Document N0NvE7vdvY8a9nvyjKLVNEzR

FILE NAME: Garlock (GAR) DATE: 1976 Sept 13 DOC#: GAR054 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Field Visit Report ft O ntario c M inistry of Health 355-00002-0001 : I.S.B. FileNo. : O.H.P.B.FileNo. : 7E-53. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROTECTION BRANCH FIELD VISIT REPORT 416/965-4066 Plant: Address: Garlock of Canada ltd 66 Jutland Rd. Etobicoke, Ontario Contacts: ,,Mrr~W .J^-WoodST" Manager of Engineering Haard: Asbejtos and Jut . Date: September 13, 1976 From: J. Toth, P.Eng. Requestedby:. OSB Accompanied by: Date o f Visit: August 16, 1976 Copies to: D r . v.L. Tidey Mr. K. Cleverden Dr. J.J. Vingilis Mr. S. Morton,/ Mr. W.J. Woods bstrBCt: A visit was made to review the working environment in the asbestos braiding in the asbestos sheet production and in the gasket depart ments. Control appears to be- adequate at almost all dust producing operations. Recommendations are suggested-;- - * * * * The plant was previously visited by Mr. S.J. Bell on November 7, 1975 and air sampling was carried out by Mr. M. Polny at the same time. The plant was not in full operation during the air sampling and-hence the A.Q,A. #49--report-represents conditions which are less than full production. The plant is located in a building of about 200* x 450* x 16' high and about 150 persons are employed on 3 shifts/day, 5 days/week basis. The departments visited are as follows. 2 Black B r a i d 'Department This department is located in a room of about 100' x 70' x 1 6 ' high. The machines operating there are: 7 braiding machines . 1 spooler 2 twisters Air velocity measurements were made' and the results obtained are: Machine Air Velocity PPM Remarks 1. Braider 2. Braider 3. Spooler 4. Braider 5. Braider 6. Braider 7. Braider 8. Braider front die front die front back front die front die front die front die front die 300 300 500 600 75 - 200 area 46" x 78 200 area 16" x 78 500 - 600 500 200 200 500 200 600 400 700 1400 The twisters are not mechanically exhausted. White Braid Department This area is- about 50' x 4a.' x 16' high. The machines operating there are: 1 drying-oven 5 braiding machines 1 winding machine 1 twister 1 spooler4 spiral woven gasket machines 1 dusting cabinet 1 press 1 roll 1 shear 1 calender Air velocity readings were found to be as shown in the following table. . . 3. (' c - 3- Machine Air Velocity FPM Remarks 1. Drying oven gap between the doors 2. Braider back side 3. Winding Machine front opening1 of 13" x 12" 4. Braider front back 5. Braider front opening 6. Twister for front hemp and jute 7. Spooler dust generation point 8. Braider 9. Dusting Cabinet front die front opening of 24" x 26" 200 600 1100 200 400 1000 ` 900 100 50 800 400 100 - 150 fully enclosed asbestos is twisted occasionall 10" x 35" canopy hood is above the spooler talc is used The spiral woven gasket machines (4) , the press, the rolls, the shear and the calender are not exhausted. Local exhaust capacity in the two braiding areas is about 11,000 cfm. Paint Mixing Area This area is a 50' x 20* x 16' high room, exhausted by a combination of local, and general-mechanical exhaust. If the flexible duct is attached to the roof fan, the exhaust can be localized. The fan capacity is estimated to about 1,600 cfm.. Fluid paints are mixed and discharged to 1-5 gallon pails. No dust is generated at this place. Asbestos Shet Production This room is about 60' x 80' x 16' high. Asbestos is mixed with additives and with toluen in a mixer, discharged to 6' x 5' x 4' deep metal containers and dumped to a 10* long enclosed sheeter. A booth of 20" x 40" x 25" is used for bag splitting over the mixer. A hole of 15" diameter is left in the bot tom of the booth for discharging the empty bags to a plastic bag attached to the hole. Inward air velocity of 200 fpm was measured at the booth face. . . 4. c ( 4 Inward air velocity was about 150 fpra at the 3' x 11* booth*opening over the sheeter. An old mixer is used occasionally for reclaiming scraps. The mixer is exhausted through an overhead 5 ' x 5 ' canopy hood placed about 9' above the floor level. No respirators are used in the plant. Medical super vision is carried out by the Industrial Chest Disease Service. .Comments 1. The front enclosures on the braiders appear to provide a good dust control. Inward air velocities measured at any opening were at least 200 fpm.' 2. The spooler in the black braid department is exhausted but the open area at the front and at the back of the machine is unnecessarily large. 3. The twister in the white braid department is used occa sionally for asbestos. Air velocity measured at the front of the twister (100 fpm) is not adequate. 4. The spooler in the white braid department is exhausted by a 10" x 35" canopy hood, but the air velocity at the possible dust generation point (50 fpm) is not adequate. 5. The spiral woven gasket machines (4) are not locally exhausted. However, some settled dust has been accumu lated on the machines and generated during their opera tion. An air sampling will show the airborne fibre concentration and the need (if any) for local exhaust. 6. The fan installed in the paint mixing room provides 6 air changes per hour of this area. When the fan capa city (1,600 cfm) is applied for local exhaust, it appears to be adequate for eliminating the solvent vapours gene rated during the mixing and discharging process. 7. In the asbestos sheeting department, a booth of about 20" x 40" x 25" deep is used for splitting the plastic bags, containing asbestos. It was mentioned by Mr. Woods that the hole in the bottom of the booth is not used any more for collecting the empty bags. At present, the bags are folded in the booth and collected as garbage. In this case, the hole in the bottom of the booth should be liquidated. Recommendations 1. Air sampling should be made for asbestos and for toluene in the plant. Further comments will follow the air sam pling report. 2. The front and back openings at the spooler in the black braid department should be reduced as much as possible. . . 5. r r 5 - 3. The twister in the white braid department should be more enclosed. Inward air velocity to the enclosure should be not less than 200 fpm. 4. The spooler in the white braid department should be enclosed and exhausted at a rate of at least 200 fpm. at the possible dust generation point. Directions to be Issued None are suggested at this time. JT:df