Document N7NRGoq7G5QxmD5pwJykXgrw

1- c PLAINTIFFS to EXHIBIT i oMi.co SPECIArHAZARDS SURVEY 'ter-ttwcar-? PREPARED FOR <^2fiS-03ilSC23 EATLO D2?IS103 DEBUS, ?* BY F* V. 6E3L crxl k, Bomfsca April:33 *xS ^ 2, IS5S PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT ANOTHER SERVICE FROM THE OFFICE OF i 01 107 0563 fety Engineering Department TNA LIFE AFFILIATED COMPANIES Hartford, Connecti NA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY /ETNA CASUALTY & SURETY COMPANY STANDARD FIRE INSURANCE CO^fAVr >-2071) * OiES-EIXBXS XAHQ DIVISION EPIC?, 2J* J. April 2S srrf liar 2, 1953 Purposed Tbs purpose of tii 3 visit was to determine the eacslpyeo exposure to dust in production operations* Contacts; JSr* F* VT* Sehl and the writer contacted Hr. Pfeiffer, plant ihrager, Mr* Justice, Personnel Director, It*. C&saario, Personnel Assistant, end l-Sr.i^ifewie, Production Superintendent* Also present were 2-Zr. Gardner, SafetyDirector for Ct/eno-IHinoia,. and Mr* Paul Shoe, hna Safety n~in<?erin~ Representative who cervices this-plant* procedures: Air carries were taken using both the standard Greenberg-- Ssiib izpingor end the sddgot iqpinger using isopropyl alcchdl as tho collecting godiun* Dust counts were cads on a licit field following tho procedure as outlined by the United States Public Health Service* Flndinrat Air Sample !5c* 1 -- Kain Mixer Charging -- Asbestos -- taken at the breathing. level of the operator on his left side* 6*3 rdllion particles per cubic foot of air# Air Sample No* 2 -- IJydrqpulpcr Charging -- taln at the breathing level to the right cf tho epenator* : 4*0 pillion particles per cubic foot of air* Air Sarple Ho* 3 - Horizontal Splitting Saw -- taken at the breathing level of the eperater separating the pieces as they case through tho saw -- taken between tho saw and the operator* $1.8 pillion particles per cubic foot of air* Air Sample Ho* 4 ** Flatware FinisJiing -- Charging end -- taken at breathing . level of operator feeding flat ware to the trha saw* ; 46*3 Billion particles per cubic foot of air# Air Sccple Kb* 5 - Flat \5sr0 Finishing - Turnover at Rubber - taken at breathing level of operator 9*5 nillion particles per cubic foot of air* 01 107 0564 Air Sa-aple Bo. 6 - Packaging 1- Taken at the breathing level midway between the two non rilling boxen. 11.5 srllilon particles per cubic foot of eir. Air Sample No. 7 - Eouter - taken at the discharge end at the breathing level of the two rssn applying cloth wrapping to the pieces. 16.3 rd 13.ion particles per cubic foot of air. Air Sample IJo. 8 -- Molded Pipe - Trim Saw 3 - taken at breathing level of operator as he fed saw*. 5.1 million particles per cubic foot of air. Air Sasple Ko. 9 - Tubular Mold - taken at breathing level between the cut-off and slitting saws. 9.5 million particles per cubic foot of air. Air Sample Ho. 1C-- iJo. 2 Stripping Lina -- taken at breathing level on right side of line to the left of the first operator. 20*2 million particles per cubic foot of air. Air Sample Bo. 11 -- 3cx Car Unloading -- taken in box car in breathing level of sen piling Semite onto pallets. 20.0 dlH on particles per cubic foot of air. Air Sample Bo. 12 -- Mixing -- Tubular Mold - taken at breathing level while operator weighed out and mixed up two complete batches. 7*5 Billion particles per cubic foot of air. Discussion: To assist in the interpretation of the above dust counts, we usould like to point cut that the needran acceptable concentration of the dust which is 1002 free silica or 1002 asbestos is 5 Billion particles per cubic foot of air. As we know that the duct hero is oon- r sicorably less 'than 1002 free silica or 1002 asbestos, theaaxbaua acceptable limits generally has been established as 10 pillion particles fear an operation of this type. Tilth reference to the above, our results frcn the air sampling show that a number of the counts are above the -- -2- 01 107 0565 Units and^ several are closely approaching the Units. Air Semples !.Toe. 1, 2 and 12, which are the nixing operations, are acceptable, an is also San?3s IrC. 8# -- ^ 'While tailing Air Sample I!o. 1, wo did note that the bagged asbestos was quite vet, in fact sone vere actually dripping. This would help con** eiderably to keep tbo amount of asbestos dust dear.. In discussing this ratter, vs found that .this plant had received a large shipment of asbestos ' end it was necessary to store this outside, so that ths rains had thoroughly vet th is material* If it would be possible to wet down fell bagged asbestos before it is opened end mixed, we feel that the dust exposure in the nixing operations would be greatly reduced. Ko would suggest that this be considered* Air Sample Nc. 3 ohows a dangerously high" count* In the operation here, . which i_3 the splitting of flat ware on a band eaw, the ronr\ removing the pieces separates the two pieces and the dust is due to tM handling of the ware* The band saw itself does not create too great a problem, as it is equipped with a dust collector which is working quite effectively* tie feel that an exhaust system should be installed which will remove this excessive dust fr-cxa the breathing area of the ran* tie noted that this operator was not wearing a respirator* Use of a respirator far this operation should be mandatory* Air Sample Ko* A shcw3 a high count also. As in the operation discussed in the above paragraph, the dust is not due to a sawing operation but rather to & handling of the flat ware. The operator in placing the flat ware on the line stirs up considerable dust* The saw collector itself appears to bo working effectively* Here again wo feel that an exhaust system should be considered for reaoval of the dust ftcsa the breathing