Document YG5OewYbNDQdO6RXEYE3v77eD

- : " : .; . - . - ' I^TED e t h y l COM PANY LIM ITED f' :' ARTILLERY HOUSE, ARTILLERY ROW, LONDON, S.W.1 J. T. Beal, Esq., Ministry of War Transport, Berkeley Square House, W. 1. N/eg 7th January, 1944. Dear Mr. Beal, t Thank you for'sending me copy of the'notes of the meeting held in Room 3016, Berkeley^Square Housa'j on Wednesday, 15th December l a s t . \ \ XV Dr. J^ehoe has,,now-returned to the United S ta te s, but I will forward to him h is ^copy-of^the n o te s and have no doubt he w ill l e t us have h is comments in due,course. \ \ \ \ % v. \ ' v ' f There is ond point "in particular on which I would lik e to comment, .namely, \the top o f page 3, the sentence beginning "Dr. Kehoe^-added t h a t ........ I b elieve t h is sentence should read : - f " Dr. Kehoe added that i f he could be certain that s p ir it ! tankers contained no sludge he would be prepared to withdraw v- \ that p a r t/of h is ten tative regulations which dealt with the \ ^removal of sludge, but lacking information on th is point suitable ''^precautions should be taken." You w ill appreciate that the ten ta tiv e regu lations in question deal with two separate problems : 1) the removal o f sludge ( i f any) from the bottom of tanker compartments, and 2) the removal of scale (when necessary) from the inside surfaces of the compartments. Sincerely yours, T. R. A. Bevan. HE AI nAhi'O *nu o at' o-Leaning o f Tanker Compartments which have contained Leaded S p irit. Amendments to n o te s o f m eeting h e ld i n Room 3016, B e rk e le y Square H ouse, 1 5 th December, 1S43:- Page 3.: - Line 5 - th e words " th a t p a r t of" to be in s e rte d a f t e r "withdraw" Line 6 - th e words "which d e a lt w ith th e removal of sludge" to be inserted a fte r "regulations". Mi n i s t r y o f P a r T r a n s p o rt. 15th January, 1944. n> -'*t"'t 0 0 iioob ^ 163^ a s tile TqsvlXX o r experience? n o t e s o f i Hunt i n g k e l p i n r q u h 3016 !: ?.}3i ^ . r so u ;# ;; h o u s e ,* o n 1s t h De c e m b e r , 1343. Mr, Y1,F, Yv'aolcrill (Chairm an) " Y1,T. M illio n s M E, C-illcspio D r.' KL, Tlatts 11 E,R,A. lic re w e th e r Mr, E , Tophan " 77,R, Hockadoy " S.H, l/ilives ** E , -',L Legg 11 H .E . K e ath Eves " K .J, B a ls illie ' 11 <T,R, R o b e rtso n . " R ,J .E , Dodds " E,C ,T . Bryant 11 77,F , P ascoe D r, E,A , Kehoe Mr, T.R.A, Sevan " H, P ossett C apt. S .F . Golds D r, II,B, Footner M r.'R .I . Levis . Mr, \7,L, N elson ,! S , Kann ' " II,A, R ilso n " H .S . Humphreys G a p t, 17.11 H u tc h iso n M r, 17, C ary " M alcon Brown " J,T , Beal (Secretary) . M inistry of liarT ransport, . M VII I* ' ' It 1! 11 t! Hone O ffice (E x p lo siv esD epartm ent) M inistry of Labour & N ational Service (F actory Department) It fl It 11 If tr it It H t! M II 11 ti tr It tt II if M in istry of F uel & Power, ' Tanker Tonnage Committee. 11 11 H t i 11 11 11 11 11 ii 11 11 n 11 11 A ssociated S th y l Co, L td. ir if it 11 u ri m u Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co, L td , A siatic Petroleum Co, L td, t r if H 11 . ` Ecifilc O il A S h ip p in g Co, L td , t i 11 if 1; t i 11 A ngio-A aericnn O il Co, L td , B ritis h Tanker Co, Ltd, N 11 II Ii 71 II if U T rinidad Leaseholds L td, M inistry o f f a r T ransport, TEE CTLlJld.Lil'I i n opening th o ' p ro c e e d in g s o b serv ed t h a t , a lth o u g h s in c e th e beginning o f th e war. a v ia tio n s p i r i t , and du rin g the p a s t y ear a l l s p