Document LpG70bKZOZ7Bzj2RrEBZQa7Bq

:v M. D. McClusky W. C. Becker Cleveland D-5400 FlEtD POiNT OR DEPT S BlOG NO. Cleveland D-5400 Product Responsibility \ -i- t OfA I DATE THIS LETTER I 8-23-77 Since I got here, I have been involved with the Division's Consumer Product Safety Committee. Through this committee, we have been trying to get a unified Divisional approach to potential product problems. We have been working primarily through representatives of the various BMGs. We have also reviewed the rather complete and formalized product liability manual put together by Engineered Systems Division as it might apply to this Division. At the most recent meeting of the Consumer Product Safety Committee, we arrived at a number of conclusions which X would like to share with you. 1. We recognize that the field of product liability is obviously growing and will get considerably larger and more expensive. As it gets larger and more expensive, it will also demand more time. 2. We discussed the fact that claims asserted concerning the Division's activities may very well be outside the realm of traditional product cases. For example, the Tire Company will have pretty much the same kind of cases 10 years from now as they have today and as they had 10 years ago. The Chemical Division, on the other hand, is already experiencing cases which involve totally unintended side effects of the use of our products -- primarily, toxicity and flammability. In order for,us to intelligently address our future potential liability, we need to analyze the possible types of claims we might be facing. 3. Product or Division responsibility involves many aspects of our operations apart from the defense of product liability claims. For example: (A.) Our entire labeling effort; (B.) Our entire product literature effort; (C.) Our communications with customers aside from normal product literature which communications concern the. product in some way; T0 U0 Z9 Z 2 BFG22040 -2- (D.) Our efforts with respect to establishing proper specifications for the materials we buy and which find their way into our products? (E.) The possible liability with respect to customer service, including advice to customers and testing carried on in customer locations, and (F.) The sale and disposition of scrap materials. 4. We recognized the necessity for the coordination of these various efforts between and among the BMGs and the other functions involved. The Consumer Product Safety Committee recommends, and I strongly support the recommendation, that we investigate the possibility of assigning a person full time to this very important effort. It is not clear whether such an assignment would have to be permanent or whether it would be for a year or so, but I believe it is everybody's view that such an assignment is important. May I discuss this with you and if you wish, with the rest of the staff? /sc cc: C. L. Blackfan R. B. Downey N. G. Duke D. L. Kent J. F. Malone R. D. Savage M. Schmiederer R. L. Steller BFG22041 ISlFGoodrich INTER-ORGANIZATION CORRESPONDENCE TO FROM SUBJECT CPSC Members Marie Schmiederer FIELD POINT OR DEPT. & BLDG. NO. FIELD POINT OR DEPT, a BLDG. NO. D/5428 Consumer Product Safety Committee August 22, 1977 DATE YOUR LETTER DATE THIS LETTER S/23/77 Present: W. C. Becker C. Blackfan R. B. Downey N. G. Duke D. Kent R. D. Savage M. Schmiederer Absent r F. Krause J. F. Malone J. Morrill R. Steller 1. Product Liability: Scope - Product liability suits are increasing. The types of cases against the Chemical Division have expanded beyond those traditionally encountered a few years ago. Our vulnerability now extends to our customers and their workers, end-use consumer, and our plant communities. Areas of toxicity and combustibility are of high interest. Judging by our recent law suits, good complete records such as quality control data sheets, recipes,, and customer contact reports are very necessary. We as customers, probably ought to re-evaluate applicability of raw materials specifications we request. Action -Bob Downey will contact the newly appointed SPI Product Liability Issue Coordinator to discuss how he may be of assistance. Other chemical companies, such as Dow, may be contacted. Bill Becker will investigate the need for an additional full time professional, possibly on his staff, to coordinate the Chemical Division efforts. That person could Interface with the BMG's, obtain their suggestions, and standardize their response. Frank Boron, John Morrill, and Dan Kent have already assumed some responsibilities of product liability, within their own marketing groups. 