level of this ran. At the tine of this visit, this operator was wearing a respirator and we feel that this is essential for this work* The results of Air Sample TIo. 5 are approaching the threshold Units* At this point a ran turns over the flat ware ea it leaves the No* 1 rubber* Tho rubbers are a sanding operation which smooths off the flat ware* Recently a brush was installed on the Ho. 1 rubber to remove loose dust freta the top surface after sanding* Tr-is appears to be quite effective* We did note that there had been an exhaust' hookup at the end of the belt of tho !3o. 1 rubber and this was not connected up* If such were connected, we feel that the dust here right bo reduced still further* The ran working* here was using a respirator and we feel that this is a desirable practice* -3-- 01 107 0566 1 c Air snrpla ?io. 6 wa3 taken at the packaging of flat ware* Here two non ware placing the flat wire in cartons. Again the dust was duo mainly to the handling operation* Ke would suggest that further studies bo node for removing dust freathe ware as it ccss off the L7o 2 rubber. Perhaps additional brushes hero could eliminate root of this duct. One . mn an the lino vsa wearing a respirator. V.'a would liko to see both En wearing respirators for this operation. Ota* Sample Ho. 7 was taken at the diccJiargc end of the router where three non were applying a cloth backing to the pipe covering* Our sanplo here is above* the threshold Unit* but this high count cay be due to the adhesive spray being applied to the pieces. In our counting, vo noted that the particles had a tendency to bunch together, which would indicate that the adhesive spray was also scaring on the count. Tot this reason we are not overly concerned with the results here. Air Sample "o. 9 was taken at tubular sold finishing. Thiscperation is parfemed by one man who operates two saws. Besides the collectors on the saws, there is also a small exhaust fan in back of the machines. This fan was not running during our test. The operator here was not wearing e~ respirator. VTith the exhaust fan in operation, the counts here might be reduced enough so that a man working here would not neod to wear a respirator. "`db. Air Sarnie No* 10 was taken on the No. 2 stripping line. Although the count is only 10*2 million particles per cubic foot of air, ve feel that the amount of dust here is greater than sham. We were not able to set up our equipment to get a true sample of the general breathing level of all man working here. There appears to be an excessive amount of dust stirred up when the molds are broken open and the ware removed frea came. We were told that consideration has been given to an exhaust ! syctea for this operation. We would very rush like to see cna installed here, but in the meantime we feel respirators should be worn here. Bone were being used at this tisa. In the box car unloading (Air Sample Bo. 11) the man were handling bag3 of Eonite. This is a fora of free silica. There was considerable dust here due to the type of beg used by the shipper and also due to bags breaking in the car. It would be desirable if arrangements could bo cade with the suppliers to use a leakproof beg and to stack them in the car so that they would not be broken by the movement of the car. The rsea hero were all 'Wearing respirators and they should be worn at all times for this operation. 01 107 0567 c Vo c'^ckcd on the respirator proven at this plnnt. mi find that it does not cene up to Owens-Illinois1 standirds. 7l>e t en are provided with respirators tut they ch-ngc their own filters. In tha nixing department V3 found a respirator in a carton on a desk in quite a dusty area. The cover was not tight fitting nnd dust could seep in, contaminating" the respirator. Vto are recoorencing that the respirator pro-ran bo reviewed with the purpose of bringing it tip to Owens-Illinois standards. In discussing t' x-ray program, we find that production workers exposed to dust are given x-rays once a yssr and for all other employeas ones every two ywors. 1-rays are sent to Dr. Trido at Saranac Lake for interpretation. Thaero has been no reported cases of either silicosis or aaheatesis at this plant. Attachod are a list of recosreudations which we feel would improve conditions at the plant and decrease the occupational disease exposure. J.'hhobinsontiH e ! 01 10^0568 CW2B-HUTJDIS XA2L0 LITJSlO'i SGSLI2J, N* J. HECOitSEATIOKS 1* A review should be cade of the present respirator prograa in order to bring it up to Cwgns-Iiiinois standards and should include the fellowing; A* Two respirators should be provided for each employee exposed to dust so that one respirator can be cleaned, checked and sterilized While the other is being used* B* A clean duet-free cabinet should be provided for storage of respirators at soss3 convenient place when not in use* C* Sceocnc should bo assigned to handle this cleaning cn a daily basis - possibly the plant nurse# D* Becpirators should be worn in all dust producing areas which include take-off at the splitter, charing of flat wars line, unloading box cars, raided stripping, between rubbers on flat were lino, end packaging of flat ware* 2* A study should be cade in regard to the possibility of installing exhaust systems in order to renove the excess dust fron the operator*s breathing sons where flat waro is removed frea the splitter, where flat vero is charged on the finishing line, and on the no* 1 and No*2 dripping operations* .3* -Eho section of exhaust should be connected up at the end of the belt on the No# 1 rubber# A* would suggest that consideration be given for providing a vacuun cleaning oysien to elininate hand broom sweeping and blowing down of overhead* / M 01 107