Document Z46XnGd0QM9DNj6kpYwrb768Z

MOBIL OIL CORPORATION WESTERN REGION MEDICAL DEPARTMENT DALLAS, TEXAS Hygiene and Toxicology WR-15-71 April 15, 1971-June 4, 1971 Industrial Hygiene Report Research and Development Laboratory and Semi-Works, Mobil Chemical Company Beaumont, Texas Report by &A-/O Approved by PLAINTIFFS EXHIBIT P *?r?/)3?.Od fonteno/moc 005353 WV-19489 I. Introduction : Although Mobil Oil Corporation has been covered by safety and health regu lations under the Walsh-Healey Act of I9S9, there has been an added impetus to these regulations by the "Occupational Safety and Health Standards" vhich were ' published in the Federal Register on May 29, 1971. The' standards will provide . regulations for over 4,000,000 businesses and 57,000,000 employees. Although these regulations pertain to both safety and health, this survey will concern ;_ itself to the health aspects of the act, such as, noise, lighting, sanitation, j ionizing radiation, toxic gases, dusts, vapors and mists, and ventilation. ! In discussions with Department of Labor representatives who will enforce 1 ' these regulations, it was disclosed that the priority of investigations will be ; given .hose plants which have poor safety records or have recently had catastrophic incidents, such as instances of death or severe injury to personnel, where bad i fires have occurred, or where complaints have been filed. In as much as the R & D Laboratory is within the refinery property, the laboratory may be inspected at the same time as the refinery, even though the laboratory is a separate entity in the company organization. II. Summary and Conclusions Noise: Noise is not a major problem at the laboratory or Semi-Works. As noted in Table 1, there is excessive noise in the area of the portable air compressors at the MTA Unit and on the south side of the MCA-600 Building in the area of Tank T-IOO. These should be no problem unless personnel are in these areas for periods of tine in excess of those shown in Table 2. Employees should not be around the air compressors in excess of 2 hours per day and in the area of Tank T-100 in excess of 4 hours per day without ear protection. All other areas are considered as safe in that employees may work there for 8 hours a day without Injury to their hearing. Lighting: * The fighting intensities are pointed out in Table 3. There are a number of areas, particularly at the Semi-Works, where more lighting is needed. In such areas as gauge glasses, work benchs, tank car and truck loading points (hatches), and for close detailed work, supplementary lights should be provided. Generally, It was found that there may he sufficient lighting in a room, but Insufficient lighting where work is being performed. One of the most important places where more lighting is needed is around gauge glasses where liquid levels must be deter mined. In practically all Instances, it is necessary to U3e flashlights to deter mine the liquid levels and, in our opinion, a flashlight would.not be considered as a supplementary light. It is felt that the regulations mean that a supplementary light Is a permanent fixture. Sanitation: The sanitary facilities throughout the R&D Laboratory and Semi-Works are considered as adequate with one exception, and the only problem would be keeping the facilities clean. fonteno/moc 005354 Curlr.5 -be survey 'e :'our.._i V'.e :'ac i li-ies clean. The one exception the toilet room on the eceo.ud floor of the analytical laboratory building from the work room. In addition, there is no hot water available. Ionizing Radiation: There are a number of sources formerly used at the Semi-Works and now stored at the Foster Grant installation. These sources are tested as required by law and are well within the state regulations. Similarly, at the R&D Laboratory, where X-ray instruments are used, tests Indicate that no