2. Ambient Air Sampling: Scope - We have sampled the ambient air in customer's plants for specific materials such as vinyl chloride, benzene, and acrylonitrile. However, there is a paucity of informa tion regarding the circumstances of such monitoring and SG-495.D 2/77 LITHO USA BFG22042 2621001 Page 2 the customer follow-up, if any. There is a need to develop a formal procedure for responding to the next need/request for sampling. A standardized form could possibly be developed for pertinent approvals and use as a check sheet. The opportunity for a new business venture of raonitoring/sampling exists. Action - The participants who arranged and/or conducted past monitoring will be surveyed for more information. These individuals might include E. W. Harrington, J. Morrill, E. Katzenmeyer, Jr., J. R. Goots, and J. Stuesse. Next Meeting: September 16, 1977 at 1:00 p.m. in IB. Marie Schmiederer MS/tp zmizsz BFG22043 V Tk)0ZZ9ZZ HILL and KNOWLTON, Inc. Bechtel/BFGoodrich The Houston Chronicle Friday, September 9, 1977 i>i *1 nniTT- r to ;200 ^employes here byaLbertt.coluns1 - r : r/l;L: ' Tower North which will provide space for Chronicle Oil Editor * . an expanded Bechtel power division. - . `.Ferguson disclosed that Bechtel has Calling Houston "the center of gravity ' started a long-term study aimed at get for the oil and gas industry," Donald R. ting all its Houston employes into one Ferguson, vice-president and manager of building. Bechtel Inc.'s refinery and chemical divi-' While Bechtel has a 10-year lease on the . sion today said the engineering and con Del Monte Tower, Ferguson said that this struction company's Houston staff will "doesn't mean we will be there 10 years." reach 2,700 people by the end of next year. . He said the company was looking at a Bechtel currently employs about 1,500 considerably expanding workload in inHouston'.'**' i" ! -- -''`; Houston^ * - The company is in the early stages of a . Ferguson-said the company has leased joint venture with B. F, Goodrich cover*, the 12-story, $15 million Del Monte Tower ing the construction of a chlor-alkali plant Bldg, as the headquarters of the refinery in the Bayport Industrial Park southeast and chemical division which was moved of Houston. : . -- to Houston from Ban Francisco last The project will include an 800-tons-a- month. .. day,chlorine plant with capacity 'for "We were immediately out of space,"- producing 880 tons a day of caustic soda, Ferguson i aid, with the transfer of the and an 800 million pounds per year ethyi* division to Houston.- .'> ,* ene dichloride plant Bechtel employes in Houston office in Construction is scheduled to begin the . the ParkTower North on the West Loop middle of next year with production start and at 520 Briar Hollow. . : ing during the first quarter of I960. - The 325,000 square -foot Del Monte Ferguson also said Bechtel has started " Tower Bldg.; a Mark Lee and Associates "conceptual engineering" for a Mobil project in San Felipe Green, is under con- Chemical Co. and Saudi Basic Industries struction. -Ferguson said. Bechtel will Corp. petrochemical complex at Yenbu; move into the $15 million building early in Saudi Arabia. - 1971 4 $ .t l Hie Bechtel vice-president said the company will continue to occupy the Park Ferguson said Bechtel's portion of the . project will be completed about next April.;.* ' ` : . J , r He said the Company has been named ; managing^ntractor for a major expan-. sion of. a refinery in Trinidad owned by, the.TYinidad and Tobago Oil Co., Ltd., a *gbvemrrieht owned operation in the Canbr ('bean.;;(:;;.f,,: -j y-lThe.crude thrpughpirt of the refinery is (going to. be doubled -- to about 100,000 barrels a day from 50,000 barrels a day. Since the plant will be refining sour i. crude, there will be desulfurization fadli-' ( ties. Other possible process units are still being studied. BFG22044 RESIDUAL VINYL CHLORIDE (RVCM) IN MAJOR TYPES OP PVC RESIN AND COMPOUND DESCRIPTION BFGCD DESIGNATION I. V. ASTM-D-1243 CLOSEST CLASSIFICATION ASTK-D-1755 TYPE COMPOUND USED IN Suspension Resina Homopolymera 1. High Molecular Height 2. Med. Molecular Weight 102EP F-5 103EP 103EP P-76 300x6 1.13 1.00 0.92 0.89 GP6-15443 Rigid GP5-15443'\. GP4-16043 / GP4-16043 Rigid 6, Flexible Rigid 92 1.00 GP5-15543 Flexible 3. Low Molecular weight 110x334 0.68 GP1-16243 Rigid Emulsion Resina Dispersion Mass Resins Low Molecular .Weight 121, 128 80xS 140x30 140x31 1.20 0.76 0.76 0.84 Not Applicable GP2-16243 GP2-49243 GP3-49343 Rigid None None JDT/mtm SPG2204S AVERAGE AMOUNT OF RVCM (PPM) PRIME GOODS IN RESIN PRIOR TO COMPOUNDING IN COMPOUND AVERAGE AMOUNT OF RVCM (PPM) OFF-GRADE RESIN S RVCM TAILINGS (B. C & E-GRADES) <5 <5 <5 < 100 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <50 C1 <5 <50 * 50 < 50 < 100 <5 <5 <20 <15 <15 <15 45 Not Applicable Not Applicable <20 GROUND RESIN (B-GRADE ONLY) <50 <50 *50 Downgraded resin <B 6> C grade) Same as prime T00eZ9ZZ