Document e5EkXEVwzkepg2NaLoxrxj8Be

Hr SOCIETY OF THE PLAS jCS I N O U S T I: Y :,iQ. as PARK AVENUE HEW YORK. NEW YORK 10017 a 12/*-s 7--s7d Contact: Jerry BUzin (202)638-2800 For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 1, 1974 PLASTICS INDUSTRY LABELS OSHA VINYL CHLORIDE STANDARDS UNREALISTIC Tike Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) perm ... ccupational health standard on vinyl chloride monomer announced today id # unrealistic, probably will be impossible for most, if not all, of the industry t meet and appears to have been developed on some basis inconsistent with recorded facts, according to The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI) SPI President Ralph L. Harding said that "OSHA may believe that it has adapted a compromise position between organized labor on the one hand and industry on the other, but the result is a standard that does not take into account in a practical way the known medical and technological facts. " Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), an industrial chemical used in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a widely plastic resin, has been linked in recent months with a higher than normal incidence of angiosarcoma of the liver, a rare form of cancer, among previously highly exposed workers. According to Mr* Harding, "the- evidence presented at the OSHA public hearings in late June on VCM clearly shouted that the employee deaths from angio sarcoma were a result of conditions existing decades ago, when exposure levels were many times great r than they are t day. Furthermore, data dev loped by -m t ASI 000012061 '*. f^t.ou Vittone October 1, 1574 Page Two Kramer in New York (our Ionfor SPI there), we relayed t tion for Review at precisely minutes after I received enc us that we should try to be secure the best possible foz ceedings. We hop that our to file a Petition for Revic have no definite way to know letter has been sent out sir not have been able to check to see if someone els filed we did. In any cas , we fe 1 be done as far as assuring a The "foot race" is now over evaluation of the new Standa in this respect, we are endLabor press release made ava the accompanying explanation Standard, an SPI press relea: in response to the OSHA acti< Order promulgating the Stand* Register. The latter is, of document to be considered. We are very grateful others in the companies r cei ter for all of their help; at that those of you wh were nc understand why the circumstar type of complete communicatir doubt that anyone will disagz Review should have been filed sents a problem, we can alway The reason we filed--and, inc ticularly grataful to our fri ing to allow us to file on th taneously so as to assure a c as the Society--ds because we that it would be better to fi AS1 000012062 ) Mr. Anton Vittone October 1, 1974 Page Three clear that major parts ti objectionable than think th< one else file first in a le: and repent later. Again, wl to file immediately, recogn. meeting to be held soon or . cision to file should b ch> position to withdraw the Pe I realize that much be confusing to many of you enclosed should help but, ii to prepare a more fully exp additional information w d< can be sent along in the ne: we hope this communication i "early alert" report. Co. Enclosures cc: VC and PVC Producers C* *SI 000012063 V  1* OTHEX KEY PROVISIONS OF THE FINAL VINYL C Employers Bust set up "regulated "one end five ppm* Halts, with access 11 -- Plans for reducing exposure to th available on request of OSHA. -- Direct contact by eaployees with , -- Monitoring and aeasurlng programs levels exceed 0.5 ppm. Depending on leva least monthly or quarterly. They may be measurements, no fewer than five working to be less than 0.5 ppm. -- Any change In processes that may measurements for all affected employees. ~ Monitoring and measuring methods i not less than plus or minus 50 percent In plus or minus 25 percent for levels great -- Where the regular monitoring prog a continuous monitoring and alarm system > danger If they are using air filtering re must switch to respirators with a clean a -- Eaployees and their representst1v observe monitoring and measuring. -- Protective garments as well as res m^loyees In hazardous situations, such as -- Written plans must be prepared for massive levels) In facilities making or us -M ZMASI 000012064 -i 1 -- Employws In VCM or PVC operations must be trained fully on t the nature of the hazards, protective measures. and the contents of tt Medical programs wist Include complete Initial examinations, will be required every six months for employees who htve worked In VCM for 10 or more years, and annually for all other exposed workers. Alt examinations will be .acceptable If the examining physician states his i reasons for substitution. All medical checks are at no cost to employe -- Specified signs.or lables are required at entrances to "regulat hazardous operations or emergency areas, on containers of PVC resin was and_VCH containers. Records of required monitoring and measuring, medical records, i "authorized" workers must be kept for varying specified times, or be sen Director. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. If an e to do business before the expiration of retention periods. -- Reports must be made to the nearest OSHA Area 01 rector no later t after establishing a "regulated area, and within 24 hours of any "emergen Also, reports to affected employees must be made within 10 days after non measuring shows exposure la excess of the "one and five ppm" limits. Incl results of the measurements and steps being taken to reduce exposure to pi levels. VINYL CHLORIOE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS___________ ________ January 22. 1974 -- OSHA was Informed by the National Institute for 0 Safety and Health (N10SH) that the B. F. Goodrich Chemical Co. reported thi several of Its employees from a rare liver cancer (angiosarcoma) may have i tlonally related. January SO. 1974 -- OSHA announced In the Federal Register a fact-find on possible hazards Involved with the manufacture and use of VCM. - MORE - 2 A5I 000012065, *> February 15, 1974 -- Public hearing Kerch 11*15, 1974 ~~ Staff neuters t conducted an Industrial hygiene fact-fine the New Orleans and Baton Rouge area, to base exposure standards. March 16-17, 1974 -- Assistant Secre hey staff nenbers, visited three chemical conditions under which vinyl chloride Is April 5, 1974 -- OSHA Issued an emer to 50 ppm the maxima allowable amounts o ; April 15, 1974 ~ OSHA, NIOSH, and E representatives received from Bio-Test La data shoeing development of angiosarcomas concentrations of 50 ppm. Key 10, 1974 -- OSHA proposed standai due to expire Oct. 5. The proposal would exposure of workers to VCM. May 24, 1974 - OSHA published In the on the proposed permanent rule`to begin Ji June 12, 1974 -- OSHA published a dra proposed final rules. The statmeent was a Quality (CEQ) as being available for 45 da June 25-28, 1974 -- Public hearings o July 8-11, 1974 -- Continuation of pu August 26, 1974 -- OSHA announced In pitflc commit by Sept. 6 the preliminary t feasibility study on various exposure leve' Tori City* T5E5 ASI 000012066 1 September 5, 1974 -- OSHA published the final environmental impact s;itnt whic as announced by CEQ Sept. 6 as being available for public ccament until Sopt. 25. September 13, 1974 -- OSHA announced the availability for public of the draft final Snell study for public consent until Sept. 25. October 4, 1974 -- Final health standard on vinyl chloride published fc'SMter. the ,-eder #I# 'X`' s: AS I 000012067 .r^r. - *-W