Document MGmYO415wgMD757zNByOBOd0x

/ i Mr. X. A.Taylor How Xork Mr, A.J.Baldwin K m Xork Capo Fo o t Teralaala Wilmington, W.G. Allodgod Caoo of Load Poisoning June 28, 1948 Boar Haiti At approximately ton o'clock Wednesday avaning, Juno 23rd, you called so at home and advised no of tho illness of a tank cleaner in Wilmington, North Carolina* X loft that night for Wilmington, arriving there about 5*30 I.M. The following la a resume of Frits Mercer's report to me on events prior to ay arrival and on our joint investigations following ay arrival* The Carolina Terminal, Wilmington, Worth Carolina have been leased by the Gape Fear Terminals, also in Wilmington Hr. R. H .Williams, Superintendent of the Cape Fear Terminals con tracted with Tank Cleaners, Inc, Jacksonville, Florida to clean three 40,000 barrel floating roof tasks at their own Capa Faar Terminal and eight 12,000 barrel tanks at the Carolina Terminals* L. Williams i j ^ ^ g a r t e e r i n Tank Cleanere, Inc| L. H. Slehols, job foreman, colored men,, were the workmen on the job* TE^Tontractors started cleaning Tank Mo. 211 at the Capa Fear Terminal on Wednesday, June 16th. This is a floating roof 40,000 barrel tank and was thoroughly cleaned for roof repairs. The actual cleaning work was finished on Thursday evening* The tank was steamed Thursday night and the watir pumped out and the workmen completed drying the bottom on Friday morning* Frits then examined the tank through the side manhole end through two manholes in the roof of the tank* The roof was resting on its supports approximately four foet above the floor and Frits was able to soo the bottom quite clearly, and it appeared to be well cleaned* Be them entered the tank with out protective equipment for approximately twenty minutes to carefully inspect tho bottom and side wall* It was thoroughly clean from a standpoint of a load hasard and Frits okayed it for entry without protective equipment. Mr. L. Wi^^m^wajMsilso present during the elesning of this task* and had aaeh been in this tank approximately might hours fta^ISSSagpurposes* (See Tank Cleaning Report June 16-18-48) The Contractor movad his equipment Friday afternoon to Carolina Terminals to start eleaaing the eight 12,000 barrel tanks. Thase tanks had bans aapty for approximately five years* There was N 7672 n i f - " iff. M.A.Taylor *2 JuflG 28, 1943 no history available of the service those tanks had been in. The Republic Oil end Refining Company used these tanks from the time the tanks were 36built in 1935 or until they mere abandoned five years ago, but as yet me had been unable to learn mhat product they had stored in the tanks. The attached sketch shoes the arrangement of the tankage sod the identifying numbers of each. Friday afternoon the mater bottom mse pumped from Tank Mo. 1. The suction hose from a smell gasoline engine driven centrifugal pump mas pat through a tank manhole mithout entering the tank. The removal of the mater from this tank completed the work for the day. This operation mas observed by Frits. While the men mere cleaning up the equipment, Mr. L.Williams asked Frits about the precautions necessary fer the cleaning of these tanks. He asked if a respirator type mask could be used. Fritss explained that since there mas no history on these tanks, it must be assumed that they had been in leaded service at some time and that the agitation of the sludge could release lead vapors, therefore, full protective equipment should be m o m . Mr. L. Williams agreed mith Frits and stated that full protective equipment mould be used. Saturday morning a Mr. Michols met Frits in front of the Carolina Terminals and told him that Sr. h. Williams had left early that morning for Jackson ville, Florida. Frits then went to the Cape Fear Terminal to discuss the condition of Tank Mo. 211 mith Hr. R.fl. Williams but Mr .Williams mas mot there so Frits talked with a Mr. L.A.Tichon, Office Manager, mho said he mould pass the information on to Mr .Williams. Frits then left for Charlotte, Worth Carolina, his home, for the week-end and other work, planning to re turn to Wilmington late Tuesday