Document KZkbvenMqV21r289vXOG8b2x

Occupational Health 996 South Main Street Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335 June 17, 1971 Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Port Allegany, Pennsylvania I6734 Attention: J. Richard Murray Manager, Personnel Services Gentlemen: On May 20, 1971, Mr. J. L. Woodrin^, industrial hygienist, discussed with you dust and toluene di-isocyanate (TDI) levels determined from air samples collected previously and reinspected areas where asbestos materials ore handled,, As reported, no TDI vapor was detected in the air in Building No. 6. The dust levels determined in Building No. 8 are listed in the attached Table. The threshold limit value for dust containing asbestos is 5 million particles per cubic foot of air, based on exposure for an G-hour working day. This is cur rently a provision of Article A32, "Regulations Establishing Threshold Limits in Places of Employment"; hov;ever, a reduction of this value has been proposed and is expected to be adopted. In view of the above and information indicating no significant change in operations since our latest samples were collected in September cf 1970, the following recommendations are made; 1. Continue the periodic medical chest x-ray examination program for employees exposed to dust. Examinations of workers ex posed to asbestos dust should be made once every two years, if you utilize a 14 x 17 inch chest x-ray and annually if you utilize a 70 mm chest x-ray. Report the name and address of the physician in charge of the x-ray program and the results of chest x-ray examinations to this office. 2. Reduce workers' asbestos dust exposures to safe levels. This may be effected by: A Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Port Allegany, Pennsylvania 1&73U 2- - June 17, 1971 / A. Instituting and maintaining a good housekeeping program, especially at the feeding and fluffing machines in the Forming Department. .vHc B. x y \) ,v. \ c C. Maintaining the exhaust ventilation ducts and dust col lectors in good repair and operating condition. Providing air-tight seals in the ducts in the pressurized part of the ventilation 'system in the Forming Department. D. Improving the ventilation control provided at the sowing operation in the Finishing Department through more effective enclosure and increased ventilating capacity. . Precleaning cut pieces before packaging or provide exhaust ventilation controls during packaging in the Finishing Department. 3. Enforce the use of respirators approved by the U. S. Eureau of Mines for protection against toxic dusts until other effective controls are provided. Respirators should be maintained in accordance vrith the provisions of Section 4, paragraph C of Article 432. Please notify this office within 60 days of the steps taken to comply with above recommendations. Enclosed for your information are copies of our Hygienic Information Guide entitled ,'AsbeEtos,t, "Personal Respiratory Protective Equipment" and "Toluene 2,4 Diisocyanatc", and a copy of Article 432, as amended. HJS:JLW:ilp enclosures \J.j H. 'J. Suroviec Regional Industrial Hygienist COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Dust Concentrations Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Port Allegany, Pennsylvania Location Forming Department Between feeder No. 2 Building Machine No. 1 Building Machine Concentrations* (millions of particles per cubic foot of air) 1.7 2.2 2.6 1.2 1.2 0.7 0.8 0.5 Remarks Worker's breathing zone, loading feeding machines, respirator worn________________ Same as above, clean cut door on conveyor accidentally left open___________________________ __ General air Worker's breathing zone General air Finishing Department By' scrap grinder 2.8 2.9 Q8^ 4.1 4.6 1.4 !.9 5-0 3-3 3-0 Id VJorker's breathing zone, feed ing material to intermediate Worker's breathing zone, remc ing and packing material from intermediate saw_______________ Worker's breathing zone, feed material to small saw Worker's breathing zone, remc ing and packing material from small saw Worker's exposure feeding and transferring material on larg jsaw_________________ VJorker's breathing zona, t.rar ferring and packaging metori; _frn-gjlgrp2_r'.'' __ _______ General air, only intoi madia;, sow in operation Location Shipping Department Concentrations* (millions of particles per cubic foot of air) 1-3 3-7 Remarks Worker's breathing zone, weighing and sealing t es' Threshold limit value (TLV), 5 million particles per cubic foot of air, based on exposure for an S-hcur working day Survey by: John Fierro W. G. Reiser Industrial Hygienists