Document XzOENBKYGbrVaX0xYD9m998DR

internal correspondence chemicals and plastics >( >nam) Suspension/Non-Solvent/Vinyl DATE company Refrigeration Chiefs & Operators i.^cATioM Vinyl Area Shift Prod. Supervisors P. O. SOX 7f, TEXAS CITY, Tk** April 24, 1974 t dm to Mr. T. F. Drummond Mr. M. E. Eisenhour Mr. J. A. FrederickSen Mr. F. L. Johnson Mr. C. W. Kartik Mr. J. B. Lever ton Mr. A. A. Peterson Mr. G. T. Pyle Mr. K. E. Ross Mr. R. W. Sesler Mr. K. L. Topham Mr. D. B. Whittington Shift Superintendents subject Standard Operating Procedures Suspension/Non-Solvent Vinyl R sins/ Vinyl Refrigeration - Proc dures To Minimize Personnel Vinyl Chloride GOVERNMENT REGULATION In response to a possible link between vinyl chloride exposure and angiosarcoma (a tumor) of the liver, OSHA has passed an emergency six-months standard on vinyl chloride exposure. This standard requires that a ceiling exposure limit of 50 ppm be established to replace the former limit of 500 ppm. (Vinyl chlorid can be detected by smell at 250 ppm.) During the maximum six-month life span of this emergency standard, OSHA will be reviewing the available data in order to develop the final permanent standards. The procedures listed below apply only during the life span of the OSHA emergency regulation. The OSHA emergency regulations require that any routine work which would cause an employee to be exposed to vinyl chloride in concentrations in excess of 50 ppm be accomplished only by employees wearing fresh air masks or self-contained air packs. Also in the event of an accident such as a leak, line rupture, spillage, etc. which could cause exposure in excess of 50 ppm, employees shall be withdrawn to a UCC 092947 Standard Op rating Procedures April 24, 1974 3. 3. Cleaning Non-Solvent skin pots north of Building 119 Fresh air masks will be required for personnel involved in cleaning these skin pots. A fresh air station has been con structed north of Building 119 for this purpose. Skin pots will be modified to allow process water flushing prior to opening similar to those on O-autoclaves blowdown tanks. 4. Priming vinyl chloride charge pumps south of Building 119 Fresh air masks are required for this operation until a closed system can be provided to contain the vinyl chloride. A fresh air station south of Building 119 has been constructed for this purpose. 5. Changing vinyl chloride charge pump filters south of Building 119 Fresh air masks are required to prepare these for maintenance and also for maintenance personnel involved in changing the filters. Use the same fresh air station noted in Item 4. 6. Washing resin blending tanks at Building 120 Fresh air masks are required for this operation until a ventilation system can be installed to remove vinyl chloride/nitrogen vapors from the blend tanks. The fresh air buggy south of Building 171 Instrument Storage room is available for this work. 7. General maintenance of equipment which contained vinyl chloride Vessels which recently contained vinyl chloride are to be tested using the vinyl chloride tester in the Chief Operator's office before entry is permitted. Piping, pumps, and valves in vinyl chlorid monomer and/or slurry service will require emptying, double-valve and venting, and flushing, if possible, before removal. In reality, no procedure can cover all possibilities. Use your judgment on borderline cases. It is the best guideline until more data are collected and better practices developed. OAS/st Otis A. Shelton UCC 092949