Document J3oQ6nR3gmqVGByLVd4JXewyZ

FILE NAME: Powhatan (PHN) DATE: 1962 DOC#: PHN018 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Govt Inspection Reports DIVISION Of OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH INVESTIGATION OR SERVICE Data 3 1 X v Y i - S ^ y ___1VR, - plant Address Wfto<tl.Q*u-w Number of Employees: M it/tHa Gi_____ Industry * County Male fO Female sl 1 Total rfsZ ry. I' ___ Cl--------- 11_______ Purpose Number Involved. Survey Reinepection 1 is Study Follow-up Consultation Special Activity Project Activity Persons Interviewed f/>S.J ft M sfcKr tJvA*A*A_ Occupational Disease Reason Self initiated \ 0. D. Report Complaint-Request Management Labor Neighbors Health Office Other Recommendations Regarding Environmental Problems Number; Problems Effected .Requested Improvement , j . - ' New Maastes, f,,, " \ s W W *''**>^ i f kw> Past - Completed ^ \ *' Uncompleted f . 1 of & -V V ^ ^ Field Studies: ' ' : No.Involved - N~ -------------------------------- ---- -- ---------- -- ------- -------------------- Samples submitted for analysis 2 Affi.. Memo 1M - 1/6O y; Plant Record j Letter/Repen*r f*>: X rec; Next Visit rntbl Reviewed PZ ^ X%  'Powhatan'Kihifig Company Hock (probably a Chrysotile variety of Serpentine) is processed at the rate of two tons per day to produce asbestos The raw rock con tains from 70-90/f asbestos; it is procured from southern domestic sources, * r Over 20 previous visits have been made to this plant; operations and procedures have been so fully described that further repetition is un necessary. : * * \ >* *-> All areas were visited; in sequence, they are: Grinding and Crushing (Fiberizing or Shredding): Not in operation. Loose asbestos is produced. Screening (Separation of Fines and Coarse): Smoke-tube lsts indicate good local exhaust. A Dustfoe, (BM-2166A) respirator Is worn by operator; -this-is brand new and shiny and I felt it is put on for my visit. Bagging: Asbestos- is bagged on the first floor. Although- this operation \yas not being carried out, holes in the fabric of the conducting systems indicate appreciable escape of asbestos dust when in use. Fines and sands are. bagged in the basement. No operations were being performed here; smoke-tube tests indicate good local-exhaust ventilation in the general bagging area; tests of the specific breathing area (during a non-operative period).are considered meaningless. Extraction (for Special Uses): ...... . . A steam-heated HC extraction is carried .on outside. The extracted material is parted by barrow to a small building for aqueous extration of Hct and chlorides. Dust respirators, not gloves or acid-proof glasses, are worn over the well-water washing tanks. `Drying, on racks-in a steam-rheated cabinet, presents no hazards. ' Screening (Extracted Asbest*03): This .operation was not being done. ' It is performed by forcing the dried material, by-hand, through-a-, wire screen. No local-ventilation facilities are present. * 'T-' . 'K Packing (Extracted Asbestos): Operation-was-not-in nrogress.- .. - 2 'H GENERAL; The history of this plant frca March of 19*H to the present time, and covered by over 20 industrial health examinations, is one of a hazardous environment. Conditions have been universally bad and repeated recommendations for their improvement have been on iy partially completed, or ignored. Three cases of suspected asbestosis, one of these being uncontested and costing the insurance company ^320,000, emphasize the need for positive corrective action in this ywplant. Basic contributory factors are: Medical: Adequate medical supervision is lacking. It is felt that the initial physical examination is not supplemented by the close medical sur veillance necessary in this type of work; readings of the chest S ? x-rays should be made by a trained, roentgenologist, specializing in lung diseases. Positive or doubtful findings should be referred to an M.D., also specializing in lung diseases, for close control and supervision. . - Ventilation: ' * , Although some operations were not being conducted at the time of visit, visual observations of the system disclosed holes in the exhaust ducts and a lack of upkeep. The plant history indicates no effort in this direction until a death, and only sporadic