i r i t brought in to th is country.' was le a d e d , no q u estio n had a ris e n o f dangers a tte n d a n t cn the c a rria g e .of lead ed p ro d u c ts u n t i l a few weeks age when a doubt was r a is e d as to the load in g o f ed ib le o i l in a tan k er which im m ediately p rev io u sly had c a rrie d lead ed s p i r i t . The A sso c ia ted E th y l Co, L t d ,, had sin c e sub m itted to the Taixkor Owners th ro u g h th e Tanker Tonnage Cov.rd.ttee o f th e P e tro le u m B oard d r a f t re g u la tio n s f o r th e clea n in g of ta n k e r compartments which have co n tain ed lead ed s p i r i t . The purpose o f t h i s meeting; was to in v ito D r, Kehco and h is a s s o c ia te s t o e x p la in why and on w hat e v id en c e i t was thour-jht n e c e s s a ry to have th e s e re g u la tio n s . . The M in istry were most anxious th a t ta n k e r crews o r any p erso n s working; on ta n k e rs should n o t be exposed to u n n ecessary r i s k s b u t b e fo re a g re ein g to re g u la tio n s of an onerous nature which m ight involve d elay to ta n k ers i t must bo s a tis f ie d th a t the re g u la tio n s were n ecessary . HR, HEATH EVES s c a d t h a t T an k er Owners w ere v i t a l l y i n t e r e s t e d i n th e w e lfa re c f t h e i r men and co u ld n o t a llo w any av o id ab le c o n d itio n s t o o b ta in w hich w ould in v o lv e them, i n any r i s k . At th e same t i n e , one had to g iv e th o u g h t t o - what tho avoidance o f hcisord n ig h t mean, and,' when t h a t i s known, in what way i t he a o c 'ip lis lio d i n w arti;* .. He drew a tte n tio n to th e f a c t th a t av iatio n , t'-iri* v .-m ru'ih a r w v - j l n t i l o n-r.-a..hjys euv p o in te d o u t t h a t although, t h i s s p i r i t f a s * m* f i v e y e a r s w ith n o a p p o ro n t i l l o f f o c t s , we R v -rri, n e t v i t h w hat 'htui ;~-r' - -i.'\ , . 2" 1lin o s s' N 7637.02 If H ,k ,a , H crcw cthor H r, TI, Tophnm It k`,k , Hoclmdny " S.H. k'ilko3 tt I'*4> L LCfy/', n H.B. H eath Eve3 it I I ,J , B a l s i l l i e tr O'.II, R o b e rtso n . tr R .J .E . Doclds t( H ,G ,T . B ry a n t tt w .F . Pasooo D r, K.m, Kehoo H r. T .R .A , Bovan tt E , P o s s e tt C a p t. SF. G-olds Dr, II,B, Pootner M r.'R .I . Lewis , H r. V,r,L , Nelson t! S* E ann ' Ti.iL* wlo-SOU - H,S, Humphreys ' Cap- ; U.M. H u tc h iso n Mr, E ,-C ary It H ale on Brown J,T , Beal (Secretary) i ilU i.3 u -l w- - (F a c to ry Dcpnrtncxvt;) ii it It " tt It tt tl it M in istry of Fuel & power. Tanker Tonnage Committee. It tt It H A ssociated E th y l Co, L td, ii n it ii 1 11 U Anglo Saxon P etroleum Co. L td . A siatic Petroleum Co, L td, i i n it it Eagle O il & Shipping Co. L td, ii u ii ir n ii Anglo-American O il Co. L td . B r i t i s h Tahlcer Go. L td , ' ti it i i 11 ' ti n it tt T rinidad Leaseholds L td, M in is tr y o f '.Car T r a n s p o r t, TEE CIIj.vITii.AlT i n opening th e p ro c e e d in g s o b serv ed t h a t , a lth o u g h s in c e th e beginning of the w a r.a v ia tio n s p i r i t , and during the p a st y ear a l l s p i r i t brought in to th is country was le ad e d , no q u estio n had a ris e n of dangers a tte n d a n t on the c a rria g e o f lead ed p ro d u cts u n t i l a few weeks ago when a doubt was r a is e d as to the loading of e d ib le o i l in a tan k er which im m ediately p re v io u sly had c a rrie d leaded s p i r i t . The A sso ciated E th y l Co, L td ,, had sin c e subm itted to th