Document ODN49RryN9ny6naXvqYjqG51

SHELL OIL COMPANY SHELL CHEMICAL COMPANY NORCO MANUFACTURING COMPLEX REFERENCE to PROCESS MANAGERS MANAGER ENGINEERING FIELD MANAGER MAINTENANCE - PLANT DATE FEBRUARY 14, 1978 FROM MANAGER SAFETY AND INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE SUBJECT TOPIC FOR SAFETY TALK Recently, Corporate Manufacturing Safety and Health passed on information updating Shell policy in regard to the asbestos medical surveillance and health program. It was suggested that the information be passed on to our employees. Consequently, the attached material on the topic. Update on Asbestos, has been prepared for your information and/or use. Accordingly, a brief presentation on this subject should be presented to all employees in your department's regularly scheduled safety talks. Attachments H. M. Miller cc - Superintendents Operations Manager Employee Relations Employee Relations Representative - Plant Senior Industrial Hygienist N0R-007797 UPDATE or; ASBESTOS Recently, our corporate office in Houston reclarified the policy for the Shell asbestos program. While Norco Complex has banned the use of asbestos containing materials including asbestos insulation for several years r.o\r} there are areas where the old asbestos type insulation still exists and it is an opportune time to review Norco's policy and program. Because of the possibility of medical problems arising from prolonged exposures to high concentrations of asbestos fibers, asbestos free materials are being used for all new insulation work at Norco Complex. However, removal of old insulation materials that may contain asbestos fibers should be handled in a manner to avoid the release of dust. This is especially true when old insulation is handled in some of the older operational units such as DU-t. Procedure to avoid the release of dust and minimize exposures include: 1) Ola asbestos containing insulations should be handled and worked in a wet state whereby a fine water spray is applied to the insulation before and as it is removed. It vi.il oa p. ; c; * .'_ aiy -into a pi ;js ti.g am v; ; _ no t L .. dropped on the ground. 2) Respirator protective equipment is required. This may be either an approved dust mask or pressure-demand air line respirator. NOR-007798 < 2 3) Fewer tools will not be used to cut old insulation because excessive airborne asbestos fibers would be created by the power tool. 4) Old insulation, containing asbestos, will be disposed of in the sealed plastic bags to prevent disbursement of the fibers. The sealed containers will be labeled: Caution Contains Asbestos Fibers Avoid Opening or Breaking Container Avoid Crearing Dust Ereathing Asbestos Dust May Cause Serious Bcdilv Harm wha.t is the health hazard which necessitates such detail procedures ? Inhaled asbestos fiber dust works its way into the lung and remain imbedd ed for life. The danger varies depending upon the number of fibers in the air cr Hi!----'-- where finn. shr-i fibovr. am moot hdgMy cancer-causing the individual's own tolerance, and, prcr.or.oe of ch'vr rollu ants such an r-irurette oro'ie vhfch increases the risk of disease. NOR-007799 3 Asbestos-related diseases develop over a long period of time. Symptoms may first appear many years after exposure. Some diseases are: e Asbestosis - a lung disease that begins with irritation of the lungs by inhaled asbestos dust. It causes seaming and thickening of the lung wall. Breathing becomes difficult and thus causes a strain on the heart. Cancer of the chest or abdominal lining. This is a rare disease except for people exposed to high levels of asbestos on a regular basis. Cancer of the lungs and respiratory system is eight times as common in asbestos workers as in the general public. Additionally, it has been shown that people who both smoke and work with asbestos are several times more at risk to develop lung cancer than those 'who work with asbestos but don't smoke. Cancer of the digestive system is also a higher rate amongst asbestos workers. NOR-007800 k Dermititis called asbestos corns or warts, result from chronic irritation caused when asbestos fibers penetrate the skin. A medical surveillance program has been in effect since 1973 for all employees assigned as insulators. The medical examination is repeated annually even though these employees now only use asbestos free insulation and asbestos-free materials. Currently, no one else at Norco has worked on a regular basis with asbestos and was potentially exposed to airborne asbestos in excess cf Corporate Medical Guidelines. Finally, air monitoring to determine the airborne asbestos concentration, is conducted periodically during the removal and/or demolition of insulation in the older units which might still have asbestos insulation. This concludes the update on the Asbestos Medical Surveillance and Industrial Hygiene Program at one Norco Manufacturing Complex. NOR-007301 'Ssfce-S'iaS produces Yn'dr'V^dctur&i *to^sy/ C'x ; .. ' j Uses about 2/3 of all asbestos produced for cement production, roofing, plastics, insulation, floor tiling. j 1 ] ! i ( ./i c> Widely used as friction material in brake and clutch linings . . . also as undercoating to protect against corrosion. 3 NOR-007802 l-f 2*r containing 3sbes4oS dost is mUaled^ -+v'e. snrallj sharp fibers /nay \/JOrV- -fbeir w3y m+o 4ke. lurvj 4issue, retrain impeJcjeJ 4>r life... 3 ccn5a*\)r Source, of irrigation. Some people are more likely to develop asbestos-related diseases than others. - such as cigarette smoke can increase the risk of disease. 4 N0R-007303 1 Askes+tfS-ra'o-reJ diseases $>yrnph>m5 jYiSy -firgrh appear- 30 ye2r> after exposure,/ A lung disease that begins with irritation of the lungs by inhaled asbestos dust, causes scarring and thickening of the lung wall. Breathing becomes difficult, thus causing a strain on the heart. Usually appears 10-20 after ex 1 - - . i* ^* -y - 4 3- W- ^ A cancer of the chest or abdominal lining, which is rare except in people exposed to asbestos. Usually fatal within one year of the first symptom. /- x V- J r Li i* " jj n i T 7.' ] of respiratory system is eight times as common in asbestos workers as in the general public. <5%-- also a higher rate of cancer of the digestive system. H'tt S3 ef; I or warts result from chronic irritation caused when asbestos fibers penetrate the skin usually the hands. cancer. All fr>S- lo'BZ-Bi'cJs of 3-gre. rof ye-t" -fully uv-vjsr^ood... yyiucln re.S-3rcJn i needed. i 5 NOR-007304 XL Proper medical Surveillance can .show wKe^ker employees 2re. receiving adcijus+e projection -From -Fnt danger^ of asbestos. 5urva>ll3nc mc.locJes* ... on a regular basis. Annual check-ups for everyone; more frequent attention recommended for those with heart and lung trouble or those who are exposed to levels in excess of 2 fibers per cc. Medical history of each employee working with asbestos should be carefully kept. Includes history of exposure to asbestos and other contaminants. Employees should be informed when dangerous signs appear on tests, or when any job-related problems threaten health. - . of m^dcat vrveill-3nc-e. c2n resvlf in new jo'o pUc.e.rr.Sjn-h, sinift roba+ior^ improved Worli pratbices^ o+ber measorfiS. II NOR-00780