and piecemeal attempts since then. The use of respirators, recommended many, zany times (and ignored just as many times) is inherently a secondary measure; it is only a "back-up" procedure for.unsatisfactory ventilation. Sanitation: k . - Features in this area contributing to.the undesirable picture may be. divided into two basic divisions. The first, and least important, is the refusal of Mr. Mett, despite numerous recommendations, to replace the outside privy with a more-sanitary and aesthetic means of.human sewage disposal. Since, at the time of visit, the privy was well policed and since, in effect, privies in good condition are permitted by the CH0, it is advisable to withdraw this recommenda tion; continued repetition and continued ignorals have rendered it meaningless. ' , - i The second, and most important, aspect of sanitary shortcomings is absence of wash facilities. No i^ash basins, soap, ,or towels are provided in the plant; a make shift shower is nev'er used. As a result, the personal-hygiene measures essential for ameliorating dust conr tamination are lacking. -.j Owner' s A t t it u d e : This is one of intransigence. No real effort is, or has been, made, to comply with repeated recommendations on ventilation repair, sani tation, use of respirators, and correction of working conditions* The fact that "the men w o n 't do it" is a poor excise for not assuming . responsibility (legally the owners) for providing, and assuring the use of, all necessary safeguards and personnel-protective measures in this hazardous plant. Evasions and passive resistance will not solve this problem. Conclusions : . 1. It is felt, that a .definite "asbestosis" hazard exists in this plant at the present time. 2. ^ complete survey of this plant in operation (promised in letter of WFR under date of January 13, I960) should.be made. 3. If warranted by the survey,xonly valid and well-backed recom mendations should be n a d e ^ i n our specific areas of interest. Such recommendations should-be positive, emphatic, and realistically capable of enforcement. Repetition of recommendations, never heeded, serves only to weaken their effect? and to negate our position in making them. ' 2f. Should noncoapliance or indifference to such recommendations be present after a six month period, a copy of the survey (including the recommendations), with as much pertinent information from the company file history as necessary, should be sent to the Workmens' Compensation Insurance carrier for the 9 company. DR*gsh April 6, 1962 1 }' l: Mr. Fred A* Mett, Owner r- V Powhatan Mining Company ' Woodlawn,: Baltimore-County, Md i : V J /. , .V "rs-t i Dear Mr. Metti - i . - k* 1 r-L:I Thank you for the courtesy shown to the representative"; : H* I*J of this Division on his inspection of your plant ~ ^ *, /< *;vi \ i -j :~January 31 1962. ; ; -. ' [ x- i v ? ; V.; r . .V* ' E\ ' ' v ' ii . :r-S;_'i: .v> ; We would like to reexamine your plant when it is on a ""I* more fully-operative basis, especially when bagging, ,--' -, / and packing of the hand-sceeen washed asbestos, is being '. done* It would be especially desirable if we could cake our visit when all phases of your operations are in progress. Will it be possible for you abovo conditions will be in and reinspect your plant? \~n` ; * -3.hre. - to suggest'a time when effect and v/hen we nay the come - ''$i Very truly yours, 'James A. Beegan, Public Health Engineer. /. Division of Occupational Health' Vl \^akK')`Cv-9 >TVV7v'~s.5 v x `H <r* * ; ,r 5. 7 t ' ,'4r 'A iu,, V* ri ' TELEPHONE. WINDSOR 4 -4 7 4 6 Powmtca /ii&aiioA CABLE ADDRESS "P O W M IN C O 1 t / / poyiHSTiav) miiiiiG coropnov A C ID P R O O F * PoU U tU H C O . / e d f a . D IE L E C T R IC 6721 WINDSOR M ILL ROAD - BALTIMORE 7. MARYLAND. U. S. A. April 9, 1962 Mr. James A. Beegan, Public Health Division of Occupational Health Department -of Health 301 W. Preston St. Baltimore, 1, Maryland Engineer Dear Mr. Beegan': Your .letter of April 6th to Mr. Fred A. Mett has been received. Mr. Mett is out of town on a business tiip and is hot expected to return until the week of April 22. Mr. Mett will write you upon his return to the office. Thank you. Yours very truly, POWHATAN MINING COMPANY FEMtpmc (Miss) Frances E. Mett Secretary