Document EqLMyGaO15ZK3vZX5XdGOMy7j

CertainTeed C > s * August 2, 1982 Subject Industrial Hygiene Recommenda tions Hillsboro - Follow-up Survey - -V To .' D. Hall \ Frm / Yp ^ frJanls Woods--ony Location and mail code 2125/2B Location and mail code 1125/4 During the June, 1982 Industrial Hygiene Survey at Hillsboro, a follow-up observation of prior industrial hygiene recommendation status was made. Attached for your information and action is a summary of those observations. In general, the plant has been very responsive to implementing the recom mendations. The control of exposure to asbestos fibers is highly effective. The more difficult task of reducing source noise remains a problem. The Hearing Conservation Program appears to be well conceived and effectively implemented. JLV/cr Attachment CTD01666' HILLSBORO A/C PIPE PLANT RECOMMENDATIONS A-PLANT 1. A slitted curtain should be added to the bag opener, where the bags enter the opener on the conveyor. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: The curtain has been installed. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: There was no curtain. The curtain should be installed to help contain fiber should a mechanical problem develop in the ventilation system, whereby reducing the negative pressure. (IHS 82-16) 2. All latches on the bag opener should be repaired and used by the Mixer Operator. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Latches have been installed and are used. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: The latches are in need of repair. These should be repaired to help contain fiber should a mechanical problem develop in the ventilation system, whereby reducing the negative pressure. (IHS 82-16) 3. General Housekeeping should be upgraded at the Lathe Lines, Rework Saw and the Large Coupling Saw to include a thorough cleanup at the end of each shift. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Cleanup is being accomplished at the end of each shift. COMPLETE. (6/14/82 - DRH) 4. The Engineering Department should be consulted for the improvement of the dust collection system at the finishing lathe lines to remove tailings and dust from inside pipe. The job positions in this area should be sampled regularly to measure the effect of the changes made. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Dust hoods have been improved and inside wipers have been installed to improve tailing removal. Position is sampled on a scheduled basis; results forwarded to both Group and Corporate Health and Safety Departments. (6/14/82 - DRH) I CTD016662 Hillsboro A/C Pipe Plant Recommendations Page 2. FOLLOW-UP: It was observed that tailings and dust were remain ing in pipes after lathing, because the wipers were not being used. A review of the plant's data sheets do show a regular sampling schedule for those employee's on the lathe lines. Although the results are generally low, the use of the wipers would help decrease the amount of dust on the floor and add to the ease of cleanup, plus it would help to eliminate the possibility of any dust be coming airborne. (IHS 82-16) COMPLETE. 5. Further sampling should be done at the Crusher and //I Boring Mill on all sizes of couplings run at this mill. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Areas are sampled on a rotational basis. Sampling is scheduled such that data can be collected for all coupling sizes. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: Scheduling rotation seems to be that of once per year for each of these positions. The sampling results show a general decrease in fiber exposure for these positions, although follow-up sampling on 4" couplings at the //I Mill has not been made, leaving a 1.79 f/cc exposure level the last docu mented level for that size coupling. COMPLETE. (IHS 82-16) 6. The Large Coupling Saw should be replaced as soon as feasibly possible, otherwise, the present dust collection system should be redesigned for better efficiency. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Improvements have been made to the dust collection fans. Position is sampled on a scheduled basis; results are fowarded to both Group and Corporate Health and Safety Departments. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: One follow-up sample has been taken in 1982, which shows a excellent decrease in exposure when sawing 16" couplings. COMPLETE. (IHS 82-16) 7. The fiber surveillance program should be expanded to include more frequent sampling throughout the plant with more emphasis on full day sampling and 8-hour Time-Weighted Averages. (IHS 80-17) CTD016663 Hillsboro A/C Pipe Plant Recommendations Page 3. STATUS: The program was upgraded September, 1981, with more frequent, scheduled sampling being conducted. Results are forwared to both Group and Corporate Health and Safety Departments. (6/14/82 - DRH). COMPLETE. 8. Posted required respirator areas should be the Automatic Bag Opener Crusher Area, the //I Boring Mill and the Large Coupling Saw. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Fiber counts show exposure in these areas to be below OSHA specified levels, hence, respirators are not required. Areas are sampled on a scheduled basis; results are forwarded to iioth Group and Corporate Health and Safety Departments. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: The plant presently requires respirators at the following: Large Coupling Cutoff Saw, Random/ Rework Saw, Mixer Operator/Bag Opener, and when repairs are made on the Munsons, Willow Mills Crusher & Dust Collectos. While exposures do not madate respirators for the three operators during normal operations, it is an excellent precautionary measure consider ing their potential for higher short term exposures. COMPLETE. (IHS 82-16) 9. Air Silencers should be installed at the Lathe Lines. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Project is presently being worked on. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: INCOMPLETE. (IHS 82-16) 10. A wall made of sound absorbant material.! should be installed between #1 and //2 Boring Mill and/or an application of sound absorbing foam inside each mill. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Project is presently being worked on. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: On April 5, 1982, a wall of sytrofoam was tempo rarily installed, which reduced noise level by 1 dB. The plant removed the wall. Although the noise level was only reduced by 1 dB, when installed, any reduction no matter how minor could be significant when the other equipment is also reduced by a small CTD016664 Hillsboro A/C Pipe Plant Recommendations Page 4. amount. The overall reduction could be substantial. A greater dB reduction could be obtained by increasing the height and size of the wall/barrier, and placing it on three sides of the mills instead of just be tween them. (IHS 82-16) 11. A sound absorbant panel should be added to the Rework Saw Handle. This should also be done to the Large Rework Saw if it is not replaced in the near future. