Document XznzJZ8wmwdj87qyoBEV1VL3x

May 8, 1980 Uw IndmMol OoRndMion ` OtONo OtvWon CM Safety * Hygiene 246 M.MghlUCot,0143215 Mr. Don Kricbo Safety Supervisor General Motors Corporation, General Motors Assembly Division Lord*town Plant, P.O. Box 1406 Warren, Ohio 44482 Dear Mr. Krichos ' ,, * Enclosed is a report on the visit aade to your company on May 2, 1960. It was a pleasure to meet with you and others and the courtesy extended was very such appreciated. . ' If this Division can be of assistance to your company at any tine on industrial hygiene or engineering problems relating to safety, please let us know. Very truly yours/ yTLctu.-w* - -- Maurice E. Batten, P.B. Industrial Hygiene Engineer Technical Research and Engineering MEH/bjs Enclosure L r f mtvnupiQi wORvnpnon OtvWon Of Safety A Hygiene 246 N. Mgh tt. CoC a 432t5 May UT 1980 Re:General Motors Corporation General Motors Assembly Division Lordstown Plant, P.O, Beat 1406 Warren, Ohio 44482 1. On May 2, 1980, this company was visited in response to employee complaint of illness or irritation symptoms regarding spraying of, rust inhibitor (Part Number 998-1523-66) before drome molding is applied. The mod is in Department 1730. The Assembly Division employs 9600 less layoff to 7500 at present. . t, , . ' '/ f.. 2. Those contacted were* Mr. Don Kricho, Safety Supervisor, Mr. Eric Joycox, industrial Hygienist Mr. Dave Seese, Onion Health and Safety Mr. Ron Scrabis, Area Foreman Mr. Dominic Cutrone, Assembler 3. This Division assembles Monza and Sunbird automobiles. 4. The rust prevention material is applied by hand sprayer in small amounts, at intervals, to trim area only around windows. Air movement at the work stations is adequate (and directable) to uncomfortable from chill factor. Spraying is done on both sides of the conveyor line, without hood. .A very small amount of the tacky spray has accumulated on overhead beams and other objects. The material is intended to remain tacky over an extended period. Masking is not done,and spray scattered on glass or painted metal is removed at a later point on the assembly line. 5. Composition of the spray, manufactured by Parr Inc., 18400 Syracuse Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44110, includes lamp blade, mineral spirits less than 50%, asbestos "floats" 1 to 2%, corrosion inhibitor (pitch and waxes, petroleum grease and calcium soaps), polymer and resin..> The asbestos is encapsulated and remains bound. There are no operations here breaking thru the binding. The spray is a black, free flow ing, slightly'viscous liquid with no unusual fire or explosion hazards* The material may be received in 5 gallon cans or 55 gallon barrels, and specifies agitation bofors use. The company has equipment to agitate the 5 gallon can but not the barrel. Prescribed mineral spirits thinner may be used in either situation, to adjust viscosity or other properties.., L 6. Personal sampling was done with charcoal tube and Sipin pump at a. spray station (D. Cutrone) from 9:58 AM to 11*07 AM (2.18 Uters of air)# Gas chromatograph analy- ..-y sis by the Ohio Health^Department found no detectable benzene, toluene, vinyls. ' ^chloride and sdneralisoirits^in this size sample? 'A'bulk sample was also^obtained nnnn nnu t- UUUU 7 it' -2- 7. Also, a breathing zone (BZ) test with Oraeger tube "KW2, CH 25401 (all aliphatic hydrocarbons starting with hexane, heptane, octane, etc.) indicated only a trace (off color from brown endpoint) in 24 pump cycles required, whereas the same tube gave an immediate brown test in an opened can. Another test, sampling near the center of the conveyor line, also indicated no measurable amount (stopped at 20 cycles). 8. Oraeger tube CH 23001 for toluene indicated none measurable, BZ, spray station. An opened can gave an indication probably off color and due to aliphatic compounds more than toluene or other aromatic compounds. 9. The ultimate health hazard of breathing small amounts of gases, liquids and solids from this cooplex mixture is open to evaluation. No TLVs are exceeded so far as determined'/ but coaplex chemicals and mixtures are present that lack specific TLVs. The presence of asbestos is of concern not only for the present operations, but also during salvage operations months or years later. Perhaps some other filler or fiber could be safer and more economic. Testing varying amounts of spray in a laboratory with test animals could be done to expedite understanding of some consequences of long period exposures on an assembly line. An important fact related is that persons who stop smoking completely (and soon enough) have almost as good health as those who never smoked. Otherwise, the hazards of continued smoking, with exposure to tars and carcinogens, are well documented. Zf body fluids dissolve or allow rapid removal of very small amounts of the spray material/ there may be no real danger, especially when later work changes occur. However, if the tacky and tarry material tends to accumulate in the respiratory systems, it is probably dangerous especially doe to petroleum carcinogens and asbestos, a known carcinogen with latent effect. 