e Tanker Owners through th e Tanker Tonnage Committee o f th e P etro leu m B oard d r a f t r e g u la tio n s fox' th e c le a n in g o f ta n k e r compartuiev.its w hich have c o n ta in e d le a d e d s p i r i t . The purpose of t h i s m eeting was to in v ito D r, Kehco and h is a s s o c ia te s t o e x p la in why and on w hat e v id en c e i t was .th o u g h t n e c e s s a ry t o have th e s e re g u la tio n s . The M in istry were most anxious th a t ta n k e r crews o r any p erso n s working on tan k ers should n o t be exposed to unnecessary r is k s b u t b efo re agreeing to re g u la tio n s of an onerous nature which roight involve delay to tan k ers i t mast be s a tis f ie d th a t th e re g u la tio n s were necessary. HR. KEATEI EVES s a i d t h a t T an k er Owners w ere v i t a l l y i n t e r e s t e d i n th e w e lfa re o f t h e i r men and co u ld n o t a llo w any av o id ab le c o n d itio n s ' t o o b ta in which w ould in v o lv e th e n i n any r i s k . A t th e same t i n e , one had t o g iv e th o u g h t to '-CO w hat th e av o id an ce o f h a s a rd m ig h t mean, and, when t h a t i s known, i n w hat way i t ao CO c o u ld b e acco m p lish ed i n 'w artim e. He drew a t t e n t i o n to t h e ' f a c t t h a t a v ia t io n c. a s p i r i t was much more v o l a t i l e nowadays -and p o in te d o ut t h a t a lth o u g h t h i s s p i r i t co h ad b een c a r r i e d f o r f o u r o r f i v e y e a r s w ith no a p p a re n t i l l e f f e c t s , we a re CO concerned w ith w hat n ig h t happen and n o t w ith w hat h a s hap p en ed , CO He DR, KEEIOE s t a t e d t h a t th e re was no e v id en c e o f s e r io u s ' i l l n e s s o r f a t a l i t i e s to th e p erso n n el o f ta n k e rs, b u t urged th a t he was d ealin g w ith p o te n tia l and not a c t u a l - .r i s k s , ' I t vms n o t h i s p o lic y to impose u n w a rra n ta b le p r e c a u tio n s on th e P e t r o le ura i n d u s tr y . The ta n k s o f s h ip s c a r r y in g l e axled g a so le n e have p o i n t s o f s tr ik in g \ s i m l a r i t y w ith shore ta n k s and th e s i r i l a r i f c r i s a l l th e more s t r i k i n g i n th e cane o f s h ip s w hich p e r s i s t e n t l y c a r r y , t h i s commodity, "Dll, KIEOE w ent on to say as regards shore storage tanks th a t, as the R esult of experience and in v e stig a tio n , th e. view is accepted th a t,p re c a u tib n s m is t be ta k e n '^ g a in st ex p o su re bo lo a d compounds f r e q u e n tly b u t ^ i ^ y a l w ^ ^ i ^ ^ . I n s lu d g e . I t was n o tj * 'Vo_V< 5 p o s s ib le alw ays to p r e d i c t c o n d itio n s rood c irc u its ta u c o s b r in g in g ab o u t r i s k s , b u t th c ro had b e en 100 c a se s o f e th y l le a d p o is o n in g in c lu d in g 2200 _f_a__t__a__l__i_t_i__e__s_ f r o.n c le a n in g,, s to r a g_e t a n k s . I n s o f a r a s th e _ ta n ic ._ c o rp a rtm e n ts o-ff s h ip s r e 3Grablo sh o re s to ra g e ta n k s , so sh o u ld th e r e be conroarable nrocautions# H is stro n g f e e lin g was th a t re g u la tio n s should, be Intro d u ced , b e fo re r a t h e r th a n a f t e r th e in c id e n c e o f c a s e s . He thought th a t th e p re c a u tio n s recoranended a g a in st le a d exposure were n o t u n re a so n a b le end. trade th e a d d itio n s ! p o in t o f th e l i a b i l i t y to ex p o su re to d u s t c o n ta in in g le a d compounds o f workmen engaged in p re p