Document VGV2gqNVpmdyvpL3Vv3Zg9OOw

Mr. J. H. 8kahill Battery Products Division 1205 Broadway Red Oak, Iowa January 23, 1976 Bed!cal Department Mr. R. Christie/Mr. T. Burke Mr. X. Damokos Mr. X. F. Griffin Mr. G. L. Harshav Mr. P. J. Kennedy Dr. J. J. Welsh/Dr. K. S. Lane Dear Mr. Skahlll: Industrial Hygiene Survey; Red Oak - December 10-11, 1975 BUSINESS COKFTENTIAL A routine periodic industrial hygiene survey was conducted at the Red Oak plant on December 10-11, 1975* All plant areas were inspected, and air samples were collected for airborne dusts, fumes and vapors. These air samples were analysed for total dust, arsenic, manganese, lead, vinyl chloride monomer, perchlorethylene and methyl isobutyl ketone (MXBK). This second set of air samples collected here for arsenic analysis yielded results which were quite comparable to those of the first set. The results of air samples collected for approximately 6 hours each on a Mix Screener and a Cramic Molding Machine Operator showed a time-weighted average exposure of less than 0.001 mg/M3 to arsenic. Thus, each of the 4 shift-length air samples collected in this mixing and forming area during 1975 gave results of less than 0.001 mg/M^ as the time-weighted avergge concentration for exposure to airborne arsenic. This is less than 0.2$ of the existing 08HA standard for arsenic, and less than 50/6 oven of the proposed new threshold limit value. The time-weighted average concentrations for the exposure of the Mix Screener and the Cramic Molding Machine Operator to airborne manganese dusts were 0.30 and 0.29 mg/M^, respectively. Thus, the average exposure measured here during 1975 for each of 3 job classifications (also Mix Operator) was less than IO56 of the threshold limit value for manganese in workroom air. A personal air sample was collected for approximately 6 hours on one of the operators on the finishing line. This gave a time-weighted average concentration for lead of less than 0.00U mg/MJ. This calculates to be less than 2$ of the existing threshold Lknit value for lead in workroom air. This was the only such sample collected here for lead analysis during 1975. ucc 067862 Mr. J. H. Skahill -2- January 23, 1976 The exposure to total dust and fume continues to be acceptably low at operations in the Red Oak plant. During this visit the time-weighted average exposures to total dust and fume for the Cosmic Molding Machine Operator, Mix Screener, and Finishing Line Operator were 2.09, 1.71, and 0.06 mg/M3, respectively. The air sample collected for approximately 7-hours (12/10/75) on the Extrusion Machine Operator contained less than 0.05 parts per million (by volume) of vinyl chloride monomer. Thus, none of the air samples collect d on this operator has ever contained as much as the OSHA action level of 0*5 parts per million (by volume) of vinyl-chloride monomer as a time-weighted average concentration. During the afternoon of 12/10/75, spot air samples were collected for perchlorethylene in the aisle beside both the Blakeslee and the Phillips Degreasers. Ho concentration as high as 10 parts per million (by volume) was found. This indicated that the local exhaust ventilation systems of both degreasers were functioning properly. A personal air sample, collected on the Roll-Coat Operator during the day shift on 12/11/75, gave a time-weighted average concentatlon of 90 parts per million (by volume) for methyl isobutyl ketone in workroom air. Spot air samples, collected both forenoon and afternoon on this same day, had Indicated 100 ppm (the 08HA TLV) as the concentration at the time of each sample. Additional shift length air samples are needed here to better evaluate the concentrations of both MIRK and toluene to which this operator is exposed. I greatly appreciate the courtesies extended to me during my visit. If I can be of further assistance, please let me know. Very truly yours, E. 0, Brown Industrial Rygienist BGB/eg