Document a46w1y6RvVqBz7NKogmk9G00a

January 6, 1983 Gerry Wheeler LOUISIANA DIVISION P. O. BOX 160 PLAQUEMINE. LOUISIANA 70764-0160 604 369-8000 cc: Arnold Seldule Doe Granler Terry Campbell Introduction; Attached Is the 1982 Environmental Health Survey and the 1982 Area Noise Survey for PMS. These surveys are being circulated to the PMS plant personnel for training in: 1. The consequences of overexposure to chemical and physical agents in the plant. 2. The results of the employee exposure measurements made In 1982. 3. The control measures available to minimize employee exposures. Conclusions; 1. Due to the large number of high noise areas in the material transfer systems of the warehouses: a. The hearing conservation program should continue to prevent possible overexposure to noise. b. Engineering controls should be investigated to reduce the -number of high noise sources. 2. None of the job classifications that were monitored for noise exposure had an average noise dose above the permissible noise dose. 3. Due to the high concentrations of non-asbestos form talc detected in the breathing zone samples of personnel working in the CPE talc room; a. The dust mask requirements for th talc room should be strictly enforced to prevent overexposure to non-asbestos from talc. b. The new weigh feeder system should be installed as soon as possible to reduce the amount of talc that is being released into the room. 4. None of the personnel breathing zone samples at Poly A Warehouse that were monitored for nuisance dust exposure exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV). k'0)Wiy^61r^yiflri1EM'CAL company Louisiana Division DO 103186 CONFTDpNirA!. December 27, 1982 3im Cox 3. W. Potts Les Loubiere Carl Chemln cc: H. Hebert A. Cedotal 3. Mahaffey ENVIROWENTAL HEALTH SURVEY Consequences of Overexposure to Noise Prolonged and repeated exposures to noise levels above 90 decibels may cause severe damage to the nerves in the inner ear. When this happens, hearing is first reduced in the high frequency range and will eventually be reduced in the normal speech range. Preventing Hearing Loss Ear plugs and ear muffs are two types of hearing protection available to you. Both types reduce noise exposure significantly to prevent hearing loss. Keep in mind as with all protective equipment, hearing protection is useful only if it is worn and worn properly. It is mandatory that ear protection be worn in any areas that have noise levels exceeding 90 decibels. "Ear Protection Required" signs are posted in these areas. Also the area noise surveys conducted this year are at the end of this report showing these areas. REMEMBER: Hearing loss caused from prolonged exposure to noise above 90 decibels is gradual and usually permanent. Don't lose your hearing, use the ear protection. Potential Exposure to Noise Twenty-two (22) individuls were sampled for noise exposure using noise dosimeters. The noise dosimeters integrate the noise levels over time to give a percentage of allowable noise exposure. For example, 90 db for 8 hours would equal 100%. POLY A/B WAREHOUSE 3ob Laborer O.T. Carloading S.O.T. Shift Supervisor Number of Samples 1 6 2 1 Average Potential Exposure_______ 46% 47% 15% DO 1.03187 24% CONFIDENTIAL Environmental Health Survey -2- December 27, 1982 CPE WAREHOUSE Dob Laborer Number of Samples 3 Average Potential Exposure_______ 22% POLY C WAREHOUSE TDJoTbT Laborer O.T. Carloading Packaging Specialist Number of Samples 1 2 3 