Document gb0do9LJdYnGB5JDgqoJmvxkV

lUtional Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 550 Mala Street, Koom 7033 Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Noreaiber 16, 1971 Janas 2. Peary, H.D. Commissioner of Health Texas State Department of Health 1100 Vest 49th Street Austin, Texas 75756 Dear Or. Peary: A recent X.I.O.S.H. surrey demonstrated an extremely serious end critical occupational health situation at the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation Amosite Asbestos Thermal Pipe Insulstlon Plant in Tyler, Texas. K.I.O.S.B. industrial hygiene surreys is 1967 and 1970 yielded grossly excessive fiber eoncantretions coopered to current and proposed asbestos standards, and those results vere forwarded to the company for appro priate action. Following requests for enraluatioa and assistance fron the Texas State Health Department and the local membership of the Oil Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union, 8.I.O.S.H. conducted a cosprahaaslra Industrial hygiene and medical surrey daring the week of October 26 to 29, 1971. The enrrey pointed out major industrial hygiene deficiencies which Included a grossly Inadequate rentllatlon system and poor hoosekaepieg_ practices. In August 1971, respirators were made mandatory in all areas concomitant with application for rariance froa the current asbestos standard; however, our surrey personnel observed many employees with loose or unconnected straps. Also, there was no pfcpgram-for the fitting and maintenance of respirators. Again personal air samples yielded grossly excessive fiber concentrations in all production, finishing, shipping areas. fi.Z.O.S.H. medical questionnaires and examinations for rales and finger clubbing vara conducted by our surrey team on 63 employees in order to coaplsment the X-rays sad pulmonary function teats performed by Dr. George -Surat of the East Texas Chest Boapltal in August 1971 at the-raquaat of the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation. One film vaa read as a pulmonary neoplasia by Dr. Hurst, sad this diagnosis was confirmed following hospitalisation. In addition, several films were read as possible Dr. Jnu K. Peavy - 11/16/71 2 pulmonary fibrosis. However, Dr. Lea Grant, Medical Consultant to the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation, has delayed release of these filns to N.I.O.S.H. and its expert panel of radiologists pending his personal review of the filns. Even without benefit of the X-rays, 7 of 18 workers with greater than ten years employment at the Tyler Plant meet at least three of four criteria for asbestosis. .These criteria include: (1) forced vital capacity below 801 of predicted, (2) dyspnea (3) finger clubbing, and (4) rales. Positive X-ray results could in crease further the number of cases of asbestosis. Reduced pulmonary function was also observed in a fav workers with less than five years employment. Therefore, medical follow-up of current and past employees is indicated Immediate corrective action is necessary to reduce asbestos exposure levels to conform to existing standards. Sincerely yours. William M. Johnson, M.D. Acting Deputy Director, Division of Field Studies and Clinical Investigations Bobby F. Craft, Ph.D. Acting Director, Division of Technical Services End. (Air Sampling Results; October, 1971) ce: Marcus M. ley, M.D. Mr. Charles Van Borne Mr. J. 8. Stokes Mr. George Pettigrew, Region VI, H.I.O.S.H. Mr. John X. Barto, Region VI, O.S.B.A. Joseph X. Wagoner, S.D.' Hyg. VKJ0HNS0N:J o ANALYSIS OF PERSONAL SAMPLES PITTSBURGH-CORNING ASBESTOS PLANT, TYLER. TEXAS > -- ........................... `' ~ ASBESTOS PIPE-INSULATORS OPERATION SAMPLE CONC. (FIBERS >5u/cc) Mixing Forming Feeder Feeder Feeder Feeder Scrap Feeder Feeder Feeder Feeder Feeder Feeder Feeder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Relief Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Relief Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Relief Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder 45 139 117* 99* 106 60* 12* 57 82 132 29 18 91 103 88 119 83 85 105 89 121 54 25 71 90 92 120* 110 107* 111 16* 20 14 17 53 54.04 105.83 101.71 169.7 9.58 188.91 92.77 26.4 9.14 22.5 37.6 40.93 26.11 14.61 7.45 9.42' 25.79 42.77 ^ 22.33 " 6.67 25.53 12.28 57.72 35.24 17. 37.54 90.9 70.36 103.97 30.43 134.41 53.23 44.31 59.58 42.99 Page 2 - Pittsburgh-Corning Asbestos Plant Curing Finishing Relief Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Builder Relief Builder Builder Labor Oven Tender Oven Tender Oven Tender Oven Tender Oven Tender Supervisor Wrapper Wrapper Finishing Laborer Utility-Finishing Utility-Finishing Wrapper Utility- Finishing Finishing Laborer Saw Operator Saw Operator Saw Helper Saw Operator Saw Operator SRL Saw Cutting Saw SRL Cutting Saw Saw Feeder Pine Machine Oper. Saw Labor Saw Labor 27 74 15 24* 131 136 122 101 124 65 95 58 56 102 52 47 140 112 93 84 68 130 98 1 3 66 8 4 22 30 126 78 76 94 118 51 55 35 006* 007 116 72.12 9.74 64.35 111.15 13.8 9.9 14.8 26.9 8.44 56.45 36.41 14.75 24.27 31.2 11.26 23.5 5.08 6.89 19.87 16.40 20.38 11.43 37.45 - .30.43 48.53 12.03! 94.81 55.11 22.83 27.36 19.38 14.18 31.23 21.9 1.73 91.76 40.28 2.30 208.42 97.26" 6.59 Page 3 - Pittsburgh-Corning Asbestos Plant SRL Saw SRL Saw Saw Labor SRL Labor Inspection Box Marker Weigher Fork Lift Operator Packer Packer Shipping Supervisor Packer Fork Lift Operator Labeler Inspector Weigher Inspector Packer Packer Weigher Miscellaneous Maintenance Utility Utility Maintenance Utility Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance Sweeper Maintenance Maintenance Janitor Shipping Guard Guard Guard Supervisor Supervisor ~' Supervisor Supervisor 134 141 109 26 86 59 2 21 42 43 10 62 63 69 5 23 9 44 125 75 135 133 108 39 11 13 50 64 97 123 127 129 40 73 113 72 128 080 T9 79 25.97 1.96 11.62 91.52 20.71 34.49 11.71 9.5 1.84 2.18 13.08 20.42 20.72 92.26 29.45 73.62 3.83 .71 6.8 32.08 2.09 8.36 - -18.12 30.38 42.28 26.81 28.43 37.54 3.61 2.10 0.94 2.29 1.36 1.94 4.58 0.64 1.57 14.92 29.91 6.28 - ' Page 4 - Pittsburgh-Corning Asbestos Plant Supervisor Supervisor Supervisor Office Workers 77 104 115 154 152 158 155 ^^Approximate (too many to count) Samples taken on October 26, 27, 28, 29, 1971 24.25 25.2 2.28 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.66