Document jyKBQpZJB7oq5VnmGp9KXzDDy

STATE OF OHIO DIVISION OF SAFETY AND HYGIENE THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF OHIO 700 West Third Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43212 PLAINTIFF'S EXHIBIT BRK-184 RE: PACKARD ELECTRIC DIVISION. G.M.C. 1. On April 4, 1966 a visit was made to the above named company to check on an alleged beryllium hazard at the request of both management and the union. 2. Contact was made with James A. Waldron, Safety Supervisor: Dr. G. A. Sudimack, Medical Director; Walter Konn, Supervisor of Field Operations, Industrial Hy giene Department, G.M.C.; Arthur J. Richards, Safety Engineer; George W. Cram er, Jr., Plant 11 Superintendent; Lynn Tellander. Plant 3 General Foreman; Gordon E. Byers, Director of Labor Relations; James Herman, Labor Relations Representative; Edward Cleckner, Zone Committeeman, Local 717 IUE-AFL-CIO; Edward Fire, Union President; Richard Taylor, Shop Chairman; Morris Muntz, Committeeman, safety & compensation representative for the local union. 3. The company manufactures automotive electrical wiring, aircraft electrical cable, automotive harnesses and appliance cords, in addition to plastic parts and mis cellaneous terminal connections. 4. Since 1934, the company has used an alloy containing a small percent of beryllium for terminals. Recently, the union became apprehensive about the use of the alloy and they are now using alloy containing 0.2Z of beryllium. This alloy has the warning: "Do not breathe dust or fumes generated by mechanical thermal or chem ical processing. Sold for manufacturing purposes only. Industrial hygiene information available on request." S. Plant 8 - Department 841 ~ITo/> This department is located on the second floor (aoutb floor of the south building). It is approximately 250* X 140* X 20* to the low bays. In this department, term inals containing 0.2% beryllium .0)59" thick are crimped and soldered to multi strand 14 gauge wire. The terminals at the time of this visit had been silverplated. 2020 ends are soldered per hour. This work is done approximately three hours every three weeks. h 4o -firry The soldering is done by resistance soldering, The solder melts at 650F. The company carries the solder pot at 800F so it is probable that the temperature reached in the soldering operation is below 800F. S i ! r i i Beryllium Sample 4 Un>n //r</<ssJrso/ <}uiptr? r>t~ ~ ^'^^rr7<~ Sa rr?p/*'!' */tfh Cyc./orr<_ A filter paper sample was takeiy^approxlmately one foot from the breathing zone of an employe operating the press and downwind from the press. This sample was sent to Kettering Laboratory for an analysis uad they report tOO OOP A. milligrams per cubic meter of air{_ K ' 6. Plant 11 - Department 1108 Terminals are stamped from 0.2Z beryllium metal .01^*thick and approximately IV wide in a Niagara press PE8093. This press is located at Column K-15. This press makes approximately 275 strokes per minute. The stock is oiled. A diesetter starts the machine and then goes away and leaves it so that no one is there in attendance. Two presses operating 15 days per month takes care of the production at the present time. Inasmuch as there is no heat applied and there is no abrasion of the metal, it was not thought necessary to take a sample at this point. However, the representative of the General Motors Corporation did take a sample. 7. The concentration of beryllium found was well below the Threshold Limit Value of .002 M&M3 established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, and it is concluded there is no occupational health hazard. The Threshold Limit Values refer to air-borne concentrations of substances rod represent conditions under which it is believed that nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed, day after day, without adverse effect. Because of wide variation in individual susceptibility, exposure of an occasional individual at or even below the threshold limit may not prevent discomfort, aggravation of a pre-existing condition, or occupational illness. 8. The plating department where beryllium terminals are plated with silver was visited. The terminals are not dipped in an acid so there is no evolution of mist. In addition, the plating tanks are well ventilated. It is believed that no occupational health hazard exists at the plating department. 9. Had there been grinding or abrasion of the beryllium alloy and if small particles were given off, recommendations relative to exhaust ventilation and sampling would have been made. However, no recomnendatlons are made at this time because a) there are no small particles produced, b) the temperature is below that at which fumes are given off and c) the stock is oiled as it goes through the press. Respectfully submitted. DDH/agw D. DeWitt Huffman Asst. Chief Eng. & Hygiene LEFT WITH COMPANY FOR UNION Hygienic Guide Seriee on Beryllium Threshold Limit Values for 1965 LEFT WITH COMPANY FOR RETURN TO THIS DIVISION Workshop on Beryllium Simplified Industrial Hygiene Controls for Machining Metallic Beryllium Beryllium Data Sheet 562 Threshold Limit Values for 1965