Document M2B8d7nzY2MJKyM9JKE9rk0V

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE REPORT TEXAS OPERATIONS DOW CHEMICAL USA AN OPERATING UNIT OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY /sm j)fMI-5-5U RLE NUMBER: DATE ISSUED: PLANT CODE: tn -i/i March 9, 82006 1989 TTLE ASBESTOS MONITORING DURING TRANSITS REMOVAL AT FABRICATION SHOP, Area asbestos monitoring was done during a transite removal job at B-105 Fabrication Shop on February 9, 10 and 13, 1989. The monitoring was done to ensure that the approved asbestos handling procedures would result in acceptable airborne concentrations of asbestos. All measured asbestos concentrations were well below the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeter. The highest level found was 0.05 fibers per cubic centimeter during the transite removal job. LO --) cd CD --I on r-o DISTRIBUTION D. E. Cragar, B-101 C. K. Browdy, M.D., B-101 w. J. Landry, B-3501 S. L. smith, B-108 J. E. Oswalt, B-106 F. H. Koppe, B-106 T. Easley, B-105 D. F. Gonzales, B-105 M. G. Swank, 1803, Midland G. W. Engdahl, 1803, Midland *L. W. Rampy, 1803, Midland *J. E. LeBeau, 1803, Midland *Cover Sheet only RLW RESTRICTED FOR USE WITHIN THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY ONLY IHS File Bl-3467 Page 2 ASBESTOS MONITORING DURING TRANSITS REMOVAL AT FABRICATION SHOP, B-105, BY THE PLANT B CARPENTERS INTRODUCTION Area monitoring for asbestos was done during the removal of transite panels located in the Fabrication Shop, B-105. The removal was done by Dow Plant B Carpenters. The monitoring was conducted to ensure that the use of approved job procedures would result in acceptable concentrations of asbestos. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. All measured asbestos concentrations were well below the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeter. The highest level found was 0.05 fibers per cubic centimeter during the transite removal. All exposures exposures were potential since workers within the regulated areas wore half-face respirators with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cartridges. 2. Texas Operations asbestos handling procedures must always be followed. The Texas Operations Asbestos Handbook and Safety Standard T-12 must be reviewed. These procedures are designed to make the transite removal jobs safe. If these procedures are not followed, a potentially serious exposure or safety situation may result. For this reason, the asbestos handling procedures must be reviewed, understood, and enforced by all personnel involved in the asbestos removal jobs. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION :/1 --( cr> cd --i cji ^ro Table I shows the results of area monitoring during the removal of transite panels. The highest area measurement was 0.05 fibers per cubic centimeter, located in the shop area near the removal site. Results showed that all measured concentrations were well below the OSHA PEL of 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeters. The results clearly showed that the potential for harmful exposure to asbestos during the transite removal job was very low. As long as the proper procedures for asbestos handling are followed there should be no problem of overexposure to asbestos. The procedures for transite removal are outlined in the Texas Operations Asbestos Handbook. RLW IHS File Bl-3467 Page 3 METHODOLOGY Asbestos samples were collected using Gilian HFS 513A and 113A air sampling pumps. A known volume of air was pulled through a 25 millimeter mixed cellulose ester membrane filter, 0.8 micron pore size. Samples were collected at a flow rate of approximately 2.0 liters per minute. The pumps were calibrated before and after the sampling, and the samples were counted by McKee Environmental Health Services using phase contrast microscopy. NIOSH method 7400 used. EVALUATIOH CRITERIA The evaluation of exposure levels was based on the following criterion: AGENT EXPOSURE GUIDELINE SOURCE Asbestos 0.2 fibers/cc OSHA (PEL) The OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is the time-weighted average concentration for a normal 8-hour workday, 40-hour work week, to which nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed without adverse health effects. f.O --i o CD _j cn **-- ro GO RLW IHS File Bl-3467 AREA TABLE I ASBESTOS MONITORING DURING TRANSITS REMOVAL AT B-105 FOR THE FABRICATION SHOP SAMPLE NUMBER DATE SAMPLE TIME (MIN) CONCENTRATION (fibers/cc) TWA In shop area near removal site 2889-2 2-9-89 Outside perimeter line near disposal pallets 2889-3 2-9-89 In shop area near south door 2889-4 2-9-89 In shop area near removal site 2889-5 2-10-89 Outside perimeter line near disposal pallets 2889-6 2-10-89 In shop area near south door 2889-7 2-10-89 In shop area near removal site 2889-10 2-13-89 Outside perimeter line near disposal pallets 2889-11 2-13-89 In shop area near south door 2889-12 2-13-89 441 441 441 435 455 450 335 331 331 0.050 0.004 0.006 0.010 0.004 0.003 0.006 0.003 <0.010 C/O --i CD CD --J cri IXJ RLW