Document KzD0oNYjyzdLo5vgYVgO1xKr2

1 iltlfeRMiib , ,teiU4^vaultI, CONTACT: John J. Bell (216) 379-3549 Cleveland Lane (216) 379-3410 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AKRON, Jan. 23 -- T ie B.F.Goodrich Company today reported that It informed Kentucky health officials and the Federal National Institute of Occupational Safety and H ealth that the Company is investigating whether the cancer deaths of thre^ employes in the polyvinyl chloride operations its Louisville, Ky. plant were related to occupational causes, Dr. Maurice N. John ion, the Company's director of environmental health, said he had recently received medical reports concerning the death of an employe late in December. A review of medical records uncovered tha two other employes had apparently died from the same cause -- one in September, 1971 and one id March, 1973. The reported causes of death are subject to verification, 1 ie added. "Awareness of this grouping," said Dr. Johnson, "warranted a thoroug investigation and prompt notification of the two government agencies most directly concerned." The B.F.Goodrich Company has been conducting programs to reduce exposures to hydrocarbons, particularly vinyl chloride, throughout its operations. While all pla^nts were operating at levels well below those prescribed by Federal govc:rnment standards, a successful effort has been made to reduce levels in these plants to approximately one-tenth those specifiede ASI 00023387 (more) -2- i These efforts have Included development of the most sophisticated | monitoring systems now knuwn; s tit let: rules on procedures where exposure might be increased; a complete clocking of al.l pipes, valves and similar equipment to prevent leaks, and extensive improvements in ventilation j systems. ; "The death in December, con sidcred in relation to the two previous similar cases, has caused us t:o i nitiate intensive investigations throughout the vinyl products ope rations of the Company," Dr. Johnson said. "To be sure we get the best independent evaluation and guidance, the Company has engaged Tnbcrshaw -Cooper Associates, Inc. of Berkeley, Calif. Dr. Irving R. Tnbcrshaw, bne of the country's foremost experts in the field of public and occupaitional health and safety, is supervising the work of this consultant firm, " Dr. Johnson said. The Company has instituted ja program of explaining the new information j and steps the Company is taking t|5 all employes involved in vinyl products I production. In addition, the Company has put into action a program to reduce exposures to vinyl chloride and other hydrocarbons to the minimum possible in all vinyl operations.' Operations of the plants are continuing under the program of minimum exposure levels. "We are providing medical examinations to all employes involved in any phase of vinyl, chloride or polyvinyl chloride production and reviewing available medical records of any c|cccascd former or retired employes," Dr. Johnson said. j j . "We have assured officials cf NIOBH and the state of Kentucky that we will conthu... to provide thorn with any significant new information as It develops," he a aid. ASI 00023388 VFRBAl STATEMENT RELEASED UPON [lEQUESf -- 1/23/74 A team of experts from the National Institute fur Occupational Safety and Health of the Center for Disease Control will visit a Louisville, Ky., plant of The B.F.Goodrich Company tomorrow to begin an investigation of health i hazards involved in the polymerization of vinyl chloride. ij The team will begin its work in!response to an alert from the company which reported one case of liver cancpr apd three cases of angiosarcoma, a rare type of liver cancer, among polimerization workers at the plant. , Dr. Marcus M. Key, director of NIOSH, said the Institute also will step up its effort to determine the extc nt of the disease in the United States and in foreign countries with similatr manufacturing processes. At a later date. Dr. Key said, NIOSH will transmit criteria for a health standard to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the Departmer of Labor. j Under a 1970 law, NIOSH is responsible for health effects research and criteria used by OSHA to set and enforce standards for protecting health and safety at the workplace. In the interim. Key added, NIOSH will work with OSHA and the key Occupational Safety and Health Administration , the industry and involved workers to develop stringent work nraelm'res for use in the polymerization processes. ASl 00023389 -0-