Document BQek2V5mBn9BG9zXrXeow9jo

CHEMICALS ^C INTEROFFICE / LAKE CHARLES TO FROM Charles Parnell Max Hekmat^-^Tv^L DATE SUBJECT August 11, 1989 EDC The current Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard for occupational exposure to Ethylene Dichloride (EDC), is 50 PPM (8-hour time-weighted average). As you know, this value will be changed to 1 PPM as of September 1, 1989. Industry must comply with the new standard. The question that arose due to the change of the standard is whether or not air purifying respirators could be used. Recently this question has been answered. The use of air purifying respirators has been granted by OSHA. A half-face or full-face air purifying respirator can be used in the work place. Half-face respirators have a protection factor of 10. This means the respirator can be used in an environment of 10 or less parts per million (PPM) of Ethylene Dichloride for 8 hours, and up to 20 PPM for short term exposure On the other hand, a full-face air purifying respirator will provide a protection factor of 50, which can be used by employees in an environment of 50 PPM or lower concentrations of EDC, and up to 100 PPM for short term exposure. I would like to remind you that the cartridge replacement is a very critical element in assuring effective protection. Respirator cartridges must be changed routinely (as needed). When not in use, all equipment must be stored in a clean and dry location. MH/fq cc; Ron Williams Chuck Buller Jim Rock Joyce Williams Carey Brazitis Billy Salter Roger Hornsby Al Grabert Bob McCorquodale SL 088642