Document MMbVRqJM10qwovzqepn27NNQx

(con^co) Interoffice Communication To R. L. Lembke, M.D. - Ponca City From 0. D. Steffey, Ph.D. Oat ' February 21, 1980 Subjact INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE ACTIVITIES - FEBRUARY 1980 At the request of Dr. Harold Jones, a listing of materials associated to the workplace of the Baltimore Chemical Plant was furnished. These materials, numbering some 14, were considered under the light conditions to be candidate for causing respiratory irritation. It was pointed out that precautionary measures must be used in assigning effects since these will depend upon factors such as acute or chronic exposure, levels in the air, sensitivity of individuals, and sensitization factors. An API Industrial Hygiene Committee planning session was attended in Houston on January 24-25, 1980. The purpose of the meet!ng was to review current industrial hygiene research projects, 1980 funded research, and projects for 1981 and beyond. Task forces were formed to rewrite and present for consideration funded research projects for 1 980. It has been recommended that since I will not be able to attend the March API meeting in San Antonio Dr. DeWhitt attend the industrial hygiene sessions and participate in the industrial hygiene roundtable discussion^ which will inelude: Respiratory Protective Equipment Survey; Informa tion Relative to Catalysts; and Review of the API Manual on Hydrogen Sulf ide issued by the Production Committee. The manual is due for review and revision. An interoffice communication was written to Dr. Whetstone relative to biological monitoring for blood lead level in workers at thd Aberdeen Chemical Plant-.- This addressed the important areas of the Lead S tandard, the portions of medical surveillance which have been ordered f or partial stay by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of the District of Col^imbia on March 1, 1978, steps which are presently being taken at the plant which are designed to reduce exposure to workers and recommendations for wo irkplace monitoring supplemental to the present program. An annual inventory of laboratory chemicals used at the Lake Charles Refinery has been received. This is a program instituted by the Refinery laboratory as the result of our recommendations that periodic revie:'W be made in order to eliminate those chemicals of no further use, to insur^ integrity of packaging, and to institute proper precautions for use and storage ofr complete elimination of highly dangerous chemicals. A-Collection of some seven communications relative to the loss of a radio graphers radioactive source off a Conoco Gulf of ItES. Mexico platform has been received. These include details of plans, procedures and effort to retrieve the source, meetings, and final decisions concerning this incident. After all considerations, it has been decided best to leave the source at MCD 000000632 Page 2 February 21, 1980 the bottom of the sea floor. The source was notAcamera case when the mechanism was retrieved. The platform will be posted as to the con ditions which exist and there is felt to be no danger to health from radiation exposure under the existing conditions. Our plans are to talk with authorities in the Louisiana State Department of Health, Radiological Section, concerning various aspects of their responsi bilities and those of the contract radiographic company and with the Conoco management who are responsible for these operations. No one seems to know how this incident developed and there appears much lax ness on the part of the Hitco, Inc. personnel who were responsible for the radiographic operations. Our interest will be that assurance is obtained that this sort of incident will not occur agaiq. A meeting of the Carbon Black industries industrial hygi ene subcommittee was attended February 15, 1980, at the DFW Airport Hotel Purpose of the meeting was for discussion of the following: 1. Compilation of information as to progress in engineering technology over the years within the industry. | 2. Compilation of handling techniques and personal hygiene tips in various use applications of Carbon Black. 3. Suggestions as to methods of documenting Carbon Black "tattoos" and the various company's attitude toward such an effort. 4. Progress report on particulate sampling within plants;. 5. Discussion of committee size. Oran D. Steffey Industrial Hygienist jr MCD 000000633