excessive radiation is present. Film, badges for personnel using these instruments have shown minimum thresholds below which the actual exposure can be measured. Toxic Gases, IXtsts, Vapors, and Mists: The most persistent exposure to vapors is in the RSJD Laboratory in the area of the Oxidation Column. Acetic acid vapors range up to twenty-five ppm in thin area. The threshold limit valve for acetic acid is ten ppm. At the Semi-Works the greatest potential danger is from hydrogen sulfide which is produced in several processes. Spot checks have indicated very few in stances where the concentration exceeds the. TLV of ten ppm. Of course, there is always the danger of excessive exposure to various chemicals at both locations due to human error. It is felt that the overall dayto-day safety program to minimize health hazards is well organized and should be continued. Ventilation: The face velocities of the various laboratory hoods in the RD Laboratory and Semi-Works are shown in Table 4, Generally, the face velocities of the laboratory hoods range from 5 to 140 feet per minute. The new Federal Regulations prescribe the required velocities depending on the potential hazard that exists. This is discussed later in this report. , III. Discussion Noise': Excessive noise is one of the most prevalent hazards in industry. In Kay, !S&3, the Federal Government established noise level standards for employees who are covered by the Walsh-Healey Act. These regulations promulgated permissible noise exposure levels, above which an employer must furnish ear protection for the employees and designate these locations as high-noise areas. Table 5 shows the permissible noise exposure levels under this act. The measurement is made on the so-called "A" scale, which corresponds roughly to the 500 to 2000 cycle per second sound range. These frequencies are the ones that most effect a person's hearing. In the event of excessive noise exposure, audiograms indicate that a person first loses his hearing in the 4000 to 6000 cps range. If the exposure is extended, the person's hearing is effected in the lover frequencies. For this reason, people who are exposed to high noises should have annual audiograms made. Mobil has had a noise policy for several years, and it is now being changed to correlate with the Federal regulations. FONTENO/MOC 005355 TV. Recommendations Noise: Signs denoting "High No.ise Area-Ear Frosention Required, " or words to that effect, oust be placed in those areas where noises exceed 90 dRA as shown in Table 1. Ear muffs or plugs must be provided for workers vho work in these areas longer than the periods designated in Table 2. Lighting: This is where a big problem exists. Specifically, supplementary lighting should he supplied behind or 'in the area of critical gauge glasses, at the loading points of tank cam, on work benches, and machines such as the large grinder and drill press at the laboratory. It is possible that desk lamps may be used on some desks rather than Increase the overall room lighting. The entire library room in the R&D Laboratory is in need of better lighting. It is also recommended that a sustained effort be maintained to replace burned out globes and to keep the lighting fixtures clean. This, it is felt, will greatly enhance the general lighting. Sanitation: Hot water should be supplied to the restroom on the second floor of the analytical Laboratory building. In addition, as prescribed in the regulations, a screen of some sort should be placed in front of the door so that the interior of the restroom cannot be seen from the workroom. Toxic gases, vapors, dusts, and mists: A continued effort should be made to tighten up on all connections on the oxidation column in the R&D Laboratory to prevent the leakage of acetic acid. It is felt that the overall program to inform personnel of the danger from