Document e1v1qqBjMoXo4ZwzJmLRk5Yb4

ETHYL ANTIKNOCK, LTD. INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM . Barki Dr , .Y. Sanders Safety t o Dr. Kitzrailler - Cincinnati f r o m Ben F. Penrose -- Toronto dat e Jnne 26, SUBJECT This will confara^uruhone conversation of Tuesday, June 23, advising you that Tank Cleaner, had comp lained of not feeling well since cleaSS^^^?^fx^Darrel, former "blending tank, at the old Canadian Oil Co. , Petrolia, Ontario, refinery. We are attaching a copy of a report from our representative, Mr. Reny Barki. Mr. Barki was in attendance during the entire tank cleaning job, and he assures us that all possible safety precautions \srere observed 'ey men engaged, in the operation. Following our phone conversation, as instructed by you, we advised ,to see his physician, for an examine. ti" on. On June 24th, we phoned Dr. A. P. MacCallum, whoj is Mr.1 _ physician in Petrolia. We informed Dr. MacCallum that prepared bottles with instructions were being sent to him for samples whijeh should be for warded to your attention. We also advised Dr. MacCallum to kindly forward his report together with his statement to your office. xrked by Dr. MacCallum that he did not believe that physical complaints were related to a lead tonicity. Very truly yours, BFPiarp *Att. * et h y l a n t ik n o c k , l t d 44 KING STREET WEST TORONTO 1, CANADA cej! Dr. .ICitEsalller i Dr. Sanders 11. Y. Safety Mr. O.B. Lewis Nr. Ben F. Penrose - Toronto Mr. Reny Park! - Toronto jme 24, 1953. Late in May, we were notified of a tank to be cleaned at Canadian Oil Companies, Petrolia, by a new contractor, Mr. The tank cleaning was specifically delayed so that our representative co Ld attend. Our'representative, Mr. Bony Barki, left for Sarnia o:a June 3rd, 195: in the early a,m, and net the contractor at the tank in p|strolia at IjOO'p.s. on viednesday, June 3rd, This tank was a 4,000 carrel vertical Refinery tank and is identified by Bo. ?6. It had been used for some 20| years as a blending tank and had recently contained a special blend of gas oline containing 20 cc's of lead/U.S. gal. This gasoline had been shipped'to thf refinery at Sarnia in tank cars on or about August, 1952. This tank had apparently been open for some six: weeks prior. At the time of the removal of the manhole cover, people in the are|a had complained of violent sneezing. At this same time, Canadian Oil personnel had decided to drain the water fi*om this tank through the water draw-off, aj.|nd this water was left to run over the ground. W@ are informed that noj one nad entered the tank, and we received no notice of their intention to1 open [up the tank. Alan MeCorkindale entered the tank at about 2:0.0 o.m. for the first entry. Ha case out and notified us that there was considerable water in the tank. It was decided that the easiest method of extracting water from the tank and disposing of it was to use a gathering tank Miich Thompson used for gathering crude oil at the various wells1. It was then proposed to dump this water into underground crude storage tanks which were now out of service. The gathering tank jwas a 10 barrel steal frujn mounted on a cart and drawn by horses, and the pumping facilities on this unit consisted of an old water lift pump. Our representative was intrigued by this operation a;ha started taking pictures of the pumping out operation. On proceeding u^w' ind of the gathering tank, he detected a strong odour of fluid and direct ed all personnel to leave the area. He cams to the conclusion tha.t there was considerable fluid in the tank and began investigating. The problem was discussed with Mr. Vince Norwood, Re finery Manager, and Mr. Perce Parker, Maintenance Supervisor, and we obtained permission from them to dispose of the tank sludge and remaining water by Beans of 0017304 N21035.01 -2 - burning It (with the aid of stove oil) in a suitable location, b'e also ob tained at this time, 2 canister mcks for us in this operation. The operation then proceeded in this manner* 1. Aporoxina tely 4 barrels of stove oil were placed in the carrying tank. 2. Water was pursued out of the tank with the pamper wearing a canister mask. 3* The contents of the carrying tank were dumped into a previously dug pit at the site of burning. 4. Daring the transportation of the water and stove oil, canister's masks were worn hy all persons likely- to be exposed to fluid vapours. 