a rin g ta n k s f o r r e p a i r o r i n r e p a i r i n g th e n . DR. K35IOE co ncluded b y say in g t h a t men ought n o t to be exposed to danger and t h a t i t was b o th w ise and n e c e s s a ry to take reasonable precau tio n s, ' '- THE CfLMRi-/sN th e n aslcecl H r, W ilson t o g iv e th e m eetin g a s h o r t d escrip tio n of the process of cleaning tanks, . HR. IHELSOh b r i e f l y d e s c rib e d th e B u tte rw o rth method and a ls o , th e method by which a f t e r th e cargo had been pumped o u t and w h ile tonic, l i d s were s t i l l clo se d , steam i s in je c te d f o r th re e o r fo u r hours when a . v i n d s a i l i s rig g e d and th e ta n k s w ashed down, w ith h o s e s , There follow ed an in terch an g e of views between D r, T/atts and D r. Kehoe during which i t emerged th a t th e t e t r a e th y l le a d co n ten t of modem s p i r i t i s a t p re s e n t about o .o . p e r gallon, w hereas i t was about 3 c .c . in th e 1928 p ro d u c t, ( a t which tim e a D epartm ental Committee o f the M inistry of H ealth in v estig ated the p o ssib le danger of lead poisoning). I t was a ls o a s c e r ta in e d t h a t sh o re s to ra g e ta n k s a re c le a n e d o u t much l e s s o f te n t h a t ta n k e r s - i n some c a s e s a p e r io d o f y e a r s p a s s e d w ith o u t c le a n in g . T here -was a ls o agreem ent t h a t th e p ro c e s s o f g a s - f r e e in g a tan k er g ets r id , by v o la tila s a tio n in th e steam, of a c e rta in q u an tity of t e t r a e th y l le a d . The danger i s however c o n s titu te d by what i s l e f t in tl sludge which has to be manhandled. HR. TCdlnM s t a t e d t h a t th e F a c to ry D epartm ent w ere concerned o n ly w ith ta n k e r s i n drydock read th e n m a in ly w ith e x p lo siv e r i s k s . The Government re g u latio n s req u ired thorough cleaning including the removal of sludge and th e r e w ere a ls o o th e r p r e c a u tio n s . Pie r e i t e r a t e d t h a t so f a r as h e vans aware th e re was no in fo rm atio n to su g g est any in ju r y to h e a lth from any m ysterious cause. I n r e p ly t o q u e s tio n s by H r, w illia m s , MR. 17ILS0N s a id t h a t i n h i s experience sludge as such was n o t evident in s p i r i t tan k ers, th a t th e tank com partm ents ware c le a n e d o u t once a voyage - s a y , ab o u t every s i x '.weeks and th a t during each c lean in g men were in s id e th e compartments f o r about tw e lv e h o u rs a l t o g e t h e r . He s a i d t h a t th e r e was l i t t l e o r no d e p o s it and c e rta in ly nothing resem bling the sludge d escrib ed in sto rag e tanks which seemed to c o n sist o f an em ulsion o f products from the leaded s p i r i t . questioned b y H r. F i l l i a i a s DR. KEHOE e x p la in e d th e r a p i d i t y w ith w hich in h a la tio n of le a d compounds from sto ra g e tan k s has r e s u lte d in f a t a l p o iso n in g . I t was a cu te, n o t ch ro n ic p o iso n in g . ' DR. i/CSdlDDlDiR a g re ed t h a t t h e n a tu re o f th e symptoms was a s D r. Kehoe say s, ra p id ity of poisoning, and pointed out th a t opportunities fo r exposure w ere te n d in g t o i n c r e a s e . He added t h a t i f we ta k e p r e c a u tio n s now we would be prepared f o r e v e n tu a litie s * ; , t t h i s p o i n t , th e Chairman e n q u ire d i f th e Horae O ffic e would b e prepared to undertake t e s t s o f any d e p o sit which m ight