chemicals is excellent, and the safety people are to be commended. This fine program should be continued. t Ventilation: It is recommended that the face velocities of all laboratory hoods be a minimum of 100 feet per minute. This would meet the Federal regulations in all cases and would save the necessity of having to determine the proper ventilation rate for each chemical under the hoods. f FONTENO/MOC 005356 TABLE ]. NOISE SURVEY - R&D LABORATORY AND SEMI-WORKS MOBIL CHEMICAL COMPANY Beaumont, Texas April 15, 1971 to Jane 4, 1971 Semi-Works: Location MTA Unit Oxidation Area Product Drum Filling Area Around Portable Air Compressors MCA-600 Building Between Building and Tank T-100 RAD Laboratory At Zeolite Control Panel for Oxidation Column Back Slab Oxidation Area DBA 80-88 86-88 ' 98-100 91-95 89 . 80-87 AH other areas leas than 90 dBA. T Survey made using a General Radio Sound Survey Meter Model No. 1555A- FONTENO/MOC 005357 FEPMISSIBIE NOISE EXPOSURE LEVELS v:alsh-hsaley act - 19^9 duration - hours/day 8 6 4 3 2 1-1/4 l 1/2 l/4 or less Sound level, A-scale, dB 90 92 95 9T 100 102 105 110 115 Personnel exposed to noise levels in excess of those shown must wear ear protection. FONTENO/MOC 005358 Lj-Gn'-i.I;*v-r O'J?. >'~I - A^.D oH.I-'r!CR}'Jj MOBIL CHEMICAL CGMFAIiY Eeaumont; Texas April 15, 1971 to June 4, 1971 Location R&D Laboratory, Hi-Bay Area; ' Room 111 Room 111 (Hood) Room. 113 Room 108 Storage Room Storeroom in Rear of Building LTD Unit, East Control Panel Zeolite ZS4-5 Control Panel Clean Room Bench. Scale Reactor ''D" Control Panel General Hy-Bay Area Bench Scale Room Restroom and Shower Room Eenaene Alkylation A & 3 Control Panel Benzene Alkylation C Control Panel Oxidation Control Room Control Panel for Oxidation Room Utility Room, Switch Gear Area Back Slab Oxidation Area Oxidation Blast Cell . Sample Desk in Hy-Bay Area Offices in Main Building Exclusive of Those Lister Belov: C. A. Duval Desk Desk in Library Table in Library Between Book Shelves of Library Room. 201, Desk Computer Room: J. D. Stewart's Office Spare Office Systems Engineer's Desk Key Punch Area Analytical Laboratory Building Lover Floor: c. rr. auresa' Desk P. T. Allen's Desk Lighting Intensity Foot Candles 70-75 30 50 50-70 10 15 100-125 150 75-150 30 15 20-60 60 no no 25 5 50 5-10 20 5 80-no 70 50 4o 5-20 30-1+0 75 80 ko 70 60 75 Mobil Engineering Council Lighting Cuide 70 50 70 70 15 15 50 50 70 50 50 70 20 50 50 50 50 10 5 5 . 75 75 75 75 75 70 75 75 75 75 75 fonteno/moc 005359 75 75 TABLE 3 (cont) LIGHTIii'C SURVEi - P.i-D LAzORAT0i\i aLD SZTL-AOLrlS MOBIL CHEMICAL COMPANY Beaumont, Texas April 15, 1971 to Jane 4, 1971 Location W. A. Entry's Desk Laboratory Tab!? Tbps Laboratory Hood Atomic Absorption Room Instrument Shop Table Top Under Magnifier on Table At Engraving Machine Upper Floor: Lighting Intensity Foot Candles 75 50-60 50 30 40-70 100 20 Mobil Engineering Council Lighting Guide 75 70 50 70 70 100 70 Analytical 'Lab Desk At I.R. Instrument Hood Laboratory Table Tops Dolarograph Room Desk Hood Electrode Instrument Oven Room (NW Corner of Lab) Hood in Oven Room Dohrman Room Table Tops Hood in Dohrman Room Balance Room Table Top At Beckman JK-2A At Balances At Desk Glass Blpving Room Table Top Glass Blowing Room Hood North Chromatograph Room Table Tops Don Sherman's Desk Chromatogrpah Shop Room Restroom X-ray Diffraction Room X-ray Diffraction Room Desk South Chromatograph Room Desk At Chromatograph R&D Annex Building: 100 90 200 70-100 75 50 ICO 40-50 100 70-80 50 50-60 80 90 75 65 4o 90-100 - 50 80 4o 75 75 . 