Document Ed4y66y4Y0O7dJ7BoXjOEeddL

fj MR* /. H. Tin BADHW0RB3 MB. H. X. HM2S0I * BOB 0I7XGI BBl DUSTY yOT^TTTO OOTOlticara iwmmm) ; tbur letter of Ihne 14, 1984 relative to the above was referred to the writer for attention. X have accordingly ante a awn; of the Badia plant and In cellaboratien with . . Hr. L. G. Daniel bin minft at tha following ooaeluslcas* OJygBOVj&yf Ike majority of materials used la the process of ' manufacturing carbon are of necessity dry and make for a rather bad dost condition. Petroleum Poke: This ooko la received in hopper bottom oars aim at present, due to rodaoed operations, is for the most part unloaded dirootly into a four-roll orusher. There is sons dust from orushing, density of same depending on dryness of ooke* One man is employed approximately twelve hours per week. The installation of exhauster or providing operator with respirator would laprove this condition* We have had no oomplaints and no proteotlon la used at present. In full time operation the ooko is unloaded into outside storage and operators exposure is Increased proport lonately. The crushed ooko is carried by oonvoyors to storage, whore there is possibly more dust encountered than In crushing. However, the craneman is the only one exposed - from one to throe hours per day* While we have not had say oomplaints from this source, our suggestion would be to provide craneman with respirator rather than the Installation of dust oolleotor. ' The ooke 1b then passed thru the ealolner and BDN 032151 FOX 042797 MB. M. M. AEHE3CB July 13, 1M4 v , , *i very UtU dust ip encountered until itisdnepedfrom the extreetors to eoale end carried by elevators gad oloaed screw conveyors to the bunkers. Shis operation la very tasty and la all probability ooold be laproved by bomb work on the elevators, in addition to providing operator (039000! approximately fi hra. por day) with reepirater. VO bate bad no oosplalnts and do not nee eny protection at the present tine. (be oaloiner operator, while not exposed to any dust, does oome in oontaot with gas and smoke fanes for ten minutes or more every two or three hours. Ve hare had oooaslonal oompl&ints of headaohe and probably should famish respirator for this operation. the oalolnsd oefce from the bunkers is fed to Coapeb oill for grinding and conveyed to bins over the mixers where It Is drawn out Into scales. Shis operation is a very tasty one, and while the Coapeb Bill is much -superior to the Bayaond mill from a dust standpoint it 1b Btlll very dusty, inoludlng all of mixing room operations, SPhree men are exposed approximately 36 hours per week, Ve have oooaslonal complaints of headaohe and naasia. Bo proteetlon is being used at present. In addition to famishing operators with respirators, X would suggest that some study he made as to the best method of dnst elimination, partioularly in mixing rout, as it is far from a staple problem and One whleh will probably require spending seme money on dost collecting equipment. Pitcht Pitch. is reoeived In box oars and unloaded from a IS or IB ft. trestle to storage below. Tory littlo dnst is encountered here end no proteetlon is used, with the exception of grease for faoe and arms to prevent burning, from storage it is BDN 032152 FOX 042798 HE.. K. H* AISKB30V mar xw... ... , 1 oaxried by wheelbarrows to ths Sturdivant Votary brush#? tad by '; Imtor to kins over ilxw. lhM ti seme tost from mtaqr crusher, but operator Is set oonfined to this art* aa in the mixing room, mi hart not baft any ooqplainls from this source. One aan Sm exposed approximately twelve hours par week an this operation. . . Carbon Buttat Carbon butts art received froa tha rodding rooa in box oara and. unloaded into Kennedy orusher aaft oomrtyeft to Raymond ailla for grinding, this being the dustiest operation we have& Seat dust of oourse is oneouatored thru unloading and oroahing, but in oeeparlson to Raymond Bills it is not so motlee&blo. fhe stocking oolleotors aro not effeetlve and oaks for a Tory dusty condition. X do not bailor* there is any nay to Improve this condition without discarding Raymond sill and installing Ball or Bod mill for this grinding. It is rather unusual, but we hare had few oosplalnts from thia operation and do not use any protection, (fee nan is exposed approximately 10 hours por week. das Coal i Gas Goal is reoeired In hopper bottom oars and is damped from trestle to storage below.. Tory little dust is apparent during unloading as this operation is out in the open and unloader is not confined. Possibly more coal dust is encountered by oraneaan and gas prodaeer operator than unloader when seal la plaeeft en gas produoer floor and is than handled again by producer operator. We hare not had any complaints and X don't believe any difficulty will result here. Blaok Summer Oil; This oil is used as a lubrloant on oarben press, but very little if any fames or smoke are given off; certainly net enough to in any way endanger the operator. BDN 032153 FOX 042799 a. K. H AISBBSOT ; 18, 1994 4 While ttai above oovera Material* need la