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Not completed as stated. Area has been designated as a required hearing protector area, and all personnel are provided with and must wear the protectors. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: The entire Finishing Department has been designated and posted as a required hearing protection area. All the employees in this department were so protected. This is protecting the employee, but can only be used as a temporary measure. According to OSHA, everything feasible must be done to reduce noise levels by engineering or administrative means. Those attempts should be documented. If the efforts fail, only then is it permitted to substitute hearing pro tection as a solution. (IHS 82-16) 12. A sound absorbant foam should be applied to non-wearing surfaces at the Crusher including the hood at the entrance to the Crusher. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Presently under study. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: The Crusher Operator is required to wear hearing protection, although no notable reduction in the noise level has been made since the 1980 survey. (IHS 82-16) 13. An installation of sound absorbant barrier walls or curtains should be made throughout the Finishing/Fittings area. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Presently under study. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: The Finishing/Fittings area has been designated and posted as a required hearing protection area with 100% participation by employees. An outside con sultant, Laslow Varga of Barts, Inc., visited the CTD016665 Hillsboro A/C Pipe Plant Recommendations Page 5. plant in April, 1982, and made some informal sugges tions for noise reduction. No notable noise reductions have made. (IHS 82-16) 14. Posted required hearing protection areas should be: The Lathes and Testers #2 and //3, the Crusher, //I Boring Mill, Large Coupling Saw and Fittings Machine. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Areas are posted. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: The entire Finishing/Fittings Department has been designated and posted as a required hearing protec tion area with 100% employee participation. COMPLETE. (IHS 82-16) B-PLANT 15. The Mandrel Handlers job position should be resampled immediately to better determine the exposure levels in this area. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: B-Plant not in operation. Noise level reduction improvments in this area have been made. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: Not in operation. (IHS 82-16) 16. A constant (daily) surveillance of fiber levels should be made in the B-Plant until the manufacturing operation is considered normal and all levels are within the OSHA limits. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: B-Plant not in operation. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: Not in operation (IHS 82-16) 17. When normal manufacturing operations are acheived, a regular surveillance program should be established. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: B-Plant not in operation. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: Not in operation. (IHS 82-16) 18. A posted required respirator area should be at the Crusher Area and the automatic bag opener. (IHS 80-17) CTD016666 Hillsboro A/C Pipe Plant Recommendations Page 6. STATUS: Fiber counts for these areas show exposure to be below OSHA specified levels, hence, respirators are not re quired. Areas are sampled on a scheduled basis; re sults are forwarded to both Group and Corporate Health and Safety Departments. To be resumed when B-Plant resumes operations. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: Although fiber exposures are within the required levels as documented on the plant sampling data sheets, it is an excellent precautionary measure considering the potential for short term higher level exposures. Not in operation. (IHS 82-16) 19. A more detailed and extensive study should be made of the noise levels in the B-^Plant, including the Finishing Line and Crusher. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: B-Plant not in operation. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: Not in operation (IHS 82-16) 20. Posted required hearing protection areas should be at the Mandrel Handlers job position and the Crusher Operators job position, which would include the Relief Operator when he is in these areas. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Will be done when B-Plant resumes opeation. (6/14/82 DRH) FOLLOW-UP: Not in operation. (IHS 82-16) 21. A sound absorbant foam should be applied to non-wearing surfaces at the Crusher, including the hood at the entrance to the Crusher. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: This is under study. (6/14/82 - DRH) FOLLOW-UP: No notable reduction has been made since the 1980 survey. (IHS 82-16) 22. All fiber spills should be cleaned up immediately and all torn bags taped. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Being done. (6/14/82 - DRH) COMPLETE. CTD016667 Hillsboro A/C Pipe Plant Recommendations Page 7. 23. All brooms in all areas of the plant should be eliminated and alternate methods such as oilmops, vacuums and any wet method should be used for cleanup. STATUS: Oilmops and vacuums are used for cleanups of dust and raw fiber. FOLLOW-UP: Dry brooms were observed being used for cleanup in the Manufacturing Department. (IHS 82-16) 24. The use of old felts should be discontinued and old felts should be to tally disposed of. (IHS 80-17) STATUS: Old felts are being disposed of. (6/14/82 - DRH) _ COMPLETE. 25. It is recommended when handling dimethylformamide directly, that employees use appropriate gloves designed for protection against organic solvents. (October, 1981) STATUS: DMF no longer used to clean brass bushings in fittings area. (6/14/82 - DRH) COMPLETE. 26. An engineering feasibility study should be made in the Finishing/Fittings Department to determine if engineering controls can be a cost effective benefit to the employees and to the plant. (IHS 82-3) STATUS: Control of what? Please specify. (6/14/82 - DRH) . FOLLOW-UP: Taken from the Industrial Hygiene Survey of Jan uary 11, 1982 for noise/audiodosimetry. An out side consultant, Lanslow Varga of Barts, Inc., visited the plant in April, 1982, and made some informal suggestions for noise reduction. No notable noise reductions have been made. (IHS 82-16) 27. Adequate hearing protection is required for equipment operators found exposed to greater than 90 dB. (IHS 82-3) STATUS: Being done. (6/14/82 - DRH) CTD016668 Hillsboro A/C Pipe Plant Recommendations Page 8. FOLLOW-UP: The entire Finishing/Fittings Department has been designated and posted as a required hearing pro tection area with 100% employee participation. COMPLETE. (IHS 82-16) CTD016669