymph Co'orrppioration V World Headquarters l I i\J ' ^ i \ r ' ' \ . " j \yl/? J'O ^ 3 2 0 Perk Avenue Now York N.Y. 10022 Telephone 1212/ 752-6000 Jun9 13' 1975 Mr. M.H, Decoster fo ilU tU ^ o ^ , I President & C hief Operati ng Officer O.M . Scott & Sons, Co. (4- o U >\OV1 333 North Maple Street M arysville, Ohio 43040 Dear Mr. Decoster: During the month of February, Dr. N.E. Rosenwinkel, Director Occupational M edicine, Dr. J.D . Yoder, Director Environmental H ealth, and I visited your manufacturing fa c ilitie s In M a ry s v ille . Our primary c ontacts during the v isit were: Mr. R. H a sk in s, D irector of Personnel and Administration, Mr. L. S a c k e tt,.M a n a g e r of A sso c ia te Relations and Mr. R. Gruenbaum, Environmental Engineer. D is c u s s io n s were a l s o held with Mr. A. Kwapisz, Director of Manufacturing, and Dr. J. Evans,part-time plant physician. Unrortunately, you were out of town at the time of the v isit, and consequently, . we did not have a chance to meet with you and share our findings. Let me do this now. During the v is it, several items of concern were noted. These items were: 1. The environmental monitoring program which was started , several years ago essentially has been discontinued. 2. Some employees were being exposed to asb esto s and some toxic chemicals used in your control operations such as organo-phosphates and arsenic and mercury compounds. 3. The effectiveness of the exhaust ventilation system could be improved considerably by better engineering design. 4 , A program of routine m aintenance for the ventilation system should be installed and enforced for optimum effectiveness. 2 .... > I- DOJWRG 01115 i (V ^ Mr. M .H. Decoster C Page 2. On the other sid e of the c o in , w e were very p le a se d to note that: 1. There were adequate facilities for testing the hearing ' ability of employees and that the facilities were being ' . utilized. . 2. Biological monitoring for certain employees, such as those involved with the organo-phosphates and mercury compounds also was in effect. 3 . Excellent manuals had been prepared by Mr. Greunbaum covering (a) chem ical raw m a te ria ls, toxicology (hazards and treatments for e x p o su re ), (b) personal h ygie ne , and (c) plant housekeeping. All of t h e s e p o s itiv e a c tions are most encouraging. Let me return for a moment to th e environmental monitoring program which has been discontinued. It is' pur understanding that Mr. Gruenbaum had initiated the b a s ic s of a good monitoring program, consequently, it is strongly recommended that th is program be re in stitu te d . Also, It is recom mended th at Mr. Gruenbaum attend some type of short term formal training course in a ir sampling and e valuation te c h n iq u e s , su ch a s the AIHA-NIOSH (American Industrial Hygiene A ssociation - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) training course on "Industrial Hygiene Measurements". This is an excellent two week course given on an irregular basis at various / locations around the country. Information on time and location of such l] courses can be obtained from - ' 1 William E. McCormick. Managing Director American Industrial Hygiene 66 S . Miller. Road Akron, Ohio 44313 (216) 836-9537 Association Finally, it is urgently recommended that the employees in the vermiculite 7 expansion pro cess be examined and the provisions of Occupational Safety and Health Standard 1910.93 on asbestos be implemented in this area . I If you have any comments or questions on the above points, please be sure to contact u s. It is hoped that Dr. Rosenwinkel and Dr. Yoder will be able 3 DOJWRG 01116 Mr, M ,H. Decoster Page 3 to vtslt your facilities again in the near future and these.points can be d is c u s s e d in greater d e ta il a t tha t tim e . In a d d itio n , wo did not have a chance to visit your new research laboratories during working. "hours and we would like to review th e se operations In further d etail. Sincerely, cc: J. R, Goode N.E, Rosenwinkel, M .D. J.D . Yoder, Sc.D . DOJWRG 01117