Document Ra527ZLnBedYjbg1qe1XB1Me8

ANY MTCL& fflSJttaflL fflbnCc An^iais c MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS ASSOCIATION D4-c oo5^ 3 1825 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. WASH INGTON, D. C. 20009 (202) 483-6126 SH-U OIL COMPANY manager, industrial HYGIENE DEPT. Rec'd January 30, 1974 To: TECHNICAL TASK GROUP ON VINYL CHLORIDE RESEARCH Subject: Agenda for the Meeting of February 20, 1974 , Gentlemen: ^ Distributed herewith is the agenda for the subject meeting. Members of the Research Coordinators are reminded that they are asked to meet in the committee officers1 suite at 2:00 PM, on Tuesday, February 19, to develop the recom mendations of their group on the action items to be con sidered the following day. Mr. Wheeler, leader of the sub-group on work prac tices established at the January 25 meeting of the Task Group, has called for members of his group to meet at 9:00 AM on Tuesday to consider the matters assigned to them bv the Task. Group. They too will meet in the suite. Respectfully yours, Kenneth D. Johnson, Ph.D, Secretary, Technical Task Group on vi*iyl Chlpride Research KDJ:mb Attachments - Agenda - Federal Register Notice of OSHA Hearing cc: D. P. Duffield, M.D. Mr. D. M. Elliott Dr. Tiziano Garlanda * 5-0585 NOTICES (6) Whether the available information presiding officer shall certify the record warrants the issuance of an Emergency' thereof to the Assistant Secretary of Temporary Standard, or the commence Labor for Occupational Safety and ment of a regular rulemaking under sec Health. Copied by MCA. tion 6(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Written data may be mailed or deliv Signed at Washington. D.C., this 28th day of January 1974. January 30, 1974 ered to the Office of Standards. Attn: Docket OSH-36. Occupational Safety John H, Steks&k. Assistant Secretary of Labor. and Health Administration. Room 203, 1726 M Street NW,, Washington, D.C. {FR DOC. 74-9604 Filed l-29-7t;8:45 am] 20210, not later than February 28, 1974. The data will be available for public in spection and copying at the OSHA Public Reading Room, Room 203, 1726 M Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20210. Oral presentation of data will also be received by an administrative law judge at an informal fact-finding hearing be ginning at 10 a.m., e.d.t., on Friday, Feb ruary 15, 1974, Conference Room B, De- tmental Auditorium, Constitution Ave- partmental Auditorium, Constitution Avenue NW., between 12th and 14th Streets. Washington, D.C. Persons desiring to appear at the hear ing must file with J. Goodell, Attn: Dock et OSH-36, Office of Standards, Occupa tional Safety and Health Administration, Room 203,1726 M Street NW., Washing ton, D.C. 20210, a written notice of in tention to appear, in triplicate. Notice should be filed as soon as possible, but will be accepted by the Management Offi cer at the hearing until the pre-hearing conference begins. The notice should state: The name and address of the person wishing to appear; the capacity in which he will appear; and the approx imate amount of time required for the presentation. The notice should also in clude, or be accompanied by. a brief statement of the presentation to be made. Beginning at 9:30'a.m., e.d.t., on Feb DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ruary 15, 1974. the presiding Adminis trative Law Judge will hold a pre-hearing Office of the Secretary POSSIBLE HAZARDS OF VINYL CHLORIDE MANUFACTURE AND USE conference in order to establish the order and time for the presentations, and in order to settle any other matter relat ing to the proceedings. Request for Information and Notice of The oral proceedings shall be reported Fact-Finding Hearing verbatim. The use of prepared statements Notice is hereby given that the Oc cupational Safety and Health Admin istration is requesting information on possible hazards associated with the manufacture and/or use of vinyl chlo ride (chloroethene. Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 75014). The Administration requests informa tion Including, but not necessarily lim ited to: (1) The toxicity of vinyl chloride; (2) The toxicity of other chemicals in volved In the manufacture and use of vinyl chloride; (3) The technologies involved in the production and use of vinyl chloride; (4) Employee populations potentially or actually exposed to vinyl chloride or other chemicals, and involved in the pro duction and/or rise of vinyl chloride; (5) Epidemiological studies of effects of vinyl chloride and other chemicals used in the manufacture or use of vinyl chloride on populations, employee or by witnesses is encouraged. All documents that are intended to be submitted should be submitted In triplicate (original and two copies). The administrative law judge shall have all the powers necessary or appro priate to conduct a fair and full informal hearing, including the powers: (a) To regulate the course of the hear ing; (b) To dispose of procedural requests, objections, and comparable matters; (c) To confine the presentations to matters pertinent to the requested In formation; (d) To regulate the conduct of those present at the hearing by appropriate means; (e) In his discretion, to question and permit questioning of any witness; and (f) In his discretion, to keep the record open for a reasonable stated time to re ceive written data from any person who has participated in the oral proceeding. SCC ) otherwise; and Following the close of the hearing, the 5-0586 FEDERAL REGISTER, VOL 39, NO. 21--WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30. 1974 C. A. Johnson, M.D. M. N. Johnson, M.D. Flynt Kennedy w. A. Knapp H. L. Kusnetz for R. L. Maycock A. B. Lindquist. J. R. Livingston, Jr. R. W. McBurney, M.D. Thomas McDonach Richard Maier D. A. Rausch for D. C. Nuechterlein R. J. Reynolds D. E. Rhoads w. E. Rinehart George Roush, Jr., M..D H. L. Schmidt, Jr. L. J. Schuman W. M. Smith. I. R. Tahershaw, T. R. Torkelson Anton Vittone M.D. R. N, Wheeler B. M. G. Zwicker B. M. Barackman A. C. Clark K. D. Johnson V. H. Peterson 2- - The Goodyear Tire &. Rubber Company The B. F. Goodrich Company Continental Oil Company Allied Chemical Corporation Shell Oil Company Stauffer Chemical Company Exxon Chemical Company, U.S.A. Diamond Shamrock Corporation Exxon Chemical Company, U.S.A. Stauffer Chemical Company Dow Chemical, USA Shell Chemical Company Tenneco Chemicals, Inc. Ethyl Corporation Monsanto Company Borden Chemical/Division of Borden, Inc. Continental Oil Company Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. Tabershaw-Cooper Associates, Inc The Dow Chemical Company B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company/ Division of The B. F. Goodrich Company Union Carbide Corporation B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company/ Division of The B. F. Goodrich Company MCA Staff ' MCA Staff MCA Staff MCA Staff 1. Report from The B. F. Goodrich Company After the meeting was called to order by Mr. Clark, and after those present had introduced themselves to the group, this portion of the morning session was turned over to Mr. Anton Vittone. He first called upon Dr. M. N. Johnson, who summarized the chronology and clinical picture of the three cases of see 5-0587 -3- angiosarcoma of the liver in Goodrich vinyl chloride workers that were the subject of their press release of January 23. This information had earlier been presented to NIOSH and the Kentucky officials, January 22 and 23, respectively. He also described their program of clinical surveillance, including SMA-12 profiles, on all employees with vinyl chloride exposure. Dr. Zwicker then related the steps Goodrich has taken to minimize exposures, from those involving improved maintenance, housekeeping, and plant ventilation to changes in work practices.. He stressed the uncertainties inherent in estimating employee exposures from random grab samples for atmospheric analyses, and described their use of portable indicating instrumentation (a Century Organic Vapor Analyzer) in detailed surveys of the work areas to identify locations for installation of permanent sampling probes for their centralized, automatic monitoring equipment (based on a Bendix 8401 Total Hydrocarbon Analyzer). This instrument, although not specific for vinyl chloride, is reliable, responds rapidly, and has an essentially linear response over three decades of concentration of vinyl chloride vapors in the air. A paper describing their system, "An Instrumental System for the Monitoring of Vinyl Chloride Monomer in Plant and Laboratory Work Areas, " by L. B. Crider, was distributed to those present. Dr. Zwicker also described Goodrich's procedures for informing employees at risk of the nature and status of the problem, and the steps that are being taken by Goodrich for their protection. Employee briefings, in small groups, were conducted by management. At the request of the employee, consultation with medical staff is being provided on an in dividual basis. Dr. Irving R. Tabershaw, consultant to Goodrich and president of Tabershaw-Cooper Associates (the firm conducting the industry-sponsored