Document Z4vqayJvr2M73ZaQj3DOBj7N0

UNION GYRBIDE COR PORTION Chertiica-i-i' lastics 270 Park Avenue, New York, N'ew York 10017 From: A, B, Steele cc: See Attached Distribution List Date: May 17, 1974 Subject: Vinyl Resins Operations Flash Report Vinyl Chloride Monomer Dow advised today that shipments of vinyl chloride monomer to UCC would continue to be restricted to 90 per cent of contract amounts for an additional two weeks to permit the rebuilding of working inventories depleted during the outage at Freeport. On Friday, May 10, 1974, the Occupational Safety and Health Administra tion (0SHA) caused to be published a proposed standard governing working condi tions and vinyl chloride exposures in the FVC industry. The proposed standard for employee exposure is set at no detectable level by methods capable of de tecting VCM at concentrations of 1 ppm. By industry experience, the proposed standard is excessive and unrealistically restrictive. The industry committee within the SPI is urging 0SHA to hold public hearings; justification for such hearings is now being formulated for presentation to OSHA prior to June 10th. The epidemiological study of some 8,384 vinyl chloride workers was re ported by Tabershaw/Cooper Associates on May 10th. The major findings of the s tudy are: 1. The overall mortality of the study population was approximately 75 per cent of what would be expected in a comparable population of U.S. males. 2. Mo cause of death showed a statistically significant excess over what would be expected in a comparable U.S. male population. 3. No new deaths identified as angiosarcoma of the liver were found. Suspension/Non-Solvent Resins The unit was shut down on May 14th for some much needed electrical and mechanical maintenance. Production will resume on May 16th and the original plan to produce 14.5 million pounds in May remains in effect. ABS ;ml Attachment A.. B. Steele UCC 095243 DISTRIBUTION LIST -- WEEKLY FIASH REPORT VINYL OPERATIONS Mr. E. Bell Mr. G. P, Bigelow Mr. P. E. Bouffard Mr. L. D. Burnett Mr. J. L. Carvajal Mr. D. Engle Mr. E. F, Cox Mr. R. G. Davis Mr. M. E. Eisenhour Mr. C. R. Field Mr. R. L. Frantz Mr. J. E. Giffin Mr. R. J. Hanna Mr. J. M. Herbert Dr. M. H. Jelllnek Dr. W. R. Manning Mr. S. A. Mortimer Mr. J. Nesmith Mr. G. J. Norberg Dr. A. B. Steele Mr. G. F. Tacquard Mr. R. N. Wheeler Mr. G. T. Scott 312 33 28 28 514 515 312 312 515 28 515 514 511 28 32 511 28 33 28 28 515 514 28 Bound Brook (Bldg. 72C) New York New York New York South Charleston (Plant) Texas CityBound Brook (Bldg. 200) Bound Brook (Bldg. 72) Texas City New York Texas City South Charleston (Plant) South Charleston (Technical Center) New York New York South Charleston (Technical Center) New York New York New York New York Texas City South Charleston (Plant) New York UCC 095244