Document a1o9bd6YkRXRb0oQE9eobgyRX

DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. February 2 , 1982 c. E . Ha lphen M . F. Currier G . W . Da i g r e J. Diamond J . Me Kir dy J . Medine C . L. Me 1 ancon W . J. Neely 3502-E 2303 3502-E 260 1 370 1 260 1 470 1 2306 C> LOUISIANA DIVISION P. O. BOX 160 PLAOUCMINE, LOUISIANA 70764 604 309-8000 SEMI-ANNUAL ASBESTOS SURVEY - CHLORINE PLANT S u jti it, a r y The asbestos in air monitoring for second half of 1981 as been completed in the Chlorine Plant. Survey results were satisfactory and well below the acceptable threshold limit value of 2 fibers per cubic centimeter greater than five (5) microns in length . - The highest breathing zone sample recorded was 0.54 fibers per cc of air. Due to the low results obtained in routine time-weighted sampling, it is recommended that short duration excursion sampling be emphasized in future surveys. Good housekeeping, strict safe operating procedures, and a constant vigil for problem areas are the most important con siderations for a successful abatement program. Employees must be informed of the survey results and must review the consequences of exposure to toxic amounts of asbestos fibers. (See A11achment 2. ) Introduction The required asbestos in air monitoring for the second half 1981 has been completed. The survey serves to protect the employees against over-exposure, pinpoint problejn areas and fulfill the requirements of the Federal Occupational Safety Health Act. of and D i_s cuss i on In addition to everyday safety equipment, operators are required to wear disposable paper suits, rubber gloves and proper dust respirators when handling or working with an operating unit of the dow chemical company DO 097459 CONFIDENT TAl 2- - asbestos. The safe procedure for handling asbestos should be discussed with each new employee before entering the work area and reviewed annually with the experienced operators as part of the ongoing Industrial Hygiene Education Program. Experimental Sampling Method - Personnel samples are collected from the operators' breathing zone with a millipore filter (37 mm diameter; 0.8 micron pore size) mounted on an open-face filter holder and attached to the operators' lapels. These cassettes are connected to monitoring pumps calibrated with a soap bubble meter to operate at a rate of 1.5 to 2.0 liters per minute. AnaJ^ytical - The asbestos samples are analyzed using the NIOSH-Approved Method, P & CAM 239. (See Attachment 1) Monitoring results of nine (9) samples indicate all samples werewell below the present exposure limit of 2 fibers > 5 microns in length per cubic centimeter. Mine (9) personnel samples were collected from the operators' breathing zones. A high of 0.54 fibers per cc was recorded. Recommendations Short-term excursion sampling is recommended in future sampling to better determine if problems exist in some jobs. Conclusions The monitoring results were satisfactory and well below the established exposure limit of two fibers per cubic centimeter. Due to the hazardous nature of asbestos, housekeeping and good safe operating procedures remain the most important con siderations for a good abatement program. This must be a daily, job-by-job program to be successful and to offer the greatest protection to the employee. The Chlorine Plant employees must be informed of this survey's results and the consequences of exposure to toxic amounts of asbestos reviewed. (See Attachment 2.) npbe 11 1 Hy g i e n e sb 00 097460 OONF T DFNT T Al DATE SAMPLE # 9/23/81 2004 9/23/81 20 06 10/1/81 1253 10/5/81 2005 10/12/81 202 1 10/12/81 2024 10/20/81 2003 1 0/26/81 2019 1 1/2/81 2027 CHLORINE PLANT ATTACHMENT 1 SAMPLE DESCRIPTION DURATION ( MIN ) SOT - Operating PuIp Trailer 15 OT T - Operating Pulp Trailer and Pulping Cells 90 OT - Operating Pulp Trailer and Pulping Cells 105 OTT - Pulping cells and operating trailer 145 OT -- Pulping cells 100 SOT - Pulping cells w/pulp trailer 165 OT - Pulping cells by hand 190 OT - Pulping cells 125 SOT - Pulping cells 180 VOLUME (1) 13.50 144.00 FIBERS/ <5 MICRONS IN LENGTH 0 . 54 0.08 162.75 0 . 09 181.25 0.44 125.00 380.50 323.00 153.13 306.00 0.08 0.01 0.26 0.11 0.07 DO 0 9 7 4 6 1 OONFTDFNTT 3> c&ns_) qulncl s of exposure to toxic J'Ojvis cg1 hound: lyes: asb;:s7 0s CG.NT ACT WITH THE OUST CAN CAUSE MECHANICAL IRRITATION SIMILAR TO THAT CAUSED BY MY SOLID PART J Cl E. SKIN: '; INCH ST ion: * UNLIKE FIBROUS GLASS, THE FIBERS DO NOT CAUSE disk ca ORT - . ' OR MHCHANI CAL IRRITATION. SOU EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT LONG TERM INGEST ICN OF asbestos may increase chances of si coach cancer. DUST IN.-ALAI ION: SHORT TERM: HIGH CONCENTRATIONS (WELL ABOVE ACCEPTABLE levels!) may cause only moderate DI scour CRT FROM MECHANICAL IRRITATION. I ONG TERM: THE I7JEERS CAN CAUSE SCARRING OF THE I L'NGS CASBI STOSIS). A CANCER OF THE CHEST LINING CMr SOErHL I CMA) FAY At SO RL SULT L ROM ASET STOS EXPOSURE. LOST IMHCRTA.NT, ASSORTS EXPOSURE AND CIGARETTE SMOKING GREATLY INCREASE THE RISK OF LUNG CANCER. 3HG: AUTHOR: ACG1H Tl.V IS 2 FIBIRS/CC G. H. FI OR ES CH-.CKFO 6Y: R. L. DANIEL - INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE G. C. JERSEY - I OX ICOEOGY . . R. E. F LAKE - MEDICAL ISSUE DATE: REVISED: 6-6-80 - HfbTPlClFD: f o / lb 1!hi! n The Hew Chunk il Conj *fi| only, - DO 09746? CONFTDFNTT At