be found in th e HE 0006669 uiu-uiiauiuiuxt; :>j ix nano xn.o atX L itionsl p o in t oi` th e l i a b i l i t y to ex posure to d u st c o n ta in in g le a d compounds of vrorknen engaged in p re p a rin g tan k s' f o r r e p a i r o r i n r e p a ir in g th e n . Dll. 10'liUH co ncluded b y say in g t h a t non ought n o t to be exposed to danger and th a t i t was b o th w ise and n e c e ssa ry to talce reaso n ab le p re c a u tio n s . THE a-hiim air th o u asked M r, v lilso n t o g iv e th e m e etin g a s h o r t d escrip tio n of the process of cleaning tanks, . EE, T.TLSOh b r i e f l y d e s c rib e d th e B u tte rw o rth m ethod and a ls o , th e method b y v.hich s ifte r th e cargo had b een pumped o u t and w h ile tank, l i d s were s t i l l c lo se d , sterna i s in je c te d f o r th re e o r fo u r hours when a . w in d s a il i s rig g e d and th e ta n k s w ashed down w ith h o ses,- ,- There follow ed an interchange of views between D r. T/atts and D r, Kehoe during which i t emerged th a t th e t e t r a e th y l le a d co n ten t of modern s p i r i t i s a t present* about c ,c . p e r g a llo n w h ereas.i t was about 3 c ,c , in th e 1928 p ro d u c t, ( a t which tim e a D epartm ental. Committee o f the M inistry of H ealth in v estig ated the possible danger of lead poisoning). I t was a ls o a s c e r ta in e d t h a t sh o re s to ra g e ta n k s e re c le a n e d o u t much l e s s o f te n t h a t ta n k e r s -- i n some c a s e s a p e r io d o f y e a r s p a s s e d w ith o u t * clea n in g * T here -was a ls o agreem ent t h a t th e p ro c e s s o f g a s - f r e e in g a tan k er g ets r id , by v o la tila s a tio n in th e steam, of a c e rta in q u an tity of t e t r a e th y l le a d . The danger i s however c o n s titu te d by what i s l e f t in the sludge which has to be manhandled, I . TUTHxiM s t a t e d t h a t th e F a c to ry D epartm ent w ere co ncerned o n ly w ith ta n k ers in drydock and th e n m ainly w ith e x p lo siv e r i s k s . The Government reg u latio n s req u ire d thorough clean in g including the removal of sludge and th e re were, a ls o o th e r p r e c a u tio n s . He r e i t e r a t e d t h a t so f a r a s he was aware th e re was no in fo rm a tio n to s u g g e s t may i n j u r y to h e a l t h from any m ysterious cause, I n r e p ly to q u e s tio n s by Mr, w illia m s , MR. 17ILS0N s a id t h a t i n h i s ex p erien ce slu d g e a s such. was n o t e v id e n t i n s p i r i t ta n k e rs , t h a t th e ta n k compartments were c le a n e d o u t cnee a voyage ~ s a y , ab o u t e v e ry s i x -weeks and th a t during each clean in g men were in s id e the compartments f o r about -twelve h o u rs a l t o g e t h e r . He s a id t h a t th e r e was l i t t l e o r no d e p o s it and c e rta in ly nothing resem bling the sludge d escrib ed in storage tan k s which seemed to c o n s is t o f an em ulsion of p ro d u cts from the leaded s p i r i t . q u e stio n e d b y H r. ill ia m s DR. KEH02 e x p la in e d th e r a p i d i t y w ith which in h a la tio n of le a d compounds from sto ra g e tan k s has r e s u lte d in f a t a l poisoning. . I t was acu te, n o t chronic p o iso n in g , DR, I\]HTrDiIR a g re ed t h a t t h e n a tu re o f th e symptoms was a s D r, Kehoe says, ra p id ity of poisoning, and pointed out th a t opportunities fo r exposure were te n d in g to i n c r e a s e . He added t h a t i f we talce p r e c a u tio n s now