90 95 75 70 50 70 75 50 70 70 50 70 500 70 ' 70 70 75 70 50 70 75 70 20 70 75 75 70 R. V. Williams' Office Noel Calloway's Office J. P. Frederick's Office Feed Mixing Room Distillation Abcor Unit Room Desk 80-100 75-100 75-100 10-15 100-110 100 75 75 75 70 70 75 FONTENO/MOC 005360 TM (c ) LIGHTING SURVEY - RJD LABORATORY AND SEMI-WORKS MOBIL CHEMICAL COMPANY Beaumo nz, Tc xa s April 15/ 1971 co June 4, 1971 Location Repair Shop Area: Lighting Intensity Foot Candles Mobil Engineering Council ______ Lighting Culde Work Bench Drill Press Small Grinder (Supplemental light) Large Grinder Eating Area. Seal-Works: 30 kO 200 30 25 50 50 50 50 20 Offices and -Portable Buildings Drafting Room Desk on West Side of Room Drafting Table, North Side ' Drafting Table, South Side 75-150 90 150-200 110-130 75 75 150 150 F.P-U. Building Area: Offices NTA Control Room Panel Back of Control Panel Hy-Bay Area (storage) "Front" laboratory / Fume Hoods in "Front" Laboratory^ . ' Chromatograph Laboratory Desk In Above laboratory Second Floor of Hy-Bay Area In Area of Proposed Catalyst Unit Ground Level Second Floor 80-115 80-ioo 20 5-10 70-90 50 4o-6o 50 5-10 5-15 5-15 75 50 15 10 70 .50 70 . 75 10 5 5 Lighting survey made at night in areas vhere vorkers normally work at night. Other determinations made during daylight hours in areas where vorkers normally work, day shift only. ^There are three fume hoods in the laboratory. There is 50 CP lighting intensity in the two lighted hoods. There are no light fixtures in the third hood. FONTENO/MOC 005361 TABLE (con*) LIGHTING SUB.VZY - RiD LiZORATORY AAD SZZ-fl-JCEKB MOBIL CHEMICAL COMPANY Beaunont, Texas April 15, 1971 to June U, 1971 Location MTA Process Area: Lighting Intensity _____ Foot Candles Mobil Engineering Council ______ Lighting Guide Drum Loading Area Reactor Area Feed Prep Area 'Panic Car Area .. Tank Car Loading Foint^2' Blending Area 2nd Landing MTA Unit 3rd Landing MTA Unit Oxidation Area Polybutylene Process Area: 10 1 5 1 <1 1-20 10-20 5-15 5-10 5 5 5 5 30 5 5 5 5 Desk in Control Room Control Panel Extruder Area Process Area Area Between Polybutylene Building ana Feed Stock Tanks for MCA-600 Building Processes MCA-600 Building Area: 75 50 10-20 5-10 ^1 75 50 5 5 1 Maintenance Operator's Desk Process Operator's Desk Switch Gear Area, South of Building Material Feed Tank Area General Purpose Still Area Lover Floor Process Area Control Ranel, Lover Floor Second Floor: . Under Mercury Lights Under IncandescentLights Switch Gear, North of Building Area around Shriver Filter 100 75 1-20 1-20 5 5 20 10-30 2-10 5 3-7 75 75 5 5 5 5 30 5 5 5 5 (2) 30 CP needed at tank car loading point. FONTENO/MOC 005362 TABLE , co. \ LICHTL'.'G GuLYZY - RID lAECRATG.Ti AID SEMI-JOR/CB MOBIL CHEMICAL Ca.iPA:,:' - Beaumont, Texas April I5j 1971 to June h. 1971 Location Tank Car Loading Rack At Tank Car Hatch Product Storage Area Svitcb Gear for Product Storage Pumps Restroom and Locker Room Work Shop (West of FPU Building): Lighting Intensity Foot Candles <1 2-15 10 5-10 Mobil Engineering Council ______ Lighting Culde 5 30 5 20 General Area South Work Eench North Work Bench 50-150 200 80 50 50 50 Lighting survey made at night In areas where workers normally work at night. Other determinations made during daylight hours in areas where employees normally work day shift only. Lighting survey made with G.E. Type 213 light meter. FONTENO/MOC 005363 TABLE 1+ VENTILATION SUR'v^i - LOOT1 v"ZnOCIT_:B - RaD IjiBCLAXCRY AND SE-il-VORiCS, MOBIL CHEMICAL COMPANY Beaumont, Texas April 15, 1971 to June 4, 1971 Location R&D Laboratory: Room 108 Room 109 (Walk-Tn Hood) Room 109 Small Hood Room 113 Clean Room Room 111 (South Hood) Room 111 (East Hood) Development Chemistry Lab. Room: South Hood "*> Middle Hood?- Balanced Hoods North Hood J Atomic Absorption Lab Perkin-Elmer A.A. Instrument I. R. Room Dohrman Room Polarograph Oven Room Class Blowing Room SemiWorks Laboratory: GC Room Front Laboratory Room: East Middle Vest Face Velocities, feet per minute 20 75 20 10 5-20 10 25 100 100 75 100 l4o 100 50 60-80 Uo-50 10-20 75 75 50 10-20 Face velocities determined with Alnor Velometer. FONTENO/MOC 005364