Document KRwawrz4J4eRD42eadVGzYbbw

W. E. Horton T. S. Bialke FIELD POINT OR DEPT. 4 BLDG NO. Avon Lake O.C. FIELD POINT OR DEPT. & BLDG. NO. Akron - D/0020, 5-H INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SURVEY - NOV. 10-13, 1980 DATE YOUR LETTER DATE THIS LETTER 12-15-80 On November 10-13, 1980 I conducted an industrial hygiene survey at the Avon Lake General Chemical Plant. Recommendations are contained herein addressing ventilation design proposals for Estane, heavy metal monitoring in Compound, and noise control in Dryer Bldg. 452 and Compound West. Previous recommen dations have been made addressing antimony oxide use at the Technical Center by Estane personnel (T.S.Bialke to M.N.Dedecker 11/19/80). A The Avon Lake monitoring programs for acrylonitrile, VCL and noise appear to be adequate. Also, the plant's physical examination schedules follow BFG medical policies. 1 wish to thank Bill Welch for his assistance during my survey. T. S. Bialke v cc: W.T.Gunning/R.B.Holmes/W.Welch K.Kaminski H.Botelho/E.Harrington/H.Waltemate W.C.Becker P.Whitmire/G.Krcmar/R.Krueger E.Martinelli/W,Lodge M. 0'Mara/B.DiLiddo N.Aquino/J.Malone TT J / T7 ... A *0002192 . / J S ' BFG46493 Avon Lake IH Survey Nov. 10-13, 1980 1. RECO! tMEHDAT IONS : 1- Estane/Estol a. Incorporate into the design of the Estane line ventilation system provisions for the following: (1) access doors to faci litate clean-out of the duct work and hoods, (2) match hoods to the equipment and needs of the operator and place the hoods as close to the source of fume generation as possible and (3) install a manometer to indicate reduced flow rate. b. Ensure that the Estane/Estol line ventilation system, Bldg. 471, is kept clear of condensed material so that air flow is not restricted. 2. Investigate the feasibility of waterblasting the Estane agitators free of material rather than burning the material off with welding torches. 3. Compound a. Document Pb, Sb and Cd exposure for the weighman and Henschel operator, Geon East and Vest, for the next three months by obtaining personnel air samples during each usage of pigments containing these metals. b. Replace sound reflective roof/cover of Geon West mill drive enclosure with one made of a sound absorbent material. c. Utilize the vacuum system for clean-up in Compound area (Banbury line cuber room) ; if it is necessary to use compressed air for clean-up, require the involved workers to wear approved toxic dust respirators. 4. Bldg. 451 Ensure that the HRC system is firmly bolted to a manhead before operation. 5. Bldg. 452 Reduce noise from the three air pumps used to supply transport air by muffling exhaust or by providing a noise enclosure. 6. Plant Wide Establish a timetable for replacement and modification of eyewash fountain valves to make them more easily accessible and to elimi nate the spring loaded type valves (recommendation from previous year). 26123002 BFG46494 'Avon Lake IH Survey Nov. 10-13, 1980 3. Discussion (con't) This will require close coninunication between the Environmental Depart ment and Compound Scheduling. Compound must communicate to the Environ mental Department one day in advance of when lead, antimony, cadmium or chrome containing pigments are going to be used so that sampling equip ment can be prepared. Noise control efforts in Compound East and West have reduced worker exposures significantly. This survey was the first time I found all cuber doors (east and west) closed. However, the enclosure around the mill drive in Geon West is covered with what appears to be a corrugated fiberglass material which reflects the noise from the drive over and out of the enclosure. The enclosure would be more effective if this roof was made of a sound absorbent material such as the enclosure walls or the roof of the Geon East mill drive enclosure, rather than the existing noise reflective type. Clean-up of the Banbury line cube room was observed. A worker was inside the cube room without a respirator while using compressed air to blow material about. He was, however, wearing a face shield. All efforts must be expended toward using the existing vacuum system for clean-up. If, however, compressed air is to be used to clean-out inaccessible places, the employee involved must wear respiratory protection. Any NIOSH approved toxic dust respirator would be sufficient. During the walk-through of Bldg. 451, an HRC unit was observed not firmly bolted to a manhead. In fact, it had no bolts on it at all. The HRC system must be firmly bolted to a manhead before being energized. In Bldg. 452, along the west wall near the bagging operations, there are three air pumps that produce a very high frequency noise which is trans mitted to all parts of the building. Various options are available for controlling these noise sources such as muffling or enclosing. C. Bayard indicated it may be possible to reduce the pressure requirements or elimi nate the air pumps altogether. I encourage this approach over others mentioned above. Plant Wide In my last year's survey report, it was recommended that the ALGC plant modify the valves for eyewash fountains to make them more uniform and eliminate the spring actuated valves. An engineering standard has finally been written, but little progress has actually been made to implement the change. This changeover should proceed in a timely fashion to eliminate a potential serious health problem. The vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile and noise monitoring programs were reviev7ed and found to be in order. coomsz BFG46495 Employee/SS# 11/12/80 J.Gormal 301-32-9428 P.Hoggrette 298-12-7699 J.Sakach 173-20-2231 TABLE X. AIR SAMPLING RESULTS Avon Lake G.C. Nov. 12-13, 1980 Sample Time______ug/M^ Job Area (min) F5------ Sb Cr td CML Weighman Cpd. West Henschel Op. II M ii it II II 255 245 235 55 0 1.1 5 7.2 0 2.4 0 1.9 0 0.7 0 11/13/80 P.Hoggrette J. Sakach Henschel Op., Cpd. West it it it it 370 369 BLDL * BLDL k CML Weighman sample invalid because of pump malfunction. * BLDL " Below lower detection limit of analysis; essentially n0". All employees monitored wore 3M 9900 toxic dust masks. 26123004 BFG46496