Document Qgy8nkb5wzQ0aj6mzdMgG2n1E

OHC - 210 Manufacturing Chemists Association MINUTES OF MEETING OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE Marriott Key Bridge Hotel March 8, 1978 Washington, D.C. Dr. Reinhardt presided and convened the meeting at 8:30 a.ra. The record of attendance is: MEMBERS PRESENT C. F. Reinhardt, Chairman J. E. Long, Vice Chairman E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. W. V. Andresen C. E. Blades (for W. M. Smith) L. E. Cassidy E. E. Christofano T. Ellison W. S. Ferguson R. D. F.ulwiler L. B. Grant M. N.- Johnson W. A. McClellan R.'L. O'Connell C. E. Ross E. Tillman J. R. Venable M. Freifeld MEMBERS ABSENT American Cyanamid Company Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Canadian Industries Limited Hercules Incorporated Mobil Chemical Company Allied Chemical Corporation The Procter & Gamble Company PPG Industries, Inc. The BFGoodrich Company Gulf Oil Corporation Olin Corporation Shell Chemical Company Monsanto Company Dow Chemical U.S.A. MCA J. W. Hollis E. Q. Hull G. D. Kirk C. S . Laub ly H. L. Northrop GUESTS Ashland Oil, Inc. Union Carbide Corporation Merck & Co., Inc, Celanese Corporation Stauffer Chemical Company C. W. Flickinger A. Harris Koppers Company, Inc. Olin Corporation CMA 060388 OHC - 211 B* S. Horvath I. Rosenthal J. J. Varadi J. A. Young * Borg-Warner Chemical Company Rohm and Haas Company CIBA-GEIGY Corporation MCA ** 1.0 Minutes -- Meeting of December 7, 1977 The captioned minutes were approved as distributed. 2.0 Membership The Committee will be dissolved under the reorganization plan for MCA approved recently by the Board of Directors. Mechanics of how members might participate in MCA activities in the future, even if they are not on the Occupational Safety and Health Committee being formed, were discussed. 3.0 Regulations and Legislation 3.1 OSHA Proposal on Carcinogens Dr. Johnson reported that MCA's statement on the OSHA Proposed Generic Carcinogen Standard had been submitted prior to the deadline on February 28. Copies will be distributed to interested Committees including OHC ; 3.2 OSHA Labeling Proposal The Secretary reviewed the status of the MCA response to OSHA's draft proposal on Chemical Substances Identification. The Senior Advisors for Occupational Safety and Health nave addressed the subject, and a task group has been formed to develop a recommended MCA position and discuss it with OSHA. Dr. Tillman cited a model standard on labeling sent to OSHA by the Public Citizen's Health Research Group, a Ralph Nader affiliate. Their central argument is that "trade secrets are an economic concept which must yield to the pressing need for health protection of workers," The Secretary will distribute copies of the full statement. CMA 060389 OHC - 212 3.3 Benzene MCA and the American Petroleum Institute (API) are in the process of exhausting administrative remedies through OSHA and expect to mount a legal challenge to the recently published standard by having it reviewed in the courts and delaying its implementation until that process is completed. Dr. Ellison reported that negotiations between API and New York University regarding additional animal studies with benzene are con tinuing. 3.4 Acrylonitrile (AN) Dr. Fulwiler reported that the AN Emergency Temporary Standard had been stayed, but OSHA is attempting to have the stay lifted. 4.0 Chemical Safety Data Sheets Dr. Young indicated inputs from participants have come in slowly, but plans remain to issue about two dozen revised SDS's before year's end. Continued cooperation in this matter was urged despite the impending re organization. Dr. McClellan made the point and many agreed that those involved might find it administratively difficult to continue to justify the substantial effort required for SDS preparation and revision. He suggested that a letter from MCA would be helpful in this regard. The matter of obtaining model OSHA type Material Safety Data Sheets for use throughout the industry was brought up again. Mr. Christofano sug gested that the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) be requested to supply these, at least as part of a criteria document. 