to spto-check the task cleaning work. Frits return! to Wilmington late Tuesday afternoon, June 22nd, as planned a n j ^ r ^ i e h a L s met him in the hotel lobby. Mr. Michols reported that tank cleaner, had been seat to Jacksonville, Florida Tuesday mith an attack of appendicitis. Mr. Michols also stated that he was not feeling too good but attributed it to a hard week-end. He also volunteered the information that he had not aeceptad the Job with Tank Cleaners, Inc. to be a job foreman and mas going back to Jacksonville t quit end had his old job with Otis Elevator in Wallas lined up. Ha said that they had worked Saturday and Monday but not Tuesday and that they had cleaned three tanks at tide Carolina Terminals. Later Tuesday evening George Smith flew up from Jacksonville to replace Mr. L. H .Michels as job foreman and Michols laft the next morning for Jacksonville. Wednesday morning, June 23rd, George Smith and entered Tank M o ^ ^ with protective equipment, for about thre ^ T o u r s i n the forenoon end f l H p ^ a l e n e for about three hours in the afternoonleavi ng the tank unfinished. Frits mas present during this work. When f f l H P came out of the at noon, his cdteralls mere met from the knees down and his boots bad mater in them. He cleaned his boots and put one clean aet of coveralls in the l&ternoon* Frits aektd him about bathing and he said he always took a bath every night. The next development mat Matt Taylor's telephone ceil Wednesday evening about ten to Fritz reporting that he had been notified by Lou Shank that Hr, W t K F was in a Jacksonville hospital with an alledged case ef lead poisoning. Fritz triad to get la toudh with George Smith at interval# -3- June 28, 1942 up to lgs30 with no success. Thursday wonting fritz arrived at the Caroline Terminals and was wet out in front by George Smith who told Fritz he had sent bo Jacksonville by bus that morning, side* That left no one of the tank cleaning crew in Wilmington who had been presiwt during the work on Saturday and Monday prior to Devi6 taking ill. Ho tank cleaning work was done on Thursday. Thursday evening X arrived in Wilmington and spent the rest of the day discussing the above events with Frits. Frits stated that at XfWttiae had Michels indicated to him that tank entries had been made without full protective equipment. Of course, Hicholshad left Wilmington by the tine Fritz was told of the seriousness of illness, late Thursday evening, the chemical box of the lead-in^LLr analyzer, which you had shipped ty Air Express, arrived but the pump box did not arrive until Friday P.B. Friday morning, Fritz and I visited the Carolina Terminals so that I could make a general inspection of the tanks and surrounding area. It was noted that the area within the fire banks, where tank washings had been pumped, had a strong odor^ Much stronger than is generally the case under similer conditions. The Sludge pit at Tank Ho. 3 and all equipment had beenleft untouched at the request of Frits until I could inspect it. It was noted at this time that there was a bad break in one length of hose line about five feet from the mask. Fritz and I inspected this break carefully. It appeared to be e recent break Since the threads in the break were white and had not become stained with rust or sludge. Fritz had inspected the equipment during the cleaning of Tank No. 211 and said that it was in good condition at that tine. Fritz and I then visited the Cape Fear Terminals and saw George Smith and Joe Sova, the new foreman who had been seat up with a new crew. Frits asked George 8aith, in my presence, if Mr. L. Williams had told him that Fritz had said it was O.K. to enter the tanks at Carolina Terminals without protective equipment. George replied absolutely not and that he had been specifically instructed by Mr. Williams to wear masks and all protective equipment. Fritz and X then saw Mr. R.N. Williams, Superintendent of Cape Fear Terminals and Joe Miller, Engineer, Pure Oil Company, end acquainted them with the story as known then, relative to the illness of William Davis and Raymond Rouser, the tank cleaning