aaunfaeturlng oarbona, there are ether oonditiona Incidental thereto that J feel should, he given consideration, as practically all the processes are dusty. Peeking. Pallia* 4 Cleaning Carbons i All these operations are dusty and the mb perforate* these tasks are far the aest part eoaflssd to dusty area. The operation of paoking notorial plant 'also sales for a very hasty oondltloaf which Is not confined to plant alone hat eorera a rather large area, outside. She operator however ta protoetod with 8.2U 880 Pullsoaan respirator, Shis plant only operates approximately 18 to 80 hours per week, but Z belleTe sons dust oolleeting equipment ooald be used very advantageously at this point. Vo hare had oooaslonal complaints of headache and nausea here. While the operation of the gas produeer is not dusty, the operator is exposed to sons gas fuses, possibly not enough to be harnful but we have oooaslonal complaints of headaohe froa this sourse. la general, the Carbon Plant as a ehele la a dusty pl&oe, all employees hawing sons degree ef exposure to sene on ell processes. My suggestion for saxisum eltain&tlon of dust from carbon naaufUoturo would be to hare dust ooUeoting engineers jaake a study of sane and reooaaend equipment that will really do the work. Mb elimination of dust from this source does not In any way Involve the question of good housekeeplngr As I sot It, it is a problem of Installing suitable oolleotlng devises that will not only remove the dust but also collect same, as we would no doubt sustain a heavy BDN 032154 FOX 042800 HE. H, M. AXD8R80H July 13, 1984 5. 19m in dust pumped to outside, in addition to contaminating tho lir, should simple exhausters to piaood for tho purpose ot dust removal only. At present tho Carbon Plant la only Operating shout one-fourth of its capacity and. actual aan bona exposure la not ao # '` -4 groat* the exposure boars of ocmrao would Inoroaao proportionately with foil tins operation. ALDMDnni PLAHt As in tbs Carbon Plant, tbe materials used In tbs Aluminum Plant are Ary and tasty. However, for tbe most part they are reeeived. ready for use, thns eliminating dust exposure on crushing and. grinding operations. Aluainat Alnaina is received in box ears and unloaded by band. Sbls operation is probably the dustiest one we bare in tbe Aluminum Plant and tbe unloader is exposed to a very bad condition. He Is proteoted by Ho. 7 Filter type respirator. One man is exposed approximately 30 hours per week. We have had some complaints from this source and all employees on this operation seem to be more snsoeptible to oolds and frequent layoffs. Potroom employees, particularly is east end of room, are also exposed to seme dust from this operation, the density of same depending on prevailing winds, as there la always a great deal of dost around oar and tank when unloading. Aluminum Fluorides Phis material la reeeived and unloaded the some aa alumina, with practically the same dust conditions present. However, wltb present operations out to about l/6 capacity, tho exposure hours on this operation is only about 8 hours every six months. X believe about the only solution to the problem of dust BDN 032155 FOX 042801 ioi, x. mwum w# elimination from unloading both alumina and alualsaa fluoride would h*. to receive fiu&o in tank sum whioh are unloaded by enclosed sorew conveyor connected to elevator* f: Orarolltor Cryolite is received in barrels and very little dost is encountered in unloading* However, when Mmr ia handled in potrooa there is oonsiderabla dust iron this scare*, which will be given consideration under general woxk in potrooma. pat Shis operation is aore or lean in a olass with prerailing oonditions in Carbon Plant das to the operations of crushing, drying and grinding eoke. Ihie prooesa is very tasty and additional dust is created in handling and weighing pot lining * materials. Here again it is not a Question of good house-keeping and our suggestion would be to install dost collecting devices for maximum elimination* Bo proteotlon Is used at the present time and we bare had no ooiqplalnts* Sxposire hours vary from SO to 40 hours per week with one potrooa operating. Sand Blasting: Sand blasting operations are also e&rrled on In this building and for the most part in the open. However, their _ work Is not oarrled on while pot lining non are on duty and the operator is furnished with Pangborn rented hood, whloh secas to take oare of open work fairly well, altho there is probably Quite a bit of suspended dust that remains in the air for sobs time after aotual operation of oaohtno has stopped. Exposure hours at present wary from 6 to 18 per week. We hare had no complaints from this source* Tor maximum elimination of dust from this souroe, I would suggest-- an enclosed room equipped with dust oolleetlng device and a sand blast helmet with induced or foroe draft ventilation for operatlr* BDN032156 FOX 042802 MR. H. M. JLHEEB30I my isI lm r Boat periodic sand blast work la also carried on 8/ the eonstruotlon ferae oa galas at dams* Shis work however Is of