Document e11KdZ5wX29Qd17776r6p4QDG

4 /V4"0 NX ^ Shortly before World War Two, the B.F. Goodrich Company pioneered the development of a synthetic organic chemical known as vinyl chloride. Vinyl Chloride, or VC as it is often called is the parent chemical for many products in our society such as wrapping films, electrical insulation, flexi ble gaskets, pipe, and a variety of other industrial and consumer products. Vinyl Chloride, is a gas at normal temperatures and pressures, but is a liquid under pressure, and this is how it is normally handled. Most Vinyl Chloride is used in the production of Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC as it is commonly known. Early in 1974, B.F.Goodrich reported to the National Institute for Occupational .Safety and Health that the deaths of some AA employees over a period of time may have been occupationally related. Further research and v- testing showed the causes of death to be angiosarcoma of the liver. 'vlXAngiosarcoma is a cancerous tumor of A^the liver and testing in animals has shown AJr j 4V ^ that it can be caused by chronic exposure to ('high levels^of Vinyl Chloride gas in the atmosphere. Any damage incurred, however, is not readily apparent, and may take years to O 20258001 notice. The symptoms of angiosarcoma are few and are hard to detect. They may be confused with other diseases due to the rare and un common nature of the disease. Some patients have reported a sense of feeling bad, while in a few cases intestional bleeding occurs. Vinyl Chloride is not the only cause of angiosarcoma, but with tests showing VC to be one of perhaps several causes^ many steps such as this are being taken to warn you of the dangerous connection between Vinyl Chloride and angiosarcoma. Remember, it is Vinyl Chloride that we are concerned about, not Polyvinyl- Chloride, iC ** CCl' dy 1 (-1 a is a liquid, or a gas. Vinyl Chloride is also an anesthetic and was once^used- 'as a surgical anesthetic. This property plus the fact that VC has a pleasant odor adds to the danger of not recognizing a dangerous concentration of Vinyl Chloride gas. Two other possible physical hazards that 20255002 may result from contact with or breathing''^ Vinyl Chloride are^^a disease known as the "Hand Problem" and portal fibrosis. The 'Hand Problem" generally can be de tected by a numbness and cold feeling in your fingers. In more serious cases, some deformity of the hand or fingers may result. However, tfris disease is both reversible and easily preventable. The wearing of protective clothing especially gloves, to prevent direct contact with-the* Vinyl Cliloride is very important in PRe^snth of the. "Hand Problem." - - Portal fibrosus is a non-cancerous disease of the liver about which little is known. 7"*^ "X However, we believe that the same techniques \ used to prevent over-exposure to Vinyl Chloride ] to prevent angiosarcoma will be effective against portal fib: ^ .The symptoms of portal fibrosus are also t-n a to c-tmilar fn pncHo-- sarcoma in that a general feeling of "not feeling well" is often the only symptom. 20258003 The manufacturing, process for Vinyl Chloride and Polyvinyl Chloride are both complicated chemical reactions which take place inside closed vessels. To the naked eye, the process is a series of tanks, pipes, and towers such as you see here. . A simple flow chart of the production i of Polyvinyl Chloride looks like this. From a tank car loaded with Vinyl Chloride, the VC liquid is piped under pres sure to a storage sphere. From the storage sphere, the Vinyl Chloride is piped into a polymerization reactor where catalysts, stabilizers, emulsifiers, .J_ . 3 *. . d 1L J nes/0-^-L DC*. &r>_______ <* w r> uu up propriate time the polymerized material is piped to a secondary tank where unpolymerized ge'cci/e^EO Fo?~ F-t)S.Vinyl Chloride is pipr i Imi 1 > n i n [m The material which is now Polyvinyl Chloride is then concentrated, dried, and packaged. _ ' (fhflV BE The end produco'r' ta-of three different materials: a PVC*resin, a powder with the V texture of refined sugar; a PVC paste, a very fine powder with the texture of processed ' OfL flour; acF, ^a"PVC latex, a stable suspension of PVC in liquid, flFffflZWb MUCH M/lK , In a PVC plant, the points of greatest probable exposure to Vinyl Chloride are these: c CJ 01 CC o o \ 1. Connections to tank cars 2. Any valve r<-- ^ -~f'-'*~J 3. Any filter, mrcp'^-^-K ^ 4.. The reactor itself, especially when being opened for cleaning. Some areas of your plant will be known QLASuQy - Q--^j^<>-4-Ow-oi_ \ULX V^ V *> O^jJU^A. |C3- cr-^^M GU-U^i _^a--0''~N-\ k as regulated areas. These are areas where an^amount of Vinyl Chloride exceeding one part per million parts of air has been measured. The entrance to these areas shall be marked with this sigr f^ANfekSUSPet AGENT AREA 1^ ft* ) AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY ly individuals specifically designated .4 11 1----.11____,,,4 This authorization will be issued to you by your plant supervision. ,, Any hazardous operation or where an A>~. emergency currently exists will have Lltfc, sign Sr" ^ CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT IN THIS AREA PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT REQUIRED AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY Afiain, only "autHurlzed peuple may enter--Eueh fiu ama."