Document JY6eYr0p1zzBp8VX7dLG7XNe

JCP*OMl N. NCCKKAN CMANLCS M, HUMAN WILLIAM M. SOnaMCSANJ* JR. MALCOLM O. MCCARTHY TMC V, OLACH UONN S. CLORCO MIC HA CL r. MORRQNC MARK FOX CVCNS john m, ouacc* TW LMM CKUI CMRlSTlMC A. MCAOMCN SMIRLCY S. FUJIMOTO LAMTRCMCC F. HALMlN HALF* A. IIMMONt RCTCR A. SUSSCA TCMCMCI D. JOHKt MARY MAST HA MeHAMASA JOHN t. IHOMASDS+ MCLVtN S. OSOSCM C. OOOSLAS JARMCTT SHClLA A. MILLAS FMOCmex J, SAY. J*.** SUSAN T. CONTI SUSAN Jt SLUM MATStCK J. HUSO"" S. CNAfO TAUTFCST OAVIO M. JCTT MAUSCCH A. O'COMNCLL** NINA M. INSTCIN*** MASK A. SlCVCSS*** "AOMITTCO IN FCHNSYLVANlA ONLY "AOMfTTCO IN VISOINIA ONLY ""AOMITTCO IN MASYLANO ONLY 1150 17*- STREET, K.W. suite 1000 O.ouie: Washington, d.c. sooae (SOS) 956-5600 October 30, 1987;-; SClCMTtriC staff OANICL S. OIXLCS ouswaso r. oooocn CMASLCS V. SSCDCS SOSCST A. MATHCWS TCLCCOMM UN ICATI0MS CNOINCCS CHASLCS F. TUSMCN TCLCX tclccosics ttot) sse*7ssx CASLC AOOSCSS "KCLMAN wsrrcs*s discct dial numscs (202) 956-5641 To: SPI Vinyl Institute Health, Safety and Environment Committee Re: OSHA Labeling of Vinyl Chloride Polymers and Copolymers Ladies and Gentlemen: * This letter is intended to clarify and repeat our September 3 request for existing information concerning worker exposure to vinyl chloride from dry blending, fabrication and transportation dock operations. As a follow--up to our last meeting with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), we need data to support our position that compounding and other polyvinyl chloride (PVC) operations do not result in significant worker exposure to vinyl chloride that would trigger OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requirements. By convincing the OSHA headquarters staff of our position, we should be able to effectively resolve unreasonable OSHA field inspec tion complaints. The same information may also help us in our longer term efforts to change the labeling language in the OSHA vinyl chloride standard. % Our September 3 letter requested industrial hygiene, worker exposure, and other pertinent sampling data, to indi cate the absence of any significant exposure to vinyl chloride for compounding and fabricating workers. We emphasize that our request does not require creation of new information. We VAB.0001172802 SPI Vinyl Health, Safety and Environment Committee October 30, 1987 Pacre Two request only existing information which is on hand or in de tailed summary form. All information submitted will be kept confidential as to its source. Under the Hazard Communications Standard, employers make a hazard determination. Based on field agent complaints, it appeared that OSHA had made the decision that working with PVC presented a cognizable hazard. The OSHA headquarters staff assures us this is not the case but declined to provide an opin ion letter or memorandum without .more information. The data we are requesting will substantiate the Instituted claims, educate OSHA, and result in fewer conflicts between facilities and OSHA inspectors on vinyl chloride issues. Furthermore, if the collected data satisfies OSHA's questions regarding the Hazard Communication Standard, this same data may support a change in the vinyl chloride standard. The Institute cannot continue to interact with OSHA on this matter without supporting data. Therefore, please send these materials to me or to Meredith Scheck at the Vinyl Insti tute. In advance, we thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions or comments concerning this request for infor mation, please contact us. Cordially yours. cc: Charles E. O'Connell Lewis R. Freeman, Jr. Robert W. Sherman Peter L. de la Cruz VAB.0001172803