neeesalty dona la the epaa where there is no oaa likely to be exposed axoipt theoperator and he la protested by Piagborn sand blast hoed, whloh atom t ba vary effective for this class f work. Bod&lm Roam* Operations in this rooa ara eomparatlvely fret from 4nst. with tha possible exooption of handling carbon butts, and. *feilc thera is some dast Inoidantal to this wok tha operator is not confined. Xxpesura hours ara wary few, whleh makes for a vary good, oondltlen froa tha standpoint of dust la this department. Potrooa operations In general froa a dost viewpoint are far froa being good, as praotioally all aaterlals handled are dry and dusty. Soae suspended dust Booms to ba present in the air at all tines, to whloh the workmen are constantly exposed while on duty, then when working the pots, changing oartons and ring up, they are of oourso exposed to a greater quantity of dust, particularly In Boon ZZ or on the Hiagara type pot whloh is worked from platform between pdts. approximately same elevation as top of pot. We also have another bad oonditlon in Rooa SB shore the pots are so olose together It la Impossible to sweep between or back of them. In spite of all prooantlana. ore aoouaulatos In largo quantities, whloh. If permitted to build, up. provides insulation in the wrong place and causes pot shell to beooae rod. This ore at present is blown out wit! compressed air on one six hour s hift eaoh day and makes for a bad dust oondltlen. I believe a vacuum system for this ore removal would Improve conditions at this point consIderably. fhe prevailing winds BDN 032157 FOX 042803 MS* X* X* AIDXBSOX AOriMWi govern in a large measure the density of dtOnthis and praotioally all other petrooa operations* In general ths potrpjpms era dusty and It la a condition that will requiro torn study and the installation of dost oolleoting equipment to overcome* V dp not furnish any protootion and hare had Tory few oosplaints fro* this source. Shis' operation is oostlxmoua and at present is diTided Into ftnr 6-hour shifts* SILICQM PLUS She manufacture of allioon, with the exception of sand blast operationsf is probably the only plaoo is the plant where esploysos are exposed to slllea dust* Materials used to prodaeo .one aetallie silicon are for the most part dry and dusty, with/possible exception* Oraval: Gravel is reoeived In hopper bottom gondola oars* Due to being taken from river bed, it is still daep when it reaohes us. Shis gravel is unloaded dlreot to ooxrveyor and elevated to storage tanks. It is not crushed and there is no dust visible during unloading, conveying and elevating operations. When this gravel is drawn fro* storage tanks, however, it is dry and sone dust is probably encountered from this source in weighing, aixlng and conveying to fuxnaee. We do not use any proteotlon and have had no complaints at this point* Exposure will approximate 4 hours each shift or 16 hours per day. Respirators would probably take eare of thiB operation* Charooalt ~ Charcoal is received in box ears and unloaded with shovel to oonveyor which dumps inside of building to storage space on floor* Moisture in this oharooal causes variations in the charge; BDN 032158 FOX 042804 MR# X* X* AXRRRSPJI Tulp 1&> 1984 9p DwxtXey* TWfy eftortis at&t to rttilTi eameaadrp*s possible* Mt' conditions inside on* flaying unloading operations are bad end there is sene dost in furnace building flreu frctX Unloading and. dumping fra*l*vatr. So pfotootion la fbrnlihdd, 1*1 the ualoaders sometime use s pieoo or flaap Oheost cloth over mouth and nose. Rospirators . for won inside of oar would improve ooafl.itions ait this point# low ever dust la furnace building will probably require the iastailatloa of collectors for marl mm elimination# Vo hav* approximately It hoars exposure par soak on this operation, Oarbon Buttst These are received in box oars and unloaded bp shOTOl to oonveyer, carried to rushers and thru sand rolls to bo nsod in Sodorberg electrode. This is bp far the dostleat operation so hare to contend with in the silicon plant and dost from this source oovers praotleallp all of furnace building, causing exposure to all silicon plant ei^lopees on dutp while this operation 1b carried on* For Mri--'e improvement at this point, some study should he made on method of crushing, in addition to the installation of dust oollcctlng equipment* Ve do not use any protection and have had no complaints. Fortunately, the exposure hours are comparatively few as this operation is only carried on for two 6-hour shifts every three months. Fumes t The 500 Z.W* silicon furnace gives off a large volume of vaporised sllioa, but for the most part this is taken oare of by hood and st&ok whioh oarrles same to outside of building* Also, during tapping operations a large quantity of silica vapor is given Off and makes a rather bd oondltlon in the furnace room* This however was improved considerably about four weeks ago by placing hood over BDN 032159 FOX 042805 BR. H X, AIPIB30J July 13*1934 f > tapping trotyl loading to oroeible and oonnfqting bkm to on