10. The following is based upon the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Current TLVs-,. Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) refer to airborne concentrations of substance and represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effects. Because of wide variations in individual susceptibility, however, exposure of an occasional individual at or even below current TLVs may not prevent discomfort, aggravation of pre-existing conditions, or an occupational illness,. Many TLVs are based on acute exposures and do not necessarily represent prolonged exposures after many years of work. 11. This investigation was made in accordance with 4121i1-5 Specific Safety Requirements of The Industrial Coomission of Ohio Relating to All Workshops and Factories. 12. Suggestions offered are: A. Seek safer and more economic material that has filler or fiber other than asbestos. B. Maintain material quality consistency by avoiding long standing 55 gallon barrels where ^separation or settling occurs. , ?' ' ' 'J C. The fire hazard;fromvaccumulated spray on various surfaces could be ^avoided by hand brushing or rolling if possible. More vapor, would *5"**y,"> . '' v,J _ M. * * ' v *, % . . -3 '. r t : -ar. ,`Vk. probably b breathed, but far lass particulates. Also, noise level would be lowered,'but the area Is notably quiet. D. If employees in tbs immediate operation (or area) prefer* approved particulate respirators, single use type, could be worn at least until adequate safety of system is clarified, they can serve also to note where and how each particulate exposure is occurring. Vapors were not found to be a problem,' but would also be removed to limited extent as adherents to particulates. '. E. if the present operation system is maintained, evaluate spray material safety by varying exposures to laboratory test animals. Respectfully submitted. -i Maurice E. Batttenn,/P.B. Industrial Hygiene Engineer Technical Research and Engineering Enclosure! Tables 5 and 6, Carcinogenic Irritant Discoveries i2 * C-I' IftjtitH*! Utipritofy Cwoso^css Sgaiff T1U15. Jbcegwtrd JUfpsrdtmty Ceramegtmt to cause skin cancers.' derivation has been ac !*> | Itrjmt | Xmh J >*1 mens of a list of swpe Ancnfe Kcbi, SES!?"' IGm .... Coal Tar................... MaxalOO............... Chcaicak + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + lesriy will subsequent! (Tahiti). a)Qasri<| Deperdiog on the environmental agents criologic factors can bf Recognized 1. Significance of Specific Industrial Carcinogenic Irritants Selected ref Potential ra| Although the knowledge of specific industrial carcinogenic agents affecting the skis dates bade to almost 300 jtuf, tbe recognition of occupational carrinogens 1. Recognized res; medical, cpSdenuologitj Table 4. Tbt Tame TrWf *f Oietwwi/ Oecmpsttaatl Cement CAerat I I nintOua | Tmaf fishing reliably caosal the subsequent dcvdojft The following ageif CUmktkOrjmU Coal Soot, ..... Coal Tat (Bgnfce) . . Coal Tar (Brsoes) . Coal Tar (Anthracite) Coal Tar (fames) . . CmaoteOO .... AwWm Ofl ... feafifeoa 1775 ISM im mo 1930 1920 1901 Port varVounusef Bonn* Zwkso fCteuurs ODomovam Ouna Skim SUm SUm SUa Laos SUa SUn . Occupational Occpacio<*l Occupational Occu--p----a-- ti*onal Oeopdoeil Omyilofltj (Shale). ..... . .(Auctoaa). ... Petroleum Gotit. LubrioxIngOfl (hiKtaa). , (Shale). . . , Hpdaogenared Goal Oa (fiapm) . . Isopropyl Ofl. . . Maatanl Gar . . . OwiiMwM(r 1174 mo 1*90 1930 1910 192* i960 1947 1959 Bata ScMAsaxao Ocsvcxaaod CeuMOMnxa Houa VttJCM Doom and Bosoowin SonroMVtl KustadHiwn Yamasu SUa SUm (Vruptloual Occupational SUa Occupational SUa SUm Occupational Baoehbrsow Occupational SUn. Mouth Natal Sinus, Larynx, Lung Larynx, Lung Occupational I Since occupational man. they should he a: as evidence obtained^ weighty evidence tharf I cancer hazards is con of particular enriroai^ cally applicable in ad, equivocal nature of tb t 2. Suspected Res; \ Annie.............. Atbcatos . Qwooaacs Kktd. . XuBjtUn 1123 1SS7 1930 1935 1935 1933 Paats Hvtcmmon Saw* Lyxoi tod Swrm Prxa*Aiwxxs Cnxnu SUa SUn v Lung Lung NTjuuaifl Cavli; and Sfnoaes.Lung Occupational evidence is at presen evidence support dirr 5 to the development of 1 Environmental At Beryllium Bcnxidin UVroriolet Xa^t. ... Kocstfco Xfifi RadioacOTC O^axaH.. 1994 1902 1979 Umu Fatxaor HIktixc ted Hutz SUn SUa | Lung Iron Oxide Sooc -- Jncotnpi Chemicals Comf acting upon tbe organs -- -- - --. / Wf m ww/ ^ /Ml> VHPf VOjnif U9 fact that some of these respiratory carcinogens had been known for many decades .. Thermic Tobacf Normal and