Document RG7x6z4R9a3q8pGjMwro0Q57

Si: for *3* 'a W i-. k - . it - t r ** 15 wt. # C*' *' w -' t ii IfcL* S iCh. _ Final regulations that sharply re duce worker exposure to vinyl chin- ride have been issued by the Occu pational Safety and Health Admin istration, four days before an emergency standard was due to run out. The new regulations apparent ly don't really please anybody. Labor has given them a lukewarm reception. And industry, which thinks they are far too strict, has immediately challenged them in the courts. Vinyl chloride has been linked to several liver cancer deaths among production workers. confronted the assistant secretary, he has ucted in a wav that demon strates his good faith.*' Industry spokesmen take a much different view of OSHA's action. Todd C. Walker, president of Fire stone Plastics, calls the standard "economically unrealistic, techni cally unfeasible, politically moti vated, and medically ridiculous," adding that it "throws 2 million jobs down the drain." And Ralph I. Harding, president of the Society of the Plastics Industry, claims that "not one shred of evidence was pre sented at the public hearings or since that could have led OSHA to the conclusion that a lower level was necessary or achievable at this time." Firestone has filed a suit and joined another suit filed by SPI asking for prompt and complete re view of the standard. CHEMICAL & ENGINEERING NEWS October 7, 1974, Page 5 ?* The new standard, covering vinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride, and PVC fabricating facilities, will be implemented in steps. The present level of 50 p.p.m. will continue until Dec. 31. On Jan. 1, 1975, vinyl chloride in wotfc-pUtr must be reduced toNFp.p.#*. itver- - aged over an eight-hour period. . v Workers may be exponed to no 'V. more than 5 p.p.m. over any pcri<kI no Mngc#jfboti 15 -min- 7 utes. If these levels can't b met,* employees must be provided with respiratory equipment that can re duce the vinyl chloride concentra tion to 1 p.p.m. The reliance on respirators "plac es the companies at an advantage." according to Louis S. Heliczky, di rector of hygiene for the United Rubber Workers International Union. He warns (hat it "may have the effect of minimizing efforts to initiate engineering controls and could lead to a 100a reliance on respirators." However, lie r.-ivs that "in light of all (lie pressure that has NOTE: Picture shown is Allied Chemical's Baton Rouge North Plant. ASI 00004543