Document XzEZ4BMYoZqvbgVmEyMgkR9qK

p rT cow*,. `, F%rr/ It 53rd ALL-OHIO SAFETY CONGRESS & EXHIBIT April 12,13,14,1983 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT BRK-177 our brand of safety March 28, 1983 Legal Section Industrial Commission of Ohio 246 N. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 Attention: Judy Spencer * Rei OO 19766-22 John D. Dobos Packard Electric Warren, Ohio Dear Ms. Spencer: At your request this report has been prepared on information provided in the facsimile file and on additional information provided by representatives of Packard Electric during a visit on Pebruary 3, 1983. Mr. Dobos states that his condition which was diagnosed in October of 1980 as bladdor cancer has resulted from "exposure to various chemicals at work, including vinyl chloride and vinyl chloride monomer". The claimant feels that he experienced these exposures while performing work in and around rubber mixing and milling operations in Plant No. 3. On the attending physicians* reports of occupational disease, the claimant's physicians answer "unknown" to the question: What in their opinion is the cause of the disease? Information provided by the company indicates that the claimant's job classification from September 9, 1966, his date of hire, until January 6, 1975 was "service-general". This work involves the delivery of supplies (raw materials) to a department and the removal of finished products from the department. While performing the "service-general" work, the claimant worked for several departments, including eleven months, when he first started to work for Packard, in the ruber mixing and milling department. On January 6, 1975, the claimant had a change in job classification, becoming a rubber mixing and control man, a position he held until October 8, 1979. In this work the claimant actually weighed out the raw materials being used and also, for a time, operated the mixer. Although respirators were not in use at these operations during our visit on Pebruary 3, 1983, it was observed that local exhaust ventilation is available both in the weighout area and at the mixer operator's work station. The Industrial Commission of Ohio Division of Safety and Hygiene 246 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43215 Richard F.Cdmte. Governor W. Oam Zimphar, Induairial Cornrniwion Chairman S<vn A. Hwtan. Vice Chairman * Leonard T. lancaatar. Member PMp A. Workman, Safety and Hygian* StewifWndnV * Bob M*y, AmmimI SuparinUndan* Lawrence J. Whalen, Managn c* Spacid Pro^ama and Ccnfcrantaa A* **- - '____________- +____________________________________4 Packard Electric Page 2 Information supplied by the company and included in the facsimile file, indicates that two materials which may contain small residual amounts of vinyl chloride monomer have been used at the mixing and milling operation. One of these substances has not been in use since 1978, while the other continues to be used on an irregular basis. During the 1982 model year, out of a total of approximately 8,100,000 pounds of raw materials used, only 1,080 pounds of this material was used. Vinyl chloride is regarded as a human carcinogen, and a casual agent of angiosarcoma of the liver.1 Excess cancer of the lung and the lymphatic and nervous systems has also been reported.1 Despite these cancers, believed to be associated with exposures to vinyl chloride, the increased incidence of bladder cancer has not been linked to vinyl chloride exposures. Although bladder cancer is not normally associated with vinyl chloride, Beta-Naphthylamine, an aromatic amine which was widely used as an antioxidant in the rubber Industry and in rubber coated cables, is a known human bladder carcinogen with a usual latent period of about sixteen years.1 Prom information obtained, both from the file and during the visit, the company has used materials in the past and continues to use some substances at present which they state may contain trace amounts of Beta-Naphthylamine. Prom 1946 until 1977 three materials were used which may have contained Beta-Naphthylamine. Their combined use during this period represented approximately 0.26% of the total amount of raw materials used. Two materials presently being used in the rubber mixing and milling operation are described as possibly containing trace amounts of free Beta-Naphthylamine. These materials constitute 0.11% of the annual total amount of raw materials. When asked, during the Pebruary 3 visit, the company representatives would not permit this writer to examine the OSHA Safety Data Sheets for any of these materials, nor would they provide the names of the products in question or the names of the suppliers. Although large amounts of these materials are not used, when compared to the total raw material weight, they are used on a fairly regular basis. A department foreman stated that one of the materials in question is used every two or three days, with the total use boing three hundred pounds per month. This monthly rate of use would amount to about thirty-four pounds each day of use, assuming that the material is used twice weekly. The second material currently being used is used in considerably smaller amounts. As mentioned earlier Beta-Naphthylamine is widely recognized as a human bladder carcinogen. Neither OSHA nor The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have adopted exposures limits for this material, and recognizing its carcinogenic potential, have recommended that all contact with Beta-Naphthylamine should be avoided. OSHA has adopted a very stringent standard for the use of any material which contains greater than 0.1% of Beta-Naphthylamine. It is not known what percentage of Beta-Naphthylamine exists in the materials at Packard Electric or if, in fact- it is present. All we have been told is that small amounts of materials are being used which .uS*. . - 01* .'Ar*. -*4 _ f. r Packard Electric Page 3 roay contain trace levels of Beta-Naphthy1amine. Although it cannot be stated with certainty that this claimant's condition, bladder cancer, has been caused by occupational contaminants, this condition, unless industrially induced, is relatively rare in individuals less than 45 years of age. The usual impact is upon persons in their late 60's and early 70's. The claimant was 40 years old and had worked at Packard for 13 years when his symptoms first appeared. The latent period for occupational bladder tumors is about 18 to 20 years with extremes ranging from 1 year to 48 to 50 years.2 Recalling the direction of OSHA and the ACGIH, that no exposure or contact to Beta-Naphthylamine, by any route, should be permitted, reminds one of the great potential of even minute exposures to this material causing associated health problems. The possibility exists that this claimant may have experienced such exposures in his work at Packard. Authorities who have studied the problem with Beta-Naphthy~ lamine appear to be in general agreement that completely banning the use of this material is justifiable in view of the disatrous consequences to workers who have been engaged in its manufacture and use. ^ Respectfully submitted, . maid B. Keeker Industrial Hygienist DBM/rr 1. N.I.O.S.H.i Occupational Diseases - A Guide to Their Recognition. Revised Edition. 1977. 2. Patty's Industrial Hygiene 4 Toxicology, Third Revised Edition. Volume 2A. New York* Interscience, 1981. 3. Documentation of the TLV's, Fourth Edition. American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. Cincinnati, 1982. - t, ..iifciA(.i> g i.V-. my ;.TU, > m %. I