Document Lgwyr84jyR1nbJ7OknzrkRyJQ

On Hazards In ? E 1 Area April 6, 1935 X* Raw Materials The unloading and handling of the pigs of lead and hara of addlum have to date resulted In no occupational disease, the principal hazard apparently being that of Injury from accident in handling. The same has been true of the molten sodium and lead systems* In the oase of the last it la to be borne In alnd that at the temperature at which the lead is stored and delivered, fumes and oxide dust are a potential source of danger If the system la open at any tine* The Ethyl Chloride Manufacturing Plant has given rise to no difficulty although there has been varying alight exposure to HC1, EtOH, 2nCla and EtOl* The danger of fire is a constant one, chemical injury from HOI r s a result of interruption of delivery line or repair in tower is an occasional possibility* XX* Preparation of Alloy (a) Pot process* Men charging kettles are working In the same level and close to other kettles which may he hot. In any case all kettles should be cool, before opening and those in operation be hooded as they now ore* The loading and transfer of the pots to the cooling chamber may introduce oxide dust Into the air* Men working in this level; should wear at least a filter mask while any operation. Including the ensuing. Is carried out* A cone respirator and goggles should he worn by the men engaged in dumping and grinding the alloy* The loading of the hoppers with ground alloy is the greatest potential hazard up to this point in the operation, the exposure being to dust* The exhaust system, loading technique and precautions now observed should be continued* This entire z operation has been well controlled and safeguarded* (b) The continuous process gives rise to a new hazard . vis*, diphenyl but there has been no evidenoe of illness from exposure to it up to now* The grinding and cooling aystea for the alloy as well aa the storage and delivery systems for molten alloy must bo kept free from leakage* While this system has not been in complete operation for a sufficiently long period of time to evaluate the dangers as they exist, satisfactory functioning of the unit should effect a further reduction In exposure to men in the alloy operation* IIS* Autoclave Charging Hon engaged. On the fifth floor have two constant sources of minimal exposure* The first la from alloy which remains In improperly cleaned hopper tops, the second from droppago of alloy from the slide valve parts of the hopper following disconnection from the autoclave inlet* Both of the above are conditions which may or may not be corrected by improve* equipment, certainly they can be by constant vigilance In housekeeping* A third, discontinuance afi exposure to these men is from dust arising in the recovery building as a result of furnace puffs, and possibly, in part at least, from expulsion of larger quantities of dust than usual from the exhaust stacks which are not provided with a precipitation in the case of G and D Buildings* In general, this operation can be considered the safest of those that follow* IV. Autoclave Operation Under normal operating conditions the exposure of autoclave operation is small and is limited principally to that associated with the taking of pressure readings and in sampling due to fluid adhering to the rod of the sampling apparatus and to the rubber gaskets* KE' 0010119 - ?* V. Distillation The men working on the still floor have had the greatest continuous exposure of any group* the chief source being leaks at the packing around the agitator shafts and at the manhole covers* As in other places there are in addition occasional sources of exposure from tear-downs, these being fairly frequent* however* on this floor* in changing condensers and inserting new packings* Where new construction might permit sufficient change in design, thought should be given to the enclosure of at least such portions of the stills as give rise to these difficulties* A further improvement oan be made in the ventilating arrangement on this floor, whereby the incoming air is delivered along the center ceiling and collected along the floors at the walls, assuring a constant sweep of air across the 8tills and floor away from the main corridor* VI. Separation and Handling This, as an operation Is one of minimal exposure, such danger to the ssen as is encountered being mainly due to fumes from filter bag changing and tear-down work on lines* A frequent source has been the steam jets into the stills, stoppage of which necessitates their removal and cleaning or replacement. The cleaning of spills is of especial im portance to men on the first floor, any fluid allowed to remain in the drainage ditches may bo volatilized by exhaust steam discharged into, them* Present methods of control of hazards are adequate for ordinary operating conditions* While the present sumps under the drum washing and filling equipment are adequate* they can be Improved upon by giving them a deoided slope with a large sewer outlet, so that cleaning oan bo easily affected by moans of a stream of water* The history of the present blending tanks Insofar as leaks are concerned should be considered KE 0010120 k when contemplating the construction of new tanka* A further improvement in the barrel filling equipment can be brought about by adequate lateral ventilation to include the adjacent valves and sight glass. * VIII. Storage and Loading Unit ventilation about each of the Lewis pumps should be provided to prevent escape of vapor while the pump is operating. Filter bags are best housed in a separate* ventilated room apart from the space where the weighing is done and the loading controlled* IX. Recovery (a) RfcCl. Exposure is slight. Uon-condenslblc gases should be vented a safe distance from the air intakes or into the main vent stack. (b) Pb. Ample provision for draining and handling of sludge should be made to eliminate the furnace puffs. These are a hazard not only to tho operators in the furnace building but to the entire area as well. Dust from this source may be in the areaways or be taken in through tho air inlets Into the buildings* If it is necessary to add waste alloy* floor sweeping from the alloy building etc** directly to tho furnace* special precaution should be taken. X. Waste The slag pit or dump is best placed at some distance from the buildings* not between them where spilled material can be tracked 6r carried Into the bu11ding by normal traffic. In general liquid wastes may form the greatest problem. As the sludge pit water contains on tho average 0*5^ of lead by volume and each unit contributes about IJOO gala, per 8 hour cycle* some means of disposal other than directly into fresh water streams is necessary. KF 0010121. 5 XI* Maintenance end Repairs Are best carried out by a special crew other than operators of equipment, a s repair work involves a hazard not only to those carrying It out but also to operators within the building, too great care cannot be exercised in the selection and training of thla group of nan. The number should be limited to the fewest that can properly carry out the work. XII. Medical Supervision. Should be provided and should Include In its program periodie examination of all men employed in the area after the plant is In operation. Laboratory facilities as an adjunct to the medical work and to carry out such routine analyses on the non as are Indicated, should be provided. Air analyses as a control measure would be best carried out by this laboratory, working with the Medical Department. V/lllard P. Machle, M#D. KB 001012 o