2 Average Potential Exposure_____ _ 22% 71% 61% 30% Potential Exposure to Talc at CPE Warehouse When handling talc or working in the talc room, dust masks should be worn to prevent overexposure to non-asbestos form talc. The Threshold limit value (TLV) or exposure limit for talc is 3mg/m^ respirable dust and 6 mg/m^ non-respirable dust. The TLV was set to prevent any change in the lung function. Four samples were run on CPE O.T.'s while working in the talc room. The average potential exposure was 24.7 mg/m3 respirable dust and 29.3 mg/m^ non-respirable dust. A new weigh feeder system has been ordered for the talc room which should reduce the potential for overexposure to talc substantially. Potential Exposure to polyethylene nuisance dusts while cleaning filters at Poly A/B Warehouse The consequences of overexposure for nuisance dust are minor irritations to the eyes and skin from mechanical abrasion. It may also cause irritation to the nose and throat in very dusty atmospheres. If the overexposure is for a long period of time, some of the dust may be deposited in the lungs. A dust mask should be worn to prevent Inhaling excessive amounts of the dust while cleaning filters. The TLV for nuisance dust is 10 mg/m3 total dusts (respirable and non-respirable). One sample was run on the O.T. Carloader while cleaning the filters. The potential exposure was less than 1.9 mg/m3 total dust. Industrial Hygiene Plastics Department Building 807 Attachments - Area Noise Surveys ltb DO 103188 CONFIDENTIAL \ * , - .' '. . i .. ^-.''** - -v - "'**, .-, *4 /p-.* `, '* F, 4r ', t."*' `***L ' : ; . ^ - :. - ' PLEASE HAVE EACH SHIFT EMPLOYEE SIGN AND DATE THIS SHEET FOR VERIFICATION EACH EMPLOYEE HAS READ THIS MATERIAL: NAME DATE NAME DATE PLEASE RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO M UK RYLAND - BUILDING 807 DO 103189 CONFIDENT! At. POLY A/POLY B WAREHOUSE H-6 7A H-5 H-4 rpp uanFHniKF POLY C WAREHOUSE AREA NOISE LEVELS IN db(A) Towmotor noise level vaired from 80 db(A) idle to 91* db(A) (Accel). DO 103193 CONFIDENT I POLY C WAREHOUSE HOPPER CAR LOADING ROOF DO 1 0 3 1 9 4 C O N F ID E N T IA L o oo zo j--nI j--* om oco z^ --( -a I--t 3> i i POLY C WAREHOUSE HOPPER CAR UNLOADING SECOND LEVEL < i- 1 `A. " 'i POLY C WAREHOUSE HOPPER CAR LOADING -- GROUND LEVEL j-- I'v 'IlN B a U /s jo o y6 ie o i oa r* PLEASE HAVE EACH SHIFT EMPLOYEE SIGN AND DATE THIS SHEET FOR VERIFICATION EACH EMPLOYEE HAS READ THIS MATERIAL: NAME DATE NAME DATE DO 103197 CONFIDENTIAL <Vl^' PLEASE HAVE EACH SHIFT EMPLOYEE SIGN AND DATE THIS SHEET FOR VERIFICATION EACH EMPLOYEE HAS READ THIS MATERIAL: NAME DATE NAME DATE DO 103198 OONFTDFNTTAL PLEASE HAVE EACH SHIFT EMPLOYEE SIGN AND DATE THIS SHEET FOR VERIFICATION EACH EMPLOYEE HAS READ THIS MATERIAL: NAME DATE NAHE DATE DO 103199 CONFTDFNTTAl C- RECEIVED JAN -4 1983 PLEASE HAVE EACH SHIFT EMPLOYEE SIGN AND DATE THIS SHEET FOR VERIFICATION EACH EMPLOYEE HAS READ THIS MATERIAL: NAME DATE NAME DATE 00 103?00 CNF rOfTNTTA!. PLEASE HAVE EACH SHIFT EMPLOYEE SIGN AND DATE THIS SHEET FOR VERIFICATION EACH EMPLOYEE HAS READ THIS MATERIAL: NAME DATE NAME DATE A J UMtUut7^ //#/& 7d&-u?-%Jb IJsJttydh**/* A 3 - S*3 /4w, O't- f. ^jLslcLu^ Un L.L /-<f-3 ^ ^*y` --/ */ -3 miLTwwetui./'-gi Clt^. /? Y / / -PLEASE RETURN THIS COMPLETED FORM TO M iRK RYLAND BUILDING 807 DO 103201 CONFTDFNTTAl JOB NO.____ CHARGE NO.. SUBJECT_ DOW CHEMICAL USA LOUISIANA DIVISION SHEET OF. AUTH. NO. FILE NO__ . BY .DATE .CHECKED BY 19 2C