Document jmE7mn1Zwzpe1xeZwZzp6Y6ry

/V 4--4 am/ t. INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM rn Distribution. Below From T. L. Carey rim January _5, 1972 Subject. PVC Operations tcroosteolysis (AOL) Program Csr-lS^y ( dp:- . (Location, Organization, or Department) r.' * |r>N ' Valley Forge ( (Location, Organization, or Department) Effective immediately, the attached AOL PROGRAM shall be implemented for PVC operations at the Escambia plant and the Calvert City plant. This program for monitoring AOL has been developed as a result of studies made by John Barr in consultation with Martin Spurlock, Ron Beech and Dick Harvey, TLCarey /d attachment 'Distribution: A, R. Adams J; T. Barr J, L. Cost R* B. Cross . R. Fleming (2) G, J, Mantell A. K. McMillan H. W. Smith W. Mayo Smith E, M. Spurlock H, L. Watson (all with attachments) -'O K. /.?, L \*.t (320] AP00042544 /. fftoc&tcts mi/ (Yicmtca& PVC OPERATIONS CALVERT CITY AND ESCAMBIA PLANTS AOL PROGRAM 1. X-ray the hands of present PVC production workers who have participated in reactor cleaning to establish a base line for present conditions# Those to be included are polymer building operators, ilot plant operators, laborers (utility men or trainees) and dryer operators, if they have been involved in reactor cleaning. Not included are baggers, maintenance men, compound operators, or supervisors. 2. As a part of pre-employment physical examinations, include hand x-ray studies for all personnel to be assigned to PVC operations. This shall include personnel transferred from other operations who may be involved in reactor cleaning. 3. An annual x-ray examination shall be performed on the specified employees and the records maintained on each plant with the work histories of the employees involved. 4. Each plant shall have x-r'ay films read by a competent radiologist. Background information on AOL shall be furnished him. Such information would include MCA report and article by Dr, Dinman, If required, a consulting arrangement should be developed with the University of Michigan Institute of Environmental and Industrial . Health or other competent specialist. 5. Review and update existing work procedures, protective equipment and instructions for reactor cleaning and establish formal procedures which contain requirements for operator compliance. Emphasize enforcement to supervisors. 6. Continue worlc on plant modifications such as solvent cleaning, that will reduce personnel exposure. 7. Continue participation in the MCA and Vinyl Chloride Safety Association studies to enable us to provide maximum protection for personnel. Mr. T. Li. Carey February 23, 1971 A. K. McMillan Occupation AOL from PVC Operation* Tbe Archives of Environmental Health Study Report of January. 1971* indicate* tbe AOL condition i* dearly associated with hand cleaning of PVC reactor*. Of the 5, Oil employees examined there were 25 definite ease* of AOL and ail had been involved in hand cleaning reactors. The probability of develop* lag AOL i* one ease in 32 for worker* in reactor cleaning and one ease in 140 workers for the total PVC study population. Work practice* such as (1) o*e cleaning method* used. (2) us* of gloves, (3) reactor evacuation procedure have a strong influence on the occurrence of AOL. Method of entry of the agent causing AOL is also not established and the writers were in clined toward the respiratory method of entry rather than absorp tion through the skin. The report recommend*: {1) More extensive use of high pressure water and solvent denning (2) Good ventilation of reactors (3) Use of gloves in reactor cleaning Our reactor evacuation and donning procedures strongly favor good experience with regard to AOL. Use of chemical cleaning for allusaetpr*will be accomplished tbii year. As additional precautions, we will see that gloves are worn by reactor cleaners (this is now required but may not be rigorously followed) and that explosimaters used to check reactors are calibrated on pentane as recommended in the study. 1 suggest that base line X-rays of the hands of PVC personnel be taken at the time that all reactors are converted to the chemical clean ing process. The medical queetionaire (in study) should also be AP000' Mr. T. L. Cany *2 February 23, 1971 computed at this time. X-rays should ba rspaatad os an annual basis until such time as we consider AOL not to ba a problem in our operation. / ms attachment A. K. McMillan AP00042547