Document Rj8VpJBO5yar27NXDjx6wL7x8
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April 4, 1980
DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A.
MICHIGAN DIVISION MIOLANO. MICHIGAN 48640
To: Members of the Vinyl Chloride Safety Association
AGENDA AND TOPICS OF INTEREST
Following is the agenda and possible topics of interest for the 1980 meeting of the Vinyl Chloride Safety Association to be held on October 23 &24* There will be three sessions including:
SESSION I - VCM PRODUCTION, TRANSPORTATION A STORAGE SESSION II - PVC UNIT OPERATIONS SESSION III - REGULATIONS & TRUE CONFESSIONS
Certainly, the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" applies to safety when handling vinyl chloride. Thus, a key objective of the discussions is to explore ideas that can measurably improve the safety of operations involved in the manufacture and use of vinyl chloride monomers. Actions taken to correct or prevent problems will be of interest to others.
The intent of this letter is to ascertain the interests of members with regards to specific topics of presentation and discussion. Therefore, suggested major topics have been listed below. This list is not intended to be the final agenda or to exclude other topics of interest. Please indicate which topics are of interest and if you and your company can lead* a discussion area. The meeting will be structured around your comments.
SESSION I - VCM PRODUCTION, TRANSPORTATION & STORAGE (CHECK LINES PROVIDED)
Transportation Tankcar Modifications
. Vent relief
. Improved valves
. Improved couplings
. Construction material
improvements
. Gasket materials
. Sampling systems
. "Leakproof" valves &
fittings
'
Topic of Interest
___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
____________ ___________
___________
*Willinq to Present
AN OPERATING UNIT OF THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY
OCC 4600
6. Suggestions for improved meetings (Contd.)
Other suggestions:
Continue surveys
Report on commercial safety devices
European participation in surveys
True confessions first
Emphasize safety rather than regulations
Increase European contributions
Open shot oh program for additional presentation
of true confessions
-*
More effective use of visual aids
Split group: PVC topics, VCM topics
More on training procedures
Compile all papers in small book
Keep meeting in resort area
7. Comments on meeting facilities Very good Poor meeting room; hard to see & hear No answer Reservation & travel agent problems Transportation from Savanah difficult Be specific in designing questionnaire
9 9 3 2 2
1
8. Should VCSA meet annually? Yes
25
9. Preference for meeting location: resort or major city
Resort Either location
Major city Resort desirable; not necessary Alternate No answer
10 5 4 3 3 1
Suggestions for future meeting locations: San Antonio, Texas San Juan, Puerto Rico Orlando, Florida Los Angeles, California Kansas City, Missouri Chicago, Illinois
Quote "Houston is not a place to hold a meeting"
HGO 10-15-81
OCC 4601
Tankcar Filling
. Piping system improvements . Level control devices . Remote operations . Automatic shut-off devices . Overfill protection system . Instrumentation &
redundancy
Topic of Interest
Tankcar Cleaning & Repair
. Tankcar preparation . Polymer problems . Peroxide problems . Undercarriage improvements
Tankcars in Transit
. Safer routing . Railbed conditions . Derailment cleanup . Weight problems
Water Transportation
. Vessel design improvements . Materials of const. . Valves & fittings . Spill containment . Piping system improvements . Level control devices . Vent systems . Remote operations . Automatic shutoff devices . Overfill protection system . Instrumentation &
redundancy . Vessel preparation &
cleaning . Polymer problems . Routing problems
Storage
. Vent relief systems . Remote operation . Evacuation plans &
training . Emission control systems . Preparation for vessel entry
& cleaning . Hi pressure cleaning system . Respiratory protection
''Willing to Present
OCC 4602
Storage y
. Solids disposal . Computer control . Gasket materials . Materials of const. . Valve improvement . GC monitoring . Mechanical seals improve
ment on pumps and compressors . Level control systems . Improved loading systems
Topic of Interest \
VCM Production
. Vent relief systems . Improved valves . Evacuation plans &
training . Vessel entry prepara
tion & cleaning . Emission control system . Hi pressure cleaning systems . Improved materials of const. . Remote operation . Burner system . Standby power . Corrections to emergency
releases . Respiratory protection . Mechanical seals
Compressors Pumps . Computer redundancy . Gasket materials . GC precision & accuracy . Stacks-design improvements . Plant boundary monitoring . Current state of employee health . Outdoor vs. indoor plants . Solids disposal . Polymerization problems . Emission control system redundancy
_ _
_
billing to Present
OCC 4603
SESSION II - PVC UNIT OPERATIONS & FINAL CONTROL DEVICES
Unit Ops; & Final Control Devices
Topics of Interest
. Vent relief systems Type
Design Construction . Remote operations . Evacuation plans . Emission control . Burner systems . Standby power
. Catalyst handling . Follow-up to emerg. releases
. GC precision & accuracy . Storage tank cleaning &
preparation . Hi pressure cleaning system . Piping & vessel entry prepara
tion & cleaning . Respiratory protection . Solids disposal . Follow-up to major accidents . Follow-up to safety related
operations problem . Recovery compressor improvements . Computer redundancy . Mechanical seal
compressors pumps reactors . Alternate reactor cooling sources
. Redundant instrumentation on vent systems
. Plant boundary monitoring . Improvements in safety training
or techniques
. Data control & retention . Carbon absorption
Hazards analysis . Computerization & safety . Other topics of interest
__________ ___________ _____ _________ __________ __________ _ ___________ ___________ _ __ __________ ____ _
_____ __ ___ .
_ __
___________ ___________ ___________
milling to Present
___________ __________ __________
OCC 4604
SESSION III - REGULATIONS & TRUE CONFESSIONS
Toxicology
. Females in work area . Progress at C.I.I.T. . Toxicology studies summary
Topic of Interest ___________
*Willing to Present
-------------------_____________
Regulations & Regulators
. OSHA
- Current law - Regional differences - Citations - Excursion letters - Variances - Respiratory protection
requirements - Plant boundary monitoring - Inspections - Employee letters
. EPA
- Current law - Regional differences - Citations - Excursion letters - Variances - Inspections - Monitoring systems
. Regulations Outside U.S.
- Current law - Citations - Variances - Respiratory protection
requirements - Monitoring systems - Inspections
True Confessions
- Spills
- Leaks
*
------------------
- Fires
------------------
- Near misses (Important area - "ounce of prevention...*')
- Excursion letters
- Accidents
------------------
- Citations
------------------
- Emissions
------------------
- Runaway reactions - Set up reactions
------------------
OCC 4605
True Confessions (Con't)
Topic of Interest
- Material of construction failure - Vent relief system failures - Operational errors
. Inadequate supervision . Inadequate training .Attitude problems - Mechanical seal failures - Gasket failures - Railcar derailments
*Wininq to Present
Please return your responses by May 29, 1980 to one of the members listed below.
Thank you.
Warren Clark Vice Chairman Vinyl Chloride Safety Assoc; Dow Chemical U.S.A. Michigan Division Bldg. 564 Midland, Michigan 48640
517-636-1353
Program Chairman Vinyl Chloride Safety Assoc. Diamond Shamrock Corporation 1100 Superior Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44114
216-694-5335
OCC 4606