Document 9rLwwgJB6NJbg1D88kRevyjD

:.rtrncnt of Labor i:c?= l: . Hay 13, 79 81 Ha. E. 8. PippeAt Utex IndwttAiet, t Inc. V.O. Box 79227 Houston, TX 77079 Re: ti-tex InduttAiet, Inc. M4692-369 PeaA M*.. PippeAt: PuAtuant to an in&pection Aetultt, aAe at, bottom: At bet, tot (1) Antonio FeAna.nd.ez (2) RobeAt Johnton (3) Tom GoedAich (4) Tim LeihaAdt (5) Hike Schmidt Lead: ((6)) Lupe Chapa (7) Johnny Ckigate Hethyl Ethyl Ketone: {8} Robent Johnton (9) Hike Schmidt (70) Tom GoedAich ill) Tim LeihaAdt (72) Vale ReOUch Ho Toluene detected. SinceAely, r youA ^acJJUty on FebAuaAy 4, 1981, the sampling 8 hA twa 0.018 FibeAt/cc 0.004 FibeAt/cc 0.009 FibeAt/cc 0.033 FibeAt/cc 0.015 FibeAi/cc None detected Hone detected 75 ppm 151 ppm 141 ppm 208 ppm 246 ppm Acting AAea ViAectoA UTEX 000959 UTEX INDUSTRIES, INC. P.O.BOX 79227 HOUSTON. TEXAS 77079 TELEX 79-4137 713/467-1000 May 7, 1981 U. S. Department of Labor - OSHA Clear Lake City Area Office 17629 El Camino Real, Suite 211 Houston, Texas 77058 Attn: Mr. Ben Bare Subj: Utex Industries, Inc. M4692-369 Dear Mr. Bare, On February 4, 1981, your Mr. Richard L. Miller visited our Weimar, Texas manufacturing plant in answer to a ccnplaint. In making your inspection, it was decided that tests should be made in severed of our departments where we were handling Asbestos and MEK in our manu facturing operations. On February 12, 1981, Mr. Miller returned and made the necessary tests to determine if we were in corpliance. At a later date, we were verbally advised that the tests conducted showed that we were in ocnpliance and we were premised a written report, along with the test reports, in order to have semething for our records. As of this date, we have not received this information, and ask that you please let us have your reply that we were in com pliance, along with a copy of the test reports. Trusting that we may have your reply on this matter, I am Yours very truly, UTEX INDUSTRIES, INC. E. B. Pippert Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors ao cc: Mr. Richard L. Miller UTEX 000960 U7EX INDUSTRIES, INC. TO: Charles Slaver FROM: Phil Rouse DATE: February 16, 1981 SUBJECT: OSHA Inspection On February 4, 1981, Mr. Richard L. Miller, Certified Industrial Hygienist, OSHA, visited the Weimar Plant due to a complaint that had been registered concerning "fiberglass particles being emitted during phenolic injection press operation" and "employees exposed to the particles by inhalation and skin contact.*' The copy of the complaint Mr. Miller gave me is attached. Mr. Miller questioned Mr. Jaetzold (who was in conference with me) and me concerning other possible areas of our operation he should observe for an evaluation of Safety and Health Programs. Mr. Miller then observed the operation of the injection presses and talked to the employees who had been and were operating these presses. We accompanied him to the Packing Department to observe our string operation using asbestos and he suggested straightening out the suction hose leading out of the operation. Also, he went to the Friction House in reference to asbestos, and smelled the MEK. Mr. Miller told us he would come back the following week to take a sampling of MEK and asbestos in the work areas. He stated that even if we were found in non-compliance the fine would probably be less than if we hired a private concern to take the tests. Mr. Miller also checked the laminating machine where Gloria Guthmann lost part of a finger on December 31, 1980. He observed the operation of the machine and talked to some of the operators. On February 12, 1981, Mr. Miller returned to the Plant with his sampling equip ment and stayed until around 5:00 P.M. taking samples. He placed sampling equipment on five employees in the Friction House and on thr employees in the Packing Department. We showed him the bulletin we had posted on the Bulletin Boards (see Attached) concerning elimination of fiberglass from future batches of phenolic compounds, and he was very' pleased. . UTEX 000961 During the evaluation period, Mr. Miller explained it would be about three weeks before we got the results of his tests. He commended us in the changing of the duct work exhaust from the asbestos work area and felt the asbestos was probably below limits; however, he suggested we might want to look into the possibility of physical exams for the employees working with asbestos in the Packing Department. He commended the way the Plant looked in general, and the cooperative attitude of all concerned, stating that he would so include this in our file. Mr. Miller thought we might possibly have an MEK problem as well as the safety of the laminating machine, making drawings and suggestions as to how to make the machine a safer operation as well as listening and complimenting Mr. Jaetzold on his suggestions. Mr. Miller also suggested putting foot guards over the foot pedals on the lam inating machines, and to discontinue letting employees eat in the Packing Department. PR: lr Distr: Hank Miser Elvin Pippert John Posey Earl Jaetzold UTEX 000962