~ Containers of Polyvinyl Chloride resin waste from reactors or other waste con taminated with Vinyl Chloride will' be labeled: S00S2202 UCt . CONTAMINATED,WITH VINYL CHLORIDE CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT Containers of Polyvinyl Chloride will be legibly labeled: POLYVINYLCHLORIDE . CONTAINS -35335'INYL CHLORIDE VINYL CHLORIDE IS A CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT) and, containers of Vinyl Chloride will be labeled: VINYL CHLORIDE EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE GAS UNDER PRESSURE CANCER-SUSPECT AGENT oT^I ChS!!i2,Cal f*Vo nnc4K4 2,*",T of a explosion is always present. Extensive safeguards have been taken to prevent this from happening. However, there are specific emergency procedures which you must follow in the event of an explosion, fire, or other disaster. Your plant representatives will cover the specific emergency procedures for ' your plant with you at the end of this program-O'"' yo. 20258006 \ Before me you see three types of respirators. During your work around areas i of potential vinyl chloride exposure you may , be required to wear one or all of these at various times depending on the levels of vinyl chloride present in the air. re required to wear a :e this when the chloride gas reaches Iparts of vinyl chloride : air. A red flashing here will alert you to danger. You then must t air supply line as you see nere. As you put on your mask you must take care to get a good seal completely around your face. By placing your chin in the face piece first and then tightening the straps you can get a good seal. The seal can be easily checked by pinching the air hose shut and breathing in. If the face piece collapses then a good seal has been achieved. Once your mask is on you may need to make some small adjustment to the air flow for your own comfort. In 1976 this type of mask will be require to be worn in areas where the level of vinyl chloride is one part per million parts of ;Pg. 2 air. However, during 1975 a canister mask such as the one shown here may be worn in areas where the vinyl chloride level is less than twenty-five parts per million parts .of air. However, you are not required to wear one by law during 1975. This air-pak type of mask will be worn by selected personnel in areas where the level of vinyl chloride exceeds 100 parts per million parts of air. When this level is reached, an alarm will sound and you must leave the area unless you are specifically designated to stay. As just demonstrated, a proper air seal for all three of these masks is necessary for safe use, as is proper cleaning of the mask. Usage-and cleaning details for masks will be covered by a plant representative. Three alarm systems will be in operation in all plants. At a level of ten parts per t million of air a yellow flashing light will come on. You are not required to take any action at this point. However, when the red flashing light comes on, a level o 25 parts per million of air has been reached. At this point you must put on the air line mask. When an alarm sounds at 100 parts of vinyl chloride per million of air you will either leave the area of, if you are specifically 80082^0^ ; Pg. 3 designated to stay, you must put on an air-pak type of respirator. i In addition to a respirator you may be required to wear protective clothing such as .seen here. Protective clothing is especially necessary when entering a poly tank for / a. j&tUM j iJuzJt -Upl\ cleaning. The clothing prevents direct CJdZciKi-cC PjM hl ZC. contact with any remaining vinyl chloride during cleaning and protects your from contracting the "hand problem" disease. Gooscrr O \ Pg. 4 1 u: T5U l ^ V^ A program of area and personal air monitoring will be used to check the levels of vinyl chloride in the areas where you work. Requirements for personal monitoring ^ are .jbhia-t If you work in an Careg) where the levels of vinyl chloride have been shown to be between one-half and one part per million parts of air, you will be monitored every three months. Tfi-fn typr of nrm in rnTIrd van^TCtluu uia.j.. If the place where you work exceeds one 4^^' part of vinyl chloride per million parts of Vjl. <2- air you will be monitored every month. This type of area is known as a regulated area. .4 11 V. ^ CX^ v ^p ^ controlled and only authorized individuals may enter a regulated area. A Bendix Micronair II system will be used for your personal monitoring. A small battery pump is hooked on your belt or placed in a pocket. Air is then drawn through a short.length of plastic, tubing to S' Cx^^-a ^ ^ < \ a pcinfainet with charcoal. After four hours L k < -the charcoal is analyzed at the plant laboratory by a chromatograph to determine the amount of vinyl chloride present. This N. monitoring will help determine the amounts of vinyl chloride you have been exposed to. 025S010 Pg. 5 The area monitoring will be done by a Bendix TbluI' liydaasjHMtbw Analyzer. ___mi i ' V -fe iu>k/E. , _ -________ ________________j _ _____________ ^ There a^