Document EdDOVzo1jXNBqYvDw2oM7LVdL

TlwB.R ComiMrty For Subject: Insedlately GOODRICH StAT&SHT OH OSHA STANDARD Contact: John J. Boll Phone: (216) 373-3543 500 South Kain Street Akron, Ohio 44318 AKRON, Oct. 2 -- The B.F.Goodrich Company said today the record of hearings conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not support the necessity nor the feasibility of the permanent standard for exposure to vinyl chloride (VC) in the work atmosphere of VC and polyvinyl chloride (PYC) plants. Goodrich said its comments are based on a preliminary analysis of the per manent standard which was announced Tuesday afternoon by OSHA. The ccsspany said it intends to continue alt plant operations and also seek further reductions in the low levels of VC exposure achieved through intensive efforts over the past several months. Goodrich said it will do whatever is required to sustain its operations, but the company intends to seek legal review of OSHA's final standard. OSHA*s standard, effective Oct. 4, has three phases. The current exposure limit of 50 parts-per-silllon (ppra) will continue until Jan. 1, 2975. Thereafter, the standard will require that VC exposure levels be reduced to we ppsn averaged over any eight-hour period ami five ppo averaged over any period no longer than 15 minutes. For higher exposure levels, the standard requires that employers provide certain respiratory devices for employees* but OSHA says the wearing of respirators* until Dec. 31, 1975* "shall be at the discretion of each employee for exposures not in excess of 25 ppm.* The use of respirators will be mandatory after Jan. 1, 1976, whenever VC exposure exceeds the allowable levels of one and five ppm. Goodrich said these levels were established arbitrarily and are not sup- Ul m Co ported by the record of OSHA hearings conducted in February and this simxsr. 1D1M BFG26661 (core) C-al !_THQ Li r A 1 -2- Technology to attain these levels does not exist today, Goodrich said. Therefore* the fun-tine use of respirators by all employees would be required in 1976. There was ample evidence submitted by industry and other expert witnesse at the OSHA hearings this summer, the company pointed out, on the impracticality of using respirators on this basis. Goodrich said It has already lowered the average VC exposure levels in ft plants from 35-40 ppm early this year to an average of 12-13 ppm. This is ackno^ 1 edged in GSHA's review of its permanent standard. The company said It has reached the point where additional iaproveBents cose harder and take longer to achieve. It is not a question of economics, Goodrich said. These efforts have th company's highest priority. The challenge now, the company's statement continued, is to develop and *prove out new technology which, of course, cannot be predicted nor scheduled 'according to an arbitrary timetable. Efforts will continue, the company added, to enable Goodrich to met the steadily growing demand for the numerous applications of PVC* many of which are vital to the national econossr. 6oodrich is committed to achieving the lowest practicable exposure leve' for vinyl chloride as quickly as this is technologically feasible. -0- 10-274 W c0no U) CA o BFG26662