5.0 Proposed Special Projects The Task Group on Epidemiology which he heads. Dr. O'Connell reported, recently recommend that companies in the industry set up systems for handling health and industrial hygiene data that are compatible with each other. Only thus can studies on individual chemicals be based on large enough cohorts to yield statistically significant conclusions. An approach under consideration is to set up uniform modules on medical, en vironmental (exposure), toxicology and safety data. Means of accomplishing this are to be explored. It was noted that the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology also has a program on epidemiology, but their interest leans more toward the academic than the practical. Nevertheless, it is recognized that contact with them should be maintained since the interchange could be valuable to both parties. CMA 060390 OHC - 213 The Committee passed without dissent a motion duly seconded, that the task group should continue its activities regardless of the MCA reorganization, 6.0 Education Dr. Long said that following consultation with his subcommittee, agreement had been reached with his counterpart on the Safety and Fire Protection Committee on the program for the planned symposium this fall. Speakers were suggested for the topics on health. Firming up these ar rangements by mid-April is necessary so that sufficient lead time is allowed for advance publicity to insure good attendance. 7.0 Liaison 7.1 American Industrial Hygiene Association A questionnaire on the Association's projects has been distributed to its members and Dr. Long urged those who received a copy to complete and return it promptly. This is expected to be a significant aid in planning A1HA activities in the future. > 1. 2 Chemical Regulations Advisory Committee Two congressional bills have been proposed to establish ,a Program of Assistance to the States for the protection and indemnification of individuals injured by chemical substances, said Dr. Ellison. These are HR-9616 and S-1531. However, in view of the controversy surrounding the subject and the backlog in Congress it is highly questionable whether the issue will be voted on this session. 7.3 NIOSH Study on Control Technology in the Pesticide industry Mr. Christofano reported that Stanford Research Institute (SRI) has the contract for investigating controls currently used in this industry and has already started work on the task. He alerted others with pesticide operations to expect requests from SRI for data as veil as planned visits. NIOSH is also initiating similar studies on various individual chemicals, such as acrylonitrile, nitrosamines and toluene. 8.0 Proposed Regulation of Carcinogenic Air Pollutants______ The February 9, 1978 Federal Register carries a notice by the Environmental Protection Agency about a meeting March 23 to discuss the captioned topic. The proposal was initiated by the Environmental Defense CMA 060391 Fund (EDF) a Ralph Nader affiliate, in a petition to EPA. Briefly, the EDF modeled its proposal after the OSHA generic carcinogen proposal with some modifications. EDF proposes three categories, namely confirmed, probable and possible carcinogenic substances with rigid regulatory re sponses mandated once a chemical is categorized. Their ultimate aim is to achieve "zero" emissions. Hr. Christofano reported that a draft response prepared by the Society of the Plastics Industry appeared quite reasonable. SPI supports the present risk/benefit procedures used by EPA and urges the development of a government-wide policy for carcinogens through the Interagency Regulatory Liaison Group. MCA is also preparing to make a statement at the March 23 hearing. It will be based on a combined effort of the Air Quality Committee and OHC. It was agreed Mr. Christofano should represent OHC in this matter. The meeting was adjourned at 12 m. Milton Freifeld l Secretary v Occupational Health Committee MF:jgm Minutes Subject to Approval March 31, 1978 CMA 060392 WILLIAM J. DRIVER PRESIDENT MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION 1825 CONNECTICUT AVENUE. N. W. WASHINGTON. D, C. 20009 (202) 483-6126 May 25, 1978 TO MCA TECHNICAL AND FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEES Dear Committee Members: Doubtless you are Well aware of the reorganization which for most of you will interrupt, at the end of this month, your tenure as an MCA committee member. This comes about, as you know, from the latest of periodic Board-level reexaminations of the Association -- its mission and its structure. The Special Review Committee in this instance was headed by two recent past chairmen of MCA's Board who were aided by the current officers and several other Board members. In prin ciple, their recommendations were directed to having the Association concentrate selectively on matters of the greatest significance to our industry and streamlining the organization for expeditious action. It is important to the Board as well as to me and my staff associates that you do not take this change of apparatus as any re flection on you individually and personally. My purpose in writing is to express our deep appreciation for the interest and efforts you have given to Association affairs, with both hope and confidence that MCA may benefit further from your attention and talents as future occasions arise. Sincerely, W. J. Driver CMA 060393