Enclosures ucc 067863 Location Mix Screener Itotal Oust and Fume UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION Battery Products Division Red Oak, Iowa December 10-11, 1975 Concentration uk/m3* 1.93 Mix Screener l.Uh No. 5 Cramic Molding Machine Operator No. 5 Cramic Molding Machine Operator Operator on Finishing Line 2.88 1.U9 0.06 Remarks Personal Sample 12/10/75, A.M. 3 hrs., 36 min. Personal Sample 12/10/75, P.M. 2 hrs., 56 min. Personal Sample 12/10/75, A.M. 2 hrs., 45 min. Personal Sample 12/10/75, P.M. 3 hrs., 38 min. Personal Sample 12/11/75, A.M. & P.M. 6 JwrUflj 5 An* * The threshold limit value for carbon black Is 3.5 milligrams per cubic meter of workroom air (OSHA-1975) No more than 5-lOJl of the above total dust and fume should be acetylene black. ucc 067864 Vinyl Chloride Monomer USION CAKBIEB CORPORATION Battery Product* Division Bed Oak, Iowa December 10-11, 1975 Location On person of extrusion machine operator VCM JJEEi 0.05 Bemarks 12/10/75, A.M. & P.M 6 hrs., 56 * the current OSHA standard for vinyl chloride monomer let workroom air ia 1 part per million (by volume) a* an 8-hour, time-weighted average concentration. UCC 067865 Manganese UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION Battery Products Division Red Oak* Iowa December 10-11* 1975 location Mix Screener Manganese g/M3 0.32 Mix Screener 0.28 No. 5 Cramic Molding Machine Operator Bo. 5 Cramic Molding Machine Operator 0.35 0.25 Remarks Personal Sample 12/10/75, A.M. 3 hrs., 3^ min. Personal Sasiple 12/10/75, P.M. 2 hrs., 56 min. Personal Sample 12/10/75, A.M. 2 hrs., 45 min. Personal Sampl 12/10/75, P.M. 3 hrs., 38 min. * The threshold limit value for manganese in workroom air is 5 milligrams per cubic meter (OSHA-1975). This Is a celling value* not to be exceeded. ucc 067866 Location Mix Screener Arsenic UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION Battery Products Division Red Oak, Iowa December 10-11, 1975 Arsenic mg/M3* < 0.001 Mix Screener No. 5 Cramic Molding Machine Operator Mo. 5 Cramic Molding Machine Operator 0.001 <1 0.001 0.001 Remarks Personal Sample 12/10/75, A.M. 3 hrs., 36 min. Personal Sample 12/10/75, P.M. 2 hrs., 56 min. Personal Sampl 12/10/75, A.M. 2 hrs*, 45 min. Personal Sample 12/10/75, P.M. 3 hrs., 38 min. * The threshold limit value for arsenic In workroom air is 0.5 milligrams per cubic meter (08HA.-1975); however* NI06H has recommended that this TLV be lowered to 0.002 mg/M3. This Is due to the discovery of increased lung cancer deaths among arsenic workers at Dow Chemical Co. and Allied Chemical Corp. ucc 067867 Lead UNION CAHBIIB CORPORATION Battery Products Division Red Oak, Iowa December 10-11, 1975 Location Operator on Finishing Line Lead mg/M3* O.OOU Remarks Pereonal Sample, 12/11/75, A.M. & P.M. 6 hrs., 5 min. * The threshold limit value for lead in workroom air is 0.2 milligrams per cubic meter. ucc 067368 Perchlorethylene UNION CARBIEK CORPORATION Battery Products Division Bed Oak, Iowa December 10-11, 1975 Location Breathing level In aisle beside main Phillips Degreaser Breathing level in aisle beside large Blakeslee Degreaser Perchlore thylene me* 10 < 10 Remarks P.M. 12/10/75 P.M, 12/10/75 * The threshold 11bIt value for perchlorethylene In workroom air is 100 parts per million (by volume) (OSHA-1975). UCC 067869 Methyl laobutyl Ketone UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION Battery Products Division Red Oak, Iowa December 10-11, 1975 Location Paint Room On person of roll-coat operator KEBK mm* Irir*, , 90 Near center of roan 100 In corner by roll-coating operation Near center of roan 100 100 In corner by roll-coating operation 100 Remarks Personal Sample 12/11/75, A.M. & P.M. Spot Sample, 12/11/75, A.M. Spot Sample, 12/11/75, A.M. Spot Sample, 12/11/75, P.M. Spot Sample, 12/11/75, P.M. * The threshold limit value for MXBK In workroom air la 100 parts per million (by volume) (OSHA-1975)- ucc 067870