Document k63DjdJdp1GM0KG5b942p4doE

FILE NAME: Kentile (KEN) DATE: 1964 DOC#: KEN001 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Dust Survey - Asbestos Exposure with Cover Letter from Liberty Mutual LOSS PREVENTION DEPARTMENT ~ 1 HOYT STREET, BROOKLYN 1, NEW YORK * ULj i h S-7J00 June 16* I?6t Hr. . Aussier, Fiant Manager lentils Floors Inc. 58 Second Avenue Brooklyn 15* York Dear Hr. tUmaisr; it the rendait ofNHr. V. J. Gentile, oar Industrial Hyxietilit, Hr* K* A*/Bill1aea^poapleted a dost eurrey for year plant and- test} for" irrlwwt sapors at production lins #8*' " :nat"vurioue locations In th# plant on XareS~5* 3$* Ai Lm at production lins #8 were taken on January 22, 1 f, for hydrochloric acid and ; . .. m April 15* 196t, Ifor rinyl biocide vapors.. * *1Sf^.^sr,.r? '" ' " .... Hr. Williaas has ou tacbed reports, ths ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ . r n a o l t a of.,th'air' sasjtf.es, Controls tre ' ... * m *:r-mne-ej yd~ed- to r:<4aT0r**d-rrCV*'*J`s4:>tt*o .*-cvspvoi. i X ^ 7 /F-- ' " Very tmljr yoarc, - wry-i.-t-* ,i~ -- : - . f- V -.Lf ---r * . - _ , 1. .;.U t i T i n Adas J. louai : Senior Safety Engineer Losi Prevention Depart*eat oci Kiss C..H. Kelly, Yioe President A Treasurer Mr. J..KoleyfcI, Yiee President ' Hr. X. B. Xovaf Mr. Y. J. dentils Mr. W. J. Passer!ta v*1*- ', tv r. . -- --* n : . It n Kentile Inc. 53 Second Avenue Brooklyn, New York DUST SURVEY - ASBESTOS EXPOSURE -.vt r . K j - i f i t . On March 3, 1964 a dust surrey was to mixed dusts containing asbestos Engineer, and Mr. Walter Pasacrita survey. ^ made at operations where exposure existed, Mr. Adam Kowal, Safety accompanied the writer during the To evaluate the dust exposure, air samples were collected at production lines 1, 2 and 3, and on the Banbury platform at the #2 production line. Based on the results of the dust counts made, observation and ventilation measurements, the following conclusions have .been, reached. CONCLUSIONS 1. - Better control is needed at operations where asbestos material is handled. We have reached this conclusion on the basis of total dust counts of mixed dust containing asbestos as well as differential dust counts for asbestos alone. We believe that ' the exposure to mixed dusts containing asbestos is too high - concentrations ranged from 8 to 16 million particles per. cubic foot of air and that better engineering control is feasible and desirable. 2. The major problem areas appear to be the weigh scales where Banbury skip buckets are loaded. Existing ventilation at these . scales could, with some modification in the exhaust hood opening, be utilized to provide for better engineering control of the dusts generated. 3. Exposure at the Banbury platform needs further study to determine whether or not modifications in exhaust control is feasible. .. ------------------ . . .. * ...... . . * : * !. ^ LIBER T Y M UTUALfINSl) RANCE^COM PANY 4-, Exposure to nuisance dusts particularly at the pigment scales is not a serious problem. However, at production line #2 total dust concentrations were in the order of 33 M.P.P.C.F. with a differential dust count for asbestos in the order of 1 M.P.P.C.F. This situation could be improved and conceivably would be changed if the modifications suggested are made at the Banbury weigh scale position at line #2. Our recommendations for improved exhaust ventilation, discussion of our findings and dust counting data follow. R A W :js 5/20/64 Industrial Hygienist Loss Prevention Department LIBERTY.' MUTUAL'.'INSURANCE ' COMPANY Kentile Inc. 58 Second Avenue Brooklyn, New York i DUST SURVEY - ASBESTOS EXPOSURE RECOMMENDATIONS Weigh Scales - Asbestos Dust Control 1. . Consideration should be given to modification of the existing exhaust control to improve capture of dust generated when asbestos and other materials are manually loaded. 2. The best control approach would be through the use of an enclosing type booth positioned over the Banbury skip and enclosing the weigh scale (see sketch enclosed).