Document gdV2NN6Zo5mQkJQ7N3b74D63

U7EX INDUSTRIES, INC. TO: Charles Slover FROM: Phil Rouse DATE: February 16, 1981 SUBJECT: OSHA Inspection On February 4, 1981, Mr. Richard L. Miller, Certified Industrial Hygienist, OSHA, visited the Weimar Plant due to a complaint that had been registered concerning "fiberglass particles being emitted during phenolic injection press operation" and "employees exposed to the particles by inhalation and skin contact.'* The copy of the complaint Mr. Miller gave me is attache-1 Mr. Miller questioned Mr. Jaetzold (who was in conference with me) and me concerning other possible areas of our operation he should observe for an evaluation of Safety and Health Programs. Mr. Miller then observed the operation of the injection presses and talked to the employees who had been and were operating these presses. We accompanied him to the Packing Department to observe our string operation using asbestos and he suggested straightening out the suction hose leading out of the operation. Also, he went to the Friction Rouse in reference to asbestos, and smelled the MEK. Mr. Miller told us he would come back the following week to take a sampling of MEK and asbestos in the work areas. He stated that even if we were found in non-compliance the fine would probably be less than if we hired a private concern to take the tests. Mr. Miller also checked the laminating machine where Gloria Guthmann lost part of a finger on December 31, 1980. He observed the operation of the machine and talked to some of the operators. 0e February 12, 1981, Mr. Miller returned to the Plant with his sampling equip ment and stayed until around 5:00 P.M. taking samples. He placed sampling equipment on five employees in the Friction House and on three employees in the Packing Department. We showed him the bulletin we bad posted on the Bulletin Boards (see Attached) concerning elimination of fiberglass from future batches of phenolic compounds, and he was very pleased. , During the evaluation period, Mr. Miller explained it would be about three weeks before we got the results of his tests. He commended us in the changing of the duct work exhaust from the asbestos work area and felt the asbestos was probably below limits; however, he suggested we might want to look into the possibility of physical exams for the employees working with asbestos in the Packing Department. He commended the way the Plant looked in general, and the cooperative attitude of all concerned, stating that he would so include this in our file. Mr. Miller thought we might possibly have an MEK problem as well as the safety of the laminating machine, making drawings and suggestions as to how to make the machine a safer operation as well as listening and complimenting Mr. Jaetzold on his suggestions. Mr. Miller also suggested putting foot guards over the foot pedals on the lam inating machines, and to discontinue letting employees eat in the Packing Department. PR:lr Distr: Hank Miser Elvin Pippert John Posey Earl Jaetzold UTEX 000962