Document NeqxdoXYrRgGKV9aYQ13YvD1V

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE REPORT X i V;. ;i v - "'rrtii ~ - t ii Inland Manufacturing Division Vandalia, Ohio December 2-4, 1964 j \ '"'V*--*rrVT^- . **/ *.* GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION PERSONNEL STAFF * im ' ** * *" 9 ' -m-- -- -- *- --- -Z~- Industrial Hygiene Department Vincent J. Costrop--Director n o ft ft J UULL Industrial Hygiene Inland Manufacturing Division Vandalia, Ohio An industrial hygiene survey was- made in Building 31 of the Inland Manufacturing Division, Vandalia, Ohio, on December 2-4, 1964, at the request of S.A. Wright. Plans are to continue the survey in the other buildings at Dayton in the near future. Matters relating to the survey were discussed with J.H. Overwine, E.R. Nicholson, M.J. Smith and S.A. Wright. The Industrial Hy giene Department was represented by J.R. Vander Roest. SUMMARY. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS Toluene Piisocyanate (TDI) TDI concentrations, at crash pad and small parts production operations were far below the permissible limit. No changes are necessary. ^Solvent Vapor Trichloroethylene Concentrations, of trichloroethylene were well below the perraissible>"lioit where this material is used to flusjv-the nozzles Of--foaming machines in the crash^pad"production department. The, exhaust venti- on is adequate. ' Laggocr-Thinner Borderline concentrations of solvent vapor were found in the Vinyl Paint Department 166. Elimination of sources of solvent vapor such as open cans of paint and solvent would result in improvement'. Full 1, DISCUSSION Toluene PI Isocyanate (TDI) Crash pad and small parts production involving the use of polyurethane foam remains essentially as described in previous reports, except that increased production required the instal lation of additional foamers, ovens and associated equipment. Currently there are nine crash pad foamers and three conveyor ized ovens, three small parts foamers and two ovens, and two foamers continuously pouring into arm rest molds on one conveyor that passes through an oven. All of these units have local ex haust ventilation. On the foamers this consists of slots behind the nozzle and at the rear lip of the waste box. Air flow face velocity into these slots exceeded 6000 lineal feet per minute Page 2. O fir fir fir UUUU -3 Toluene Dllsocyanate (TDI) (Cont*d) (fptn) with the exception of the nozzle and box slots on the No. 3 foaroer and the box slot on the No. 8 foamer which had face veloc ities of 4000 fptn. A tabulation of the face velocity of the air flow in fptn into the conveyor openings of the crash pad ovens follows? Entrance Exit West oven 300-400 200-250 Center oven 200-300 0-150 East oven 25-75 25-150 While these velocities appear to be adequate a maintenance check could be made to determine if mechanical difficulties are causing the lower flows into the east oven and the exit of the center oven. An exhaust hood opposite the men on the arm rest line causes an air flow of 300 fpm at the parts. Temperatures required that the building be operated under closed conditions. The partially recirculating air supply sys tem was operating and a new tempered fresh air supply unit was installed just south of the line of crash pad foaroers. 4 When mixing tanks are charged with Atoroite Powder (calcium carbonate) to provide the proper viscosity, it was thought that TDI could be displaced from the tanks. Apparently the -escape, if any, is insignificant. All of the test results revealed concentrations that could not be chemically detected. No changes are necessary. Permissible Limit for Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) The generally accepted permissible limit for TDI is 0.02 part per million parts of air by volume. Page 3 Results of Testa for TDI Test No.TDI In ppmRemarks All of the tests for TDI were made in Building 31, Department 176. All of the foamers were equipped with exhaust ventilation in the form of a slot at the nozzle and at the lip of the waste box. 1 None Detected Breathing zone of operator of No. 1 foainer producing Oldsroobile "A" body crash pads. A second roan as sists in moving parts to the convey or part of the time. 2 None Detected Breathing zone of operator of No. 2 foamer making Buick Special crash pads. One man regularly assists operator. 3 None Detected Breathing zone of one of three men operating the No. 3 foainer running Oldsmobile B and C body crash pads. 4 None Detected Test taken in the breathing zone of one of. four men removing pads from molds on conveyor at exit of east oven. 5 None Detected Breathing zone of operator of No. 4 foamer making Buick crash pads and glove box door covers. A second man assists with the crash pads. 6 None Detected Breathing zone of one of four men operating the No. 5 foamer producing Pontiac Bonneville crash pads at the rate of 140 units per hour. 7 None Detected Breathing zone of operator of No. 6 foamer making Cadillac crash pads with the assistance of one other roan. Page 4 Results of Teats for TDI (Cont'd) Test Ho. TDI in ppm Remarks 8 None Detected Sample taken in breathing zone of man using power tools to loosen clamps on molds on conveyor at cen ter oven exit. 9 None Detected Breathing zone of one of two men running Buick crash pads on the No. 7 foamer. 10 None Detected Breathing zone of one of three men making Pontiac bezels on the No. 8 foamer. 11 None Detected Breathing zone of operator of No. 9 foamer producing Pontiac Tempest crash pads and Buick glove box pads. 12 None Detected Breathing zone of operator of west . foamer in the small parts area mak ing Corvette Instrument panel pads. 13 None Detected Breathing zone of operator of the center foamer in the small parts area running Cadillac belt trim parts. 14 None Detected Breathing zone of one of three men at continuous pouring two nozzle arm rest foamer. Two men remove parts from molds and third man re moves flashing and sprays wax on molds. In addition to the nozzle and waste box exhaust, a six foot long exhaust hood opposite the men causes a 300 feet per minute air flow at the parts in the mold con veyor . Page 5 lesults of Tests for TDI (Cont'd) rest NO. TDI in ppm Remarks 15 None Detected Breathing zone of man on platform while mixer No. 18614-C was being loaded with Atomite Powder by an other man at a hopper on the floor level. Page 6. no n n n