Document gDaaJo4E7XpxDmaMa6nLb514G

.. ................................. -- _____ ..- . /bright Aeronautical Corporation D r . John A . Meek ! Reorder No. 1112-Y3 PARK BRAND FOLDER HEAVY WEIGHT and sumps over the tanks here gasoline visited in the company of Mr* Davidson. The tanka are apparently used 100# 91 and 62 octane gasoline# Varsol# trade-name of "a low grade petroleum nap an "expertmental fluid0 of which they ha but have none at present The odor of gasoline was evide valve-house, and rather strong in the p operating area. There were visible leak the area. Mr. C. Koby demonstrated one get further exposure to gasoline fumes. dieo In the pipe leading from the fillin tank needs changing. This la accomplish * a long rubber hose to the drain-pipe lea and leading the hose to a pillar* There flooring around this pillar through whic but which is not large enough to allow t hose to be inserted in it. **hen the dra gallons of gasoline flowed through the h amount spilling on the floor at the entr hose, I was Informed that to empty the 75 gallons of gas are so discarded. Ihe region of the drainage crack was then w ihere la no forced ventilation to this p in the sump and get sufficient light to these covers are removed, a relatively fr between the ambient and pit air can take vantilatlon. The most apparent hasarda is In areas, but in the pits over the storage tanks are on the north and south of each are about 1*3 in number. The top of each of a concrete chamber about 6x3x6 feet* chamber is through a man-hole about 5 fe the center of the top. The man-hole cov and does not seal the opening tightly* These pita allow access to the loading to the storage tanks.' About six pits were inspected, chosen at random* gasoline was strong - Hoby and Albright fifteen minutes was the longest a man co in these pits without developing dissine Albright stated that Hoby was once overco pit, and had to be pulled out* Hoby con lir, Walker of the Safety Department state of it. The men enter these pits (dail Albright and Hoby) to repair minor leaks procedure is to uncover the man-holes to I spoke to Mr. Walker about th major leaks are repaired by a special cr doing the work wearing an air-line mask, by a manually operated Mie Safety Appli The raen use steel wrenches. M chat a year ago copper wrenches were uno Mr. Walker also stated that ai done at intervals with an explosion mete the frequency of the sampling and the re Discussion In the deBign of the pits abov against explosion and death from tho fum to have been considered. The evidence f (1) The pita do not appear ess tank operation. (2) Natural ventilation will n a sump of vapors heavier t (5? The "aqua" system, being a apparently uniformly allow gasoline into these areas. (4) The vapor pressure of gaso explosive concentrations reached when free gasoline sump. sen are to be believed, they uniformly the concentration is such that it makes minutes. (Possibly Q9$% can do this.) they apparently violate established saf It would appear to be relativ to desi^i precautions such that the sum rendered free of dangerous concentration in the presence of small leaks, so that pits without the use of alr-llne masks. Conclusions The sumps above the gasoline are dangerous to life through explosion of the potential and actual oa- ccurrence of gasoline. The present design of safety both in theory and practice to control From'a standpoint of the expl hazard, the beat method of control would ground level to the top of the tanks an cells on top of the tanks. It would be relatively simple establish a procedure in cleaning out t that would be theoretically and practic The first step In such an investigation the men ana determining If they have uni since their exposure began. This should weighing another group of men of compara of industrial, social and economic exper the company, but with no significant ex It would be of interest to us to have th taken* It doe3 not appear absolutely es this stop to properly discharge the cor.p for the health of the workmen. "hio dec to the company physicians. We would appreciate ail record on the gasoline concentrations in the ai by the safety department. Submitted by: Henry IV. Ryder, li.D. September 12, 19M+ Appro Rober KE 0018932