crew. While discussing these matters, Joe Miller volunteered the information that he bad visited the Carolina Terminals two or three times a day during the period that Tank Ciwtners, Xuc. had been cleaning tanks there end had noticed that the crew in the tank was wearing masks but the man outside handling the sludge was not wearing a mack. Fritz and X purchased a dozen new pint Mason, jars and took samples of the washing from Tank No. 3 (samples Ho. 1 and 2), scale from Tank No. 3 (samples No. 3 end A), washing from Task Ho. 1 (samples 3 and 6), and scale frea Tank Ho, l(*aaplefc ? end 8). Friday afternoon, the cleaning operations of Tank Ho. 212 at the Cape Feer Terminal was observed by Frits and X. This job vqs being done by Tank Cleaners, lac., Joe Sova, foreman, and the new crew. Saturday morning, Fritz end X made lead-in-air analyser tests as noted on attached reports. It was elso lsaraed that George Amlth had been called off Ur. K. A.Taylor June 23, 194s the job early this morning end bad left for another job. Matt telephoned Saturday morning to advise that had died early that morning Dr. Kit miller telephoned fro Jacksonville to request that certain sample# be taken, la addition to the scale samples already obtained, he asked tha t similar samples be taken from lank Bo. 211, Cape Fear Terminal, and Tanks A and 2 at Carolina Terminals. It mas suggested that the length of broken airline hose be a m t to Kettering Laboratory and Dr. Kitwailler thought It a good idea. I left Wilmington Saturday evening. Frits will remain on the job until the tank cleaning work is completed at both Terminals. Frits will get the additional samples end ship them, together with the hose, to Cincinnati within the next day or two. Very truly yours, AJBtgh Kne. CCi s i r m DEPT. DR. R. A. KEHOE UR. L. SHANK MR. F. X. MERCER P.f>. We are certain that none of these men went back in Tank Bo. 211 after cleaning was completed and tank was pronounced Lead Ha&ard Jkee by Mr. Mercer. As the tank was returned to gasoline service prior to ay arrival, it could not be nested with the Lead-in-Air Analyser. r > ri t; ' < f>'-V * <<' ?iO;t?ifr't/r--n' 4* Ci # -' 'V*'r'~ i* cl K- li *S"---i i" - carolina terminals,Wilmington, n.c. Arrangement end Identification of Untag. at the Terminal. 'P k 0006704 "ETHYL" LEAD ANALYZER TESTS cc; Regional Office Dr. R. A. Kehoe Mr. I, 0. Jones Mr. W. R. Barnes BEGION aet*rn -^ g P - g? .J. Baldwin .Y. Mercar DATE OIL COMPANY CONTRACTOR June 26,19^8 Carolina Tarsi* ele Wilmington, North Carolin * Tank Cleaners, Ine. Jackeonvill e* Florida LOCATION Wilmington TANK NO. PRODUCT SIZE & TYPE TANK SAMPLE NO* TESTS: BEFORE OR AFTER CLEANING .WEATHER CONDITION TEMPERATURE F OUTSIDE TANK 1 Unknown 12*000 bbl.Vej t* 5 7 deys after cleaning Clottfiy bot Ire *e 9k --_ TEMPERATURE F INSIDE TANK MICROGRAMS ph./cU. FT. OF AIR 3Mk . pb/io m loo approx. &between 0 1 COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR READINGS REASON FOR DETERMINATION REMARKS: Used extension hose ecv analyser. Sample taken from 10* within the tank. N 7672 00C6765 ccj.Regional Office Dr E. A. Kehoe Mr. E ,, 0. Jones Mro W.R. Barnes X "ETHYL" l e a d a n a l y z e r t e s t s Zattera A.J. Baldwin F, Y. Ifercer DATE 26Jtrne . 1948 OIL COMPANY Caroline T rainais. Wllalraton. North Caro: ina CONTRACTOR Tank Clean re, Inc Jadrac avilie, Florida LOCATION Wilmington Wilmington TANK NO. PRODUCT SIZE & TYPE TANK SAMPLE NO, l 4 TESTS. BEFORE. OR AFTER CLEANING_______ WEATESR CONDITISI?, Hot br*#*e Hot Breeee graving cloudy TEMPERATURE 0 F OUTSIDE TANK 95 96 TEMPERATURE INSIDE TANK MICROGRAMS ph./CU. FT. OF AIR 2 4 4 Mg. nb/lO m 3 COMBUSTIBLE GAS INDICATOR READINGS REASON FOR DETERMINATION REMARKS : Sample taken through two 25* section of air line heee vhteh had been in nee on this Job. One eeotion baft a brtek In it 5about ' from amide. #3Within fire wall* of tank orar area covered by tank washings #3 1,2tmm the and peeaibly ft ft. N 7672.03 (^^ 0' /sr* n u O ib o REGION Eastern "ETHYL" LEAD ANALYZER TESTS cc; Regional Office Dr. R. A. Kehoe Mr. E. 0. Jones Mr. W. R. Barnes A.J. Baldwin P.T. Mercer