xhauster whieh oonneots to static* it present X would say vsry little allies vapor onoapis in furnaoe room doringtapping operations* . Crashing! fh* actalllo slXioon is orushcdia BaiXdlag #88 bp Aurora jaw orashtr and guita a bit of test is created during this ' Operation* fas awn ara exposed approximately two boars sash dap and xu protaotlon is furnished* X believe a hood oon&aotsd with exhauster and dost oollooter would furnish a practical solution to dost problem at tbls point* fflaoggxeiii jgPARBimg Betary Stations* Ztaa rotary stations sirs comparatively free from dusty oporations* However, aalntonanoo non aro exposed to soso dost in blowing off rotors with compressed sir and while there seoas to bo a combination of dusts present, ooppsr dtust predominates or at lsast causes aora trouble as it takes but very little of this dust to produce acute nausea* The nausea Is always of short duration, but at tines it reaches a rather severe stage* She non affeoted do not soon to suffer any 111 affeots afterwards but.wo find our older asn are wort susceptible te nausea frpa this source and it la probably aore severe* Vb have tried several different types of respirators for this work* but as a rule the atn olaia several layers of oheoso oloth or gauBO dampened and placed ever nose and mouth is auoh easier to wear and just as offootlvs* Some times a oanvass hood is used to oover m&ohlne, with an exhauster at bottom* and while this arrangement keeps the dust from being scattered over the building* it does not in any way improve conditions for the men blowing off machines BDN 032A 60 FOX 042806 MR* H. M.mXBBCSM myis, xm Oraaosi Wo also have a tout condition similar to the abm.\ .> but senewhat aolifted whoa blowing off cranes. She non as a pula woar filter typo respirators or oh.toso oloth masks sad while wo haro nevor had a oast of nausea oa this work, tho asa have aetlood the . sat peculiar taste in south that ooouro whoa blowing off rotors, prodneed ao doubt from ooataOt with oopper dual* Xxposurt hours will run froa 16 to SO hours a week oa basis of present operations. Z bslieve a vacuum system could bo worked out for these two operations that would practically ollaiaats tho dost has&rd oa this typo of work* , Motor Shoot Maiatoaoaoo non art exposed to a great deal of dust ... whoa blowing off botors, tho kind of dust of course depending oa loaatlon of aster. Shop are protootod bp Pullsomaa filter tppo goggle respirator, which boobs to bo very efflelent oa this work, wo have had ao eoaplalats froa this souroo. Howorer, I see no reason why a vacuum system eould not be used to advantage on this operation also. MABUBBAHCg ASP OOHSTKOCTIOS These men, with the few exceptions noted, do not as a general rule oone In oontaot with any groat aaouat of dust, as most of tbs dast produelag operations are idle while their work is going on. Iron a dust standpoint, Z would describe working ooadltloas fbr these ssa as very good. Za general, all eooupatlons that have aot been takea up la detail are for the most part comparatively free from dust. At tines wind variations willTbsuse some dust to drift to very renote plaoes, but I believe a dust count taken at suoh places would show a very low content. BDN 032161 FOX 042807 J4 XSSStSOS 19M I toltOYO ooao oxporiaoatal York Along tbo lira of Oast lialnatioa 000X4 i# oarrloft on wjr AdraBtagoously hare. It la o prohloa that wilX rogatro a groat tool of ataAy aA somo tacpenoo if Moxiwao results art obtained* JXflBG 00 to Mr* 6. A* Copp J. X. VABH. BDN 032162 FOX 042808 I <101 From: Kathrvn j. Rezents at 'AMPCCN3 11/4/94 2:16PM ( 1829 bvtes: i in) To: Earl R. Folev at "WENCCN1 cc: Gerald E. Gibbons at WENCCN1, Felicia J. Bayer at "PITCCN2 Sub.iect: History of Mesothelioma at Alcoa -------------------------------------------------- Message Contents ------------------------------------------ Text item 1: Text_1 Earl. Regarding your question of past cases/deaths due to mesothelioma for active employees at Alcoa- I did not come up with much. I spoke with Lvn Lang, Kevin Oxley, Chris Dixon-Ernst and others. Our current workers' comp recordkeeping system indicates past and open cases of dust disease of the lung'' with an accident agent and or contact agent of "asbestos", but does not go to the extent of indicating the diagnosis of "mesothelioma". Among those with the contact agent or accident agent of yasbestos" .} only 2 are receiving death dollars'. "Death dollars" are given when the cause of death is determined to be work related. We cannot determine if the cause of death for these 2 individuals was due to asbestos or some other agent. Keep in mind that the workers' comp recordkeeping system is limited and lists all cases from previous years that were still open in 1983, and all cases since 1983. Thus, information from this source is very limited. Per Chris Dixon-Ernst. the PMR (proportionate mortality ratio) study did not_reveal any deaths due to mesothelioma between 1980 and 1988. ' -- 1 ~ A review of death certificates is not a viable option at this time. WEN204353