Document DMJ6BxvX6ngxvvDE33ooY81n

to A. R. Winterhalter . at Covington, Ind DATE January 6, 1976 from A. L. Gaudreau. at New Haven, Conn, subject Environmental Hygiene Survey Covington,.Indiana copy to Mac Roy Gasque, M.D R. B. Brown R. Henderson F. H. Roberts, Jr. A. 0. Ryan, M.D. E. M. Sikkema M. White, R.N. H. L. Wolsted An environmental hygiene survey of the Olin Works Film Division Plant at Covington, Indiana was made on November 24 and 25, 1975* Your assistance was greatly appreciated. Spot testing of noise, solvents, and ventilation in conjunction with a visual survey led to the following recommendations: 1. ) The canopy hood where lead work is conducted should v. t be altered to obtain a more efficient flow pattern at the point of the operations. At present, it Is too high to be effective. 2. ) The use of the polyvinylidene chloride material in coating,preparation should.be .monitored by. the charcoal. -- tube method (similar t'o vinyl chloride procedure) to ` determine what amount. If any, of the vinyl dichloride monomer Is present in the employee breathing zone,- vendors information not withstanding. . ` Results and Discussion . . 1.) Noise Noise was measured at the following locations with a General Radio Type 1565-B meter. Coating: A coater B coater D coater 96-99 dBA 93-94 91-93 Homogenlzers 89-93 Desk 90-92 Shredders, at base Slitting 93-94 84-87 OLI 481$ HY FILE THIS COPY? IF YOU MUST RETAIN IT, SPCCIFlY A DEFINITE RETENTION PERIOD: ONE YEAR. OTHER. A. R. Winterhalter. 2- - * January 6, 1976 Ear protection was in use. Management is alert to the need for engineering in the noise areas with plans to be implemented in the near, future. 2.) Carbon Disulfide Analytical section tests were taken in my presence in the CBX room, These were of the liquid color matching type. Location Concentration Cat walk Second Level, front Second Level, at belt drive First Level 2 ppm 1 ppm trace trace Detector Tube Test #7 Caster . 7 ppm The limit of exposure recommended in the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standards 29CFR 1910.1000 (b)(1) Table Z-2 is 20 ppm as a time-weighted average. 3-) Hydrogen Sulfide .- ... Detector Tube - Test _. . #7 Caster trace detected only ! The limit of exposure recommended in the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standards, 29CFR 1910.1000 (b)(2) Table Z-Z is 20 ppm as a ceiling concentration. General Observations There are no female employees in.the areas where solvent con- centrations could exceed safe exposure limits except when rolls are moved from the casting room to the holding storage. This limitation seems to be a reasonable one considering the solvents utilized in the process. Past results even though not alarming do indicate some blood lead elevation of tank repair personnel: Visual observation OLI 4817 A. R. Winterhalter -3- January 6, 1976 of the lead working area disclosed a potential over-exposure of employers while lead working since the local mechanical exhaust ventilation (canopy hood) is inadequate at the point of operation. This hood should be lowered or extended for efficiency or replaced by hooded flexible ducts. This plant appeared neat and well managed with genuine concern for employee health. Results of their own wide spread sampling program have been placed in our file for reference. If you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance, please call. ALG:sin A. L.. Gaudreau OLI 4818