we , ~ would be prepared f o r e v e n tu a litie s . CQ o ; , t t i l l s p o in t, th e Chairm an e n q u ire d i f th e Home O ffic e would b e o p rep ared to undertake t e s t s of any d e p o sit which m ight be found in th e <0 com partm ents o f ta n k e r s and o f s c a le ta k e n from ta n k e r s , and a s s u re d th e Horne O ffic e R e p r e s e n ta tiv e p r e s e n t t h a t th e M in is t r y o f b a r T ra n s p o rt knd o th e rs concerned would be happy to co-operate" in a ffo rd in g th e n ecessary - opportunities. DR, KEED d id no# th in k i t f e a s i b l e to t e s t i n advance o f c le a n in g o r r e p a i r s w h e th er, due fto le a d c o n te n t, a to x ic c o n d itio n e x i s t e d i n ta n k e r com partm ents. He e x p la in e d t h a t th g d r a f t r e g u la tio n s drawn up b y him were `V --A e r s t o o d th a t" ta n k e r c b n p a rtn o n ts c o n ta in e d a slu d g e . 1-2- /' o f th e same n a tu r e a s t h a t fou n d i n s to ra g e ta n k s . I t now a p p ea re d th a t t h i s in fo rm a tio n was in c o r r e c t and he would welcome an in v e stig a tio n to a sc e rta in the n atu re of any d ep o sit found in tanker com partm ents, DR. KEEIOE added t h a t i f he c o u ld he c e r t a i n t h a t s p i r i t ta n k ers continued no sludge he would he p rep ared to w ithdraw h is te n ta tiv e regulations* h u t lacking inform ation on th is p o in t s u ita b le p re c a u tio n s should he taken* I t was a lso n e ce ssa ry to examine th e s c a le from ta n k e rs 'which when d ry m ight he in h aled * The problem o f shore ta n k s was in v e s tig a te d f o r over two y e a rs and many c o n ta in e rs examined "before th e c o n c lu sio n s he had d e sc rib e d e a r lie r were reached* _. THE CHAIRMAN th e n a sk e d i f i t w ould f i t i n w ith th e view s o f th e ta n k e r ow ners i f th e Homo O f f ic e were to u n d e rta k e th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n in c o n su ltatio n w ith the A ssociated E th y l Co. I n r e p l y MR. HEATH EVES s a i d t h a t he a p p r e c ia te d th e way i n w hich Dr* Kehoe had p u t th e c a s e . He em phasized t h a t th e f i r s t c a re i s th e s a f e t y o f th e men* b u t t h a t i t would be n e c e s s a ry to e x p lo re th e proposed re g u la tio n s from th e p o in t of view of p r a c tic a b ility . There was th e d i f f i c u l t y o f g e t t i n g equipm ent i n p r e s e n t d a y s. I f we query th e p r e c a u tio n s i t i s b e c a u se we w ent to be s u re t h a t th e need f o r them e x i s t s , MR, HEATH EVES co n clu d ed b y sa y in g t h a t he a g re e d th a t th e f i r s t th in g to be done i s to have the in v e stig a tio n and analyses c a r rie d out end hoped th a t the m a tte r would be p u t in hand as soon on p o s s ib le , THE CHAIRMAN th a n k ed th e m eetin g and s a i d t h a t th e m a tte r m ight now b e l e f t t o th e M in is tr y o f War T r a n s p o rt, Home O f f i c e , and M in istry o f Labour, I t was su g g ested , how ever, th a t th e A sso ciated E th y l might be in v ite d to co-operate in th e in v e stig a tio n . D r, W aits welcomed t h i s su g g estio n and i t was arran g ed th a t a s u ita b le q u e s tio n n a ir e f o r th e p r o je c te d i n v e s t i g a t i o n 'would b e com piled b y A s s o c ia te d E th y l and s u b m itte d to th e Home O f f i c e , The m eeting then clo sed . -.5" ^ 0 vi1 D o a