5. At the end of every day, ten barrels of stove oil were dumped in the pit and the pit set afire. This procedure was carried out on the afternoon, We&i.ssday, Jims 3rd, part of Thursday, June 4th, (rain hampered our operations that day) and in, the morning of June the 5th. At approximately 10*30 a.s. our representative entered the tank and took a quarter sample of the atmosphere in the tank. This gave him a reading completely off the scale. He also noticed that there was considerable slud-g in the bottom of the tank and that this sludge appeared to be heavily dyed and concentrated with lead. He also noticed that the sides of the tank were coated heavily with a white deposit to about 2/3 of the height of the tank. This is assumed to be lead salts from the highly leaded gasoline that the tank had contained. At this point, our representative called his Toronto office for further advice and direction in this matter. He talked to Mr, 3. B. Lewi# and explained that he was seriously concerned with the hazards involved in cleaning thie task and asked for advice. He was instructed >y Mr. 6. B. Lewis of Toronto that It would be preferable if the sludge was removed, transported and burned using full precautions for lead vapours,! As our representative had approached the problem along the same line of attack, he felt justified in proceeding and completing the job. At noon Friday, June the 5th, all tank cleaning opera fcions wore suspended until the morning of Wednesday, June the 10th, 1953, 'Phis was done for 2 reasons? 1, Other commitments. 2, To give us a chance of observing the health of the ee men who had been performing this tank cleaning over the weekead. 0017305 'J It should he noted that up to this time, men had hoe'm inside the tank on only three occasions and then for very short periods o f time. During all outside operations, at all critical times, sen were wearing canister masks. On Monday, June 8, 1953 > called our office and informed Mr, 0, 3. Lewis that he had paiR3 in the pit of his stomach and was not feeling well. He did not complain of l^.ck of sleep or other s'/mptoas. Mr. 0. 33. Lewie did not feel that his condition was serious and allowed the matter to wait for our representative who was to contact Mr. on Wednesday. j Our representative returned to this tank cleaning on Wednesday, June the 10th, 1953, at approximately BihQ a.m. He talked to noth UBHHlfeand Alan KcCorkin&ale and discussed their physical conditio? "both of them. Alan McCorkindale claimed he was feeling well, hut Arnold ` complained of a i.'ain in the ult of his stomach. He had had no headacSffl, no dizzy shells, he slept well and ate well. It was our representa tive 1 s opinion that his complaint was not as a result of lead intoxication, and '*'e proceeded with the tank cleaning. Tor the whole day of June the 10th, and the Morning of June the 11th, the following procedure was adopted: .1 |entered the tank and removed "buckets of sludge wnieh he passed out to Alan McCorkindale who dunned the sludge into 55 gallon drums. Jynold Thompson was wearing an air line hose mask and Alan MeCcrkin&jjLle a canister masSr, 2. The sludge was transported on a wooden skid to tpe pit. 3. At the; end of each day, ten "barrels of stove oil were dumped in the pit, and w@ set fire to the pit. At the end of the tank cleaning, the wooden skid and the druBS were "burned or exposed to fire. The pit was then covered over "by a bulldozer with the operator wearing a canister mask. Ths @nd of the tank cleaning, our representative entered the tank and took a lead in air test. The reading was off tb scale. It was hi recommendation that as this tank was expe eted to go into stove oil service, it be continued to be considered as leaded tank for safety purposes until at least the next tank cleaning when the situation might be reviewed. This was discussed with both ?lnce Norwood and Perce Parker and agreement ms reached on this subject. KE 0017306 la the p.a. of Friday, Jan the 12th* 1953* reoggsentMive contacted flHHMMMPBBBto discuss his condition. Again complained of a pain, in the nit of his stomach and a slight headache, hut nothing 'else* On Tuesday, June 23rd, 1953* w# received a telephone call from Arnold Thompson.. He was complaining of the pain In the pit of his stomach. He also1 said, ha had a dull headache at the hack of the head. He felt par ticularly siek during the evenings and felt like retelling, hut actually hadn't. He has been sleeping goad and his appetite appears to he good though he says he does not relish his food as much as he normally does. | It is our representative's opinion that these-sympiams could he caused by butterflys in Ms stosach since every precaution appeared t|o have been taken to eliminate the lead hazard as musti ah-possible. in view of the fact that our representative is an Sngineer and not a qualified medical practioner, this repoirt is submitted: for a nore cokoetent decision. Tory J^ruly yours, y Reny ^arlti. EB:AP HE 0017307