Document X74a515x3waNLYdyx4ezdr274

CELANESE PLASTICS AND SPECIALTIES COMPANY Chemcel Plant Bishop, Texas PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT CELr.436- TO: Mr. R. D. Fuchs Mr. H. P. Hohon FROM: A. R. Hancock J. H. Pritchard ARH-28-80 JHP-04-80 June 6, 1980 ASBESTOS MONITORING RESULTS FOR SPECIAL PRODUCTS AND CELANEX UNITS SUMMARY The employees in the Special Products and Celanex units were monitored for asbestos exposure while making asbestos blends for SEO production runs. All personnel exposures were below 0.20 fibers/cc, calculated 8 hour time weighted average (TWA), and 2.0 fibers/cc peak exposure. The OSHA standard for asbestos exposure is 2 fibers/cc (8 hour TWA) and 10 fibers/cc peak expos ure. Please discuss the monitoring results noted in this report with the employees involved. The asbestos monitoring will continue in accordance with federal regulations. The next scheduled asbestos monitoring will be during the third quarter, 1980. DISCUSSION Employees in the Special Products and Celanex units were monitored for asbestos exposure during SEO production runs, February - April, 1980. Semi annual frequency is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 1910.1001. The next scheduled asbestos monitoring will be during the third quarter, 1980. Measurements were obtained by attaching the monitoring equipment to operations personnel during various SEO blends. Analyses were performed by National Loss Control Service Corporation. All blending personnel wore the proper protective equipment (gloves, disposable coveralls, dust masks, etc.). Therefore, the exposure to asbestos is considerably less than the exposure re sults indicate in this report. The asbestos exposures reported here are the exposures seen if no protective equipment were worn. The table below summarizes the monitoring results. UNIT SPECIAL PRODUCTS NO. OF SAMPLES TAKEN PEAK EXPOSURE RANGES (FIBERS/CC) MEAN PEAK EXPOSURE (FIBERS/CC) 7 < 0.07 - 0.45 0.15 CALCULATED THA_EXPOSURE RANGES (FIBERS/CC) MEAN TWA EXPOSURE (FIBERS/CC) < 0.01 - 0.02 < 0.01 CELANEX 6 0.03 - 1.9 0.55 < .0.01 - 0.13 0.15 001287 ARH-28-80 JHP-04-80 Page 2 The TWA exposures were calculated from the peak exposure results. The OSHA 8 hour TWA standard is 2 fibers/cc. The peak (ceiling) standard is 10 fibers/cc. From the monitoring data, the mean TWA exposures in Celanex appear to be slightly higher than in Special Products (0.01 fibers/cc. Special Products vs 0.05 fibers/cc, Celanex). There is no apparent explanation for the differ ences in exposure other than larger quantities of asbestos handled during each blend. During monitoring, in the Celanex unit, it was observed that several bags of asbestos (on the pallet) had broken, spilling asbestos on the floor. Any asbestos spilled outside the dump chamber should be cleaned up immediately to reduce the possibility of added, unnecessary exposure. In Special Products, the empty asbestos bags are still being removed from the dump chamber t^_ the empty drums outside the chamber. SOP is to put the empty bags in the drum in side the dump chamber. Following the SOP will decrease the asbestos exposure. Based on the monitoring results, the employee exposure to asbestos in the Special Products and Celanex units is well below the 2 fibers/cc 8 hour TWA standard. Emphasis should remain on good housekeeping practices and the potential danger of careless asbestos handling. The employees monitored in the Special Products area were: Dewey Elsik, Kathy Hickman, Don Blevins, Tony Morales and Rain Vasques. Those employees monitored in the Celanex unit were: Pete Garcia, Joe L. Alaniz, Chris Genz, Colin Wilkenson and Dale H. Waterhouse. Please discuss these monitoring re sults with the employees involved and post this letter for other unit personnel to review. A. R. Hancock AKH,JHP:bt cc: E. J. Heinz R. G. Brandt A. B. Milam G. Ille* E. Munoz * Data table to GI and ARH only.