*: 3 The total volume of exhaust for the booth should be determined on the basis of 150 cfm/sq. ft. of booth face opening to assure positive capture of dusts generated. The rear and one side of the enclosure should extend to the conveyor level or to the floor if possible to provide as coraplete an enclosure as possible. LIBERTY' MUTUAL INSURANCE 4 COMPANY - 2- DISCUSSION Hygienic Standard For exposure to total dust containing asbestos, the U. S. Governmental Industrial Hygienists recommend a value of 5 M.P.P.C.F. for continuous exposure. For asbestos dust alone, the literature recommends a value of 1 M.P.P.C.F. Current thinking concerning exposure to asbestos dust indicates that this material is implicated in lung conditions other than asbestosis. For this important reason, it would be prudent to minimize worker exposure For nuisance dusts, a hygienic guide value of 30 M.P.P.C.F. is recommended Sampling Methods To determine the dust exposure at worker positions where asbestos dust inhalation was found, air samples were collected '.sing the midget impinger with distilled water as the capturing medium." These samples ;,were subsequently counted using the standard light'field technique with 'the Spencer bright line hemacytometer as the counting cell. Total dust concentrations were made and to assist us in our evaluation of the potential exposure, differential dust counts were made of the asbestos fiber content of the dust. RESULTS At the scale position of production lines 1, 2 and 3* total dust concentrations were found to be in the order of 10.?, 9-0 and 10.8 respectively. Differential dust counts at the same locations indi cated the asbestos fiber concentrations were generally in the order of 1 M.P.P.C.F. Much of the dust was of small particle size and in all probability was made up of fractured asbestos fiber. EXISTING CONTROLS At the weigh scales on lines 1 and 2, two exhaust openings 3" x 9" each are positioned in line with the face of the scale and ju6t above the top of the Banbury skip. The worker is positioned approximately to V from these exhaust openings. LIBERTY. MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY k - 3- Ventilation measurements made at these openings indicate that an average of 2,730 fpm is entering these openings and about 1,705 cfra is exhausted at each of the scale positions. On the basis of this quantity of air, a control velocity in the order of 42 fpm is calculated at a distance of 2' from the exhaust grills. This low (42 fpm) air movement is inadequate to control the dusts generated and should be improved. SUGGESTED IMPROVED EXHAUST Reference to the enclosed sketch will indicate one possible method of providing better engineering control over the dust generated when bags of asbestos are manually emptied into the Banbury skip. The use of an enclosing type of hood would have the advantage of containing the dusts generated and preventing-.their dispersal in the general area, and further, could be utilized with the existing duct ..work with a minimum of modification.. .Exhaust requirements--would be controlled by the size of the frontal opening and should not exceed the available exhaust capability. A minimum face velocity of 150 fpm should be used to assure positive capture. Using 150 fpm and a face opening in the order of 9 sq. ft. would require an exhaust capability of 1,'350 cfra per scale. LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY - If - DATA # Location 1. Line #2 - Breathing zone of worker at asbestos scale loading skip bucket. 2. Line #2 - Breathing zone of worker at pigment scale. 3. Line #2 - Breathing zone on Banbury platform. 4. Line #1 - Breathing zone at asbestos scale loading skip very little work done". - j 5 \ . Line #1 - Breathing zone at.-' pigment scale. ' 6. Line #3 - Breathing, zone at scales - adding asbestos & Bakerlite. 7. Line #3 - Breathing zone at colar add - scales - (vinyl tile Brookstone). Time Of Sample In Minutes 20 20 20 30 _ 30 ' 20 20 Total Dust M.P.P.C.F. 8 ' 33 15.7 10.7 17 10.8 8.7 Asbestos M.P.P.C.F. Not counted 1.0 " a 1.0 .5 1-0 . .2 Not counted Asbestos fibers only - 1 to 200 microns in length and 5 microns or less in diameter. These counts do not show asbestos dust particles all particles are reflected in the total dust concentration figures reported. LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE. COMPANY