mortality study of vinyl chloride workers) then was called upon to comment on the significance of the events related by the Goodrich representatives. Although acknowledging that identification of the pathology observed with vinyl chloride exposures was still tentative, he stressed the overwhelming likelihood that the three cases of angiosarcoma of the liver were related to industrial factors, and that at present, vinyl chloride exposures were by far the most significant common factor in their industrial exposure histories. see 5~0588 -5- of the problem. It was the consensus that this could best be done if they were to join the group in the sponsorship of any expanded and accelerated research programs that it might under take. MCA was asked to extend a renewed invitation to VCM and/ or PVC producers who had declined to join the group at the time of its formation. 2.3 MCA Participation in OSHA Hearings In anticipation of public hearings by OSHA on the emergency standards they are expected to propose for vinyl chloride, MCA was asked to prepare testimony for possible presentation at such hearings. The MCA statement would be limited primarily to a narrative history of the activities of the Association and the members of the group of companies supporting the animal exposure and epidemiological studies now underway under MCA's aegis. 3. Formation of Task-Group Units It was moved, seconded and carried tMt the TTGVCR be instructed to organize three sub-task groups to expedite the development of plans and recommendations in the three areas referred to in item 2.1 above. ` ` 3.1 Medical Sub-Task Group Dr. M. N. Johnson was appointed by the Chairman to serve as leader pro-tern of a medical group to develop recom mendations for guidelines for industry practices in the medical surveillance of workers at risk to vinyl chloride occupational exposures. Such guidelines may include, but are not limited to, recommendations as to pre-employment and routine physical ex amination procedures and standards, diagnostic criteria for the recognition of early or incipient injury from vinyl chloride exposures, and the medical management of such injury should it occur. Those initially named to serve on the medical group include L. H. Ballou, M.D. (Firestone), C. H. Dernehl, M.D. (Union Carbide), D. P. Duffield, M.D. (ICI), E. M. Dixon, M.D. (Allied Chemical), R. W. McBurney, M.D. (Diamond Shamrock), and George Roush, Jr., M.D. (Monsanto). see 5-0589 3.2 Work Practices Sub-Task Group /: ; \ :..i,, Mr. R. N. Wheeler was appointed leader pro-tem .J of a group to study, identify problems, and recommend operating j-v1.I," procedures and facility design in the manufacture, transport :; and consumption of vinyl chloride monomer to limit exposures to v. . the lowest levels consistent with safety, and to secure freedom : .i from health hazards. Specific areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to workplace air, engineering guidelines, work and operational practices, protective equipment, industrial > hygiene procedures, and process modifications. The following persons were named as members of the group: Mr. A. M. Barnes (ICX), Mr. J. T. Barr (Air Products), Dr. Z. G. Bell, Jr. (PPG), Dr. W. j. Boyne (Borden Chemical), Mr. H. R. Hoyle (Dow), Mr. H. L. Kusnetz (Shell), and Mr. Richard Maier (Stauffer). 3.3 Industrial Hygiene and Monitoring Sub-Group Dr. Richard Henderson was appointed pro-tem leader of a sub-group to develop recommended practices and guidelines for the conduct of industrial hygiene monitoring and sample analysis for the evaluation of steps taken for the reduction of . exposures to vinyl chloride, and to detect promptly and with confidence conditions of exposure presenting potential threat to the health and safety of workers. The design and conduct of interlaboratory comparison^, of accuracy, precision and specificity of sampling and analytical procedures are to be considered specific tasks of the group. Initial assignments to this group include Mr. A. M. Barnes (ICI) , Dr. Z. G. Bell,,Jr. (PPG), Mr. H-. R. Hoyle (Dow), Mr. Flynt Kennedy (Continental Oil) , and Dr. B. M. G. Zwicker (B. F. Goodrich). 4. Publicity on Vinyl Chloride Hazards A number of articles from the European popular and tech nical press, relating to alleged hazards of working with vinyl chloride, were called to the attention of those present. Copies of translations of these articles are attached to, but not incorporated as a portion of, these minutes. The bibliographic references to these articles are tabulated below see 5-0590